Macrame Mayhem: Recruitment. Today’s moving tale will strike a chord with anyone who has turned their passion into a successful business. Gosh, there is even a television series where crafty people can gain help from others who have made it to the top. Somewhere out there today, there will be someone in that in-between stage. They may have so many orders that they cannot keep up. Monica and Gavin had been at it all night. A large order had come in a couple of days ago for two hundred of their special beaded plant hangers for large ferns. Fingers sore and struggling to keep up, Gavin placed the last one in the box and put the documentation inside. Then firmly sealed the flaps down with tape. “This hobby of yours has got out of hand,” he said, as he printed the address label, took a set square, and stuck it perfectly in place. He took a deep breath and then turned to his wife. “ I think we’ve reached that point,” he added. Monica also took a deep breath and looked over at her husband. He...
After speaking to many small business owners recently who do not talk to their customers or interact through social media I felt passionately about why they should. So let's see what came to mind... A Story...Ralph's Printers. Ralph stood at the shop door. He then realized he was blocking the way into his new business. He observed his two new staff members dealing with phone & online orders and people arriving with inquiries and new jobs. All was well. Suddenly, he was being talked to!. He stood back and listened!. Lots of questions were coming out of a man's mouth towards him. Feeling overwhelmed he interrupted the man and pointed to the front desk. They will deal with you he abruptly added. Ralph, went back into the office, shut the door, and opened up a spreadsheet. Wasted Opportunities There are times when keeping your mouth shut is vital in business. You can see from the short story above that Ralph had an opportunity to answer questions, get to know a potential c...