Treat your customers with respect.

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Posted on 30th March 2009 by Tony in Business Advice

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I just got another call from CellC. I get one at least once a week and they seem to insist on selling me some cheap contract that I have no interest in. It’s not only annoying … it’s downright insulting!

For starters, I use an Apple iPhone. I have no interest in claiming my amazing free entry-level Nokia. I have a business contract at Vodacom. I therefore have no interest in your CasualChat topup package. None at all. Seriously now.

And for the umpteenth time, please remove me from your database!

So here’s what I am thinking:

For heaven’s sake, don’t assume what your client needs. You’ll make an idiot of yourself. In my company we do a complete needs analysis first. I’ve even turned away customers because they really don’t need my services. I’m not so arrogant to think everyone needs me. CellC didn’t do their homework, and that’s what annoyed me. The lady could have asked me:

  1. What phone am I currently using?
  2. What contract am I currently on?
  3. Am I interested in saving some money?

She could then explain why moving to CellC would be beneficial to my bank balance and also pitch the contract that makes the most sense to me. Come on now! I spent $1000 importing an Apple iPhone 1.1.2 in 2007, spent a further coupla-rands to hack it. A cheap R199 Nokia does not appeal to me!

Respect your client’s wishes. If they don’t want your services, be nice about it. Don’t nag them to death or cry because they’re stealing the food from your children. Thank them kindly, and ask them for the name of 4 or 5 people they think would want your services. This way you keep the person happy AND get a few leads out of it. The CellC-lady became half-aggrevated with me – as if I owe her a special favour. And I know why she was annoyed. Today is 30 March – she’s probably short on her sales target.

And finally, your clients probably don’t have the IQ of a baboon. Don’t tell me that I was specially selected by the Management of CellC for this promotional offer. I’m not an idiot. I know you bought the database from somewhere (probably Nedbank). Be honest about it – especially if I ask where you got my details from!

So, in summary … be nice to your clients and future clients. :-)

Popularity: 49% [?]


Old Pictures of Cape Town

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Posted on 25th March 2009 by Tony in Random

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Cape Town is a bustling, growing, exciting city to live in – one forgets there were quieter days. I got this in my mailbox this afternoon and thought I’d share it with you:

This is Adderley Street – Cape Town CBD

Adderley Street

This is Cape Town International Airport. Look at the Turbo-Props … Nifty!

Cape Town Airport

Here’s the Table Mountain Cable Car … the new ones have doors and everything :-)

Cable Car

Here’s Camp’s Bay/Clifton side of the mountain

Camps Bay

This is the Cape Town Foreshore … wow, certainly looks different now!

Cape Town Foreshore

And here is Cape Town Harbour … no shopping malls!

Cape Town Harbour

And here is the N1 (National Road) between Cape Town and Johannesburg

National Road between Cape Town and Johannesburg

And here is Newlands Cricket Stadium

Newlands Cricket Stadium

And finally … here is Cape Town Train Station

Cape Town Train Station

Popularity: 100% [?]


96% of businesses die in 5 years. Get a doctor!

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Posted on 19th March 2009 by Tony in Business Advice

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You know there’s danger to just letting the wind blow. I figured this out today while trying to sort out some work. Stick with me here … I’m trying to put together a new business system, basically tying up all my little ideas into one great kick-ass idea.

But I failed again … because I didn’t have a PLAN. My friend Bettina wrapped me over the knuckles for not being “congruent” whatever the heck that means. Gets me thinking…

If I look out of my office window I see the ocean, heavy waves beating all over the show. Storms-a-comin.

Well if you haven’t noticed the world is in one serious storm right about now. Some people are struggling to make ends meet and some people have started praying to Tito Mboweni to drop the interest rates some more.

Another rabbit-trail.

Alice (in Wonderland) comes to a fork in a road. She sees a cat sitting in a tree and says “which way should I go?” The cat says “Where do you want to go?” Alice responds “I don’t know”. The cat says: “Then any road will get you there.

See, and this is my point. 96% of business will die in the first 5 years – and I think it’s because everyone is focused on making money. They’re not focused on vision and mission. What is the company for? What do we represent? What is our plan and where do we want to go?

Actions plans. They’re so important and yet most of us are just paying the bills. Which is why it was so great to talk to Bettina today. You see, I think of her as my Business Doctor. When the business is sick she comes in and tells me what’s wrong and prescribes some medication (usually a kick up the pants to work more efficiently).

I suggest everyone gets a business doctor. The first thing Bettina will do is evaluate your business. She calls it a “BPR” – it’s like CPR for a business – and then an action plan to follow.

Stupid me. I did this in August 2008 and it’s only dawned on me now that if I want the business to get better I need to take the medication.

And if you’re in my position where business isn’t really dying, you may consider a BPR anyway … my idea is to turn my business into a super-athlete, so let Bettina give it a shot in the @$$.

Bettina Horvath’s website is http://www.salespartnerscape.co.za/

DO IT NOW! It’ll save you loads of heart-ache.

Popularity: 44% [?]


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