America needs a reality check. If you own a small business, you don’t exist without customers. That’s business in its simplest terms. The formula goes something like this: small business – customers = out of business. It’s pretty simple; you don’t have to be Plato or Socrates to understand the formula.

Unfortunately, employees of small businesses don’t understand the formula. Without customers the business will fold which means employees are out of jobs. Again, it’s a pretty simple concept to understand. So, why don’t small business owners and employees get it?

Providing horrible customer service is a guarantee way to send business to your competitors. People will not stand for rude or poor customer service. They’ll just drive a few miles to your competition and spend money for goods and services.

Perhaps customer service has taken a nose dive because of the economy, Americans values, or employees being fed up with working hard and long hours and not receiving the pay or recognition they deserve. If small business owners don’t appreciate their employees, why would employees appreciate customers?

Customer service can make or break your business. Word-of-mouth travels fast and is still a viable means of advertising. Don’t treat your customers right will result in the phone not ringing and your website sitting idle in cyberspace!

Without customers you business will shrivel up and disappear. If employees are disgruntled find out why. Your receptionist (if you have one) is the first point of contact with customers. She sets the tone for your small business. If your receptionist answers the phone with a “frosty” tone, you’ll hear about it from customers. Take the time to find out why your receptionist is not friendly. Perhaps she’s going through a rough time at home or found at that a loved one is sick. This is not an excuse, but it will give you insight and you’ll be able to address the situation in a professional manner.

Many people will pay for customer service. For example, a woman working at a local McDonald’s provided excellent customer service that it landed her on the 5 o’clock news. People were driving miles to this particular McDonald’s because of the customer service. These people had a McDonald’s around the corner from them but they chose to drive a few miles just to be greeted by this particular employee. That’s the power of exceptional customer service.

If your small business isn’t flourishing as you’d like it to, you may want to look at your employees and assess their customer service skills. You may want to send them to seminars and conferences on customer service. The sooner you “nip this is in the bud” the better for you, your business, and customers.

Rebecca

Employers can set employees up for failure or success. Choosing to do the latter will motivate employees to do their best and go above and beyond the call of duty. When you don’t set employees up for success, you hurt the bottom line. The company’s profitability could plummet because employees will not be motivated to make sales calls or contribute to the company.

Setting employees up for success can help your company improve the bottom line. Happy employees add positive energy to the office. They’ll make extra sales calls, take on extra work, and have a positive attitude which can spread throughout the office. Successful employees will add value to your business in more way than you can imagine.

Employees like to hear, “…thank you” now and again. They also enjoy receiving pay increases and bonuses. However, it’s been proven that employees put a higher value on being appreciated. On a scale of 1 to 10, money came in at number 9 while being valued and appreciated ranked higher. Employees like to express their ideas in an open and safe environment and see their ideas implemented.

How can employers create successful employees

Employers can create successful employees by allowing them to take on challenging work. Give them a chance to resolve a problem within the department. You may be surprised to find out that your employees could have been saving you money. This is what happens when you don’t trust that your employees can handle the job.

Don’t micromanage employees because it doesn’t work. The majority of employees do not require “hand holding” on the job. You hired these people to do a job, why would you want to stand over their shoulders? Give employees room to breathe and grow. They may not do the job how you would, but it doesn’t matter if they complete the work in a timely and efficient manner.

How employees can be successful at work

Perform your job well and don’t worry about jealous co-workers. Voice your ideas when asked or suggest them at the monthly meeting. Don’t get caught up in office politics or gossip. Keep your eyes and ears open, but don’t get involved in your co-workers antics. Most of them are probably miserable in their lives and flock to those who are the same as them. Take the high road and wait for an official announcement from the company. This way you won’t be stressed out at work worrying that the company’s being sold. It’s not worth it.

Before you arrive at work intend to have a great, productive day. Give thanks that you have a job because many people lost theirs and they’re not coming back. Intend to do the best you can and do it. When you’re ready to move on from your current employer, the energy you put into your current job will be clean and energized so your next position will be better than the last

Employees can be successful at work with the help of employers. Show your appreciation by saying “great job, thank you, and we couldn’t have done it without you.” Employees can and will add to the value of a company if you let them. When you set up employees for success, the bottom line will increase year after year and so will your employees morale!

Rebecca

There are a lot of single people who cannot stand Valentine’s Day. Just the thought of this holiday makes them cringe. Retailers and restaurants push cards, dinners, candy, flowers, and other Valentine’s ideas for couples. It’s bad enough that they know they’re single, but retailers reinforce their “singleness” with weekly advertisements.

Don’t be blue on Valentine’s Day? Some people need all the help they can get when it comes to romance. If this means having a greeting card company remind them that it’s a good idea to tell or show their mate how much they care, so be it. You can be happy that you’re not in a relationship where your mate needs this help.

Valentine’s ideas for single women are endless. You can take yourself to the movies, go to an art gallery, or get your hair and nails done. Ladies, you can buy your own Valentine’s flowers. You can buy your own bouquet of red roses.

Guys can golf without anyone giving them grief about it. They can go fishing or play basketball with the guys. Rock climbing would be fun as well. Host a poker game, crank up the music, and just be guys.

There’s no reason for men and women to sit at home and wallow in self pity on Valentine’s Day. It’s just another day that happens to be a holiday to express your love. Being single does not mean that you must go into hiding on Valentine’s Day. Get out there and enjoy the day. Show yourself some love!

Valentines Day ideas for Women

1. Get a massage
2. Volunteer
3. Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure
4. Get a haircut, style, and color
5. Buy a new outfit
6. Go to an art gallery
7. Have lunch in the park with a group of friends
8. Go dancing with friends
9. Cook dinner at home with friends
10. Go to the movies
11. Take a walk in the park
12. Plan a Valentine’s Day weekend with friends
13. Take a road trip

Valentines Day Ideas for Men

1. Golf
2. Volunteer
3. Play basketball with the guys
4. Host a poker game
5. Take a road trip
6. Go to a sports event
7. Have game night
8. Go away for the weekend

There are plenty of Valentine’s ideas to keep you busy on Valentine’s Day. Spend the day with friends. If you know that you’ll be feeling bluer than usual, surround yourself with people who love and care about you. More importantly, love you! You are special just because you are you.

Valentine’s ideas include volunteering. Why not volunteer at your favorite charitable organization? There’s nothing like giving to someone else. You’ll be doing a good deed, and you’ll brighten someone’s day. Helping others is a great way to lift your spirits. You’ll feel good knowing that you thought about someone else for the day.

Being single on Valentine’s Day can be a blessing. Would you rather be in a horrible relationship where you constantly fight with your mate? Would you like to have all of your energy drained from being with the wrong person? If you’re single, it’s a great opportunity to focus on your ideal mate instead of not having one. Remember that you attract what you think about and eventually it will manifest in your life. Think about Valentine’s ideas to keep your mind off of the holiday.

Valentine’s Ideas For Family

Valentine’s Day is a great day to show people how much you care about them. Here are some Valentine’s ideas for family and friends.

1. Send greeting cards or make your own
2. Write a note expressing your love and appreciation for your family
3. Send flowers to the ones you love
4. Cook dinner
5. Bake something
6. Send chocolates

Have fun on Valentine’s Day. Forget that you are single and celebrate being alive! You have much to be thankful for. Have an attitude of gratitude. Remember, single people can do anything they want to do. You do not have to check with your “mate” to see if you can go to New York for the weekend. Single people can do whatever they want, whenever they want. Go out, have fun, and enjoy being single.

In India arranged marriages are still the norm. Interestingly enough, the divorce rate is 3% to 7%. Unlike the United States of America which has a divorce rate of 50%. That’s a big difference.

The news show 20/20 did a story on “The Science of Seduction: Why Him?, Why Her?” Biological Anthropologist Helen Fisher has researched this subject for numerous years. She conducted research with the help of her colleagues Arthur Aron and Lucy Brown.

Lovers were put into an MRI machine. Activity in the ventral tegmental part of the brain showed up when the lovers saw pictures of their partners. This was a revelation for Fisher. According to Fisher, “love is not an emotion but a mating device.” The ventral tegmental produces dopamine (stimulant) and sends it to the brain’s reward centers. These are centers for wanting, craving, motivation, focused attention and ecstasy.

Does this mean that sappy love songs and movies got it all wrong? According to the study conducted by Fisher, people fall into four categories: explorer, builder, negotiator, and director. People who were “matched” with their so-called “perfect mate did not have a long lasting relationship. One couple stayed together to find dating success; this was after the guy found another girl. There is no guarantee that you’ll fall in love even if you use a match maker.

The flip side to this study is arranged marriages which are stilled practiced in Indian cultures today. Ads are placed daily in many Indian newspapers by families who are looking for a husband for their daughter and a wife for their son.

One couple showcased in the 20/20 special married via an arranged marriage. The man was tired the “American” dating scene and contacted his family in New Dehli, India to find him a wife. Success! They found him one and they had a three day celebration. Does the Indian culture know something that we don’t?

A few things have changed with regards to arranged marriages: the rigid caste system is more relaxed and Indians may now marry outside of their own language and province. Families in India meet and get to know each other. They talk about their son or daughter’s past. Everything is revealed from habits to former addictions to their level of employment. Yes, it’s a background check!

India’s divorce rate is lower than the United States of America. Perhaps it’s the “getting to the point” of what they are looking for in a mate. There is none of this silly notion of a “knight in shining armor” coming to rescue them. So many women have been brought up with this concept throughout the years. Men and women know exactly what they are getting — no information is withheld from either party. No stone is left unturned!

Matrimonial classifieds can be found throughout India. Thanks to the internet, many of these agencies are online. With one click of the mouse, a husband or wife can be found. Odds are this is a marriage that will last.

There is something to be said of arranged marriages, honesty. Isn’t this a new idea? Before a bride and groom marry, all their cards are on the table. There’s no hiding of anything. After all, it would bring shame onto the family.

Americans in particular can learn from the Indian culture. It’s not a bad idea to be open and honest of what you are looking for in a relationship. Instead of stringing someone along, cut to the chase and tell what you’re looking for. People would save a lot of time, money, and tears.

The next time someone wants to fix you up on a date. Ask some questions about the man or woman. In fact, write down exactly what you’re looking for in a mate. Let family and friends know what you’re looking for. This will save you time and frustration in the long run. Not to mention hurt feelings.

Listen up if you’re a guy and plan on using a pick up line! FYI: pick up lines rarely work! It’s a very bad move to use one. This is the latest pick up line used on me; “I don’t know if you noticed me starring at you all night long, but you are one very pretty lady. Hi, my name is so and so.” I was so “freaked out” by this line. The worst part is this happened to me at an event that I was volunteering at on Saturday, May 10. Guess what? The guy who used the line on me is an employee of the organization that I volunteer for. Great! I wanted to jump out of my skin and run like the wind. Yes, you need to “break the ice” if you see a woman who “catches” your eye. Why not be funny, original, or sincere? Not creepy! Forget about overtly sexual connotations. Double creepy!

Top 10 List of Horrible Pick Up Lines

1. What’s your sign?
2. Are you religious? Because you’re the answer to my prayers.
3. What’s your name?
4. If I could rearrange the alphabet, I would put U and I together.
5. Do I know you from somewhere?
6. I’m new in town. Could I have directions to your house?
7. Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?
8. I seemed to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours?
9. Do you have a band-aid? Because I scraped my knee when I fell for you.
10. You must be tired because you’ve been running through my mind all day.
11. Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only 10 I see.

Read All About It!: Check out MSN.com, Ask Men, and Online Dating Magazine to learn even more horrible pick up lines guys use.

Here’s some advice, visit Barnes and Noble and pick up a couple of books on dating and relationships. When you approach a woman remember to be friendly not scary! Most importantly, gimmicks do not work! Good luck!

On Oprah’s May 6 show, Barbara Walters “exposed” her affair with former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, who happens to be a black man. Who knew! Actually, I already knew because of the “promos” for the show. What I found intriguing was this: Barbara Walters did not consider herself a mistress because she was not supported financially by her former lover. Oprah mentioned how she had an affair with a married man and considered herself a mistress. But, she changed her mind because of what Barbara said about being a mistress. What?

Not to get religious on all of you, but I recall from my Catholic school days (see mom I did learn something) The Ten Commandments, specifically “Thou shalt not commit adultery!” I may as well throw in “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s!” What does not having been supported by former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke have to do with the affair? An affair is an affair no matter how you try to “spin” it!

I cannot believe Barbara said she was not a “mistress” because former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke did not support her financially. I did chuckle when Barbara spoke those words. What a great line! If that’s what it takes for Barbara to sleep at night, I say peace! I’m sure many people were shocked by Barbara’s revelation that she had an affair, let alone that is was with a black man. I can just hear the “thoughts” of those who grew up watching Barbara Walters or are from her generation. I believe the word “condemnation” will probably be thrown around a bit!

FYI: Former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke eventually divorced his wife and remarried.

Personally, I’m not phased by the fact that Barbara Walters had an affair with a black man. Whatever! She is a human being (see Eckhart Tolle and “A New Earth”) and is prone to make mistakes. Just because she is very well known does not mean a thing. She is not perfect! Who is!

To purchase Barbara Walter’s memoir “Audition” or other books, visit Barnes and Noble.

No secrets here,
~ Rebecca