Opportunities

August 12, 2011 |

By Stephanie Clark, Owner of New Leaf Resumes, www.newleafresumes.ca I love to write and that is where I concentrate my marketing efforts. My first steps were to compose articles to post on EzineArticles.com, after which I added a weekly column for a local daily paper, to which I also added my own blog, an interview blog, and this peer-focused periodic blog with CPC. Oh yes, I also add my opinions to many questions posted on LinkedIn as well as those on our Forum. I really enjoy writing! And it is that…

The Value of Collegial Support

May 26, 2011 |

By Stephanie Clark. The internet is my friend. I watch commercial videos (the good and the funny, as well as a few clunkers!), and I enjoy inspirational photo-rich PowerPoints that friends share. And, because I work alone in a home office far from major cities, I take web-based teleclasses, webinars, teleconferences, you name it. These help me feel connected to my professional community, and relieve the isolation of a home-based business. A recent webinar, promoting a new book by the energetic name of Mojo, exhorted those of us who work…

Is the Customer Always Right?

April 26, 2011 | Comments Off on Is the Customer Always Right?

By Stephanie Clark. At one time, the words above were a business-owner’s mantra, even though at times the words tasted bitter, given that they issue from a place of inauthentic eagerness to please.  But today, with our customers expanded beyond a limited geographic area, perhaps we are not obliged to swallow bitter words; perhaps, just perhaps, we are free to challenge that mantra? The truth is, we simply cannot please everyone, so why bother trying? By watering down our service and products to try to appease the common denominator, we…

Strategies for Business Slumps

April 1, 2011 | Comments Off on Strategies for Business Slumps

By Stephanie Clark. It happens to the best and most successful, and it seems that nothing can adequately prepare us for it. All of a sudden the phone ceases to ring, emails dwindle, income plunges and we are left wondering what the heck happened!? It happened to me last fall. Some weeks I had but one client, other weeks not one new client and perhaps a letter or two to write for an existing client. I began to scour the want ads for possible part time employment. This scenario tends…

My Search for Toll Free Phone Options

March 2, 2011 | Comments Off on My Search for Toll Free Phone Options

Small businesses don’t have time to wrestle with difficult options. I found an easy and impressive toll free telephone option.

How to Dismiss a Client With Finesse

February 17, 2011 | Comments Off on How to Dismiss a Client With Finesse

By Stephanie Clark. An earlier blog, on accepting client rejection, generated a question about how to dismiss a potential toxic client, with finesse. (Thank you to Janet Barclay for asking a question that truly begs to be answered!) After all, as service providers we must conduct our business with professionalism and with a commitment to building, rather than burning, bridges. This is an excellent question, and one that is not easily answered. There are as many potential scenarios as people; each situation will require a slightly different approach, and thus…