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Actual for You - Nine Hidden Dangers Of Wasting Your Time, Effort and Sanity On Nickel-and-Dime Cheapstake Buyers
Today, I'll let you in on a little secret that I use to read AT LEAST FOUR BOOKS EVERY MONTH, without taking any additional time out of my day.Every single successful person I know focuses on learning daily, and it's no accident. Top business owners know that ongoing education is an absolute necessity.I don't mean the kind of education you got in school, in those dusty old text books that were full of numbers and boring graphs.I mean a different kind of education that deals more with street smarts, than book smarts.Did you know that the majority of people will NEVER read a book again after high school? Our education system leaves such a bad taste in people's mouths. When we are forced to learn, we end up dreading the process, instead of embracing it.I know that in my own life, it wasn't until I was out of school that I really started to love learning. I realized one day, that learning wasn't just for reading, writing, and arithmetic. You could literally learn how to do ANYTHING in life.Whether you wanted to get in shape, become more creative, build wealth, or start a business...it is a LEARNABLE skill.And you do it much the same way you learned in school. You start by surrounding yourself with people who know more about the subject than you do. Then you read, listen, and watch everything that they have to teach you. Mimic the best until you reach a level of mastery where you can innovate on your own.Once I realized the importance of learning I started trying to read more books about business. The problem was that there was never enough time. Sure, I could TRY to read a chapter per day, but the time would be filled each day with something urgent, and the reading would never get done.I literally had a STACK of books that I wanted to read, and wasn't making much progress.That is, until one day I discovered a secret to success, which I learned from a man named Brian Tracy. The secret was to start listening to AUDIO BOOKS in my car while I was driving.You see, every day I HAD to drive somewhere. There was no way that I could forget to drive, or not have enough time to drive. Every day, I was going to drive somewhere no matter what, so it was BUILT IN to my life.I eventually came to hear of more and more successful people, who ALL followed this strategy. Pretty soon I was going through a book a week on tape. I would even "read" books while I was at the gym, taking public transit, or flying (so even if you don't
The problem is that when Nickel-And-Dimers brag, they don't brag about the great service they've just received. No! They brag about how cheap the service was. And just as birds of the feather flock together, so do Nickel-And-Dimers. So, if you accept work with one of these business cretins, rest assured that you will be favourably inducted into the world if Nickel-And-Dimers, and many of them want your help. And from here on it's a downwards spiral. Bad projects attract each other. The world will soon know that you're the Nickel-And-Dimers specialist and more of them will come.
I believe money is the walk of the talk. When you ask people to invest in their own futures, you quickly learn how serious they actually are by whether or not they cough up the dough.
3
There are 2 different kinds of popular catalogs used for merchandising. There are online catalogs that provide easy access using the internet, and there are printed catalogs that are used for mail-orders. Mail order is a means of purchasing products and services through mail. Though online catalogs are cheaper to set-up, there are many disadvantages of using this method of advertising. First of which is that it poses security issues. There are many cases of online theft and hacking; customers might be wary and hesitant to order given that this form of thievery is rampant.
Dial-up users will have difficulty with trying to access these online catalogs. This might frustrate customers and end up causing losses in potential customers for the companies. Customers will not be able to test products. Online catalogs are impersonal and it fails to make the same kind of impression as a printed catalog would. Printed catalogs show the effort that a company has put behind trying to advertise and make an impression.Catalogs are a convenient way to showcase your products and provide your customers with the convenience of browsing through the offers in the comforts of their own home while trying to initiate a more personal relationship with the customer.Designing and printing your catalog must be thought of properly. The placement of your products, the colors and typefaces you use, the size of the photographs and also having a consistent layout is essential to the success your catalog has with attracting buyers. It's advisable that you place your best products on the right hand side because when browsing through a catalog, most eyes fall on the right hand side and not on the part closer to the catalog's spine. It is also advisable that you are not to use too many different typefaces or fonts because this will end up making the catalog look inconsistent and confusing. Limit the typefaces to 2 or 3 at the most. Consistency will give the impression of formality and quality.The layout of your catalog should be simple and uncluttered. The layout should be consistent on every page. The catalog should show the necessary information about the products and services being offered. A full color catalog will attract more attention than a duo tonal catalog. It is better if the photos of the services and products included in the catalog be shown in full color so as to provide a more honest impression with the potential buyer. Black and white catalogs attract far less responses than full color ones.Afte
I may be wrong, and unlike him, I don't have an MBA, but I believe if the client derives huge value from my help, a deserve more than a competitive(ly low) hourly rate. I got into business to overcome the typical wage slave syndrome as an employee, and it would be plain silly to become a self-employed wage slave. I also believe that I shouldn't be penalised just because I don't take much time and effort to create that new value for the client.
1. Nickel-And-Dimers Waste A Hell Of A Lot Of Your Time
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to come to agreement with prospective buyers who actually have an intention to change and now is just looking for a fit with a consultant with whose help and guidance to go through the changing process?
Now contrast this to Nickel-And-Dimers, who want to make sure all Ts are crossed and all Is are dotted even before making a shred of commitment.
When Carl Rogers, a pioneer in social psychology was asked about the most important aspect of human interaction when there is a strong difference of opinions, he said this: "Unconditional positive regard for the other person. It's about holding the other person in a positive light and assuming that his/her interest is for the best interest of the discussion and the relationship, regardless of what the person actually believes at that moment."
A few months ago the business development manager of a web design firm told me "I've forgotten more about marketing than you will ever learn. I just don't have time to do it." Yet, instead of implementing proper marketing (which he’s apparently a master of), his firm peddles its services using three call centres (Los Angeles, India and China) to cold call harass people to find new business. It seems the worst underperformers claim to know the most about everything.
Remember, low-level prospects usually drop to an even lower level as clients. Send them on their way with an imaginary recreational kick in their butts, and move on with a lesson learnt.
2. Nickel-And-Dimers Like Bragging About The Special Deals They've Received
A few years ago a friend of mine worked with a large manufacturing company, and some six years later that manufacturing company referred one of their vendors to my friend. Yes, the manufacturing company was a Nickel-And-Dimer and they were bragging to their vendors that with the right pressure they could arm-twist my friend to give them very very good per diem rates. The vendor expected my friend to give the per diem rate he was charging the manufacturing company six years before. It was a retarded situation. He was given a fait accompli: "Either you give us the same rate you gave them or you're out." And sadly my friend did, simply because the immediate smell of money was more attractive than the gut-wrenching stench of a slowly decomposing project that was waiting for him down the road.
And it was waiting all right. The client demanded detailed reports on everything. My friend had to write reports on report, memos and meetings. He had to document every second of his time. Really. The client demanded a time sheet from him in 15-minute segments. He would hand in the time sheet and the client would decide which segments got paid and which got deleted. On average, 35% of his time sheet got unpaid. When he asked the client why, the client just shrugged, "I don't think it was necessary for the project." Imagine, here is this egotistical, stupid idiot who hasn't been able to solve his problem for himself, and then when the hired help does the work, he decides what's needed and what's not.
The problem is that when Nickel-And-Dimers brag, they don't brag about the great service they've just received. No! They brag about how cheap the service was. And just as birds of the feather flock together, so do Nickel-And-Dimers. So, if you accept work with one of these business cretins, rest assured that you will be favourably inducted into the world if Nickel-And-Dimers, and many of them want your help. And from here on it's a downwards spiral. Bad projects attract each other. The world will soon know that you're the Nickel-And-Dimers specialist and more of them will come.
I believe money is the walk of the talk. When you ask people to invest in their own futures, you quickly learn how serious they actually are by whether or not they cough up the dough.
3.
When we hear someone say, “He/she is an excellent communicator” we usually think of someone with succinct, clear, and powerful speaking skills. While these skills certainly do serve a vital role for the process of effective communication, we can quickly increase our communication and persuasion skills by learning how to consciously use communication tools that for the most part, are unconscious behaviors.When meeting someone for the first time, long before we are close enough to shake hands, we have the opportunity to trigger something deep inside their mind; we can trigger the part of their brain that says, “I feel good about you!”Scientists have long known about a powerful non-verbal expression that acts as an invitation for interaction, and subtlety but powerfully lets the other person know that you recognize them. The eyebrow flash is a behavior that is seen in every culture; whether it be tribesmen from the Amazon, or someone from one of the more sophisticated cultures on our planet, men, women and children can be observed quickly raising and lowering the eyebrows when recognizing someone they’re acquainted with.A good way to bring this more fully into your conscious awareness is to simply watch other people, in a place they are likely to encounter someone they know and recognize. Realize that the people you are watching usually have no conscious awareness they are either “sending” or “receiving” the eyebrow flash, they are simply responding to this signal unconsciously.Knowing that we automatically deliver the eyebrow flash when we see someone that we know, and desire to interact with, and, how powerfully this signal impacts those we deliver it to, we can choose to use it for a different, yet extremely useful purpose.Let me suggest that you begin using the eyebrow flash with people you don’t yet know, but would like to. You’ll want to use it from a distance at least six feet, and as far away as someone can visually register the signal, like from across the room, or from the other end of an isle in a grocery store.As you begin consciously using the eyebrow flash, you’ll be delighted to notice how open people become towards you. I often walk through the grocery store eyebrow flashing anyone who happens to make eye contact with me. The result is nothing short of amazing; people smile, and you can observe them physically relaxing their posture, often initiating a conversation with me.The eyebrow flash is very fast, consisting of a rapid rise and fall
1. Nickel-And-Dimers Waste A Hell Of A Lot Of Your Time
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to come to agreement with prospective buyers who actually have an intention to change and now is just looking for a fit with a consultant with whose help and guidance to go through the changing process?
Now contrast this to Nickel-And-Dimers, who want to make sure all Ts are crossed and all Is are dotted even before making a shred of commitment.
When Carl Rogers, a pioneer in social psychology was asked about the most important aspect of human interaction when there is a strong difference of opinions, he said this: "Unconditional positive regard for the other person. It's about holding the other person in a positive light and assuming that his/her interest is for the best interest of the discussion and the relationship, regardless of what the person actually believes at that moment."
A few months ago the business development manager of a web design firm told me "I've forgotten more about marketing than you will ever learn. I just don't have time to do it." Yet, instead of implementing proper marketing (which he’s apparently a master of), his firm peddles its services using three call centres (Los Angeles, India and China) to cold call harass people to find new business. It seems the worst underperformers claim to know the most about everything.
Remember, low-level prospects usually drop to an even lower level as clients. Send them on their way with an imaginary recreational kick in their butts, and move on with a lesson learnt.
2. Nickel-And-Dimers Like Bragging About The Special Deals They've Received
A few years ago a friend of mine worked with a large manufacturing company, and some six years later that manufacturing company referred one of their vendors to my friend. Yes, the manufacturing company was a Nickel-And-Dimer and they were bragging to their vendors that with the right pressure they could arm-twist my friend to give them very very good per diem rates. The vendor expected my friend to give the per diem rate he was charging the manufacturing company six years before. It was a retarded situation. He was given a fait accompli: "Either you give us the same rate you gave them or you're out." And sadly my friend did, simply because the immediate smell of money was more attractive than the gut-wrenching stench of a slowly decomposing project that was waiting for him down the road.
And it was waiting all right. The client demanded detailed reports on everything. My friend had to write reports on report, memos and meetings. He had to document every second of his time. Really. The client demanded a time sheet from him in 15-minute segments. He would hand in the time sheet and the client would decide which segments got paid and which got deleted. On average, 35% of his time sheet got unpaid. When he asked the client why, the client just shrugged, "I don't think it was necessary for the project." Imagine, here is this egotistical, stupid idiot who hasn't been able to solve his problem for himself, and then when the hired help does the work, he decides what's needed and what's not.
The problem is that when Nickel-And-Dimers brag, they don't brag about the great service they've just received. No! They brag about how cheap the service was. And just as birds of the feather flock together, so do Nickel-And-Dimers. So, if you accept work with one of these business cretins, rest assured that you will be favourably inducted into the world if Nickel-And-Dimers, and many of them want your help. And from here on it's a downwards spiral. Bad projects attract each other. The world will soon know that you're the Nickel-And-Dimers specialist and more of them will come.
I believe money is the walk of the talk. When you ask people to invest in their own futures, you quickly learn how serious they actually are by whether or not they cough up the dough.
3
Property Management is a career profession. The industry allows for employment growth, continual learning experiences, and the opportunity to work with diverse people and income groups. The Property Manager can work either directly for an owner of real estate properties, or for a property management company, contracted by an owner or legal entity to care for the real estate over a specific period of time.The Property manager has a fiduciary relationship with the management company and property owner. A fiduciary relationship is one that is based on a mutual trust and complete confidence in one another.The Property Manager is provided an owner’s real estate portfolio to manage to its “highest and best use” in exchange for an employment contract or salary. Real estate assignments for the property manager includes apartment buildings, iniums, hotels, storage facilities, shopping centers, office buildings, government subsidized properties, rooming houses, abandoned buildings and plots of vacant land, to name a few.I have managed almost all of the above types of properties for over twenty years. I have managed public and private housing, for non-profit organizations, for the federal government, and for private developers and real estate investors. I also owned my own property management company for eight years. I now teach, speak, and write about property management standards and techniques. Here are some crucial skills, which I know from first hand experience, must be accepted as required attributes and learned skills in order to be a good property manager.1. Must Know and Stay Current on Local Ordinances and State LawsManagers are required to perform their work according to the laws of the land. The government (city, state, and federal) dictates how real estate is to be managed, from requiring a real estate license (depending on the state), to the use of the real estate (such as rent control laws). From proper trash removal to how and where we must keep security deposits, the manager has to keep abreast of the many legal requirements of managing real estate. If a mistake is made or a task is forgotten, it could cost the owner his or her property, and/or a management company’s reputation, loss of the account, or even the loss of real estate licenses.2. Must Be Highly Ethical and HonestProperty Managers work on the Honor Code when they handle other people’s money. By collecting rent, security deposits, laundry machine money et al, the prop
Remember, low-level prospects usually drop to an even lower level as clients. Send them on their way with an imaginary recreational kick in their butts, and move on with a lesson learnt.
2. Nickel-And-Dimers Like Bragging About The Special Deals They've Received
A few years ago a friend of mine worked with a large manufacturing company, and some six years later that manufacturing company referred one of their vendors to my friend. Yes, the manufacturing company was a Nickel-And-Dimer and they were bragging to their vendors that with the right pressure they could arm-twist my friend to give them very very good per diem rates. The vendor expected my friend to give the per diem rate he was charging the manufacturing company six years before. It was a retarded situation. He was given a fait accompli: "Either you give us the same rate you gave them or you're out." And sadly my friend did, simply because the immediate smell of money was more attractive than the gut-wrenching stench of a slowly decomposing project that was waiting for him down the road.
And it was waiting all right. The client demanded detailed reports on everything. My friend had to write reports on report, memos and meetings. He had to document every second of his time. Really. The client demanded a time sheet from him in 15-minute segments. He would hand in the time sheet and the client would decide which segments got paid and which got deleted. On average, 35% of his time sheet got unpaid. When he asked the client why, the client just shrugged, "I don't think it was necessary for the project." Imagine, here is this egotistical, stupid idiot who hasn't been able to solve his problem for himself, and then when the hired help does the work, he decides what's needed and what's not.
The problem is that when Nickel-And-Dimers brag, they don't brag about the great service they've just received. No! They brag about how cheap the service was. And just as birds of the feather flock together, so do Nickel-And-Dimers. So, if you accept work with one of these business cretins, rest assured that you will be favourably inducted into the world if Nickel-And-Dimers, and many of them want your help. And from here on it's a downwards spiral. Bad projects attract each other. The world will soon know that you're the Nickel-And-Dimers specialist and more of them will come.
I believe money is the walk of the talk. When you ask people to invest in their own futures, you quickly learn how serious they actually are by whether or not they cough up the dough.
3
Catalogs are direct mail items that are often used by businesses in today’s society. Before catalog printing is so well-liked. But with the emergence of internet technology, it is slowly becoming a lesser form of marketing. But it is undeniable that there are still so many people who prefer to do their shopping through catalogs in print.Catalogs are one of the time-tested marketing instruments in business advertising. They make your business known. And they can help you generate leads. With catalogs as part of your business plan, you allow shoppers to remember your business. They serve as reminders to your customers that your company has products and services that they may want to look into.In addition, catalogs also serve as a good means to emphasize a marketing message intended for potential customers. Since catalogs are perfect for maintaining strong relationship with existing customers, it would be best if you make sure their design can easily grab the attention of the prospects.Now if you are planning to add a catalog to your marketing plan, you should consider a lot of factors. Firstly, you should take into account the printer. You can start small. It’s not necessary that you go for a pricey printer especially if you’re just starting to make a name in business. Starting big at once is somewhat costly. So go for a reliable printer that offers cost effective catalog printing services. You can also purchase publishing software so that the printing process will be easier. Without difficulty, you can come up with professional-looking catalogs for marketing.You can also consider offset catalog printing services or variable data printing. The offset printing services are more reliable when it comes to producing professionally-designed catalogs and other marketing materials. Variable data printing is another printing solution that you can optimize. It is suitable when sending a various catalogs to a wide assortment of customers.If your company is looking for high quality printing services, you must hunt for a catalog printing company that specializes in professional and cost effective print services. There are lots of printing companies offering catalog printing to everyone. To find the perfect printer for your needs, you need to search in the internet first.Browse the World Wide Web to find listings of various printing providers that do catalog printing. Check out which of these providers meet your exact printing needs. For sure you will be able to lay hands on
And it was waiting all right. The client demanded detailed reports on everything. My friend had to write reports on report, memos and meetings. He had to document every second of his time. Really. The client demanded a time sheet from him in 15-minute segments. He would hand in the time sheet and the client would decide which segments got paid and which got deleted. On average, 35% of his time sheet got unpaid. When he asked the client why, the client just shrugged, "I don't think it was necessary for the project." Imagine, here is this egotistical, stupid idiot who hasn't been able to solve his problem for himself, and then when the hired help does the work, he decides what's needed and what's not.
The problem is that when Nickel-And-Dimers brag, they don't brag about the great service they've just received. No! They brag about how cheap the service was. And just as birds of the feather flock together, so do Nickel-And-Dimers. So, if you accept work with one of these business cretins, rest assured that you will be favourably inducted into the world if Nickel-And-Dimers, and many of them want your help. And from here on it's a downwards spiral. Bad projects attract each other. The world will soon know that you're the Nickel-And-Dimers specialist and more of them will come.
I believe money is the walk of the talk. When you ask people to invest in their own futures, you quickly learn how serious they actually are by whether or not they cough up the dough.
3
If you are starting you own business, you will most likely want to look into a wholesale directory. A wholesale directory will give you the most updated and comprehensive list of products and wholesale suppliers from around the world. This will allow you to get the most bang for your buck as wholesalers can give you more product for your money rather then drop shipping. With this type of list, you will have all the needed info right at your fingertips. These types of directories are there for you when you need it, right on the internet.When you think of a directory, you think of a list of numbers that you can go to for all of your personal or business needs. But sometimes it may not be feasible to store such items in your home. If that is the case, then the wholesale directories are the ones you will want to get. You will be able to choose from a virtually unlimited numbers of wholesalers that can take care of all of your needs without having to worry about the hassle of drop shippers.You can make great relationships easily with wholesalers as you will have them ready at your disposal. You can use the directory to pick and choose the best wholesaler that has exactly what you need and will give you the prices that are right for you. When you choose to drop ship, you have no control over what products your clients will actually get or when they will get them. You also can not have the hands-on experience that will give the extra edge that can put you above your competitors.Chances are, your competitors drop ship all of their items and never really know what they are selling or what their merchandise looks like. When you go with a wholesaler, you take on some of your own responsibilities, such as shipping, which will allow you to touch and see all of your products first hand. This will give you a better hands-on experience of selling the products as you can put your heart into telling your clients about your products as you have seen them and touched them first hand.Drop shippers offer a great number of benefits as well as the wholesalers. You need to decide which options will work best for you and your company. Set your goals as to where you want to be and then weigh the options you have when it comes to delivering your product. Chances are that you will choose the wholesaler option with the wholesaler directory as this will help you get ahead and succeed in your business.
The problem is that when Nickel-And-Dimers brag, they don't brag about the great service they've just received. No! They brag about how cheap the service was. And just as birds of the feather flock together, so do Nickel-And-Dimers. So, if you accept work with one of these business cretins, rest assured that you will be favourably inducted into the world if Nickel-And-Dimers, and many of them want your help. And from here on it's a downwards spiral. Bad projects attract each other. The world will soon know that you're the Nickel-And-Dimers specialist and more of them will come.
I believe money is the walk of the talk. When you ask people to invest in their own futures, you quickly learn how serious they actually are by whether or not they cough up the dough.
3. Nickel-And-Dimers Ruin Your Market Reputation And Your Credibility In The Eyes Of Great Clients
While Great Clients and Nickel-And-Dimers hardly ever flock together, still, Great Clients can hear from the good deals Nickel-And-Dimers got cut for themselves. How do you think it will impact the perception Great Clients have about these deal-cutters. Why do you think people haggle with car salespeople and realtors but not with lawyers or doctors?
Car salespeople and realtors are notorious for "cutting deals": "Buy now and I'll give you a special deal." In spite of the "special deal", most people hate this approach because they know what the special deal really is: No big deal. Just a previously inflated price shrunk back to normal with lots of fanfare and manipulation.
My friend, Katie (not her real name) is a web designer. She got a call from Fred on a web design project. With lots of pep talk and promises on future projects, Fred convinced Katie to design a site with a serious drop on her fees. Fred manipulated her by telling her how good this would be for her portfolio. By the way, I've always believed that this "portfolio stuff" is highly overrated. Smart clients want to see value not portfolios. Well, she accepted the deal. And then two more.
Then she found out that Fred was just a broker between her and some real buyers. Fred knew that the lower price he could demand from Katie, the more money he would pocket. I have nothing against brokers per se. I too broker projects here and there. Over the years, thanks to my military training, skydiving and other experiences, I've become a damn good project manager and I have an innate talent to have people work together as a - real - team towards a common objective, so I co-ordinate large high-stake projects with functional experts. But I do have a problem that the greedy bastard Fred increased his money by lying to a good designer about future projects.
And rest assured that Fred will brag to his friends, that "If you need a super-cheap web designer, let me know. My contact is super-cheap and super-good." Yes, she is super-cheap because she was manipulated by this scumbag, and she is super-good because doing excellent work is part of her DNA. By genetic design she doesn't rest until she produces "WOW!" calibre work. And these are the people slime balls like Fred are seeking for "contract work".
Then she participated in my Fee Audit and Protection Plan programme and learnt that clients don't pay for portfolios but for value. With this realisation Fred was immediately out of the picture.
4. Nickel-And-Dimers Do Most Of The Complaining About You And Your Services
Nickel-And-Dimers are extremely good at complaining. They keep nudging you that they could get the same service next door a lot cheaper. Well, if they could, they wouldn't be arguing with you. They would go and get that cheaper service. But that cheaper service won't be the same.
There are some common factors in projects. Two of them are are...
- Certainty of successful completion
- Velocity of progress
And your fee is a reflection of these two elements. The funny thing is that Nickel-And-Dimers want to maximise both factors while minimising your fees.
If I want to travel from New York to Los Angeles, I can take different options. The option with the lowest investment can be a pair of running shoes. That will give me a certain velocity of progress and certainty of arrival. But if I invest in a plane ticket, I increase both the velocity of progress and certainty of arrival. I, the buyer, can choose which option to take and I get what I paid for.
And of course this complaining can go as far as the courtroom. When these people make up their minds to get full refund on a project that failed (over 90% of failed consulting projects fail because of clients' diminishing commitment - Dr. Edgar Schein, Process Consultation), they stop at nothing to
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