Thanks to the lovely Amy Desmarais for this thoughtful and dream themed interview! She may be my favorite person who has ever interviewed me…:)

http://www.youtube.com/user/DreamNHV#p/u/48/LB7bh43OXyI

With so many people out of work, high unemployment, and the reality of a less than healthy economy, where is the workforce to turn to in hopes of finding employment?  Look no further than your mirror. 

You need a job and have had no luck finding a new one.  You have been out-sourced.  You have been squeezed out by corporate downsizing.  There seems to be nowhere for you to put your skills, expertise, and experience to good use…

Why not hire yourself?  You will work harder than you ever have for anyone else.  It will be challenging, but can be extremely liberating.   You will need to commit to keeping a regular schedule like you would do, if you were working for an employer.  The days of work will be long.  And the night time hours may be longer.  You will need to arrange how to be with your family, children, and other loved ones for all the important meals and regular daily happenings, in advance.

Armed with all your skills, experience, and enthusiasm, prepare for battle.  This will not happen if you are not prepared to leave your personal comfort zone and grow in new ways.   In addition, sharpen your communication skills, as they will be a key component of growing the relationships that will lead to your future work.  Business is about people.  People do business with other people.  And 90% of all people do business with who they know, who they like, and who they trust.

Your time needs to be spent on building relationships, engaging in groups, sharing ideas with potential strategic business partners, volunteering your skills to non-profit organizations, attending professional networking events, and developing an online social media profile and community of like minded enthusiasts.

Remember, you are looking for the needles in the haystack, which takes time, patience, and perseverance.  Work is a four letter word that should, and needs to become, your favorite word.  Nothing trumps a strong work ethic, and nothing ever will. 

It is time to do something about it!

It’s time to stop looking around out there for what you want and need.  Start looking at yourself.  Because your new employer is staring you right in the face.  Just look in the mirror.  No one can help you more than the person looking back at you.

So, I say, if you need a job, hire yourself!

And get busy!!

It is with people and their needs in mind that I have launched my three companies.  Before I knew anything about business, I knew I enjoyed serving people.  I like showing people a good time.  I enjoy sharing my knowledge, experience, and life skills openly to help anyone.  I have always been a people person, perhaps that is why the thought of customers and employees never scared me away.  I believe each person who enters our life has something special to offer.   We learn and grow from all the players in our lives.

Although products generally come in classified categories with standardized characteristics, customers do not.  Each customer is an individual person for whom the product and its features will vary. The features may vary slightly or greatly, depending on the person.  By treating each customer as a unique case and creating a personal file, a business can better serve them.  Service is the key to creating a unique selling proposition for any company.  It is the job of the company to understand the wants and needs of its employees, customers, and potential customers. 

Customers are the central heartbeat around which the entire operation should be built.  Their stories will tell you how they use the products and what is important to them.  Their needs indicate information about product selection, choice, and value.   Their wants are the fuel around which  our services should be powered.   For the customer, it is not how well we serve them when all systems go, but more importantly how we manage the problems when they occur.  It is a simple exercise in listening.  If you allow them the opportunity, they will engage you with their honest and transparent dialogue.  When customers share, the business wins.  Every product and service I have ever offered came from customer requests and suggestions.  Allow your customers to lead the way, and they will.

It is with thanks and appreciation, that I handle each and every person who chooses to  do business with any of my businesses.  By selecting to do business with us, they validate the reasons I chose to open my doors in the first place.   Customer’s requests  give us the opportunity to do better than our best.   The challenges of customer’s wishes help us to grow, so that we may grant them.  Customers leave so much more than they take.  They give wings to the very ideas that first started the business, so that it can take flight.  The end result of each and every job function is a person for whom we are to be grateful.

To you my customer, I say thank you.  Thanks for the support.  Thanks for the vote of confidence by walking into my world.  Thanks for walking in my door.   I am humbled by your advocacy of my business.  Everyday,  I work to do the things that will make your experiences with my companies more satisfying on every level.   Because of you, I am a better person.  Because of you, my business is a success. 

I always want to know, “how can I help you”, because….you are my customer!

And it means more to me than you will ever know.