YD: The first thing would be to keep in touch with your client base. It's about being proactive in reaching out to them and creating a solid database of contacts, of prospects, of clients and make sure that the limited dollars they have to spend, they spend with you. Don't give them any opportunity to go somewhere else because it's cheaper. It's all about going back to creating that relationship, that emotional connection that really stands out. It's all about the personal touches - whether it's sending them a newsletter or sending them a postcard - and these are all inexpensive things to not only retain existing clients but generate new leads. [Secondly,] look where you can save money and have a basic understanding of your financials: understand the score board. Business is a game: if you don't have a score board, how do you know you're winning? You have to keep score.

 

HC: How has speaking multiple languages facilitated your success in helping businesses?
YD: It's really about creating a bridge between the cultural barriers, the cultural divides and unless you have communication, the foundation for any relationship, it makes it even more difficult. It's hard enough when you speak the same language! For example, I did a "team alignment" (a day long workshop intended to align the team-members not only with each other but importantly with the vision & mission of the business owner) for a business recently where a large part of their staff was Spanish speaking. [For the meeting,] we translated all the materials [for the Spanish speakers] and did simultaneous translation throughout, so they could feel like they had a voice and they could say what was on their mind. At the end of the day they were so very thankful -many for the first time really made [them] feel like [they] were part of a team and team is the most important asset of any business. If those team synergies aren't there you can be assured that this will affect the bottom line in opportunity losses or, worse, profit losses.