1. MAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON BUSINESS AND YOUR LIFE.
Take time to reflect and NOT to plan. (Plan, too!)

Often we don't make time for anything in our lives but numbers - how many gifts do we have to buy, what should we cook on Christmas or Hannukah, which marketing method brought us
the most clients, how much money we made this past year - STOP!

Make time to be alone. Close your eyes. Reflect on what has gone on in the past year and how you reacted to it. What would you do differently?Try using case studies, success stories, testimonials or examples of how others used your product or service successfully. Solicit material from clients and vendors, or ask your readers to write. It's a win-win! You get relevant content, and they get exposure.

 
2. LEARN FROM "ELDERS".
My mom died this past February and so I thought about her life and what she'd taught me.

Don't wait until someone is gone from this life or yours. Ask them your "burning" questions whenever you have one.

One of the best mentors my partner and I had in our Apple computer dealership was a client of ours. We'd take him for lunch and ask him what we didn't know (which was a lot since we were so new at running a business and he'd had his for 20 years then.)

3. EXERCISE REGULARLY.
Even walking helps. This is a good time to either clear the clutter in your brain or to think about a particular difficulty and find a solution.

You'll live better and be happier. I walk in the hallway in my apartment building about four times each week. I meet my neighbours and smile at them, think about what to write in my articles, blog or newsletter and feel grateful that I can walk.

4. LEARN SOMETHING THAT IS NEW FOR YOU.
Do you read books? Do you listen to teleclasses either on your phone or your computer? Do you use any of the social media like a blog, facebook or twitter? Do you have a website yet? Start any of these this year? Those who are learners often live longer!

6. STAY IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE.
My sister in law planned the annual Van Buskirk Family Picnic this past June. We haven't had one for over 40 years but all of my cousins remembered them. It was also a chance to re-connect with people we may not have seen for a while and for parents (my cousins) to introduce their children to family members. It was wonderful.

Phone clients instead of emailing them and even if you get voice mail, leave a message.

I use this newsletter to stay in touch. You can also use your blog to do this, too. Connect or hook up with people in this way.


It's the Christmas season and most of us use this time of year to connect with others. We smile more, take time more, go out with
friends more or party more. Why not do this all year? Not only is it good customer service but we are more 'human', aren't we?

Keep learning, and until next time. 
Trudy Van Buskirk

There is no book for this issue. I'll review one next month.

Read and remember the following poem.

 

The Dilemma

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk rejection.

To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or love.

Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave.

He has forfeited his freedom.

Only a person who risks is free.