Archive for February, 2018

Is a Call Center Beneficial to the Overall Business Philosophy?

Posted February 27, 2018 By GuestSpot

Do I really need a call center?

If you are looking to improve your business, in addition to pushing past your comfort zone and looking at your marketability, another one of the areas you need to look at is how your communications system is laid out. For small business – we often forget to consider the process that clients reach out to us. Especially when they call your phone which for many people today usually doubles as a mobile phone. For the small businesses, you have to be prepared to act as the “call center” or consider getting one. Most large-scale operations need telephone operators for inbound and outbound calling. Call centers can be an efficient way to accomplish this need while playing into your overall philosophy. If you don’t take advantage of it, you might be missing chances to grow.

Message context and social content awareness

Here are some tips on how a call center can play into your overall business philosophy.

Not only are call centers good for large-scale operations, they are beneficial to small businesses, as well. The center can improve productivity which leads to increased profits. It is hard for someone to be in two places at once. Thus, when a customer wants to place an order, the call center is there to help so that the product can get sent out quicker. It is important to know what kind of call center you want to have. There are two basic types: customer service and sales. And with the implementation of a call center, one general purpose is that the call center is the primary point of contact for a business. Interacting with customers, building the brand, and showing that you care, can help your small business grow into something special.

Time

Quite simply, it takes a lot of time if you try to run a call center yourself. Not only do you need to deal with the employees, but their managers as well. Every little thing that goes wrong has to be dealt with. In outsourcing your call center operations, you enjoy more time for other things in your business.

Systemization

If you don’t have clear-cut systems in any business process, things are going to get lost in translation. Call centers have protocols that ensure your customers get the best service possible. And it today’s day and age, with digital technology like the internet connecting almost everyone through social media, blogs, and apps, it pays to have a company that you can trust to deliver a consistent experience that will generate a lot of goodwill in the marketplace.

Energy and Focus

A great call center will have the ability to do everything for you so that your energy and focus can remain on your highest strategic objectives. The last thing you want to do if you run a company is getting down in the trenches too often and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Cost Savings

With call center outsourcing, you get some cost reductions. You don’t need to have insurance and other benefits like vacation time. You also don’t have to worry about liability costs or the actual center itself like electricity and property taxes.

When it comes to overall business philosophy, there is the concept of defining an outcome and doing whatever it takes to get there. If you use call centers, you can enjoy some benefits. A call center can take a load off of your operations so you can be freed up to focus on the higher level things in your business. It also lets you automate the process and avoid paying higher costs for in-house employees. So don’t miss out on the opportunities that call centers have to offer. Consider how you can start implementing this plan in your company today.

Sources

https://roicallcentersolutions.com/service/call-center-outsourcing/

https://www.allbusiness.com/the-benefits-of-outsourcing-for-small-businesses-2-1084-1.html

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/small/Op-Qu/Outsourcing.html

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How A Middle-Aged Workforce Can Keep Up With Millennial Coworkers

Posted February 13, 2018 By Frank Strona

Let’s face it – one likes being called middle-aged

Especially when it is used to label a workforce as slowing down or “less than”

But its the best part of knowing, you still have a vibrate life ahead of you. With technology on the rise in an age of social media marketing, millennial co-workers and competitors can be intimidating—especially if you feel like you’re struggling to keep up. As we age, our energy diminishes. It’s a normal part of growing older, but there are ways to keep your age from holding you back. If you’re struggling with keeping your energy up throughout the day, there are a couple different solutions you might want to think about entertaining.

 

Fuel Your Body

The most obvious potential culprit is your diet: a poor diet is one of the key influencers in depleted energy. If you feel like you no longer have the capacity to keep up with your younger co-workers, consider a stricter meal plan designed to boost your energy. Our key suggestion for more energy is lots of complex carbohydrates, such as dark leafy greens or starches, which will help restore and stabilize your energy levels. You should also include plenty of protein and healthy fats. Some excellent contenders for your energy-boosting diet would be fish, white meats, avocados, and beans. For those of you who tend to “skip” out on breakfast (which I often do), I recently found this recipe in the  March Issue of  Men’s Health Magazine for Blueberry Oat Pancakes, the primary ingredient is plain oatmeal with added protein. While dense, when whipped up on a Sunday, cooled and wrapped – they freeze well an I grab them now on my way out the door. Cold or toasted, maybe with a bit of peanut butter they are a lot better than that skipping or grabbing something on the road. I found a similar version here, but the March version as follows is updated more and better tasting.

 

I am sharing the March version below:

  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 3 scoops of Vanilla whey protein powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 Pinch of salt
  • 3 bananas
  • 3 large eggs, plus 6 egg whites (I used the pre-made version from the store for this)
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (I would use more at least a full teaspoon)
  • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon (I would use more at least a full teaspoon)
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil or butter for brushing the cooking surface

To Make: 

  • Using the blender or a Ninja machine; blend together everything but the blueberries and the oil/butter. It will be “batter” like texture.
  • Using a non-stip skillet, brush with coconut oil or butter and ladle about a 1/3 of a cup of batter (this will make about 12 cakes).
  • Cook 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Cool (or eat), package in zip bags and freeze or put in refrigerator

Note: this is a simple example of how to snack or eat on the go – it’s a flexible batter – so change it up! So while recipe says a serving is 3, I found 1 -2 to be perfect.

 

Manage Hormones

Another option you may want to consider is talking to your doctor about taking hormone booster supplements. Testosterone levels decline in men as they age, and a deficiency can result in any number of symptoms, such as depression, weight gain, loss of stamina, fatigue, and cognitive decline. Similar effects can result from an estrogen imbalance in women. Managing hormone levels through diets and supplements could be the small change it takes to help you feel young, energized, and ready to take on work like you could twenty years ago. Having honest and open discussions with your health care providers about your energy level, mood, sexual desire, etc is a great way to stay aware and to ensure they do the appropriate diagnostic exams.

 

Stay Active

Another good way to boost your energy is to create a routine in which you are regularly active. This activity can be anything from taking long walks to bicycling to taking a fitness class. It doesn’t matter so much what the activity is as long as you’re making an effort to get moving and you’re doing it safely. Research proves that being regularly active can increases energy, especially as people get older. Remember – active is simply that “active”; how you define it for you doesn’t have to look like it does for everyone else. Don’t take on something that doesn’t feel right for yourself.

Start slow and work up. Have fun with it. I know in my household, tension would arise when the dreaded “let’s go for a walk” was mentioned. As it usually meant a 1-2 mile urban hike. But once we discussed that my enjoyment of a walk is about seeing new things and doing the same walks through town, did not entice or was it compelling. Now we use the walks as a way to explore new parts of town together and with friends. For those of you in the Bay Area; we even have a “Walking Coach“. His specialty is using the process of walking to help the client develop other areas of life. You can check out his work here http://www.sfwalker.com

 

Develop Your Skillset

Another advantage of younger workers is that they are tech-savvy. Computers and mobile devices aren’t new technology anymore, but their change has been incredibly rapid. Those of us who are less nimble in mind, let’s say, may struggle to keep up. The truth is that in today’s knowledge economy, everybody needs to constantly develop their skills – regardless of the demographics of their office. This has led to the rise of services like Skillshare or Udemy that help us stay sharp in an increasingly competitive job market.

Career Counseling

In all of these efforts, you need someone in your corner to help you navigate career decisions and advise your efforts to maintain a strategic, competitive advantage. I’d love to be part of that process. Check out the coaching services I offer and see if we can’t partner to keep you at the top of your game.

 

No matter how old you get, there is always a way to improve your situation and reinforce your position in the workplace. Focus on your strengths and what it is that you as an individual can offer your employers. Turn being a little older than your millennial co-workers into a strength: you’re more experienced and hopefully, you’ll feel just as confident.

 

References

 

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2018 Spring Guest series with Louis Karim on “Where I Belong Now”

Posted February 7, 2018 By Frank Strona

Some new voices on Engage

As part of my Spring Guest Series, I reached out to a cross-section of my friends and colleagues who have taken creative and engaged paths towards developing a career. The first of the series is from the mind of a longtime friend, and creative visionary Louis Karim. His extensive background in commercial media helped to make him a true visionary in media-related content from a Middle Eastern lens.  We took some time together to discuss his “Where I Belong Now” as a perfect example of how staying true to your passions, natural and professional dream can take shape to create a compelling story worthy of an international audience.
Louis Karim is an award-nominee and quad-lingual Lebanese American Creative Producer-storyteller and media consultant with more than two decades of experience to support his efforts. He is seen as a visionary individual among many in the industry, with his strong work ethic and professionalism in directing and creating broadcast and social media platform video content. He brings with him a significant experience in lifestyle, brand development, editorial design, digital video content social media and broadcast art directing. Something I have always appreciated about Louis is his strong aesthetic sense, and eye for detail. He has married his creative mind with a french style that can transfer concepts to visual images in a way that leaves you wanting more.

 

Take a moment to enjoy “Where I Belong Now” then read more about Louis below.

Generation After War from Louis E Karim on Vimeo.

 

Frank: Louis, how did you get to be doing this kind of work?
Louis: In 2011, my former boss asked me to join the team of a magazine program in a storytelling format, It was an outstanding challenge that I felt deeply in love with, my first story was the 25th anniversary of Keith Haring. As you know the storytelling format had developed since from Q&A to Docu-telling style 
Frank: So tell me a bit about “Where I Belong Now”.
Louis: “Where I Belong Now” is the story of 5 immigrants survivors from heated countries in the Middle East where situations at home now created challenges tor them to live and thrive as day to day life became a struggle. Each seeks to flee oppression and political pressure with a need so great, that the risk and fear associated with leaving to seek refuge in the U.S becomes a compelling reason to try.

 

Frank: What struck you most about the stories?
Louis: It wasn’t their differences. What I resonated with the most, was that they each would share stories and experiences of commonality, from desire, to situations and themes that marked their journey. This common thread is what ties many immigrants who seek a new life beyond the borders of the birthplace.
Frank: In “Where I Belong Now” what were some of those common these the viewers will see expressed?
Louis: Much of it is about transitions and self-assessment. The inner dialogues immigrants have that questions the motive behind the move, and then becomes the voice of worry as they seek to settle into a new place. They included:
  • Is living in the United States the answer?
  • Taking the risk
  • Leaving behind loved ones, family, and friends
  • Living in limbo
  • Living in nostalgia 
  • Staying connected with the homeland
  • Start a new life 
  • Fear of failing 
  • Would (or could) they return to a homeland?
  • Where do they belong now
Frank: Louis, how long did this take?
Louis: I worked on this project, over the course of 2 months with content filmed in 4 cities and different production crews.
Frank:  Louis – did you travel to each? 
Louis: Yes Frank, I traveled to each city: Philly, NY, SF and Seattle.
Frank: Having the different crews must have been a challenge.
Louis: As you can imagine with your experience of working remotely so often, it had its moments.  Each story had a different crew and equipment that was available, so that also created its own unique challenge. I worked to maintain the same production quality running through, yet stay true to the story told. Also important to me was the music used. I choose a different piece of music theme for each one for reference and to honor the differences of the story.
Frank: Are you still own touch with any of the storytellers?
Louis:Yes. [smiles] The experience became more than just one getting the shot. In the end, 3 of them became close friends.
Frank: When working in the storytelling mode, what technique do you think added more impact to the video stories? 
Louis: I think the extra time to balance and strategically place the captions & quotes, during editing added a strong impact on delivering the message of a survivor.
Frank:Louis, where can people find you the days?
Louis:  Recently I started my social digital video blog at Arts2Vivre. As Founder and CEO, my hopes is that it will mature into a modern, trendy and contemporary social site; I remain active on most social media platforms: like Facebook, LinkedIn, or on  Twitter @louiekarim, Vimeo and Instagram.

Portfolio Site: http://www.louiskarim.com/

Arts2Vivre: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Arts2Vivre/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/louikarim

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-e-karim-0128b0a/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Louiekarim @louiekarim

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/louiskarim

Instagram: louiekarim

 

 

Some of Louis Karim award nominee stories include:

  • Keith Haring “Untitled Artist”; 2011 New York TV Award
  • Food and Fadawa ”Noor Theatre”; 2011 New York TV Award 
  • MYJIHAD; 2012  New York TV Award 
  • Roads to Damascus “Visual-Musical live performance”;2013 Cine Award

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The 2018 MentorSF Spring Guest Blogger Series kicks off this week with #Storytelling

Posted February 6, 2018 By Frank Strona

Spring Guest Blogger Series

Excited to kick off my Spring Guest Series tomorrow with an interview from Louis Karim and his media storytelling efforts on “Where I Belong Now”.  Last month I put an open invite out letting folks know that I would be hosting “guest” posts that spanned a wide range of topics. And Louis was one of the first to say “I’m In”. I kept the framework flexible handset parameters for the posts to include narrative content, interview style, poetry, audio and media along with the invite to cross-link to any projects the folks were currently involved in.

Someone asked why was I being so willing to share my space with others. For me it was simple – storytelling isn’t something any one person can own. The “stories” may be unique to the person – but they share a more widely held human experience worth sharing. So why not open up my blog to share and cross-pollinate some thinking. Collaboration is the best way to experience new ideas, insight and sometimes even challenge your own thinking. In the end, it’s all about what our government leadership is lacking. The understanding that “diversity and strong opinions can still play nice together” and achieve some incredible outcomes when both sides take part.

Here was the original post:

I’m putting the word out that I am inviting people interested in writing a guest post on my MentorSF.com Engage blog. The content can be fluid and may, of course, link back to any projects of yours. I am especially looking for the following topics/themes;

– Workforce Development
– Diversity & Inclusion content
– Balancing life & work
– Social Media and Technology rips and tools
– Stories of how to thrive during scarcity
– Senior Transitions
– Storytelling
– Have an urge to teach or how to article?

Other ideas? Go ahead and pitch me …

If you are interested leave a comment below and how best to reach you or message me directly. The blogs can run 300-700 words.

If you missed the announcement, check out my MentorSFCA Facebook page or email me at [email protected] for details.

Stay tuned to read and see more on tomorrow’s Engage Post!

 

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Guest Post; 5 ways to become a Creative yet Ethical Car Salesperson

Posted February 1, 2018 By Frank Strona

Ethics in business?

Since I am in the middle of teaching a health ethics course, the concept of ethics in business practices was on my mind this month.  This week I am sharing a guest post from Mark Schlatter, of Kansas City Ford, one of the MentorSF Engage! readers,  on the often made fun of and occasionally controversial professional roles; the car salesperson.

Let’s face it – buying a car can either be a great experience or a terrible one. I have had both – but I am also clear that it isn’t an industry thing so much of a way we ask people who live on commissions to hit high goals every month. For anyone who lives on a commission based role, to reach them often can put a person in an ethical dilemma.

Mark was willing to share some thoughts on his views of the creative yet ethical salesperson.    –Frank

How to be a Creative yet Ethical Car Salesperson

Due to negative media portrayals, car salespeople have built up a reputation over the years of not being in the most honest profession. People have walked away from car dealerships feeling lied to, conned, and even scammed out of their money. It has gotten so bad that people hate the experience and try to avoid car salespeople altogether.

This doesn’t have to be the case, however. There are some simple rules that every car salesperson can follow, to not only be ethical as a salesperson but to also be far more successful than they would have been otherwise.

#1 Be Honest

Rule number one is the simplest, yet the most commonly broken. Do not lie to the customer. Under no circumstance should the salesperson ever lie to their customer. Lying to the customer destroys the bond of trust that must be implied in order for the relationship between customer and seller to exist. Lying to the customer may seem like a quick and easy way to make a buck, but it only hurts the salesperson and ultimately the entire dealership in the end.

#2 Be Helpful

Rule number two is a little more nuanced. Be transparent. Sometimes it doesn’t take an outright lie to get a customer to believe something that is not totally true. When a salesperson sees that a customer has an idea about a vehicle that is false, it is incumbent upon the salesperson to correct this mistake. It may be tempting to allow the customer to go right along thinking something positive about the vehicle that isn’t really accurate, but by letting the customer know the truth, not only will the salesperson be making the ethical decision, but they will be strengthening the bond between seller and buyer, and putting themselves one step closer to finding the right car that the customer will love and be totally happy with.

#3 Be Disciplined

Rule number three is a matter of discipline. Do not shortchange the employer. This is an important rule at Kansas City Ford dealership Zeck Ford. As a car salesperson, it can sometimes be easy to slack off and not give their employer the hours of work that they agreed to. This is wrong, and they know it. Allowing themselves this lack of discipline is not only ethically incorrect, but it will seep into all aspects of their life. Taking pride in their work as well as their integrity will turn them into the kind of salesperson that every customer wants to deal with.

#4 Be in it for the Long Haul  

Rule number four is a strategy that not only applies to the car lot but also in all tasks in life. Play the long game. This means that is far more important to be looking to the future than to throw everything away for a short-term, one-time success. That one-time success, due to the sloppy nature of it, can easily backfire and lead to a person’s downfall.

In the situation where a car salesperson sees the opportunity to trick or pressure a customer into a sale, they should take a step back and not do it. Make sure the customer understands everything about the vehicle as accurately as possible and also make sure that the customer is completely ready to purchase the car. This will build long-term trust with the salesperson and the dealership. This long-term trust will soon turn into long-term cash.

#5 Be Reliable

Rule number five is to simply not make promises that cannot be kept. The salesperson must follow through with all agreements and guarantees made to the customer that led to the customer purchasing the vehicle. It is vitally important that the salesperson not start making promises to the customer based on something another salesperson told them at another dealership.

If a condition cannot be met, simply say so. Not doing so will create a situation where the dealership and the salesperson will lose their integrity, and inevitably, the trust of their customer base. However, showing the customer that they are only willing to tell them the truth will go a long way in making that customer feel comfortable with the salesperson and the dealership, and will eventually lead to repeat business.

#6 Believe in One’s Self

The final rule is not an ethical obligation to the customer, but an obligation to oneself. The salesperson owes it to themselves to obtain the best opportunity for long-term success that they possibly can. The final rule is for the salesperson to believe in themselves. There is no reason that they cannot continually improve and strive to be the best version of themselves that they possibly can.

There are a whole lot of customers out there just waiting to buy a car. All they need is a great car salesperson to guide them in the right direction. Customers don’t need to be told what to do; they just need to be helped. A car salesperson that understands that they owe it to themselves to keep improving and being the best that they can be. Word of their integrity and helpfulness will spread like wildfire. They and their dealership will soon reap the rewards of an ethical yet creative car salesperson.

 This week’s guest post by Mark shares his work as a versatile writer with extensive experience creating interesting, engaging, and unique articles in the automotive industry. You can follow Mark on twitter as @ZeckFord

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