5
Ways To Triple You Income In A Slow
Economy
If
I hear one more person nag about how
tough things are out there, I am going
to scream. It is no secret that the
economy is not doing well. Sales are
low. Companies are merging and cutting
back on staffing. Many of us are afraid
our jobs may be gone tomorrow.
Many
businesses, as well as job positions,
are dying a slow death. Don't become
the next victim. Eternal moaning about
a problem will not solve it. We must
think of different ways to better the
situation. Here is my simple advice.
If we want to double our income in a
down economy, we have to quadruple our
service.
I
was a doorman for over ten years before
I became an author and a speaker. And
so, here are some suggestions from the
former doorman:
BE
A MAGICIAN! Everyone knows that
the key to the art of magic is how the
magician tricks the viewer to expect
one outcome; and then by using the element
of surprise, they present you with another.
That is called misdirection; and this
is what makes it fun.
You,
too, should often surprise your customers
or clients. Do something unexpected
to delight them when they least expect
it. Be creative and tasteful. Show up
with a cake to celebrate the first anniversary
of your doing business together; or
depending on the client's sense of humor
- dress as a clown for an appointment.
You will become the subject of conversation.
Use the element of surprise and watch
the dollars magically re-appear!
TAKE
TIME TO CARE! The founder of the
National Speakers Association, Cavett
Robert, often used to say, "no
one cares how much you know until they
know how much you care." In sales,
no one cares what you are selling until
they know how much you care about their
needs and wants.
I
tend to bond and connect with my audiences
when I know them well. Here is a question
for you: How much do you REALLY know
about your customers? Why not take the
time to really get to know them? The
more you know about your customers,
the more you will meet their needs.
FINE-TUNE
YOUR ATTITUDE! In life, two percent
of the people you come across are jerks.
So don't be surprised. Just expect it.
They are not that way because they jerk
you around; they are that way because
that is who they are. Keep in mind that
their significant others and acquaintances
have to put up with them on a daily
basis.
Just
be happy that you don't have to. Don't
let their foul attitude affect yours.
Don’t take it personal. And please
don’t take it to your next customer
either. Always consciously re-adjust
your attitude before your next appointment.
Everyone deserves to see the best side
of you. Always keep in mind that the
people you serve have direct control
over your income.
ANTICIPATION
IS EVERYTHING! Some people don’t
like to receive. If you ask them if
they want something, they would automatically
say, “no, thank you.” It’s
a sense of guilt. People, for the most
part, don't like to make others go out
of their way. My mother always taught
me that we should serve guests at our
home without asking.
She
said they less like to say no. The true
spirit of service is when we anticipate
and take action. For example: At the
hotel, the question most bellmen ask
the guest is, “May I get some
ice for you?” But the question,
rather, should be posed as a statement,
“I am going to get some ice for
you, I will be right back.”
In
some cases, the guest doesn’t
want to be bothered. But most guests
really appreciate it when you go the
extra mile. In my tenure as a doorman,
I always doubled, sometimes even tripled
my tips when I would anticipate what
the guest would need in the next twenty-four
hours while he/she is staying at the
hotel. Making small talk is always a
great way to find out what they are
interested in.
SHARE
THE WEALTH! Many business people
are too busy trying to find ways to
take money from their customers. How
about trying to help your customers
save money? Be honest. If you think
widget A is really what the customer
wants, don’t try to sell widget
B.
They
will love you for being honest. Foresight
is key. I have had guests give me money
that I know is a mistake. But I always
make them aware of the mistake. Years
later the repeating guest remembers
me and always give me a big tip.
When
a customer knows that he or she is cheated,
the whole company’s image suffers.
It’s hard to convince anyone that
you are different when some of your
co-workers are dishonest. And trust
me, those stories travel like wild fire.
