Business Lessons From TV Favorites: Part 2

As requested by many of my followers, this is the second installment of “Successful Business Tips from TV Favorites”. Surprisingly, I’ve had many people mention how they have a new perspective about watching their favorite television shows and its usefulness in finding helpful tips to improve their business.

Two more television favorites are filled with ideas and tools to make your business run smoother.

“The Game” –Although cancelled from the CW earlier this year, BET (Black Entertainment Television) is running reruns of this comedy, which chronicles the lives of professional football players and their wives/girlfriends/mothers, as they try to balance the challenges of life on and off the field. In one particular episode, Tasha Mack, mother/manager of the star quarter back decides to open her own sports management firm (Tasha Mack Management). She hires an assistant, who happens to be her closest friend, Kelly Pitts, wife of the veteran receiver. Pitts is also the president of the Sunbeams, a social organization that serves as a support group for the wives/girlfriends of the players. Mack believes that Pitts cares more about the “Sunbeams” than growing the business. She gets angry with Pitts and forces her to choose between her job at Tasha Mack Management or the Sunbeams.

Lesson 1: Err on the side of caution, when mixing business with pleasure. I’m a strong advocate of giving people opportunities. However, just because you enjoy spending your downtime with your friends doesn't mean it will make a great working arrangement.

First of all, we accept our friends for who they are. We don’t try to change them. But as a small business owner, you are in charge and responsible for herding the flock. If there are employees who get out of line, it’s your responsibility for you to address the issues and reprimand those who insist on going against the principles set for your company. There may be times that you will have to have those uncomfortable conversations with your friends. I have heard many horror stories about business owners who tried to integrate a friendship into a business partnership only to have it end in turmoil. A great friend gave me a book by the name of “The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business”. The writers, Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio, were friends who started a successful public relations company and wrote the book to help other small business owners avoid the pittfalls of opening a business. In the book, their friendship/business partnership was mentioned. They attributed their successful friendship/partnership to having an understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses and clearly defining the roles they were responsible for accordingly, in the beginning of the partnership.

Lesson 2- Clearly define the roles, initially.

In the episode, Tasha Mack mentions that she had clearly discussed the requirements Kelly Pitts was to adhere to in her position as assistant. But there was another lesson that Mack clearly needed to learn when considering the requirements of the position.

Lesson 3- Set realistic expectations. Mack demands that Pitts eliminate her duty as President of the Sunbeams to focus more on being her assistant. Pitts and Mack have an argument where Pitts reminds Mack of all the times that she's stayed late, came in early, and forfeited on lunch to get things done.

In the real world, we all lead busy lives. It's unreasonable to ask someone to devote all of their time to your business. Keyword:Yours! While we can ask for some exceptions to be made ocassionally, prohibiting your employees to take part in things outside of work, may lead to work overload, which has been known to cause significant health issues, such as high blood pressure, migraines, and/or depression. It's so important to remember that as a business owner, our businesses become like our children. Do you think it's appropriate for one to ask you to be the sole provider and nurturer of their kids? Personally, I don't think so. Now this doesn't mean that the employees won't care about the business, but the degree to which they take interest will definitely differ.


In a different episode, Tasha Mack tells her assistant Kelly Pitts about an opportunity for her to regain her son, Malik Wright as a client. However, Pitts out-stages Mack to get the opportunity for her husband.


Lesson #4. Recognize when a no-competitive clause is necessary. In a slowing economy this is going to be more prevalent than ever. I had a recent client who had this same issue. She would hire employees only to have them take the knowledge that she had shared to open a similar business. By adding a no competitive clause in your employment contract, you have an opportunity to recognize who is genuinely interested in becoming a part of your team and can successfully help your organization to grow. You can quickly identify those whose ulterior motives are to learn your secrets and quickly move on to something apart from your company.


“The Monique Show” is growing to be another BET favorite. One of the greatest lessons learned was when she did her monologue addressing how other radio talk show hosts were saying distasteful and belittling things about her and her response led me to one of the greatest lessons in the business world.


Lesson #5 – Keep it classy. Monique could have said nasty and irate things in response to the negative things she’s heard. But instead, she chose to say, “I got nothing but love for all of you!” I admire her and thought this is the classiest thing she could have done. Positive begets positive in the long run. There is enough business out there to go around. It’s not necessary to bash an organization in order to make your business seem better. Let your business speak for itself.


Lesson #6 –Address your customers’ suggestions and apply whenever possible. In the same episode, Monique also mentioned that she’d read comments about things that could make her show more enjoyable. One of them was her fans’ request that she not scream so much. So when she stepped on the stage, she didn’t scream and holler. She explained why she had been overly excited in the past episodes, but acknowledged that she’d try to control her emotions better in the future.

She could have been arrogant and conceited and made the decision to do nothing different, all in the name of it being called “The Monique Show”. However, she understands that viewers keep her with a show. These simple changes will not only strengthen her relationship with her current fans, but serves to also grow her viewership. People may be more compelled to give her another chance, because she’s shown that she listens to the people and values their opinions.

There is inspiration everywhere. No matter what you do in your life, it can quickly be applied to your business matters as well. I hope you’ve found these tips valuable. Stay tuned for more weekly “Business Tips from TV Favorites”!

Business Lessons Learned From TV Favorites

In the past, I have watched programs for sheer entertainment. However, I'm quickly recognizing that there are always opportunities to become more knowledgeable about growing a successful business. Many believe that just because one business may not be directly related to their business, there's nothing to be learned from it, nor should you get to know the story. It's for this reason, I've decided to comprise a list of things that I've learned from some popular TV programming.


"Property Shop" is my favorite HGTV program. It follows the life of Tatiana Londono, a successful real estate agent, who becomes a Broker and opens up her own agency. Londono, the quirky but clearly driven curly blond, is a true force to be reckoned with. In a little over a year, The Property Shop has grown from an agency of 4, to 40+ agents with sales in the seven figure range. This show is loaded with tips on how to grow a successful business. But two of the greatest lessons for me were...


* Don't Take Things Personal: Leave the Emotions Out of Business. - In a recent episode Londono was asked to work with a former business partner, who had initially questioned her work ethics and causes Londono to decide to end their agreement. However, after the business partner realizes that Londono is the best, he asks her to reenter their agreement. Londono considers refusing to work with him, because she was hurt that he questioned her abilities. But after careful consideration decides to reenter their agreement when she sticks with the facts, which were it was a multi-million dollar project and the opportunity to prove him wrong. In the end, she sold both units quickly, (after the first open house) and the business partner admitted that she was great at what she does. By making a logical decision based off of the facts, she was able to add to her bottom line significantly, as well as showcase her abilities to grow her client base.


* Focus On The Bigger Picture! -In the same episode of the aforementioned "Property Shop", Tatiana Londono was responsible for selling her business partner's condominiums. She sold one with no problem. However, the potential buyer for the second one, decided that he wanted the condo fully furnished, despite the furniture was created by Londono's business partner and not for sale. Londono convinced the business partner to include the furniture. But when the potential buyer wanted the flat screen television to also be included, the business partner refused to concede. Realizing that both the business partner and the potential buyer were not going to give into eithers' demands. Londono decides to purchase a flat screen television herself to close the deal. Both the potential buyer and the business partner were pleased. In her closing statement, Londono revealed that she thought it was senseless to let a deal fall through, due to a $1200 television. She thought the $1200 was a small price to pay for the $40K+ commission she made. And I'd have to agree with her.


"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" is another one of my guilty pleasures. I know, you're probably thinking "What could they possibly teach me about running a successful business?" However, Sheree Whitfield's experience launching her She By Sheree clothing line is full of lessons to be learned, starting with...

*Know What You Want - I admire Sheree Whitfield  for having a clear vision for her clothing line. For the most part, she has finally launched She By Sheree, an upscale clothing line, to attract the attention of the most fashionable.  Every great idea starts with a vision. So be consise and detailed about what you want your business to become. Consider keeping a journal or making a idea collage to serve as a reminder and inspiration for you and those who work for you.
 
*Be Realistic/Recognize Your Weaknesses -  We have to be realistic about our expectations. In my opinion, I feel that Sheree could have launched her clothing line much sooner, had she had reasonable expectations. Her inability to be flexible on some matters created unnecessary set backs. In the end, she finally recognized that despite she had been an owner a successful clothing boutique in Atlanta and had a strong sense of style, she knew very little about what it took to put a fashion show together. She decided to enlist the services of Dwight Eubanks to help execute her vision. It shouldn't be any surprise that we don't have all the answers. This is why we should be willing to rely on others expertise to help our businesses grow.
 
*Know Your Strengths And Don't Be Afraid to Show Them! - Dwight Eubanks, also known as "Atlanta's Other Housewife" is known for his over the top style. But even I had to admit, he really took control of Sheree's event and made it a remarkable success. He wasn't afraid to take a stance on approaches or decisions he made. His confidence in his craft shows and I'm sure helps to contribute to his successful salon.
Confidence is key. It's perfectly fine for you to showcase your skills, whenever possible. If you're great at what you do, there's no way people can deny it. Dwight offered his services to both Sheree and Lisa WuHartwell early on. It just took Sheree a couple of failed attempts to execute, before she reached out. Small business owners can't afford to make the same mistakes. I know I can't.
 
 
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned while running my business is to allow everything I do to serve as a tool to grow my business. Although watching television is a great past time for me, I don't feel so guilty about watching it because I'm making it count. Hopefully, this will serve as encouragement for you to do the same. 

The Internal Customer: Why They Shouldn't Be Overlooked

Ideally, most people think of customers as people who buy their product or services. However, there is a customer that often gets overlooked and left out of the customer satisfaction equation: the internal customer.

An internal customer is a person within our organization that may depend on us for products or services that will effect the ability to satisfy the external customer. For example, you could be a customer service representative that is responsible for releasing orders to the distribution center. The people in the distribution center is the internal customer. They depend on your releasal of orders in a timely manner, so they can pack the goods which are being shipped to the external customer. In a retail environment, the internal customer could be the manager or cashiers or other sales floor associates.

Unfortunately, we become so focused on our exclusive role within the organization, that we don't think about the internal customers that are dependent on us to effectively do their jobs, as well. So, here are a few suggestions that may allow us to better assist our internal customers.

1. Get familiar with business practices and processes throughout the organization that are directly or indirectly related to your role whenever possible.
Knowledge is power. By becoming familiar with the processes and/or practices, you recognize which things are within your control and which aren't. It's also likely you will have a better understanding of what your role in business is and why it's done a particular way. Quite often, it could allow you to determine more beneficial ways to better serve both the internal and external customer. Your knowledge could actually lead you to develop alternative practices that are of a better use of your time and/or others you work with. But you can't be sure it won't affect others, if you don't know what and why they do what they do.

2. Ask if there are opportunities to cross train.
I know you're probably thinking, "I have enough to do in my position now. What's the need to learn to do something else?" Cross training allows you to be able to possibly assist someone else who you may depend on to get your job done. For example, you may work in a restaurant and be a cashier, if you cross trained as a waitress, you could actually assist with waiting tables if things got hectic. Another perk to cross training is instant leverage for yourself. Now you are more marketable for other opportunities within your organization. When companies are considering laying off people, you're more valuable if you can do multiple roles.

3. Use your time wisely and be a team player. If you have some free time available in addition to your normal breaks, be willing to assist others (with permission, of course) with their work. If you're helpful, quite often others will help you when you're in need. Managers and owners need to be aware of this also. It's important for us to show that we're willing and able to get our hands dirty sometimes too. It can truly serve as a morale booster.

In the end, none of us could do what we do alone. We depend on others everyday to keep our businesses running efficiently. We want to satisfy our external customers to keep them buying our products. But it's going to be more difficult, if we aren't appreciating and showing compassion towards our internal customers.

Price, Exposure, & Condition: For the Small Business

Price, condition, and exposure are three popular terms referred to in the Real Estate market. But it has occurred to me that small business owners should seriously consider adopting these principles in their non-real estate ventures, as well. Let's face it. Many small businesses are experiencing reduced sales and fewer customer visits, due to the slowing economy. Here are some ways to apply the terms to your business venture to successfully overcome the economic downturn.

Price - Think about your target consumer. Who is your customer and what is their average purchase price point? How much do they typically spend per visit? With the economy shifting, it would be helpful to run an analysis of average sales based on the last six months, as well as a yearly comparison. This could supply small business owners with more precise projections since the economy has been shifting more now than ever. Do you have a large product assortment that seems to be just sitting on the shelves? Considering a price reduction to items that appear to be experiencing a longer shelf life, could help stimulate sales and give you dollars to reinvest in items that are selling more rapidly.

Condition - Could your establishment use a little polishing? One may be surprised at the increased traffic experienced by simply changing out the visual aids displayed in a store window. Don't have the money to do a complete face lift to your establishment? Simple changes, such as using a different color graphic on the billboard reader, could have a great impact on gaining new foot traffic. While staying in Mississippi, I remember a little restaurant that was right down the street. I'd pass it nearly everyday on my way home for 6 months. However, it wasn't until they put little bistro tables outside and added little flower boxes to their window, that I noticed them and decided to try them out. It turned out to be one of my favorite sandwich shops. So, doing a complete overhaul to your business to re energize it, is about as necessary as getting plastic surgery to regain your spouse or significant other's attention. (Smile)

Another thing to think about is your product displays. Are they outdated, or could your floor spacing be changed to better accommodate your customers?When I go out of town with friends, some of them love to shop at the discount shops which to me appear like glorified thrift shops. I only found one that I love, because I find everything to be simply organized and clearly labeled. I love a bargain too, but my time is valuable and I don't like to spend it sifting through bins to save a couple of dollars.

Exposure - How much are you spending on marketing and where are the dollars being spent? This is crucial in a tightening economy. Everyone successful business owner wants to know that they're spending money wisely. The last thing you want to know is that you're investing money in areas that aren't yielding any profitable results. How are you communicating that your business is still open? How are you getting the word out about the items you placed on sale? The fact is every business has a customer. It's just your responsibility to reach them. Don't let a small marketing budget hinder your ability to reach customers. There are a number of inexpensive ways to market your business. One major way is by advertising on social media websites such as Facebook or Twitter. If your target consumer is one who does little web surfing, consider getting a billboard or a sidewalk reader large enough to be seen my those driving or walking by. Simply getting involved with community organizations can get you in front of many potential customers. But the bottom line is if people don't know about you and your business and what you have to offer, they will not come.

One of my favorite television shows is "Real Estate Intervention". It's a HGTV creation in which a veteran real estate broker speaks with potential home sellers who have difficulty understanding why their home isn't selling after a tremendous amount of time listed on the market. Many people get really upset with the broker, because all too often the story is the same. The sellers have their homes listed above what the market dictates is worthy of a sale. He has to take them to see comparable homes which have sold and are currently on the market to give them a better understanding of why their homes haven't sold yet. Most of them take his advise and gets the result they wanted; a sale.

So, just as it applies in the real estate market, if your products are priced correctly, in the proper condition, and getting the best exposure, you too can count on getting the sales you rightfully want and deserve.

Tanisha Rankins - Profile Summary on BrightFuse - A Talent Community

Tanisha Rankins - Profile Summary on BrightFuse - A Talent Community

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5 Basic Ways to Keep Your Customers Coming Back

In today's struggling economy, it should be no surprise that many consumers are shopping less. So it's important that when you see that customer walk out the door, you feel reassured that he/she will return. Here are a few simple, yet effective ways to ensure that the customer will return.


Make the customer feel welcome, upon entering - " Welcome to _______, how are you today?"

It's true, many consumers won't stay long or return to your business if they don't feel they aren't welcome. With this in mind, a simple warm friendly greeting to acknowledge that you appreciate the customer's arrival, sets the tone for a pleasant experience.

Get to know your customer - "So may I ask what brings you in today?"
Take some direction from the song "Getting to Know You", because it could help you score (no pun intended) big points with the most important part of your business- The Customer.


The truth is, if they entered your business, they had a reason to do so. So why not take the time to find out why? Don't wait for them to ask for your assistance, ask questions to understand more about the nature of their visit. Instead of asking, "Can I help you with anything?", ask the question "May I ask what brings you in today?" This helps you to assess the person's need/needs in a more effective way.


If they just happen to be one of the few people who are"just in the neighborhood", then make them aware about special products or services that may interest them. By presenting your knowledge to the customer, customers will recognize you as a credible source to contact for this, as well as, future purchases.


Go the extra mile - "Let me get that for you."
Take the initiative to go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations. For example, if you own a dress boutique and your store doesn't have shoes to match a particular dress. Suggest a couple of shoe stores that may offer matching shoes to the customer. And for the cherry on top, while the customer is there, you may call the shoe store to make them aware that the customer may be stopping by. It's these little tokens of gratitude that will help gain customer loyalty.

It's been over eight years, since I worked as a customer service specialist for a discount store and I still get approached by strangers telling me how important I made them feel. Believe me, people don't forget the good things you do and will always return for it.

Offer an incentive - "This is for you."
Let's face it. Everyone likes to get something for free. Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be like Oprah and give everyone a car for visiting your business. While I'm sure you would have no trouble filling your business with repeat customers, but this isn't practical.

The incentive I'm referring to could be something as small as having a coffee dispenser at the front of the store with free baked cookies. It could also be a program that celebrates customer loyalty, such as buy 9, get the 10th free. One of my favorite ice cream parlors in Mobile, Alabama offers an loyalty incentive program. And while their yogurt is a little pricey, every time I am in the Mobile area I am compelled to stop by and get a scoop. Because I know that eventually, I'm going to get to the free one.


Make them feel appreciated with or without purchasing - "Thanks for stopping by and please come again!"
Hopefully, you've met all of the customer's needs and they are completing their purchase transaction. So what better way to make their shopping experience complete than by thanking them with a smile and letting them know you want them to return.


However, whether the customer makes a purchase or not, they were willing to take the time to come into your store. If you made them feel welcome and took the time to get to know them, they will return. More than likely, they will also tell others about it.



It's important to remember if there was not a customer, there would be no need for your business. We have to remember the service we expect, when we're administering it. If you make the customer's experience a pleasurable one from start to finish, there should be no reason for them to not want to return.