On-line Surveys

On-line Surveys are a Hot Topic for Savvy Small Businesses.

According to a Zoomerang survey, usage of online surveys among small businesses surged 118% between 2001 and September 2004. Other highlights of the survey include:

Faster and easier -- 69% of small businesses that have adopted online surveys are able to obtain results more quickly and easily.

Improved Insights -- 65% have benefited from improved insights about their business.

Higher quality results -- 48% obtain higher-quality results than traditional research methods.
With online surveys "the feedback is instantaneous ... it is honest and demands action," wrote a small business executive in his survey response.

High "Stickiness" Factor -- 94% of small businesses that began using online surveys over the past five years continue to use them, indicating a very high "stickiness" factor, or a strong ability to retain users.

More Meaningful Decisions

• 69% of small businesses which employ online surveys use them to make decisions about product or service improvements.
• 49% use them for decisions about new product or service ideas.
• 46% use them for decisions about customer contact strategies.

As one respondent offered, "Our surveys helped define who our
customers are and, once we studied the data, we were able to target our
advertising message in a more effective manner."

Cost and Time Savings -- 56% of small businesses using online surveys have saved time with the tool and 34% have lowered costs. According to one respondent,

"We reduced mailing and printing costs by 50%. Results were tabulated more
quickly and automatically, reducing staff time by approximately 70%."

Broad usage across industry -- Users in approximately 20 industries, from telecommunications to health care, employ online surveys. The most recent entrants are those users in entertainment and real estate who adopted online surveys in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

Dana Meade, Vice President and General Manager, Zoomerang explained: "Simply put, online surveys are gaining popularity among small businesses because surveys help them better fulfill their potential. Now, entrepreneurs can more confidently invest in and add new services to their businesses based on
proven demand and expand sales based on customers' feedback.”

Surveys can be informal emails, a webpage, a download document, a live survey tool or even an ASK tool. They can be very sophisticated and tailored or very simple and broad depending on your objective. Fourth quarter is a great season to try one as we set objectives and plans in place for the new year. Try one.

Masters of Success

What’s the difference between successful athletes, public figures, business leaders and you and me? According to one man whose passion is learning the secrets of success, it’s the ability to “go out on the smaller branches and take risks.

In his 2005 book, Masters of Success, Ivan Misner, Ph.D. identified seven traits and trends common to some of the most successful people in sports, business and entertainment. Not surprisingly, he found that the ability to put fear aside and take risks, even in the face of adversity, is among them.

He says, “Reaching for more takes learning, and learning makes us feel like children again, with all the excitement, wonder, and fear that spiced our earliest years. And it’s not what we’re learning, it’s where we’re starting from and how far we’re trying to reach that makes the difference.”

Dr. Misner compiled hundreds of stories for Masters of Success, in an attempt to define success based on trends among them. In the section defining risk taking as a determinant to success, Dr. Misner includes a story by Hall of Fame coach, Lou Holtz that advises that no matter what the situation, “when game time comes, take the field thinking you’re the best.” A good lesson for entrepreneurs too.

He says, “To improve, we must weigh the desired end against the pain of getting there. No risk, no gain. If we opt for comfort and ease, we forgo the rewards of accomplishment. But if we take to heart what professional athletes are taught, and do something every day that scares us a little, we stretch our boundaries and move into new territory.”

Other common traits of these successful people are: being passionate about what you’re doing, being systematic, and being known as someone willing to help others. As you set your Q4 goals, consider how you can apply one or more of these traits to become the master of your success.

Ivan Misner, Ph.D. is founder & CEO of BNI (Business Network Int’l), a referral networking organization with Chapters in 19 countries around the world. www.bni.com. You can order the book there directly or at the Amazon link above. Ref: AccountingWEB.com 12/6/04

Stories You Must Be Able to Tell

In early 2005, Daniel Pink introduced his book "A Whole New Mind - Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age". One of the points he made and exemplified is the power of using stories. It demonstrates how most minds work. That is to make a point, use a story. Stories are easier to remember because stories is how we remember. Mark Turner in his book "Literary Mind" says "Most of our experience, our knowledge and or thinking is organized as stories." Stories can divert and amuse the listener. Facts illuminate and reveal.

In business, we need to build a reservoir of stories to share with clients, prospects, vendors and team members to illustrate the points we want to make to them.

Expanding on this idea in his 2006 book "What's Your Story? Using Stories to Ignite Performance and Be More Successful", Craig Wortmann advises us to have personal stories in four areas:

• Success Stories
• Failure Stories
• Funny Stories
• Legends

Success Stories
Success stories are great for showing you and your company off in the best light. We all have success stories from our resume to demonstrate strengths. We all crave success stories we can relate to - because we can envision ourselves walking that same path.

Failure Stories
Indeed, we all need a few of these stories we can pull out of the closet for certain situations. They demonstrate we are human too and make us very relatable. They also help us build strong bonds with people. And by being authentic instead of pollyanna-like, failure stories increase the trust factor in every relationship.

Funny Stories
People need to see that we have a sense of humor. Why should a team show up to work with you if you are always cracking the whip, always aloof and perfect? When we can laugh at ourselves or tell a funny short story - it can break tension, provide perspective and make work fun again.

Legends
Legends are stories many people know already, but they can be used as examples of a point you want to make. Many legends and their stories - Michael Dell/DELL, Henry Ford/Model T, Bill Gates/Microsoft, Thomas Leonard/Coachville, Zig Ziglar/Sales motivation - offer shortcuts to an idea or principle you are addressing - without out lecturing.

Do you have stories in all four areas? Your stories don't have to be larger than life. Everyday examples are more real and tangible for people to grasp and apply. I've got the success stories and the failure stories to share. I have to build a repertoire of funny stories and more legends.

How to Get What You Want Every Time

How often do you really get what you want? How does that feel? On the other hand, how often do you compromise? And how does that feel?

We usually feed pretty good when things are going our way. It can feel like the stars are aligned our way or we’ve been touched by fairy dust or the luck of a leprechaun. It can feel like we didn’t have to put effort into things to make them happen. If you are one of those lucky by nature people, look at the list below. I am sure you have mastered more than one of these habits to help you get what you want every time.

It doesn’t feel good at all, when things aren’t going your way. It can be frustrating and discouraging. If you are one of those people who feel like you live under a dark cloud or everyone is working against you, maybe you need add a few of these habits to your daily routine so you too can get what you want every time.

Here are a few habits that can turn things around so you can get what you want every time. Try them. Test them for yourself. See if things don’t start to happen your way. You deserve to get what you want every time, don’t you?

1. Every thought has creative power. Use it to create your own outer reality.
Stay keenly aware of your thought patterns; what triggers good ones and what triggers ugly ones. Once you can catch yourself, you take back control.
2. Creative visualization. Decide how you want to see the world.
You can reframe how you view events and people. Recreate it on your terms. This habit can set the stage for bigger goals and a bigger vision of you and make it happen. You can see the dark clouds or look for the silver lining.
3. Recognize the Law of Attraction – what you think about, you bring about.
All your energies should always be focused on the best you can accomplish. If you are a Negative Nellie, of course you’ll see the world just like Eeyore (the pessimistic donkey character in Winnie the Pooh books) and indeed that is exactly what you’ll get. Why not look for what you want and bring enthusiasm to achieving it instead.
4. Only envision what you want rather than what you fear.
This is not being a Pollyanna. Rather it is focusing on the best outcome we are striving for instead of being consumed with fear of the worst outcome possible.
5. Take control of designing your life.
No one is in control but you. You get to make new choices every day. If you don’t like the outcome of yesterday’s choices, change them. Every choice should lead to what you want.
6. Control your thoughts and create deliberately with intent.
Be sure you are clear in your intentions so you do not put blinders on yourself but rather keep your thoughts focused on your highest aspirations.
7. Learn, develop and cultivate alternatives.
So when things aren’t going your way, you can turn them around. Having alternatives keeps you flexible and reduces stress without abandoning a goal or dream.
8. Use affirmations to motivate you and keep you focused.
You can find them in books, magazines, websites, Ezines, in any motivational literature, video or audio tape. Use them. They work.
9. Create a personal affirmation.
Say it out loud daily. Create an affirmation that is uniquely you and gives you goosebumps to say out loud. You want one that is bold and vibrant enough for your vision. Until you craft it, borrow one from the best motivational writers/speakers around.
10. Tell everyone what you want and why you want it.
When your support team and network know what you are after and the depth of your commitment to it, it is easier for them to assist and encourage you. Help them help you.