The Benefits of Feedback

While I work on my project, here is another article, similar in style to Effective Goal Setting. Let me know what you think…

Richard Bandler - “There are no failures — only feedback.”

Once your business starts to gain momentum, you will begin to receive feedback regarding the performance of your business. Customers, colleagues, business partners, friends and family, etc. will give you advice, help, suggestions, direction and even criticism. The feedback that you receive will all contribute to the constant fine-tuning and growth needed to adapt to a changing business environment. This will progress you towards increasing your knowledge, product range, abilities, the service to your customers, point of view and business relationships.

Positive and Negative

Positive feedback is probably what you prefer. It could come in the form of, for example, increase in sales, media exposure, happy customers, awards, job satisfaction, etc. It feel good, it proves that you are on the right track and that you are successful at what you are doing.

Nobody likes negative feedback, for example, lack of results, little or no sales, criticism, complaints, unhappy customers, product returns, etc. However, negative feedback can be just as valuable as positive feedback. It lets you know that you are on the wrong track and you need to change direction or make adjustments. You could use this negative feedback to your advantage and see them as opportunities for improvement. Negative feedback can most definitely be used to your advantage and nudge you on to the fast lane to achieving your business goals more rapidly.

Ask for feedback

The easiest way to collect market intelligence (information about your market) is to ask for feedback. Connect with your target market by asking questions such as;
•    How would you rate the quality of our product?
•    How would you rate our level of customer service?
•    What can we do to improve our product and service offering?

These questions will give very valuable information and insight into the minds of your customers. Knowing that a customer is dissatisfied is not enough. Knowing in detail what will satisfy them will give you the information needed to create an unbeatable product and service.

Make it a habit to regularly ask your customers the following question:

“What can be done to improve your experience with my business?”

Ways to ask for feedback

• Casual conversation (verbal and written) – casually drop this question into a conversation. “By the way, how do you think I can do a better job?”
• Formal survey – compile a survey form that can be sent to your customer base. The survey may be conducted via email, telephonically, in person (survey interview or focus group) or via post (low response rate).
• Repeat purchases – if your customers keep coming back to purchase, they are most probably satisfied customers that identify with your brand. You should ask these valuable customers what makes them repeat purchasers and look after them, as the old adage goes 20% of your customers are 80% of your business.

How to cope with feedback that says “you have failed”

When the feedback that you receive says that your business has failed in an area, there are a few things that you can do to respond aptly and keep growing:

1. Write down everything that you have learnt from the experience and think of a better approach for next time.
2. Complete experience apologies and never hide from the customer. Your customers will appreciate your honesty, so always explain the situation honestly and offer to rectify the situation by offering to replace the product, offer a discount, or reimburse the customer completely. Ducking and diving from the customer will never work; remember when a customer is dissatisfied they will tell everyone they know.
3. Re-examine successes. What better way to perk yourself up after a slump in customer satisfaction then a glance at your successful past. This will renew your enthusiasm and allow you to be ready for another successful customer interaction. Regrouping and focusing on your vision will definitely give your spirits a boost.
4. Thanks. Always thank your customer for the feedback, even when it is negative. They did, after all, take the time to give you the feedback, which, mind you, means that they actually care. If they didn’t care, they would simply move on to another supplier and you would never know that they were dissatisfied. So, always be forthcoming with your thank-you’s.

Never take feedback personally, feedback is simply information. Welcome it and use it to your advantage. Remember the person took the time to give you feedback, whether positive or negative, always thank them.

Will the real World Leaders, please stand up?

I am not really into politics, but the recent political upheaval has really got me interested.

Today our New President will be sworn in, as Thabo Mbeki resigned last week.  Kgalema Motlanthe, will probably be the next president, a man many South Africans know very little about.

The utter lack of leadership, not only in South Africa, but worldwide is a huge worry. Maybe it is the beginning of the end of an era, making way for a new form of leadership. Now that the average man on the street has more say and power, perhaps it is time to re-look the way in which countries are governed.

Well, at least South Africa is not as bad as Zimbabwe, with Robert Mogabe being the main instigator. But Political unrest is not reserved for African Countries only.

The Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, resigned from his post in early September after less than a year in office. Taro Aso has been appointed as country’s new prime minister.

With America basically influencing every countries performance, the importance of a great US leader can not be over emphasised. The damage that George W. Bush inflicted not only on the country’s reputation, but on the economic front, will take years to repair. With 40 days to go until the elections in the USA, time will only tell. Let’s just hope for the best and may the best candidate win.

The UK has such an influence on Commonwealth Countries, such as South Africa, and the recent ‘beating’ the Prime Minister Gordon Brown has received from his critics and the British public, has had an influence. He may be on his way out as well…

Which brings me to the title of this post, ‘Will the real World Leaders, please stand up?’. The world is in despirate need of your services. Moral decay, economic hardships, the threat of nuclear war, rife corruption, public service delivery, and the list can go on and on… These factors can be blamed on the lack of leadership.

Who can you trust these days?

Beetroot dye

I have been eating much healthier and on the weekend I cooked organic Beetroot. I have seen others dye wool with natural ingredients, such as tumeric, and thouth that the water that the beetroot was cooked in would make a delightful dye, so I popped in some Elle Homespun wool and let it soke over night.

Well, the colour that appeared was delightful! I love It.

My camera’s battery is flat, but once I have bought a new one I will take a photo of the ball of wool. The pink is so unique.

I will be knitting a beanie (click here for the pattern) with this wool, especially for our mover to Surrey in England. We will be arriving there on 3 November 2008, from a hot South African Summer into a cold England Winter…

Off to the UK

As you may have noticed, there has been very little crafting going on at Orangebloom. Well, I can now explain why…

My husband has received his settlement visa (I have a British Passport) and we have decided to immigrate to the UK.

The British High Commision has a long list of all the requirements and answers to common questions. Link to British High Commission…

I would like to offer my knowledge to other who may be getting the documents ready for the process of applying for a UK Settlement Visa.

So, here is a list that I have compiled, but everyones circumstances are different, so be sure to check with an agency before applying.

• Unabridged Marriage Certificate (you will need the BI-30 form when you apply, this is the paper that you signed on your wedding day, your minister or magistrate will have a copy).
• Unabridged Birth Certificates (both Husband and Wife)
• Tax Clearance (IRP5 or IT34 from SARS) – both Husband and Wife
• Police Clearance (this will help a lot once in the UK, but is not necessary for the Visa Application (but it won’t hurt) Both Husband and Wife
• 3 Months bank Statements (originals stamped by the bank) both Husband and Wife, not older than 7 days from date of application
• Letter to indicate Savings, I recommend that each person should have £3 000, but it is up to you and your circumstances (consult your agency)
• Letter stating what will be done with your debit orders, for instance we will be keeping our house and renting it out, our cell phones will be cancelled, I will sell my car, etc.
• You will need a letter from an Estate Agent to say that your house will be rented or sold, the same for any other assets
• Proof of current employment (both Husband and Wife), this is a sensitive one, so if you don’t want to upset your current employer, you had better keep this one quiet. You should have a copy of your employment contract. Provide a letterhead with registration numbers and tax numbers of the company on, add a business card for good measure.
• CV’s and certified copy of all qualifications (both Husband and Wife) this is to prove that you are employable, make sure that your CV is in the UK format.
• Employment in the UK (both Husband and Wife), this is a tricky one, agencies will only look at your CV once you have your visa and have booked your tickets. We have enlisted our visa assist agency to help us with letters from contacts. It does not mean we have a job, it is just for visa purposes. I have heard about people that have gone over for a holiday and attended interviews at agencies and got letters in that way. Everyone’s situation is different. Ask your agency for guidance.
• Invitation letter from where you will be staying when you get there. We will be staying with friends, they own their home. You need a copy of the mortgage agreement, a utility bill and proof that they are permitted to live and work in the UK.
• Passports (I have a British passport) my husband will be getting a settlement visa. Be sure that there is enough space in the passport for a 2 page visa and that it is valid for at least 2 more years.
• Passport photos – professionally done to the requirements stated on the application form.
• Money to pay for the Visa – Settlement Visa costs +-R8540
• Money for tickets
• Letters from family and friends confirming your relationship.
• Photos of you and your spouse over the years.

It was a very diffucult decision, but it is for the best…

A box of Goodness

On my mission to eat healthier, I have started to purchase boxes of organic vegetables from Wensleydale Organic Farm. It is 45km from Johannesburg. They deliver at various drop-off points and then we collect. The closest one for me is in Kensington.

I am still learning about organic food, but definitely understand the benefits.

“The word Organic means ‘living’, and in practical terms, this means natural food that is grown and processed without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. Nothing unnatural is allowed so there are no growth hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, dyes, chemical coatings or irradiation allowed. There is no genetic engineering allowed in organic foods.

Organic food is nothing more than pure nutritional food – the way it used to be.”

The box is full of green goodness (and some colour too).

The box included: eggplant, butter lettuce, spring onion, beetroot, corn salad…

Naartjies, Broccoli, baby spinach…

Radishes – how good do these look?

After reading a post (eating our way to death, literally) on Think Simple Now, I have decided to gradually undergo a slow transition into becoming a vegetarian. I already only seldom eat red meat, so I don’t think it will be that difficult. I think the hardest will be to give up cheese, as I really do love cheese, but I now understand that it is just as dangerous as meat and the cruelty that the cows go through is enough to put me off.

What are your thoughts on vegetarianism? Do you know any great recipes?

Effective Goal Setting

I am busy working on a project that I mentioned that I would like to start in a previous post. I would just like to test out my writing style, relevance of content and interest. So, let me know what you think…

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” – Zig Ziglar

What are your business goals? Have you written them down? Do you focus on these goals? Have you broken down your bigger goals into smaller shorter goals? Do you review them every day?
These are just some of the questions every small business owner should be asking themselves.

Here is a simple guide on how to write achievable goals and increase your potential to achieve them and increase the success of your business.

1.    How much, by when?

State your goal in a way that only you could measure; this will make sure that it is powerful. For example, I will increase sales is not as powerful as I will sell 1000 books by 31 March 2009. You will either sell 1000 books by end date or not.

You could group your goals into categories such as, financial goals, brand awareness goals, educational goals, sales goals, product development goals, customer service goals, product ‘manufacturing’ goals, innovation goals, etc.

Be very specific about what you want for your business. Remember vague goals produce vague results.

2.    Goal vs. Good Idea

A goal or objective has to be measurable otherwise it is just soothing that you want, a wish or a good idea.

Good Idea

• I would like to own a lovely studio with a view.
• I want to increase sales.
• I need to network more.

Goal or Objective

• I will own a 40m² studio in London looking over the Thames River, by noon, 30 June 2009.
• I will sell 1000 books by 5pm 30 December 2008.
• I will make a minimum of 5 meaningful contacts by 5pm this Friday.

3.    Write it out in detail

One of the best ways to set specific goals is to write them out in detail, as if you were filling out a job card. Include every possible detail. This will help you to hone in on opportunities that will help you to achieve your goals.

4.    You need goals that drive you

When setting your goals, be sure to include some big ones. Ones that stretch you and make you grow to achieve them.

It’s good to have some goals that make you a little uncomfortable. This will force you to learn new skills, expand your idea of what’s possible, establish new relationships and learn to overcome hurdles, fears and concerns.

5.    Create a quantum leap goal

While setting your quarterly, weekly and daily business goals, set a quantum leap goal. A goal that once achieved would totally change everything and would take your business to a whole new level. This could be; writing a book, publishing an article, appearing on tv, creating an exquisite website, teaching a class, franchising your business, etc.

What would your quantum leap goal be?

6.    Keep your goals top of mind

Place your goals in a place that you will see and read a number of times a day. You could have them on your desktop of your computer or as a bookmark in your notebook. By constantly repeating and visualising your business goals you will be motivated to achieve them and your creativity will be stimulated. Your awareness to resources that will help you to accomplish your goals will therefore be heightened.

7.    Hurdles

It is only human to start thinking about all the reasons why we won’t be able to achieve the goals that we have set for our business. I don’t have the cash flow, I don’t have the time, I don’t have the skills, I’ll have to work too hard, I’ll have less family time, I fear rejection, nobody will want to buy my products, etc, etc…

Once you are aware of these subconscious thoughts, feelings and obstacles you can face them, process them and deal with them. Once done, you will become better prepared for the next project you wish to undertake.

8.    DO IT NOW!

Yes, take the time now to make a list of goals that you want your business to achieve. Make sure that they are measurable, i.e. how much, by when. Then decide on your quantum leap goal. Write it on the back of your business card and put it in your wallet. Each day do something that moves you towards your goals.

My Quantum Leap Goal for In the Bag is:

• Write an e-book by 30 December 2008.

Leave a comment with yours or email me kerry[at]inthebag.com

Craft room decor ideas

I have still not finished with my craft room and am struggling a little to get it in order, so that I will want to work in there every day.

I need some inspiration, so I have decided to share what I found with you.

It is important to have sufficient work space, this will allow you to leave projects that you are working on out for you to continue to work on the next day or when you are up to it.

Sunlight plays a very important role in how you view your craft room. If you are lucky enough to have a room that receives ample light, you are one of the lucky ones, as usually the room that gets allocated as the craft room is the dark and dreary room on the other side of the house. My craft room is one of these, it doesn’t get much light and is rather cold.

Make the most of your walls by installing shelves along the wall. You will be grateful for the storage space.

Everyone loves a little vintage. Use those old storage containers to hold your odds and ends. It will look good and serve as a practical storage solution.

Tuck away all electronics. Lets be honest, all electrical stuff looks ghastly. So, when not in use stow them away and out of sight.

Tools of the trade, your most prized possessions. Keep them organised and easy to access. The top drawer of your desk would be ideal.

Organised, organised, organised. The key to a successful craft room design is most definitely an organised room.

‘A place for everything and everything in its place’ has never rung more true. The main reason for me not spending more time in my craft room is the fact that I don’t have enough storage and the storage that I do have is not used properly.

The use of see-through cabinets is ideal. You can see where everything is stored and therefore you will save ample time looking for supplies.

Task lighting for activities such as sewing is of paramount importance in your craft room design. If you are like me and do most of your crafts in the evening, lighting should be one of your main concerns, especially in a very dark room.

‘I can’t find that green button! You know the one with the thing on it!’ Sound familiar. I am certainly guilty. Store similar supplies together. It may sound simple, but when you regularly by new things, you may get into the habit of not storing them correctly.

AH! One of my most favourite things in the whole wide world… inspirational boards. I love at seeing pictures of inspirational boards that belong to creative people, they are always so interesting and full of visual surprises. A definite must for all craft rooms.

Why not use your supplies as decor. That will mean that your decor in your craft room will be ever evolving as you use up and replace your supplies.

Having a space for every task you peform in your craft room is ideal. For example, an area to do your digital work, a desk for completing your handmade projects, an ironing area, a storage area, etc.

Using glass storage containers is a wonderful idea. You will always know where everything is and it looks pretty too…

Share your craft room storage ideas with us. Either leave a comment or post a link to your ideas in the comments section.

Success

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier