Musings

Only Dogs Get Mad

       Today's high tech business environment allows fantastic interchanges between you and your customers.  It also allows the opportunity for customers to become critics; and they can do it anonymously, behind the curtain of the medium.  We do our best to get "likes" on Facebook and retweets on Twitter, but this opens us up to all kinds of responses. How should you react to these not so positive comments (and to the positive ones, too)?

       Do not hide.  Do not ignore them.  Mom said, "only dogs get mad". Each comment, either negative or positive is a learning opportunity; respond to each comment. For the positive comments a simple thank you is appropriate, and, depending on your business, a discount coupon for future business might be nice. 

       Negative comments take a little more energy.   Remember that "you cannot please all the people all the time." Respond and apologize, ask about what bothered them, and what changes they would like to see; your customer service policies may need a little tweeking.  Thank them for their input. Be open to their comments, remember, you can't grow and change without input.  Don't get defensive, this is a learning experience. Gladly accept any suggestions graciously and ask the customer to please give you another chance.

       Comments can be very powerful tools for your strategic development.  Embrace them and use them to your advantage.  Proper responses will help build your customer base.

Your Money - Your Life   

Semi-Homemade

     Sandra Lee, of FoodTV, has had a very successful show on Food TV showing you how to make "semi-homemade" meals. You can save a lot of money and control the quality of what you feed your family by creating wonderful meals at home using store-bought ingredients combined with a few fresh, in season, ones.

        Even something as simple as "Hamburger Helper", can be improved upon with noodles, fresh (frozen) meat, a can of cream soup, and a package of seasoning, plus a few seasonal vegetables.  Everything except the meat, and maybe the vegetables, can be pantry items, always on hand and ready to use.  Stock up when these items are on sale so you will always be ready to throw together a delicious and nutritious meal for your family.