The way we did business yesterday is so different from today. Yesterday we went door-to-door. Today we send out one email and it reaches thousands of people in a matter of seconds. We have come a long way; however we have lost some things on the way.

Our forefathers understood about building relationships, while creating an experience for each customer. Developing trust and making one feel special, were the keys to having a lifetime customer instead of a one sale wonder.

Just think about a service you received that you were very happy about. Maybe when you walked into the cleaners, the cleaner called you by name or the pharmacy sent you a birthday card. How did you react…like a loyal customer for years. It’s the same with your business.

Bring the personal touch back from the dead. I dare you to make your customers know you care about them and their needs.

Question: What can you do today to build relationships with your new customers as well as developing better relationships with your faithful and those not so faithful customers?  

Share your ideas.

 

Kim M. Sudderth aka The Business Brick Layer helps people to understand the importance of building a strong foundation for their business at the infancy stage...one brick at time.

To contact The Business Brick Layer visit her at www.kimmsudderth.com

How many of you love the Summer? There is so much to enjoy, the hot weather, barbecues, outdoor concerts, the beach, and so much more. I challenge you Max Out The Summer.

What do I mean when I say Max Out The Summer. Remember the story about the Ant and Grasshopper? Allow me to share the story with you the Brick Layer’s version of the ant and grasshopper.

Once upon a time there were two business owners, Mr. Ant and Mr. Grasshopper. Who enjoyed owning thier businesses.

As the summer months arrived  Mr. Ant chose to max out his summer by go to networking events, making business contacts, creating deals, getting sponsors for his up coming events, creating his business plan, while getting a better understanding of business taxes, and taking classes such as Back Office Tango and much more.

While the Mr.  Grasshopper maxed out his summer by going to barbecues without business cards, went to the library to pick girls, went to the beach instead of working on his business plan.

As the colder season came in the Mr. Ant’s business and bank account was growing. He was able to hire someone to run the business while he took his family on vacation and went on business trips that he was able to write off on his taxes due to what he learned in the Back Office Tango program he took over the summer. He also finished his book entitle “A Guild To Maxing Out The Summer While Growing Your Business”.

While Mr. Grasshopper was looking in the wanted ads for a job, because he used all his business profits over the summer on the girls met at the library, at the barbecues, and while surfing at the beach.

I challenge you to work on your dream this Summer while everyone is working on their tan. The Summer months are the months many people blow off and do nothing toward their dream.

Take a class to sharpen your skills. Take steps toward that dream in the back of your mind, that you have push off.

Set yourself this Summer to have the best summer ever just like the ant did.

Recently I read a book by Evelyn Jackson entitled "Divalyn Pleasure Guide to Marketing Your Micro-Small Business". The title of the book makes you want to read it and when you read the chapter headings you really want to read more. She has titles such as Getting down in the parking lot, Back that thing up, and Whip it out, just to name a few. One of the chapters that had me thinking was the Quickie Zone. Sounds sexy, well it is sexy. We all are at our sexiest when we are at the top of our game...right?

In this chapter the author talks about getting the best and being at the top of our game by knowing what time of the day you are most productive. And, that my dear is the Quickie Zone. :o)

It’s funny just before I read this book I noticed how I would get most of my work done between 8am-3pm. I would still work after 3pm, but I wouldn't get as much done, unless my day started at 12pm and that's pushing it.

 I would like to change the channel for a minute.

 In an audio CD entitled  27 Keys to Growing Your Business in 90 days by Andrew Morrison ,CEO of Small Business Camp and creator of the 16 week challenge talks about having “Focus days.” A Focus Day is when you dedicate that day to a task. For example Monday and Wednesday are the days I dedicate to searching and reaching out to new sponsors for my events.

Can you imagine combining the Quickie Zone with the Focus Day? Yes I can. It  has made my day more productive, so I know it will make your day more productive as well.

I challenge you to figure out your Quickie Zone and apply it to your Focus Day and see how your time will be well invested.

You may reach Evelyn Jackson at www.divalynsmallbusinessguru.net

And Andrew Morrison at www.smallbusinesscamp.com

They are both on Facebook.

Please send me an email at info@kimmsudderth.com or leave a comment; I want to hear the testimonies.

     Visit www.kimmsudderth.com for a free podcast on Counting the Cost.

It wasn’t until I discovered that no one cared about my dreams, when I realized I had to keep myself motivated. How was the question? The first thing I did was put a sign on the wall where my computer was, as well as on the wall in the bathroom, and on the front door stating “I WILL NOT BE a SLAVE TO a W-2.” I read those signs everyday, over and over until it took full root in my heart. At the time I didn’t know the powerful moves I was making to insure my future and how this would be a key in my success. I later found out I created an affirmation with those signs. An affirmation is something affirmed: a positive statement or declaration of the truth or existence of something according to Bingo.

When you have negative words flying in and out your ears all day. That is where affirmations come into play. For every negative word that comes in your mind you must think of it as a baseball and you need to make a home run, by hitting the ball (negative word) out of the park. For very negative word/sthoughts (baseball) that comes in your mind use your positive words to  emovie them from your mind (make a home run out of the park). Your affirmations can be something positive you create or quotes from people you admirer.

The affirmation I use the most comes from the bible 2 Corinthians 2:14 “Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…..” When I am battling the words in my mind I use this affirmation as my bat to hit my home run. It works every time.

Are you batting a home run each time the negative words/thoughts come into the ball park?

Take time to create some positive affirmations on index cards, which you can carry around with you. After a while you will be able to run them off the top of your head.

Please send me an email at info@kimmsudderth.com or leave a comment; I want to hear the testimonies.

 
     Visit www.kimmsudderth.com for a free podcast on Counting the Cost.

I asked the above question because I had a conversation with a gentleman who said “Kim, you need live for today.” At the time I was sharing with him all the wonderful things I had planned for the year from the PIP's Women Luncheon in March to the book release late summer. I went on to talk about how we should do bold things and show up for ourselves this year. He stopped me and said “Sometimes when you are reaching for all these things and then you get them, you are still unhappy. Maybe that is a sign to be still and live for today.” His words hit me like brick, not because I was unhappy. Because, I felt myself about to walk into a dead zone. Lliving for tomorrow while forgetting today.

Yes, it is important to have a plan with action moves for your future, however if you are moving and moving life will just go by. You will have all that you want, but at what count...your health, your child's games or first steps, vacation time with the family, fun with friends, your relationship with God, and the list can go on.

How busy are you that tomorrow is more important than today?

I just ask you while you are in today, live in it.

Read a book other than business. Have dinner with friends and don't talk about business. Have a game night with the family. Take a vacation just for you (I love vacationing by myself.).

Visit www.kimmsudderth.com for a free podcast on Counting the Cost.

As I sat in the barbershop waiting to get a haircut, there was a fine chocolate brother getting a shape up. He was dressed in a light purple dress shirt, black pants, and no tie with a voice that was divine to listen to and teeth white as snow. He sat in the chair with his head back in a relax position as he and the barber chatted and I looked on for a minute or two.  What would it take to be a friend of his?

 As the voice inside of me whispered "Wow, he is fine, but you have you ain’t his type. Look at you, cut your hair off last year, gained a few pounds, and you still not where you want to be. And check out how you are dress. Now tell me why would he want to be bothered with you again. You just ain’t in his league. Face it."

I counted myself out of the game before I could get started. My major cheerleader, which is myself, was off cheering for someone else, while I was left there with the hater.

Some many times we count ourselves out before the game begins. Please understand when the voice in my head told me I was out of his league, my body language and my face expressions changed to make me unattractive that quick. Once my body got a clue of what the voice in my mind was saying everything fell in suite to follow the negativity of the voice. Did I know at the time, no. As I look back I realize what happen. I realize I counted myself out and show lack of faith in myself.

WOW!!!

I admit I lose that battle, however I challenge you just as I challenge myself to not count yourself out...the games have just begun.

 Just for the record that brother was fine!

As I reflected on this past year, I can see where I have grown even through I did not complete anything on my list of goals for the year.  I wrote about 20 things I wanted to complete and none was done. It almost felt like I was writing them as I was going. There were new ideas and thoughts in my mind that I did not write down. I might have voiced them; however I never really thought to put any action to them. Not sure why.

This was the year I realized that a mentor/coach is not lifetime partner. They are here to teach a lesson, take you to a higher level. They are here just for a season.

 I had a few mentors/coaches this past year and paid a pretty for most of them, when one day a friend said "stop!" Stop, what? Stop spending all this money on these coaches and their programs and use what they have taught you and what God has given you. It took me a minute to process what she said and how she was telling me this for my own good. So, that is just what I did.

 I started where and with what I had.

 It truly feels good. Thanks Phara!

My words of wisdom for you today comes from a wise young lady...

Stop and Start where you are! You will find that Success is your Best Friend!

Visit www.kimmsudderth.com for a free podcast on Counting the Cost.