Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Essentials for Getting Repeat Business

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Essentials for Getting Repeat Business Here is the story of two companies. I bought a ton of products from both this year. Company 1’s offerings were stellar, but had a laissez-faire attitude toward the significant hurdles I faced during the procurement process. Company 2’s product line was less impressive, but the folks there jumped through hoops to ensure that I was happy and satisfied with my purchases. Which company am I more likely to buy from again? In the small business world, everything is personal. You can have the most incredible product or service the customer has ever seen, but if she doesn’t like you, it won’t matter. Quality is important, of course, but trust trumps it every time. The way Company 2 treated me makes me want to give its offerings another shot, and it makes me want to recommend it to others. I’m not the first person to say that it’s much easier to sell to an existing customer than to get a new customer. However, despite the fact this idea is almost a cliché, small business owners continually expend more effort marketing to strangers than taking care of the people who are right under their noses. Once you’ve gone to all the trouble to seal the initial deal, here are five things you must do to get repeat business from your customers. Insert Yourself Small businesses are often appealing because customers like to support the local guy (or gal) who is just like them. As your business grows, you might lose the intimate bond you have with your customers, and that’s dangerous. If you want to make a terrific impression, owners should connect one-on-one with customers whenever possible and especially if there has been a snafu and the customer is angry. If a customer understands that you are there for him personally, he will be more likely to give your company the benefit of the doubt. Give Them Something Special Reward programs are a no brainer â€" it costs virtually nothing to design a simple repeat visitor card. And if you have the choice of getting your morning latte from Starbucks or the neighborhood joint and the neighborhood joint is giving you a free scone on your next visit, you’re going there. Also, give existing customers a sneak peek at new products or services and give them freebies or deep discounts in exchange for feedback. For more ideas, check out the full post at the AMEX Open Forum.

How to Write a Resume - Spacing Tips

How to Write a Resume - Spacing TipsWhen you're considering how to write a resume, spacing is one of the most important parts of the entire document. It can be difficult for some people to learn how to properly space out their documents; however, there are many different ways to do this that will help to make your job a little easier.Using the first page to highlight your accomplishments and skills is a great way to help you create the perfect spacing for your resume. This is the first place you'll want to begin writing in your own style. Try to avoid using too much white space, as this can make the application of grammar difficult. However, for a more formal style that is more professional looking, you may find it helpful to use a bit more of this type of space.If you're using your resume for an interview, the first page should be used to show off what you know. Include how long you've been employed at your current job, including any awards you've received along the way. Don't forge t to include your skills, such as professional or technical expertise, skills with a certain type of tool, or any other skills you have that show what you can do with a particular career.The second page of your resume is also a good place to introduce yourself to potential employers. Use this space to describe yourself a little bit more, including your hobbies, education, and specific hobbies.Use this space to describe where you are in your current career. Try to use examples to illustrate your ability to perform the duties required. There are many different types of resumes that you can choose from, and some jobs may require a different type of format than others.You can even create a custom resume and fax it in, or you can also have it created on paper or hard copy. Always keep in mind that your resume is the document that will represent you and your skills, so be sure to use the space effectively.Your skills and accomplishments should show the employer your unique personality. Th ink about how you have demonstrated your abilities in your past job applications, and put that same information into your resume.These tips will help you get started with some ideas for spacing out your resume. Remember that you should have fun with this process and always consider how you want to present yourself. Formal and informal styles are all different and appropriate.

CCG Success 01 How to Live Your Best Life - Classy Career Girl

CCG Success 01 How to Live Your Best Life I received so much great feedback about last months mini-series. As you may recall, we went back to the basics of how this all started and what it means to be a Classy Career Girl. If you havent listened to last months episodes, make sure you listen to those! So, one of the things we covered were the six components of becoming a Classy Career Girl, which include: Success Happiness Balance Class Skill Style Over the next six months, we are going to be diving into each of these key components. Today, we are diving into one part of becoming a Classy Career Girl! Component 1 of a Classy Career Girl: Striving for Success A Classy Career Girl makes goals and a plan that inspires her in her mindset, money, life, and career dreams. She strives for living her best life. Success Taking the stress out of sticking to goals and making a plan that inspires you.   CCG Success 01: How to Live Your Best Life Your best life is the process of achieving your dream. Testing and trying things. It’s a journey. Upgrade that I’m going through. Being proud of what I’m doing. It is easy to get caught up in reaching for success, so today I want to give you three ways to live your best life right now.   Subscribe  on  your favorite platform below: iTunes Google Play Music Stitcher Radio TuneIn iHeartRadio Sound Cloud 1) What Does Success Mean to You? As you search for your dream job or build your dream business, it is easy to get caught up in the chase, in the next step, in always looking forward. You might even get so caught up that you don’t recognize success when it is right in front of you. If you don’t know what success looks like, how will you know when you reach it?   You might be surprised to learn that you are succeeding â€" right now! What were your goals a few years? Did you accomplish them and then set new, higher goals? Did you take the time to celebrate those successes? Today is a Success Sometimes, we are so consumed with our next career goals we forget to celebrate when we reach our current goals. That can lead to burn out or feeling overwhelmed. So before you start making next year’s goals, stop. Figure out what success means to you. When you can answer that question, you will be better prepared to outline your goals. Here is what success looks like to me: Helping women change their lives Inspiring others Providing for my family Being a great mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend Supporting others Being happy while accomplishing the above What Does Success Look Like to You? Does success mean running your own business? Does it mean being able to spend more time with family? Working less and earning more? Finally setting up your website? Getting your first freelance client? Take the time to celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. It will give you the motivation you need to keep pushing forward. 2) Making a Vision That Inspires You Your vision journal expresses your WHY- why is your goal important to you, why are you making a change in your life? On difficult days it’s important to remember your why. When you are feeling uninspired or unmotivated, remember your why. Just take a look at your vision journal, and you’ll remember why. What do you want to create in the future? When you imagine completing your goal, what does your life look like? What words or phrases represent your life when you complete your goal? Why do you want to reach this goal? Decide on the type of vision board you want to create and make it. There is more than one type of vision board. Most people think about cutting out pictures and putting them on a board, which is totally one type of vision board. Get a bunch of magazines and cut out words and images that represent where you want to be. You can also create a journal-notebook and cut things out for index cards. Or you can use a secret Pinterest board. Look at it morning and night and all the time. Carry it with you. Make it a habit. It’s essential to have it when you are out there pursuing opportunities and talking to people about who you are and what you want to create in your life. The clearer you are about this, the easier it’s going to be for the right people to find you. Use your vision board to make decisions. 3) Move Past What is Holding You Back from Success. Be Aware of Success Roadblocks In order to have this trait, you have to move past the problems and excuses to success so you don’t stay stuck. What are they? Impostor syndrome Fears Procrastination Perfectionism The stress of sticking to goals Thank you so much for joining me today! I would love to hear your thoughts about todays topic. Reach out on Instagram and tell me what your best life looks like.

Elevate Your Career San Diego Event PHOTOS!

Elevate Your Career San Diego Event PHOTOS! On September 26th, I held my very first Elevate Your Career event in San Diego.  This live event in San Diego had over 25 professional women in attendance and was a huge success.  What made this event actually happen I explained in detail on my post about the best decision and investment I made for my career. It was truly scary to book a venue and put a deposit down when no one had even signed up yet.  But, it turned out to be one of my highlights of 2013 and something that I will always remember.  2013 was all about facing my fears and personal growth. I hope to do many more events just like this in 2014 so stay tuned if you live in or around San Diego. Thanks again to our sponsors  Togally and MyTailoredFitness.com. Our sponsors  helped make this fabulous event a reality!  Enjoy the photos below and stay tuned for the video which will be coming soon in the new year! Our Sponsors Fitness That Fits Your LifeTailored Fitness lets you create a workout at home that fits in your schedule so you can spend less time exercising and more time enjoying life. Easily find and hire a great local photographer in minutes!Any event, any budget, as low as $30!  Togally is only in SD for now but we will be expanding nation-wide in the near future. Registration Cocktail Party Event Start

What Are the Rules For Effective Resume Writing?

What Are the Rules For Effective Resume Writing?If you're going to be hiring a recruiter, it's very important that you know what are the rules for effective resume writing. You want your letter to stand out from the rest and be as convincing as possible. This article will help you understand why the rules of resume writing are so important.The first thing you need to do is understand what are the rules for effective resume writing. Your recruiter wants you to stand out from the rest and the only way you can do this is by being convincing. By being convincing, you need to convince them that you're the best candidate for the job. By presenting yourself as the best candidate, your recruiter will be much more willing to consider you for the job.One thing that you need to do before you even start writing your letter is that you should have a good idea of what it is that the recruiter really needs to know. There are two things they are looking for. The first is that you're detail-oriented individuals.The second thing that they are looking for is that you have integrity and are willing to stand by your word. This means that you have no problem telling the truth or even with embellishing a little bit in order to get it right.What recruiters need to know is that you have the drive to succeed. They also need to know that you have the ability to overcome any obstacles that you may encounter along the way. Being prepared in every aspect of your life is going to be a big plus for you and it is going to help you move along with the rest of the pack in terms of gaining employment.Recruiters also want to know that you have a list of skills that you can offer to the company. Remember that the hiring process is just one of many processes that the recruiter has to go through. You need to be able to apply your skill sets in order to gain employment.The next thing that the rules for effective resume writing will help you to understand is that your resume is going to be the centerpi ece of your application. Think about it, wouldn't you want your recruiter to see a great letter instead of thousands of other letters? This is why it is so important that you use the proper format. This will help ensure that your letter is going to stand out and be read.Your recruiter has seen thousands of letters and maybe even written their own. Make sure that you are using the right formatting and that you are taking advantage of everything that is offered.

Gracious Gains How to Properly Ask a VIP for a Favor

Gracious Gains How to Properly Ask a VIP for a Favor WHO you know is as important as what you know. Knowing how to ask the VIPS in your circle for what you need takes skill and tact. Below etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore shares her top tips for making the most of your VIP connectionsIn general, VIPs are inundated with requests for referrals and favors and they tend to decline unless they know you well. Once youve established a relationship, youre ready to take the plunge. Your polite requests will be more valid and effective if you are willing to follow these guidelines:Study Up: Research the VIPs passions. Your correspondence or conversation will flow more smoothly if you know something about his or her hobbies or interests. If you can find something in common with the VIP, the connection will most likely shift your relationship from casual to personal. Show Up: Its best not to wait to reach out until you get laid off or need a favor or referral. Youll increase your chances of making a good connection if youre in the right place at the right time with the right information and the right attitude. Pay Up: In some cases, you may have to stretch your budget and spend some money to gain access to a VIP. Dont be surprised if you have to buy a pricey ticket to a luncheon or gala so you can meet the VIP in person. Youll acquire extra points if you can find out a VIPs favorite cause, charity, or alma mater and make a donation in his or her name. Speak Up: Dont be afraid to ask a VIP for a favor or a request, but make sure you know when and how to ask. Approach the VIP in a polite, humble, and respectful manner, and give it a shot. My motto is: if you dont ask, the answer will always be no, but if you do ask, the answer just might be yes.Set Up: Its counterproductive to attend events just because you skipped lunch and youre hungry for cheese puffs or thirsty for a cocktail. Stay focused on your goal. Make a mental list of the VIPs youd like to meet, and then introduce yourself as soon as you spot them. If possible, connect with the people you want to meet before the meal. Some VIPs like to make an early showing at an event and then quietly slip away as soon as possible so they can get to another engagement. Buddy Up: When you want to meet a VIP for the first time, find a host or someone in authority (the connector) to introduce you. This makes the introduction more significant than if you were to approach the VIP on your own. If theres no connector, then take the initiative and hope for the best. Step Up: Id be remiss if I didnt encourage you to put your boss on your VIP list. In a perfect world you might consider treating all of your work colleagues like VIPs, but it makes perfect sense to work especially well with your boss. Pay particular attention to the things your boss doesnt like to do and then become exceptionally good at those tasks. Youll not only score extra points with your boss; youll also make yourself indispensable. Your initiative and willingness to go the extra mile might just put you on your bosss VIP list as well.Many thanks to Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach for sharing her advice. Be sure to check out her new bookPOISED FOR SUCCESS (St. Martins Press, Nov. 2011). She can be reached at www.etiquetteexpert.com.

Choose A Career With These Tips - CareerAlley

Choose A Career With These Tips - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Many teenagers and young adults have difficulty choosing a career. There are a variety of factors that must be considered to ensure a long, fulfilling and fruitful career. One of the best ways to start is with a career path or direction, but even this task will be difficult. Knowing exactly what type of work gives you satisfaction will key to choosing a suitable career path. But, this is only the beginning. Below, you will discover a list of tips to help kick-start your effort. source What Is Your Dream Career? One of the first things you should ask yourself is what is your dream career. Believe it or not, many young children have a career in mind, going back to elementary and middle school. It is not unusual for some children to make their career dream a reality, by getting a degree in that field. Regardless, if your dream career is a teacher or lawyer, you can make it come true. And, you do not need millions of dollars to make this happen. What do you really want? Ask yourself that. Then sleep on it. Then ask yourself again. If its in a constant state of flux, thats likely a side effect of the common condition of being young and indecisive. Its not out of the question for a young person to be totally sure of what they want and it could even run parallel to what you need in your life. That being said, it is important to recognize that what you think you want today and how you pursue that can have deep and lasting effects on your life. Monster.com What Are Your Favorite Hobbies? While some people believe that it is a ridiculous idea to turn a hobby into a career, thousands of people have done it. To prove this point, you must look at the many famous artists who have made a career out of their hobby. These artists include Vincent Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso and Rembrandt. Of course, some of these artists found it difficult to achieve success, while they were alive. But, today they are considered some of the most famous artists in the world.