Marra

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Thanks, Todd. I’ll look them up!

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Thanks, Robert. I didn’t realize they handled live stuff, so I will look in to that.

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Really useful thread, I nevre know what I’ll find there. Thanks for starting it, Jenny. Also thanks Anna for the Task Coach link. I’ve been looking for somethning like that. I’ll try it out!

[Marra]

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FS Concierge, post: 153430 wrote:

Hi Marra,

Sounds great! We’ll give it a plug on Facebook and Twitter for you, and also put a shout out in our Friday newsletter.

Stay tuned
Jayne

Thanks, Jayne. I’ve been amazed how many soloists have joined my group on Meetups. I need to put something about FS on the group’s home page!

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Safe Skies, post: 150219 wrote:

HI Guys

So a customers walks into their store and they could show them 10 different products, i want they to speak about our products.

Thanks

Ah, I see! Sorry I missed that in your original. In this case, who delivers your products to their store? I’m hoping that is someone with a smile who stops to chat to the retail staff for a moment. That builds good rapport if you can manage it.

Otherwise I would organise some sort of function + informal training instore for those retail staff. This will cost you some $, but you will stick in their memories as the supplier who organised Friday night drinks or Monday brekky or whatever. Just a couple of ideas, having worked in retail.

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Safe Skies, post: 150046 wrote:

Hi all

Question?

how and what can i do to make sure that they talk about and care about our product?

what type of incentive can i offer them ?

Gareth
Hi Gareth,

As Dan Pink points out in Steve’s video link, “incentives” are not a useful tool in many work situations. You are asking for long duration complex behaviour. You need the motivation / reward (technical term = positive reinforcement) built in to their day. You do not want them distracted be old school carrot and stick management (bribery and threats don’t make anyone love their job or like the boss).

Let me digress for a moment here and clarify something as well. When staff know that a “reward” is to be had, it is not likely to function as a positive reinforcer. Worst case, it acts as a distraction. Think of your donkey being so fucussed that it follows that carrot off a clif! Financial “reward” should be used mainly to set your environment up for your staff to succeed: their brains willl function better if they are living comfortably enough that financial worries don’t plague their days. That’s basic food and water stuff.

Now I can get back to talking about real rewards (rather than bribery or threats).The most effective way to use them is as a surprise, and they must show up as or just after the person does something well. It is important that your external motivator doesn’t happen every time someone does something good, and that the type of reward varies a bit.

Given that you have a team, and not one person, it is important to do a little research so you know what stuff they’d like. Some will lap up snipets of verbal praise, some would rather be admired as the one who made “beer O’clock” happen a few minutes early with a big sale. Some may work their guts out just to bend your ear and banter for 2 minutes.

Intrinsic rewards are the feeling of satisfaction or happiness a person feels when they’ve done something they value. There are two ways to get high levels of this: hire it in (the person already has this habit) or nurture it. You can nurture or grow peoples’ capacity to self reward in a number of ways. Building lots of little external rewards in to the day is a good start.

This is my area, so feel free to get in touch for a chat.

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incredibleconcepts, post: 149951 wrote:

I’d love to come but Wednesday is the only day I’m not available.

Sorry to hear that. Wednesday is the only day that I’m consistentlyl free! : -) There are quite a few other perth meetups on that meetups site, so might be worth you checking into. Or you may like to try organising another meetup when it suits you.You may find that it suits a bunch of people here on FS too.

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As mentioned on another thread, I am trying WYSIJA which is a WordPress plugin. Seems to do a lot of similar stuff to mail chimp. If you use WP posts in your newsletters, this is convenient.

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I’ve used mail chimp and is OK. I am in the process of setting up WYSIJA which looks like will be easier for me with a WordPress based blog newsletter. It ia a WP plugin. Also feel it will be a bit simpler to integrate with my contacts management software.

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Not surprisingly, there won’t be a meetup today. It was too late notice. Next week, there will be a meetup in Morley at a cafe at 11am. Details are here:
http://www.meetup.com/Perth-Solo-and-Small-Business-Owners-Hangout/events/101458562/

I’ll post more on that in a separate thread momentarily.

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Well, we are all set to go, with five RSVP’s from flying solo, and an amazing 20 over at the Meetups site. I think two of those are you guys, though. Because I did a silly “new organiser” thing and published the time and location, I’m going to have to do roll call. No RSVP, you only get a chair if someone is a no-show.

I’m going to set up a second meeting for next week, same time, different place. This is because a number of people couldn’t make this week. Will advise once that is set up.

Look forward to meeting some of you over coffee!

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Gizmo, post: 148242 wrote:

Hi All,

Sorry I cannot make it now.
I’ve got a client I need to see at that time.

If I finish quickly I would like to come, is that ok?
If so who should I call that will be potentially staying there for lunch?

Sorry to hear that, but thanks for letting me know. If you want to give me a buzz when you are done, I plan to stay on for lunch.

[Marra]

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Hi Jervis,

I’ll second AgentMail’s suggestion of giving us a look at your blog. And maybe a bit about you on your FS profile?

I am in startup mode. Still writing up the business plan in fact! But actively seeking small business people who I can help in return for using them as case studies. They get a free consultation, I get a story and, if they like, a testimonial.

I help small business owners change the behaviour of their team members to be more productive and engaged. My background is in the science of learning and motivation. I have many years of experience persuading wild animals to cooperate using these techniques. Bringing these insights to your people and your workplace allows them to choose better ways of interacting and implementing.

My website is:
http://marra-apgar.com

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Professor, post: 147117 wrote:

Hope you don’t mind an old guy turning up, but I am interested to see what evolves.
Regards
John
Small Enterprise Agency

Hi John,

I have not set any age limits. So if you’re 8 or 80 and involved in solo / micro business, you are most welcome.

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Solly, post: 147312 wrote:

Hi, just joined solos, would like to come along to give and take ideas etc. I live in rocking ham. And only have Sunday’s free.. Any suggestions..

Hi Solly,

As I mentioned to Sue in the CBD, I have heard there are a few soloists who meet on weekends. I won’t be organising anything outside business hours unless it is breakfast, but I’ll let you know if I come across anything for a Sunday. I’m pretty sure I saw something for Rockingham or Mandurah on a weekend but didn’t bookmark it. You might like to look at the meetups website to see what you find. Or start another thread here and see who wants to join you!

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