Do you really know?

Quick thought of the day...

Are you talking/sharing/connecting on a regular basis with your audience or are they just out there talking about you?

If it isn't both parts...

Are they really your audience?

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

I Challenge You Today To...

Make this day feel different than yesterday...and make tomorrow that much more fun to top.

Instead of walking past someone sitting on a park bench and saying nothing...

Smile, and say hello as you pass by.

Maybe even buy them a cup of coffee.

Let me tell you a quick story...

Not too long ago I was driving past a local shopping mall area. At a few of the bigger intersections there were several people holding up rather large signs that advertised a going out of business sale for a big chain store.

The weather that day was a combination of cold, wet and sideways driving rain. Not exactly the type of weather you would want to be out in for 10 seconds...let alone 10 hours.

As I drove past one gentleman holding a sign...I noticed he had on a garbage bag as rain gear.

I couldn't take it. I had a few bucks in my pocket, so I pulled in to a local eatery and purchased a large cup of coffee...grabbed a bunch of sugars and creamers and proceeded to walk across the parking lot to go see this man.

When I came up on him I extended the coffee and said..."I don't know if you are a coffee drinker, but I thought this might warm you up having to stand out in this weather today."

The smile on his face was warm...he couldn't remove his heavy mittens fast enough to shake my hand...and I think I made a friend.

I may never see that man again...

But something tells me that when he can...when he sees someone that has a need he can meet...he will jump at the chance to meet it.

It's not a story to say...hey look at what I did...it is a reminder to all of us that we have a ton of opportunities everyday to make the world around us a better place.

So what are you waiting for?

Go make the world different today because you are caring for someone's need(s).

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

Chuck it...

How many times have you been going back and forth in your mind trying to settle on making a decision and no matter how many pros and cons you list out you seem to be...stuck?

You have so many "top priorities" that nothing becomes "the priority".

I was recently away for a couple of days coaching at a soccer tournament. When I arrived home I was really excited to see my wife and kids and hear how their last couple of days had gone.

While we were sitting in our living room...I reached down and picked up a toy to hand to our 7 month old as he sat next to me in his "Exer-saucer" ( A nifty bouncy/swivel/toys on the tray of the whole thingy seat he loves).

When I handed him the toy...it went from his hand to being chucked on the floor in about 1.5 seconds. This is a toy he usually likes...but in that moment ...he knew what he wanted...and it wasn't the toy I handed him.

After a weekend away from home...he wanted some attention from his dad, with no other distractions.

I figure there are really only a handful of decisions in a 7 month old's world.

Eat...sleep...poop/pee...attention...toys. Those are the top 5.

He wanted attention...not toys.

Can you clearly define your top 5?

Do you know the things in your business/life/school/relationships that matter the most so well that you can chuck the things that are not a top priority at the moment in 1.5 seconds?

If not...spend some time today getting that short list together.

It sure makes the decision making process easier all around.

Just ask my 7 month old.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

"Tripping over dollar bills to pick up dimes"

In a conversation I had today with a businessman, he mentioned to me that the company he works for is constantly doing just that.

Companies have 2 choices. They either value their customers or the transaction from the customers.

At some point...all the fancy gimmicks, promos and sales fall on deaf ears once the customer realizes that what they thought was genuine interest in their needs was only an attempt to get in their purse or wallet...as soon as possible...at the expense of their loyalty and trust.

When the first good reason to make a business decision is $ related...think long and hard.

When the first good reason to make a business decision is customer related...smile.

At that point...you've got it.

And by the way...the $ usually follows.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

"Cooler" head prevails...

Back on the grocery kick for today...

I just stopped at the local circus...err...I mean "Mart that is large" to pick up 2 things I needed.

One of them was sour cream.

I found my way to the back of the store where the open cooler areas are that house said item (which, by the way, feel great to shop by when it is 90+ degrees outside). I picked up what I needed, turned around...and started to head for the cash register.

I looked down and noticed that the "best by" date was July 14, 2010. I wondered if I could do better...so I turned around and went back to the display. I put the one I had just picked up in the spot it started from...and then proceeded to reach a few rows back and grab a different one.

August 5, 2010 "best by" date.

Same product...or so one would think at first glance.

Their initial appearance is identical. It is not until you pick one up and turn it over that the difference is revealed.

I clearly left the store today with more value because I was willing to look a little closer at the product.

Consumers are smarter, thriftier and more discerning than ever before. If you think that they aren't turning your product over and you are just hoping they will take it because they "need" it...as is...

Well...

Its just a matter of time before you are looking at a shelf full of your expired product wondering why.

Newsflash...

Ignorance is not bliss.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

Get it done...

If you needed some milk, bread and eggs at the store what would be your course of action?

Uhh....you get in the car, go to the store and get what you need.

You mean you don't analyze the cost effectiveness of car versus walking...maybe a cab...or a bus ticket? You don't call all of your neighbors to see about car pooling? Certainly you would draw up a nice power point to detail the goal of obtaining the grocery items you need and review with your spouse!

Pun incoming...

"BOLOGNA!"

You just get it done.

ROI's, Committee's , and Presentations have their place...but it isn't everywhere, all the time for obvious tasks.

Sometimes...Its just a quick trip across town...mission accomplished.

Resist the temptation to believe that Activity and Productivity mean the same thing.

With Expectancy,

The Zuke

Ka-boom or Ker-plop.

We had a great 4th of July with family and friends yesterday. Swimming, kickball, great food and of course...going to see the fireworks. Every year it seems like they send them off a bit later. This year was the latest yet. In addition to the late start...they were the LONGEST we have ever seen.

Herein the problem resides.

If the fireworks had been incredible and attention grabbing in their display...everyone would have been on the edge of their seats. 35 plus minutes of here a cracker there a cracker could actually put you to sleep in your lounge chair as you looked into the dark July sky last night.

So the product was lackluster...what about the "customers". Let's face it...as adults it is cool to see a great fireworks display...but the awe factor is in seeing a child view the spectacle.

When it is well after 10:30pm and over half the kids we had with us were out cold on the lawn...and the second oldest (7 years old) says..."I can't take this anymore" and drifts off to sleep in his dads lap...uhh...Houston...we have a problem.

So...2 for 2. Product and Customer expectations not met.

So you start the fireworks a little earlier and pack them into an amazing 10 minute display. Promote it ahead of time as the most amazing 10 minute display in WNY that you can't afford to miss.

The crowds will have a healthy expectation of what is to come...the customers will be overjoyed with the product and they will all be able to say...

'We were there".

Is your product causing your customers to want to tell your story?

Are you sure they are there? Or if they will come back?

With Expectancy,

The Zuke