HeatherStone commented on the following stories on BizSugar
9 Ways for Entrepreneurs to Counter Negative Vibes
"Hi Martin, Some interesting strategies. I'll have to see if any of these work for me. I'm in a team right now where toxicity is slowly creeping in due to one member. It's really the reactions of the others to this one member that's making things difficult. I'm going to try to follow some of this advice and I'll let you know how it works out. ~Heather"Why Arguing With A Customer Is Obviously Ridiculous -- Interview With Micah Solomon, Customer Service Expert
"It always boggles my mind how people who are supposed to be customer service professionals have an aversion to simply apologizing--they don't know how to do it. They say, "I'm sorry that you feel this way," or "I'm sorry that you're having a problem," but never simply "I'm sorry. We're completely wrong. What can we do to make it right?" Well, that's my point. Micah has a lot of great points, if only people would follow that advice. Great post! "How to Get Stuff Done
"To be honest, Matthew, this is a bit daunting. On the other hand, I can see how breaking things down could certainly make each task a bit less intimidating. For many people, the hardest thing about accomplishing any big goal is figuring out how to get there. Trying to plan it all ahead of time might be intimidating too, but planning goals as you go, while a challenge, seems a better way to get yourself moving and stay motivated."Women at Work: Sound Bites and Statistcis from Women Who Lead
"Hi Holly,Harrison, One of the biggest mind bogglers to me is how for so many years male-dominated businesses could justify cutting off over half the population when making hiring considerations, promotions, and appointments. It seems that someone even back in the darker days of women's rights should have been able to see what that could do to their potential profitability. I'm not Ye Olde Women's Activist, but I just can't fathom how today men still dominate the technology field. I'm in IS, and I'm left wondering how even with a degree that's in demand, I'm going to fare in such a male dominated sector. Gee...it's enough to make me start a business!"Marketing Mix Man: Naked Prince Harry in Las Vegas: An Opportunity Well Seized By Some Brands
"Gary, These are some great examples of taking a current event and turning it into marketing magic. Like you said, it's only going to keep getting faster and faster on the turnaround. What we really need is more connectivity so we can gain the competitive advantage over the other ad agency. Also, (an aside) it's amusing that they call Axe Lynx in the UK. A lynx is associated with feminine qualities here (at least among those I know), so NOT the masculine vibe that the company's looking for, hence Axe over here, in the US. Of course, maybe Axe has violent connotations, which perhaps gives you an insight into American character..haha. Anyway, interesting post. ~Heather Stone "Are you Socializing to Build your Online Business?
"Hi Sylviane, I'm not sure how anyone can hope to make any progress as an online entrepreneur without paying some attention to the social part of the process. Tweeting, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and You Tube are just a few of the channels open to you. The same is true in any kind of small business. Someone must buy your products, spread the message about your brand, tell others about what you do through word of mouth, and those people can't find out about you unless you use social channels and let them know. Creating a steady stream of content is great and is an important part of marketing for an online business, but social channels are how you get that content out to your audience. It's that simple. "Will the Real Crowd Funding Model Please Stand Up?
"Martin, I wonder if a number of these models won't persist for quite some time since they all arise from different motivations on the part of the investors. Some, like good cause funding, have existed for a long time under other names like "donation", etc. Sure there are differences, but I suspect the diversity in the crowd funding ecosystem may be here to stay."Top Traits of Successful Franchisees
"Hi Joel, I saw a test on your site to help perspective small business owners to determine whether franchising is right for them or not. I'm wondering whether you believe that franchise owners are basically entrepreneurs or whether they're sort of a different breed."Subscribe
The Power of Personality in Online Business
"Hey there, I think yes, there needs to be a level of honesty about who you are when you're blogging, however there is such a thing as professional restraint, or lack of openness. IOW, perhaps it's better to be honest than to be open, at least about oneself. You want your personality to shine through, but you don't want to share inappropriate things that later on come back to bite you in the butt. I guess it depends on your market too. Mine is very general. If I get too edgy I can put off some of those I want to keep reading. For me it's not so black and white."