This is going to be an interesting holiday season. The decorations started going up just after Halloween and within a couple of weeks the retailers had already started discounting. I still think the the season really should begin with Thanksgiving.

Giving thanks is more than just a casual "thank you". We all tend to thank people without thinking: "Thank you for the referral"; "Thank you for returning my call"; "Thank you for stopping in". When was the last time you really gave a gift of thanks to those who have put you where you are today, something personal, specific, and heartfelt? After all, isn't that what it really means to give thanks?

Let me go first. To my clients, thank you for sharing your dreams, your fears, and your ideas. You have given a gift to people you haven't even met because what I have learned from our experience allows me to be a better coach. And it hasn't been just my clients. Many of the people I have met while networking have given me ideas that have helped my marketing and my mindset. I try to return the favor whenever I can. To my readers, thank you for your support and feedback. Thank you for forwarding my newsletters and republishing my articles. Your support validates, improves and energizes my efforts.

Now it's your turn. How can you give a meaningful "thank you" to your customers? How long have they been customers? How important have they been to the success of your business? How important will they be in the future? Make your thanks relevant. What would they truly appreciate and what would be a genuine expression on your part? Is it a card, a calendar, a gift basket or something even more unusual? Perhaps it's a gift in their name to a charity they support. Finally, how will you make it more personal and significant? Putting your name on it might help them remember your name. A handwritten note makes it even better. But, picking something they would truly appreciate will help them remember your service. And, delivering your thanks in person gives you an opportunity to reinforce the message. Above all, make sure this is something heartfelt. Don't do it just because you should, do it because you truly believe in it.

And, while you are out there spending what you will spend anyway, remember your neighbors who own small businesses. Make it a point to shop and dine locally. The money you spend with them serves two purposes - it will be reinvested locally and they'll remember that you chose to do business with them.

Happy thanks giving!

People are still buying, but they are being more careful about how they spend their money. What are you doing to adapt to their concerns? One way is to ask better questions - to begin to truly understand what their feelings are about their situation and their need. Remember, they will make a decision based on how they feel - you and your product or service will make them feel better or safer or more confident. Once the emotional decision is made, they will justify the purchase with logic. Focus on their emotions and they will wind up telling you about the features and benefits.

Holiday parties can be stressful, but they are a great opportunity to network. Good networkers have fun and meet lots of people. Great networkers have intelligent conversations, remember who they talked to and wake up the next morning feeling great. Now that's even more fun!

Our results depend on the choices we make each moment.