Too small to fail

Remember not too long ago when financial institutions were in trouble and Washington and the mainstream media kept telling us they were “too big to fail” – in other words, too important to allowto fail?

I think they got it all wrong. When it comes to small business and the people who own and operate those small business, I firmly believe that they are “too small to fail” – but not because of any government intervention, media hype, or bailout.

The majority of business owners I know are extremely resilient. They know success and they know failure. They know that hard work has its rewards.

They are also stubborn. The idea of failure or defeat does not exist in their vocabulary as evidenced by the fact that if a business owner fails today, but he or she will quickly be up and running in a new business tomorrow – having learned from his or her mistakes and ready to write a new and more successful chapter. Continue reading

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How to topple the competition

I was more than a little surprised to learn that the Federal government considers businesses with fewer than 500 employees and sales of $7 million or less as “small businesses.”

Somehow, I thought small was a lot smaller than that – like the numerous small businesses I come in contact with through the chamber with fewer than 10 or 15 employees.

These numerous small businesses pretty much all have the same problem. We are like little David trying to hold our ground when we come face-to-face, belly-to-belly with an unrelenting and unstoppable Goliath.

It’s not a fair fight and never will be. After all, Goliaths have all the tools, the people, the resources (financial and otherwise), and the seeming power to crush us.

What do we have? Hmmmm. Oh, I know: We have the ability to turn on a dime – to react and respond instantly when we recognize an opportunity or face a challenge.

And we have what I call “the ultimate differentiator.” That differentiator is [Read more...]

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The heck with first impressions

At a chamber of commerce mixer recently, one of the other attendees and I found ourselves talking about the significance of first impressions.

For whatever reason, he was adamant that making a good first impression is the most important thing a business should do. But when he completed his thoughts, I responded by saying that I thought first impressions were not nearly as important as lasting impressions.

And then I shared a story of walking into a restaurant in New York City, looking around at the incredible decor, taking in some incredible aromas, and being greeted and seated courteously and efficiently by the maître d’.

It was a great first impression and we were off to a great start. None of use could have wished for more.  In fact, had you asked me at that point about my experience in the restaurant, I absolutely would have raved about it.

We gave the waitress our drink order and that arrived to the table quickly. There were eight of us in all and I am sympathetic that that does not necessarily make it easy for any waiter or waitress. But she carefully took notes, and disappeared.   [Read more...]

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On The Air Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Gil Effron and Rick Raymond will be guests of Bruce Hurwitz on Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s “The Voice of Manhattan Business” at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, April 17.

The topic is “Building a Culture of Dynamic Communication.” You’ll learn how every business can increase productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency as a result of applying the strategies that will be outlined.

To listen live at noon on the 17th or to listen at a later date, click here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mcofc/2013/04/17/building-a-culture-of-communication

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Some get it; some don’t

At Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s first Marketing Professionals Committee meeting of 2013 last Thursday, I had the pleasure of serving as MC and introducing Jenniffer Goodstein, the new owner, publisher and CEO of NYC Community Media. The group of local print publications includes The Villager, Downtown Express, Gay City News, Chelsea Now, and East Villager.

The interesting part of Jenniffer’s story is that she comes from the world of digital marketing. Among many other things, she developed educational technology programs for the State of Maryland and served as Assistant Vice President for Retail E-Business for MetLife.

Jenniffer gets it. As she was describing her mission and vision to our group, she outlined how she planned to integrate digital with print. Continue reading

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Asking for advice: It’s a real game changer!

Many years ago, I discovered a highly effective technique that allowed me to open doors and obtain a one-on-one audience with a number of prominent and influential people in key positions.

I am convinced that these were people with whom I otherwise never would have been able to meet or talk to face to face… or who, most likely, never would have given me the time of day had I tried to approach them in any other way.

Throughout the years, this technique has allowed me to speak to business owners, CEOs, opinion leaders, and key people in many different industries and in almost every walk of life.

And I know it can do exactly the same for you.

Whether you are seeking employment or advancement or attempting to pitch and land a new client… I promise you that the Advice Call Technique I want to teach you will serve you well – once you learn it, practice it and, most importantly, make it your own.

In fact, you have my personal guarantee that once you learn it and practice it you never again will attempt to knock on the front door again.

You will simply ask for advice. (And you’ll get good advice because I’ll be teaching you how to ask wisely.)

Once you learn it, you will find that the Advice Call Technique works better and more consistently than any other single approach for getting a job, skyrocketing your career, or landing a new client.  Continue reading –>

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The greatest hobby in the world

I know a number of people who absolutely live for their hobbies. They work hard all week and the weekend comes they’re off pursuing that hobby.

For example, one friend in Florida has a boat and an RV. It’s all he talks about. Another friend is an amateur photographer. Summer, winter, spring or fall, he walks the streets of New York City with camera in hand and a couple of lenses hanging from his vest. It’s all he wants to do.

When I hear the enthusiasm in their voices, I sometimes feel badly that I don’t have a “real” hobby. And then one day it hit me. I do have a hobby! It’s taking the ideas that come my way, thinking them through, and then creating something (emphasis on “creating”) as a result. This is really the same thing I do for my clients, but in Continue reading

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Here’s one I missed

I typically see reviews of my How to Give Your Business an Extreme Marketing Makeover book within weeks of the review hitting the streets. But I missed this one by Michael Zipursky of Business Consulting Buzz. CLICK HERE to check it out.

It was brought to my attention by a marketing strategist in the Chicago area who read the review, purchased the book, and then purchased the Do-it-yourself Marketing Makeover Mini-Course (The Book on Steroids!).

I like what Michael Z. said “…far too many writers take marketing and sales books to the highly technical side – scary for most people.” I didn’t want to scare anyone!!

The book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and in e-reader formats. CLICK HERE.

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Why don’t websites include contact names?

I can find almost anything on the Internet… and find it quickly. A couple of words such as “carpet cleaning” added to “Riverdale, New York” gives me dozens of companies to choose from.

Some of the company names that pop up in my searches are from larger corporations – Stanley Steamer, Sears, and so on. Others are from the smaller local companies – A2Z, Carpet Cleaning of Riverdale, and so on.

Wherever and whenever I can, I prefer to support small business. After all, I’ve been working with smaller businesses all my life.

But whether I’m searching for carpet cleaning, painters, auto service, or whatever, it amazes me that the people running these smaller businesses don’t capitalize on their most Continue reading

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“Doing a favor” always pays off!

We’re getting ready for a driving trip. This trip requires that we transport “stuff” that we typically wouldn’t transport – stuff that’s going one way.

The solution as how to do that came in the form of a rooftop carrier for the car. My friend Gary Anzalone was gracious enough to loan me a “black box” that rides on top of the car. But the black box requires a special type of crossbar to connect the two side rails.

So, with the black box stuffed inside our station wagon (yes, it fit, but barely), off I go in search of a pair of crossbars. And I found a store not far from home.

One of the team members in the store started to write up the sale. Another, with crossbars and tools in hand, started to head for the door and to my car. Continue reading

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