Kindness Matters

Wow!  What a difference a few weeks can make. So how are you managing these days?  

In all of this 'social distancing,' it seems that we could use this time to socially connect.  Now, more than ever, reaching out to family, friends, customers, clients, prospects, acquaintances, etc. to see how they are doing, to offer encouragement and help.  To show kindness.

I've talked with many over the past couple of weeks.  Some are busier than ever.  Some have no business.  Some are considered 'essential' workers and are still going to work.  Many are maintaining a positive attitude and finding ways to be productive and doing some of the things for themselves and their business that they didn't have time to do before. Where are you in all of this?

On the business side, I believe we need to continue to stay in touch with our clients, even if we can't see or service them now.  There are many ways to offer help.  One creative massage therapist is offering to use Facetime and Zoom to teach her clients massage techniques that they can use on their significant other or to do self-massage.  A real estate agent is offering tips on how to get your home ready to sell.  A Home organizer is offering tips on home organization throughout the home. A therapist is giving daily A to Z video tips on how to cope during these stressful times. Thinking outside the box to add value will be what people will remember when this is over.

Speaking of going virtual, my family arranged a virtual dinner party last weekend.  It was great to be able to see and talk to everyone, even though we were social distancing, we were still socially connecting.

All of my networking meetings have gone virtual also.

So what are some ways to can reach out to people?  To your clients to stay in touch and to stay Top of Mind?

Here are some suggestions:

- phone calls 

- email

- social media

- news letters

- greeting cards

The same list I would recommend prior to our social distancing.  The point is, we must continue to market, to stay in touch, to let our customers and clients know we care and are here to help and service them.  

Yes, in my last email I mentioned sending cards and this time I mention it for the reason of keeping in touch.  Sending out Kindness.  Sending out Happy Mail.

SendOutCards is offering a 12 Day series of Global Kindness Webinars starting today, Wednesday, April 1st.  These will be at noon MST (mountain standard time) for one hour.  They will be recorded so if you miss any you will have the opportunity to go back and review them. Each one will be different.

Here is the list:

Wed. Apr. 1st - Kody Bateman - 'How to Turn Promptings into Daily Habits.'  By attending his live presentation you will receive his book, 'The Power of Human Connections.' 

Thurs. Apr. 2nd - Jodi Bateman - 'Sending Happy Mail.'

Fri. Apr. 3rd - Darla Aquilera - 'Converting the Thank You.'

Sat. Apr. 4th - Jordan Adler - 'Delivering Opportunities in a Time of Need.'

Mon. Apr. 6th - Callie Teegardin - 'Expanding Your Reach.'

Tues. Apr. 7th - Linda Walters - 'Hope Sendathon.'

Wed. Apr. 8th - Jodi Bateman, Betty Ann Goldman, & Whitney Jensen - 'Nurturing Yourself - Being Kind to Yourself.'

Thurs. Apr. 9th - Dr. Ivan Misner - 'The Power of Networking.'

Fri. Apr. 10th - Larry Levine - 'Bringing the Heart into Business.'

Sat. Apr. 11th - Gayle Zientek - 'ABCs of Productive Quarantine.'

Mon. Apr. 13th - Kody Bateman & Dave Smith - 'Creating Habits of Prosperity.'

Sat. Apr. 18th - Kody Bateman - Promptings Academy

And I understand that Monday evening April 13th, there will be a special announcement by Kody regarding SendOutCards.

The calls will be on the SendOutCards Facebook page.  Click Here to view the calls.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Here are some additional resources for Working Virtually:

Seven Tips for Working At Home

Networking Online

5 Tips for What to Wear for Video Conferencing

The Gratitude Effect

Relationship Marketing 

To Your Success,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

'Helping You and Your Business Look Good'

Being Gracious in Business

It’s the holiday season I can already tell. It seems that this time of the year people’s nerves seem to be on edge. Or is the economy or a combination of both? Or is it that some individuals who are in business just don’t understand that being gracious in business dealings will help to build a lasting relationship with a client or potential client. And hopefully that lasting relationship will lead to future business and/or referrals.

Here are some of my recent musings that have prompted me to write this blog.

Sometimes people may not need your product or service when you initially talk with them. If you’re gracious during your interaction, they might remember you the next time someone says, “Do you know someone who sells XYZ?” Or they may even come back to you months later and say OK now the time is right and I want to buy your product or service.

Sometimes you may order something and when you received it, it just wasn’t what you expected. And if the person is gracious about letting you return it, you might be more apt to try and do business with them the next time you were looking for other products that they sell.

Sometimes people just don’t respond to your time table. People are busy. Life happens. People forget. Your priorities are not their priorities. I’ve always heard that sugar works better than vinegar or if life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Sometimes a gentle nudge as a reminder works a whole lot better than sending a nasty gram/email. You never know what problems or issues they may be dealing with.

Sometimes having a cheerful, positive, and helpful attitude will promote you and your business far more than you know. I recently helped to put together a Holiday and Gift Bazaar. We did a lot of work promoting it, but we did not have the turn out that we had wanted. Most everyone was gracious and understanding and blamed it on the economy, etc. I was very impressed with one individual whose attitude and actions went far beyond my expectations. She even sent us a thank you note telling us how much she appreciated how professional everything was done and that she appreciated all our efforts. Now, she sells a product that I typically purchase from someone else, but because of her graciousness, the next time I am in need of this product, I will be ordering from her, referring her, and finding ways I can help her with her business.

And Sometimes I have been know to lose my cool as a consumer and pull out the ‘B’ card. I regret it when I do. Recently I had been trying to get an issue resolved. The person I was dealing with had done a wonderful job except for one little thing and she was a friend. She had to work through her company for a solution. I have to give her credit; she handled herself and me very graciously. She found and provided me with an acceptable resolution. I had been giving her glowing testimonials, but after that I am even more ingratiated to her. I recommend her every chance I get and I will do business with her again.

Here are some quotes to consider for doing business. I offer them for us to ponder this holiday season and throughout the year.

• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• If you help enough people get want they want, you’ll get what you want. Zig Zilar
• Givers Gain – Ivan Misner
• Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart. ~Henry Clay
• Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld
• It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. ~Author Unknown
• Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are. ~Author Unknown
• Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain
• The fragrance always lingers in the hand that gives the flower

I hope the saying that ‘Nice guys (gals) finish last’ isn’t true. And even if it is, I would rather be remembered as being gracious in my business dealings.

In gratitude,
Annette S. Walden
Marketing Solutions Consultant

www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com

"Helping you and your business look good!"

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