BNGIowa

Membership Drive Meeting, Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 1pm

 Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur? Do you want to improve your success and help others do the same? Would you like to meet with others like you?

Business Network Group is ready to welcome new members. If you are interested, please join us on Tuesday, September 21 from 1p to 2pm. We will gather at Panera in the Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines.

Our members meet on the first and third Tuesdays of most months. We ask each member to blog at least once every two weeks. Blog posts should relate to the BNG mission.

Check our this site to learn more about BNG, our mission and our current members.

Please rsvp if you want to attend. Contact Barb Gordon, bgordon@myarbonne.com or gordon@dwx.com.

Expectations

I remember doing research papers for school homework. Seems like there was one or two due every semester. I was lucky, my family owned an encyclopedia set. I remember my mom bought a book at a time with a grocery purchase until she completed the set. The books made a lovely display on the bookshelf in the hallway by the phone (the one phone and it was corded). I used the books more than the phone. That was what my parents expected, so that is what I did.

Information is available in vast quantities these days. But what about the quality? No one questioned the reliability of the facts published in the old encyclopedia. These days, it is hard to trust any information. Who is writing the stuff online? Anyone can put information online. Even me. 

So why do I write for free? Today, I hope to influence someone to be trustworthy and provide quality work. It will make you happy, at least that is what I believe. I guess that is why people are spewing out so much information and communication: We want others to believe as we do. 

Trust. Quality. I hope there are still people and companies who value those qualities. I have met too many lately who don't. 

When to Quit

For the last several weeks, a goldfinch has been tapping on my windows. And glass patio door. And perching on the edge of a patio chair. I think he sees the reflection of trees in the glass. For whatever reason, he wants to get through the glass. Sometimes he flies frantically and beats his body against the glass. At first is was cute, but now it is just plain annoying.

People can be like that bird. They just don't know when to quit. Especially business people. I tend to be direct and let someone know when I am not going to do business with them. I appreciate it when customers do the same with me. My pet peeve is lying. I don't think telling a salesperson that you "will get back to them..." when you really are not interested is helpful. In fact it is a lie. It may be easier for the customer, but it doesn't let the salesperson know it is time to quit.

So don't call salespeople "pushy" if you are misleading them. And don't put a fake reflection in front of a customer. We all need to know when to quit.

If you have a tip for me to help me get this bird to quit, please let me know. BTW, I don't like guns.