Customer Service

Recently, I witnessed the perfect storm at the vet. Two staff members were working frantically behind the counter to man the phones and check-out waiting patients. At least 5 pet owners were waiting to pay while also attempting to social distance as their pets whined, meowed, barked and yanked on leashes.     As one … Continued

Recently, someone asked me an interesting question. “How do you view the world from the perspective of a marketer?” I was stumped. The question caught me off guard. I strummed my fingers lightly on the table searching my brain for an answer. Then, it dawned on me. I am making this way harder than it … Continued

“Thanks for calling. We appreciate our customers, and your call is very important to us. Please stay on the line as all of our customer service representatives and serving others” I don’t know about you, but when I call a business and get a recording similar to this, I certainly do NOT feel like an … Continued

As a kid, when my Mom rang the dinner bell, we came running. I mean…she didn’t actually have a dinner bell. But, we did eat at the dinner table as a family every single night — a tradition that seems to be fading in today’s society.  Studies show that families reap huge benefits from this … Continued

“Fish are friends, not food!” I’m sure you remember this iconic quote from Finding Nemo when Bruce, Anchor, and Chum invited Marlin and Dory to their Fish-Friendly Sharks support group. As a business owner, YOU are the shark, and your customers are the fish. This same friendly principle should be applied to your business model, … Continued

We can all agree that Henry Ford was a smart businessman. His legacy and business models still live on today. But there is more we can learn from Henry Ford than just assembly-line efficiency.  Henry Ford taught business owners how to say “no”. Ford famously insisted, “Any customer can have a car painted any color … Continued

Do you know who Josh Kalk is? He’s a human curveball.  Upon first glance, Kalk appears to be nothing more than your average Joe…a shy intellect if you will.   The 44 year-old started out as a math and physics professor at a small state college in West Virginia and a small-time writer of his own … Continued

In the mid-1960s a man walked into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s admissions office.   “I’m here to study electronic surveillance technology,” he said.  The statement caused some confusion since MIT had no record of the young man ever applying to the school. The fact that he also didn’t have a matriculation certificate complicated the matter.  … Continued

If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that people should know all of the facts before they make a decision or take action.  But, rather than dredge up dicey subjects and lay out the red carpet for a battle royale in the comments, I’ll explain my sentiments this way.  Imagine you’re on a long … Continued

Mike Figliuolo, the founder of Thought Leaders, was a tough guy. A former US army platoon leader. An entrepreneur. A certified Master Fitness Trainer. Not exactly the type of person you would expect to have a heart attack at 43. Despite all his accomplishments, Figliuolo learned one important lesson: he wasn’t making time for his … Continued