Kurt Thompson, SWIF Program Officer:
Now that the Winter Olympics have come and gone, we all experienced the thrill of competition for the mighty prize…a gold rush indeed!
We can all look back to the time when we first started our business or at least celebrated the Grand Opening of our new business – the event that marked the culmination of our dream of entrepreneurship. The excitement and the pride that we all had was evident in the way that we displayed our store, office, or showroom. We dusted, cleaned, polished and arranged. We offered gifts, prizes, and in some cases free samples to try our newest creation or idea. Not only did we feel like a superstar, we looked like a million bucks!
Long after the excitement and fanfare of a grand opening, we all fall into the great abyss of entrepreneurship; long hours, tight cash flow, unruly employees, and grumpy customers…sometimes it can take a toll on us…even to the point where we forget about the basics. Sometimes in the middle of all the work that we are doing, we forget about the little things….
Go for the GOLD! Grand Opening Look Daily!
Here are some simple tips to keep your operation in tip-top shape…
Pay attention to the small stuff…keep things neat and tidy
- Clean, vacuum, organize
- Make sure your product is top-notch
- Check, double check…remember, measure twice, cut once
Create a sense of excitement
- Attitude is infectious…both good and bad
- Set the mood for your operation – it’s up to you
- Keep your ideas fresh
Pay attention
- Look around
- Ask questions of your staff and customers
- Give your customers what they want
Remember, we all want to be winners – but don’t forget that it is oftentimes hard work to stay focused, positive, and on top of an entire organization. Pay attention to the details, try to take a step back and look at your business from your customer’s eyes….do you like what you see? Go for the GOLD!
photo credit: sabertasche2
