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... in advance just to make sure they stay with us. We're pounding the pavement. We're developing our marketing plan, we're making employees accountable. We're setting yearly account review appointments. We're doing account rounding. The list seems to go on forever. Remember to take time out just for you – and check the "temperature" of your staff to make sure everything is okay in their world. Life is so short that we need to keep a positive attitude. Sometimes this is hard, but it's essential. Several years back I asked agents at a workshop what they were doing to keep their employees happy. Here (in no particular order) are a few of the ideas they offered: Let your people know they're doing a good job. Thank them! We have a massage therapist give 15-minute massages, about twice a year. We have flexible hours. Fifteen minute massages during stressful times (360 conversion, end of the year) . Flexibility in hours/days off (flex-time, four-day work week, off early to get kids off bus, etc.) . Buy ice cream or some special treat for all employees once a month. Vacation time. Luncheon, surprise treats (Dairy Queen), drawings for prizes. Allow CSRs to work a day or two per week from home Celebrate – Spring, Fall, Summer, Winter, special lunches, time off. Hand out the book, Who Moved My Cheese? to help deal with changes. Reward with Casual Dress-down Stickers. Offer Early Fridays, casual day on Friday. Recognize their ...

...od job. Thank them! We have a massage therapist give 15-minute massages, about twice a year. We have flexible hours. Fifteen minute massages during stressful times (360 convers...

... keep this question process going, your staff will start thinking like you, and you will find fewer questions given to you. These are only a few ideas. There are plenty of others. Start thinking about how to save time now so you can enjoy your family and home life today. BREAK TIME How in the world can I take a break? ' you may be asking. There's just too much to do. You have no idea what my days are like! ' If you followed the measures just described, you'll have more time to take breaks throughout your day. So get out of the office during lunch. If you don't eat or don't want to go to a restaurant, take a walk, go home, take a drive, work out, even have a massage. Just make sure you aren't working. Of course, this is very difficult to do-at first. Start out slow. Maybe plan on doing this one day a week for one month. Then do it on two days every week. Before you know it, you'll feel comfortable taking a break. It will become part of your day, and your days will be less stressful. VACATIONS Are you one of those people who just has to call the office when on vacation? Or, worse, simply must bring work to do on vacation? Why in the world are you even taking one? We take so little time off, that when we do take it, it ought to be pure. Don't call the office. Don't take work home. Don't leave a number where ...

...n a physical therapist for midday massages for those who wanted one. IX. Be p...

...ke a drive, work out, even have a massage. Just make sure you aren't working. ...

... sales. For example, junk mail earned its name from companies dumping millions of pieces into the postal stream. Then came junk fax, which is creating immense resentment because it steals the recipient's toner and paper. Now there's junk E-mail-also called, in perhaps the most derisive term in Internet language, spamming. It's popular because it's quick and easy. The undeniable fact that junk E-mail is invasive doesn't deter those who send it. Unfortunately, unsolicited E-mail of quality and substance are received with the same resentment as the junk messages. The success of the Internet has created a lust that knows no bounds. However, many who are rushing to the Internet fail to understand what customers want. Instead of making sales, they may be making enemies. 2. Lying to customers. Call it misrepresentation, massaging the facts, or a scam, but it's all lying. The developer of a new but untested Web site asked vendors for advertising dollars. In his letter, he made the claim that they had proved their ability to deliver products to customers. Unfortunately, this simply wasn't true. How would he respond to a sophisticated advertising executive asking about hits and sales figures? It's easy to shrug our shoulders and say, What's a little hyperbole? Everyone does it. Perhaps. But they also get caught. One major manufacturer of fine office equipment made the claim that a piece of equipment had a desktop fax log. It didn't. Company claims and those made by salespeople are often exaggerated to the point where many customers don't believe much of what they are told. To allow this to happen ...

...edule that bubble bath. Have that massage you’ve been talking about forever. D...

...pist for anyone desiring a midday massage. 9. Be proud of your agency ? but ne...

...and sale agreement. Terms can be massaged to share the risk, thus lowering th...

...important and have his or her ego massaged. A call from the owner or the manag...