Boost Your Resilience with Mj Callaway!
Move the needle to catapult your positivity and productivity.
Issue 104: Do Your Clients Boast that They Love Your Customer Service?
This past week I traveled to North Carolina for business. On the way, my road trip companions, including my 15-pound one-year-old puppy Gidget, and I stopped at two rest areas with welcome centers. In the first one, we were greeted with cheery hellos and a few questions to get to know us. With just a few responses, Sherry ushered us to a designated rack of brochures, travel magazines, tourist magazines, and a North Carolina map. (I must admit, with our handy smart devices, I don't always have a hard copy roadmap in the car.) Then, thrilled with a bounty of information that would save us time later and a fabulous experience, we hit the road again.
Issue 103: Does a “No” Close the Door?
Last week a client shared his disappointment when he received a “no” about a sale when he thought he was getting a “yes.” Wouldn’t it be great if we never had to deal with rejections?!
Over the past 10 years, I’ve often told my clients and workshop participants, “No means not today. But, no doesn’t mean forever.”
Issue 102: Is Nourish a Weak Business Word?
While in South Carolina, I came across this all-natural boutique called Nourish. After purchasing a few products, I thought about the word nourish.
Is nourish a weak word for business?
Issue 101: Have You Ever Made a Mistake?
Life is unpredictable. We learned that in 2020. Your personal life and business are more productive and profitable when you incorporate systems from the get-go. That was one of my biggest mistakes.
Here's what I learned.
Issue 100: What Makes YOU Different?
Sometimes we do what we do and don’t always think about it.
At the end of one of my workshops, I asked the small audience of engineers, “What was your biggest takeaway?
“Your training isn’t one of those prepackaged programs,” answered the only physicist in the room.
Taken by surprise by the unexpected response, I asked, “What do you mean prepackaged programs?”
“It isn’t training in a box.”
Issue 099: Relatable Means Revenue
Over the past week, I worked with several different companies. During each working session, I customized the stories so my clients could relate to them. Adding stories to your business conversation is key to creating trust and credibility with potential buyers. The key is adding stories that are relevant to the buyer. For example, the more your buyers can identify with the story, the easier it is for buyers to see how you can help them. Sounds simple, right?!
Issue 098: Can Starters and Finishers Work Together?
In the last Bounce-Up™ Chronicles, we covered Starters and Finishers. The topic created some buzz. Several members asked, “How do I work with a Starter when I’m a Finisher?” And the Starters shared they needed some suggestions to work with Finishers.
For finishers, when Starters unload an idea and an off-handed “work your magic” comment with no clear-cut direction, a Finisher could feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Reverse the scenario, and a Starter could get bogged down by an abundance of questions by a Finisher.
Issue 097: Are You a Natural Starter or Finisher?
A few months ago, I had a conversation with several speaker friends around “Are you a natural starter or a finisher?” How would you answer? Starter? Finisher?
Starters love to, well, start a new project. They’re excited about new ideas and they’re off jumping into it. Then, as the project continues their energy diminishes and they’re distracted by another new idea and they’re leaving the “in the works” project behind. Starters have a hard time finishing.
Finishers love getting into the details, and they will see a project through to completion. They are getting it done. A finisher finds it challenging to initiate a new project. Sometimes, they let perfectionist keep them from starting.
Issue 096: Is It Worth the Time to Write a Book?
A CEO friend asked, "With celebrity books taking more space in brick and mortar bookstores and online stores, is it worth a small business owner's time to write a book?"
I get why he asked this question, thinking about my recent visit to a national bookstore and seeing celebrities, athletes, and reality TV stars grace the new non-fiction release section. His question made me reflect on my recent book launch and the lessons I've taken from it.
Issue 095: Our Clients Tell Us How to Fill the Gap
Have you heard the saying, Our customers tell us what business we’re in? More than once, I have said it during one of my Bounce-Up Broadcasts or a podcast interview. Our clients also tell us where we have a gap in our products and services and what we could be offering…when we listen.
Issue 094: What's your perspective - Is customer service part of sales?
Is customer service part of sales and client retention? What are your thoughts? Someone recently shared, "customer service isn’t part of sales."
We have the privilege of having our own perspectives depending on our experiences. Having been in a commission-based sales position before, I have a different viewpoint. And two poor customer experiences last week confirmed my perspective.
Issue 093: Do You Know a Ball Hog?
Do you know a ball hog?
Last weekend, I watched five-year-old kids play basketball. There were two kids, one on each team, who were what we called ball hogs during my childhood. More than likely, you probably knew one, too. Let's call these kids Mick and Mary. Every time Mick and Mary rebounded, snagged a loose ball, or received a pass, they had one vision: shoot the ball.
Issue 092: When We Make it Hard, We Lose!
Over the past week, one question has replayed a few times in my head. Are you making it easy for clients to do business with you?
Issue 091: Are You a Scrappy Professional?
When it comes to entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship, is there a vision, word, or phrase that comes to your mind?
For me, it’s scrappy. Maybe it’s because I’ve heard it a time or two. Growing up with three brothers, you tend to be scrappy. Although some people consider it a negative word, others think of it positively. Boxing fans will use it when referring to a fighter who’s an underdog with a strong, determined character.
Issue 090: What’s Your X-Factor for Growth & Productivity?
Last weekend, I flew to Ft. Meyers for my annual women's mastermind retreat. We spend our time working "on" our businesses. Think of it as multiplying your brainpower. Masterminds can be your X-Factor for growth and productivity, whether for your professional career or personal life. Plus, like me, you can have more than one.
Issue 089: The POWER of Accountability
Last week while presenting Rev Up Your Revenue and Power Team at the ABA Conference in Dallas, I talked about my seven-year accountability partner. Afterward, I had numerous questions from attendees, and it’s a timely topic for January.
Issue 088: Can One Word Change Your Year?
As some of you know from last year’s Chronicles, I choose one word that becomes my word of the year. This #oneword365 needs to be one that can encompass my personal life and professional life because what impacts one impacts the other.
Recently, some colleagues have asked, “How do you decide on a word?”
Issue 086: 12 Blessings of 2021 and Merry Christmas to You!
Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a few mishaps. My eight-pound puppy Gidget tumbled down a flight of stairs which resulted in a Saturday evening emergency call. I spent the Thanksgiving holiday quarantined due to those COVID-19 symptoms. Then, my prescription glasses, which I need for reading and driving broke in two while on a business trip.
In the bigger picture and compared to past health challenges, all of these are minor happenings.
Issue 085: 12 Goals of 2022
LDo you have a year-end strategy or action plan that you execute at the end of every year so that you can kick off the new year strong?
Since the beginning of December, I’ve carried my 2022 Vision Book, aka spiral journal, everywhere I go. In the evenings, I settle on the sofa with my puppy, Gidget, and reflect and create. I jot snippets of ideas and notes. I enjoy the pen-to-paper action and research shows when you write it down, you make it happen. The Vision Book is my think tank to create the bigger picture. You know the view from 64,000 feet.
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