The Business Lessons I Learned from My Grandmother
February 23, 2010
The most influential mentor in my life is my Grandmother. Under 5ft tall, she’s tiny, but mighty. At 87, she regularly attends aerobics class, paints, volunteers at the local artists’ guild where she sells her oil paintings, and tends her own garden.
Born and raised in London, England, she emigrated to Canada after World War II to marry my Grandfather. She left the comforts of a city to live on a cattle ranch in the wild, wild west of interior British Columbia 12 hours (by wagon) from the nearest city, Williams Lake.
Her courage, determination, and resourcefulness are qualities that I admire in her, and I strive to model myself after her example in my personal life, and as a professional. Continue Reading - The Business Lessons I Learned from My Grandmother
The VA Identity Crisis
February 17, 2010
While the industry is not brand new, its recent growth and burgeoning popularity brings to light the relative youth of Virtual Assistance in the online business world. As a developing industry, one of the issues that I see is one of identity; both self and external perceptions.
There is work by virtual assistants and organizations to define who we are: The VA Chamber of Commerce, IVAA (International Virtual Assistants Association), CVAC (Canadian Virtual Assistants Connection) and industry forums like VANeworking.com and VirtualAssistantForums.com are some examples.
The problem is that there is no one size fits all title here; virtual assistants are as varied in location, service offerings, and expertise as any other business to another.
Continue Reading - The VA Identity Crisis
Valentines Day – Customer Appreciation Day for Lovers?
February 14, 2010
Today’s the day that love fills the air. Bow and arrow armed cherubs, roses, decadent chocolates.. blah blah blah
Truth be told, I abhor Valentine’s Day and everything that it has come to stand for in modern society. When my husband and I started dating, one of my first requests of him was to please, please ignore Valentine’s Day. The poor boy was confused! Did I actually mean it, or was this some kind of a trick or test?
Twelve years later, and he’s finally relaxed. It’s no test; it’s just part of my eccentricity!
So what has this got to do with small business in Canada you may be wondering? Bear with me, I’m building up to that.
In my view, Valentine’s Day has evolved into a cruel day that punishes the haves and the have nots. It sets up expectations with antes that are upped each consecutive year, and the financial cost is, well, ridiculous.
I want to feel loved and appreciated the whole year round; not bought off with pricey gifts on a commercial day that makes us feel that we have to participate.
Valentine’s Day is like Customer Appreciation Day for Lovers
Imagine if your business chose to forgo the regular customer and client appreciation and thank-yous in favor of one giant gesture one day. While Open Houses and traditional Appreciation Days are great marketing tools and a way for brick and mortar businesses especially, to connect with their customers, it does not, or should not be the only time you thank your customers or clients.
Customer appreciation is something that should be done continuously; it should be a part of how you do business. It serves to remind your customers that you are the best option for their continued support, and happy customers are more likely to spread the word about you to their friends, family and colleagues – resulting in free advertising for you, and hopefully, more business as a result.
Some of you may catch the irony in my posting a message about customer appreciation by comparing it to what I find to be a distasteful tradition and then using the hype generated by that very day to draw readers in.
What can I say? The cupid’s arrow must have missed me this year.
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