CentreO Blog

“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. Now, how to apply this to your business?

If you are running a business, it means you are on a constant look out for new clients. What if we told you that they may be closer than you think?

We are talking about the clients you already have, as they may be the biggest source of your new clients as well.

Think about it: they are already doing business with you, they trust you and they have connections. They are the best ad for your business, as they know you personally and can share their experience.

So how to make sure your current clients feel confident enough to recommend you to their friends?

We have a few simple ideas:

Be Punctual

Being on time shows respect for your client and the professionalism of your company. If possible, always arrive before your client does, get your thoughts together and prepare for the meeting. There is nothing worse that running into the meeting 10 minutes late with scattered thoughts and traffic rage.

 Be Prepared

Before every meeting ask yourself this:

“Why is the client coming to see me?”

Then, make sure you have all the papers (forms, contracts, supporting materials and so on) to make this meeting is productive and valuable.

  Underpromise and Overdeliver

This is the most valuable advice I have ever been given. Always try to give your client more than they expect. Do go that extra mile. If it is impossible in work itself, give them a friendly call, send an interesting link related to their business, give them the support you can and you will build a strong relationship.

 Thank You!

Thank your clients for their trust. Send them a card, a simple “thank you” note or just say it out loud. Of course, your clients are not doing you a favour, they are choosing your company for its professionalism and quality. But a simple “thank you” for giving their business to you can make a lot of difference in your relationship.

The Golden Rule

Treat others they way you would like to be treated. It’s as simple as that.

We’d like to share with you a list of international publications, offering trustworthy advice and inspiration, no matter in what field your entrepreneurial activities may lie.

We hope you’ll find something for yourself to flip through in the evening.

Forbes

Forbes is a household name in business publications, covering finance, industry, investments, marketing, technology, communications, science and law. It offers deep insight into a wide range of topics and features informative interviews with global business leaders.

Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review is a well-respected authority on management methods in a changing world economy, offering advice on leadership on a domestic and global scale.

Fast Company

Fast company comes with a compelling editorial focused uniquely on innovation and prides itself on being written for, by and about progressive business leaders. This monthly magazine covers technology, economics, leadership and design.

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur has over 30 years of experience in being a trusted resource of information about entrepreneurship, small business management and business opportunities. It is a well of tips, insight, analysis and advice.

Inc. Magazine

This magazine has been in publication since 1979, providing resources and inspiration for entrepreneurs for running and growing their businesses.

Whichever one has caught your eye (or mind), we are sure you will find something inspirational.

This hands-on version is easy to learn and will give you a basic idea of what to do if someone next to you is in trouble.  These two simple steps can save a life:

1. If the victim is unresponsive or barely breathing, immediately call 999.
2. Place your palms flat in the centre of the person’s chest, pump hard and fast. Press down at least two inches at 100 beats per minute. Time yourself by pushing to the “ah-ah-ah-ah” beat from the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive.”

Tip: Doing CPR is tough—muscle fatigue could make your compressions less effective. If possible, swap out with another adult in two-minute shifts until help arrives.

For a comprehensive idea about CPR and how to help victims in different health emergencies, we recommend you take a short course in CPR. We hope you will never have the need to use it, but knowing that you are ready will give you the confidence to help someone in need.

Starting your day with a cup of your favourite coffee blend is almost a ritual for some of us.

It wakes you up, gets you ready for the day and asks for nothing in return. Or does it?

According to a new study review published in the Journal of Caffeine Research, “caffeine use disorder” is quite common.

To come to this conclusion, researchers looked at nine previously published studies on caffeine dependence to assess the seriousness of the situation.

So what is caffeine disorder and how to know if you have it?

–       You experience general withdrawal symptoms, like agitation and anxiety, when you don’t have caffeine

–       You are unable to reduce your caffeine consumption, even though it may come with health risks (f.e. heart disease)

“Well, that’s not me, I only have 2 cups a day” – I heard myself say out loud.

I guess, just like me, you might think that 2 cups a day is nothing. Consider this, though: caffeine can be found in unexpected places, like tea, soda, medicine, chocolate and so on. So even if you are not actually drinking too much coffee, your intake of caffeine can still be quite high.

Study co-author, Laura Juliano, recommends consuming no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Unfortunately, since food and drink manufacturers are not required to state the caffeine content of their products, it may be hard to track how much you are actually consuming.

How to combat this? The best course of action is to try to gradually reduce consumption of caffeine sources that you CAN measure, says Juliano.