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Story Teller | CEO | Traveler

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2011 lifestyle plan (update)

February 25, 2011 By Jim Raffel 5 Comments

In early January, I shared my 2011 lifestyle plan. It's time to update you, even though the news is not so great at the moment. Just like in business, sometimes life plans don't always come off according to the plan. As a quick refresher: I lost five pounds in December and managed to lose another … [Read more...]

Filed Under: personal development Tagged With: 2011, constant, life plan, lifestyle, lifestyle planning, lose five pounds, lose weight, lost, plan, planning, stay healthy, successful, vigilance

Security is a myth

February 24, 2011 By Jim Raffel 4 Comments

Just the other day, I saw two friends conversing on Twitter about taking the risk of leaving a corporate job to go out on their own. One of them said she wished she'd done it when she was 22 and was less adverse to risk. My first solo flight in business was at the age of 23. It lasted almost two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: personal development Tagged With: actuarial science, airplanes, applied mathematics, best art, corporate job, downside risks, endeavor, extent, heck, hundreds of thousands, myth, perception, personal life, probability, risk, sixteen years, solo flight, taking the risk, tens, terrorists, thousands of dollars, twin towers, Twitter, two friends

What's in a business name?

February 23, 2011 By Jim Raffel 3 Comments

I asked for blog post ideas on Twitter and this was one that intrigued me. As far as I can remember, I've been involved in naming five businesses. So, without further fanfare, here are my stream of consciousness thoughts as to how I arrived at each of these names. Professional Printing Services - … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Marketer Tagged With: a business, arrive, business, business names, company names, consulting business, domain names, five, lightly, names, printing companies

An idea for staying motivated

February 22, 2011 By Jim Raffel 10 Comments

Take a day off and do whatever you want. I can think of no better way to remain motivated than enjoying the freedom that your work arrangement has afforded you. If you aren't self-employed, schedule a vacation or personal day as soon as possible. If you are self-employed, tomorrow would be a good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation Tagged With: business, idea, ideas, motivate, personal life, relax, self employed, simple ideas, stay motivated, time management, tomorrow, unwind

Small Business 101 Series – Revisited

February 21, 2011 By Jim Raffel 1 Comment

Last July I took a week to share some of my favorite advice for small business owners. As I look back six months later I realize that these five posts represent cornerstones of how I do business. Perhaps it was the writing of the posts that refocused me. Instead I think it was me writing about what … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Small Business 101 Tagged With: business, get paid, revenue streams, revisited, series, small business, social media, Twitter

Creating ambassadors and agents of you

February 18, 2011 By Jim Raffel 3 Comments

Last year, with the exception of software development for our company, I pretty much did it all myself. To some extent, the economic times dictated that's how it had to be for awhile. As the recession eased and our market began to invest in color verification tools again, I was ready. It was time to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Marketer, sales Tagged With: agents, ambassador, ambassadors, business, business process, duplicating, entrepreneurship, grow, marketing, recessions, sales, success, Twitter

Avis tries harder – really?

February 17, 2011 By Jim Raffel 14 Comments

Recently, while visiting a client, he offered to have his driver take my rental car out and fill the gas tank so I could spend a few extra minutes with the customer. My client was also kind enough to pay for the gas; not realizing I needed the receipt to avoid Avis' $13.99 gas charge for driving … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: avis, avis deal, bright spot, customer experience management, customer service, gas, gas tank, harder, receipts, rental cars, shine, tries, trying hard

How smiles and thank yous pay dividends

February 16, 2011 By Jim Raffel 9 Comments

Earlier today as I was leaving the partner business where I'd spent the last two days, I stopped to say goodbye to Betty, the woman at the front desk. I started with a smile, and then thanked Betty for her help over the last year tracking down invoices and payments. Betty smiled back, and said, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Small Business 101 Tagged With: care, dividends, front desk, humanize, partner, partners business, pay, paying dividends, relationship, saying thanks, Smile, smiles, thank yous

Why communities like Third Tribe Marketing are worth the cost

February 15, 2011 By Jim Raffel 1 Comment

Recently, a partner and I were trying to decide which screen casting product to purchase for a community we are building. We both knew of ScreenFlow and Camtasia, but needed to decide which to review and ultimately purchase. I remembered a conversation thread in Third Tribe Marketing (affiliate … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Marketer Tagged With: bases, business, communication, communities, community, cost, costing, gaining access, internet forum, internet marketing, knowledge, marketing, Third Tribe, thirds, tribe, tribes, why, worth

How minor adjustments make you more productive

February 14, 2011 By Jim Raffel 7 Comments

Sometimes your life requires big adjustments to move you forward toward a productive and fruitful life. This is the case with addictive substances and behaviors. If you are addicted, then the only real answer is to quit. That often requires a commitment to change and the support structure necessary … [Read more...]

Filed Under: motivation, personal development Tagged With: addictive, adjustments, business, fruitful, greater productivity, life, minor adjustments, productive, productivity, technology, travel time

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