A big thank you to all of you who took advantage of our going away sale last week.  It’s sad to say goodbye to my very first program, but it was time.  We’ve got some great new programs coming your way this year plus we’re working on a new look and feel for our website.  Stay tuned for the big reveal.

Ever have one of those weeks when you can’t remember what day it is.  That’s how this last week has been for me.  After a few days in Palm Springs, friends coming to town for the Grammys, a seminar and my sister-in-law heading to the hospital (she’s about to deliver twin girls any day now) I’m ready for a nap.  Good thing Jami, my senior consultant, is running the calls for our Outrageously Effective Systems program.

Even after all these years of focusing on systems, I can still get a surprise.  I learned a systems lesson from music mega star, Michael Bublé.  Check out this week’s article to see what that could possibly be.

Enjoy,

Beth

Here I am in Palm Springs with several mastermind buddies and clients. I highly recommend joining a group, the ideas and support are worth a million bucks.

Thoughts from Sandye Linnetz, Systems Coach and Goddess

Of course we need systems and processes. We need them in our personal lives and we need them in business. Without them we operate in a helter-skelter, what do I do now kind of manner. With them in place we know what to do and when to do it. They are what enable us to be efficient and accurate and keep those important details from slipping through the cracks of life. And we all hate it when stuff slips through, don’t we?

We all have systems that we use every day. Our bodies have “natural” systems like digestive, nervous and reproductive; it would be tough to operate without those. Some we copied from someone else… some we made up because we needed them… and some we don’t even realize we follow.

 There are life systems that you use because, hey, that’s the way your mother did it. There are systems you created for yourself because you don’t want to make that mistake again. You most likely have a morning system for waking up and getting ready for the day, a get dressed system, a make (or get) the coffee system and probably even a system for reading the paper or finding out what happened overnight across the world. Those are systems that we don’t even realize we have and use.

So, for arguments sake, let’s agree that your life is chock full of systems. Some work really well for you. Some need work… You even know where they’re missing in your life, don’t you? Why is it, then, that we know we need them and we still don’t have them?

Here’s the reason it seems so tough to create systems… ready? Life isn’t a constant step-by-step because it is constantly changing. That’s the nature of the beast. Nothing stays the same. Everything changes –all the time. So, although it may appear that everything is the same, it’s NOT. And when you’ve designed a system that doesn’t make allowances for change, your system doesn’t work. When you create a system based on things always going a “certain way”, you are doomed to failure. A REALLY great system has change built into it. It’s all about the if this happens, then do that and, if that happens then do this.

Of course we need systems and processes. We need them in our personal lives and we need them in business. However, things change and we need systems that prepare us to handle the changes. Change needs to be built into all of our systems.

You are the expert on what’s “missing” in your personal life. Take stock. Hire a Life Coach if you want guidance, just make a list – a mental list if you don’t want to write it out – of all the possible things that could change and alter your system accordingly. Then give yourself options based on what “might” occur. Keep change in mind and put those personal systems into place.

When it comes to your business life, the money and free time are in your systems. Really, they are. When the system works, the business works. When the business works, it grows… and so do your bank accounts and free time. I know how important both of those things are to me, and I assume to you as well, so get to work creating the systems that are missing or needing to be tweaked in your company. Consider the possibilities and your options. And, remember: No matter how you chose to create your systems… you get to “KEEP THE CHANGE”!

© 2010 Beth Schneider, Process Prodigy, Inc.

Want to reprint this article? Feel free as long as you include the following: Beth Schneider, President of Process Prodigy Inc., www.processprodigy.com , along with her team of highly sought after operations consultants, reveal the insider secrets billion-dollar corporations pay thousands of dollars for. Specializing in process creation, Process Prodigy tools and techniques have helped entrepreneurs increase productivity by as much as 600%, and revenues by as much as 250%. Visit www.processprodigy.com/ezine and grab your FREE systems starter kit valued at $297.00.

As a special “Thank You”, until midnight on January 29, 2010 you can get my very successful program, Your Business Machine Basics for 30% OFF.  

I’ve got big plans for this year, including expanding and changing our product line.  After a long debate with my team, I’ve made the hard decision to take this successful program off the market.  It’s great information, but it doesn’t quite flow with the new programs and products you’ll see us rolling out over the next year. 

My decision is your reward. We have a limited number of copies left, so hurry and get your copy for 30% off - you MUST enter coupon code gift to receive the discount: http://www.processprodigy.com/shopping/business_machine_basics.html

This special is my way of saying thank you for being a member of the Process Prodigy community and helping you launch your new year with success.

Grab your copy and save 30% with code gift: http://www.processprodigy.com/shopping/business_machine_basics.html

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This is your LAST CHANCE to get Your Business Machine Basics before it goes into the Process Prodigy vault!
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If the 30% discount isn’t enough to have you clicking to my site, what’s included with the program will surely do the trick:

ü  Two full hours of step-by-step audio training that will show you how to set up systems to work less and get more done

ü  Complete program transcripts that make it easy to refer back to key points - like how to delegate tasks effectively

ü  40+ Page Workbook that makes it easy to prioritize and figure out what you should work on first to make the biggest impact. . .fast

ü  Sample Flowcharts that you can implement immediately

ü  30 Days of free email support! ($300 value) Got questions, no problem, we’ve got answers

WHEW!
That’s a lot of goodies …and you get it all with Your Business Machine Basics for 30% off (use code gift).

Go here right now and claim your copy before they’re all gone! http://www.processprodigy.com/shopping/business_machine_basics.html

This is the LAST CHANCE you will have to buy this revolutionary system that so many savvy small business owners are raving about. It has been one of our most popular and longest running products - and we know you will love it. At a $450 value, you will get this package for only $137.90! This special 30% off sale ends at midnight on Friday, January 29, 2010.

Go here now with coupon code gift: http://www.processprodigy.com/shopping/business_machine_basics.html

Take Care,

Beth

One of the reasons I’m able to pick up and fly across the country is I have an amazing team.  Enjoy this week’s article, 4 Steps to Creating a Superstar Team.

Enjoy,

Beth

Here I am with the Barefoot Exec herself, Carrie Wilkerson.  Carrie is one of our Platinum clients and she invited me to join her at her mastermind group.

Happy New Year! I hope you took some time off to celebrate, relax and rejuvenate.  I sure did.  I high tailed it out of town and spent a long weekend with some good friends in northern California.  It was a blast. 
 
I came home just in time to co-host the first call in our new program Outrageously Profitable Systems.  It’s always exciting to watch something you’ve created come to life.
 
When all of the holiday hubbub is in full swing, it’s easy for companies to get overwhelmed and over burdened. When this happens it’s easy to find yourself on the receiving end of a mistake.  Everyone knows that accidents happen, but it’s how a company handles the mistake that ultimately matters.  We’re kicking off the year, with a new article about how to keep customers happy when the worst happens.
 
Enjoy,
Beth

Here I am bringing in the new year with my good friends Tracy and Pat Monteforte, Todd and Carla Falcone and their kids Gianni and Joey.  Tracy and Pat had a great party, then toured us around their town. It was a fantastic trip.

What’s that saying?  “Stuff” happens?  In a world where no one is perfect, we know mistakes will be made and accidents will happen.  We do our best to avoid them, but the harsh reality is that at some point “stuff” is going to happen.
Knowing that a mistake is inevitable it makes sense to put policies and systems in place to be prepared for these accidents.  What you put in place for your company really depends on your individual situation.  But, no matter what you do, remember people typically want to feel heard and taken care of. 
 
I recently experienced a few “stuff” happens moments.  Some handled very well, others not so much.  Here are 3 examples of how handling or not handling your clients experiences can affect your business.
 
The A+ Experience Before I headed up north to my a holiday party I decided to treat myself so I ran off to the local Ritz Carlton for a manicure, pedicure and a professional make-up application.  When I booked the appointment, I told them time was an issue as I was catching a plane.  I arrived on time, my manicurist was not so punctual.  I waited for 15 minutes when the spa manager came in to talk to me.  She explained what was going on, what was going to happen and offered to get me something to eat or drink. 
 
By the time we got started, I’d been waiting for 30 minutes and quite frankly, I wasn’t so pleased.  A couple hours later, I was polished, concealed and running a good 35 minutes behind schedule. As I was thinking, “I probably won’t come here again”, I was told that because of my wait the fee for my manicure and pedicure ($65 each, which is a hefty fee for some nail polish) were waived.  It was completely unexpected and that one grand gesture has made me a raving fan.  I wouldn’t hesitate to go back because I know that my time and feelings are considered and taken care of. 
 
The C+ Experience I booked a hotel room for an upcoming business trip. It was a slightly complicated reservation, a night under a group rate, a couple of nights with points and a night with a reduced rate if I pre-paid. I agreed to pre-pay the night, got my confirmation and went on my way.
 
A couple of weeks later I notice the charge on my card was 4 times what it should have been so I called to clear it up.  The first person I talked to said she couldn’t help me and passed me to another.  The second person said I needed to call someone else.  When I sighed and expressed my frustration with having to tell the story a third time, she called the third person and said it was taken care of.
 
Further follow-up showed that the problem had NOT been cleared up so I eventually had to make that third phone call and explain…again…and be irritated…again.  It was finally cleared up, they acknowledged their mistake, the manager apologized profusely, but it still cost me more time than it should have.  Still, this will be one of those experiences I don’t remember in a month.
 
The F Experience One of my vendors made an error.  They apparently lost an order.  Again, mistakes happen, we simply let them know a mistake had been made and we needed it fixed. Instead of an apology, we got a huffy attitude and an excuse about how they were so busy with other clients. The same thing happened again about two weeks after the first incident. They’ve made it pretty clear that they are not inerested in our business so we’re looking for a replacement. I’ll keep you posted.
 
So ask yourself, what grade does your company get for handling errors?  Setting policies and systems around handling errors can make or break the way your clients see you
 
© 2010 Beth Schneider, Process Prodigy, Inc.

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Want to reprint this article? Feel free as long as you include the following:

Beth Schneider, President of Process Prodigy Inc., www.processprodigy.com, along with her team of highly sought after operations consultants, reveal the insider secrets billion-dollar corporations pay thousands of dollars for. Specializing in process creation, Process Prodigy tools and techniques have helped entrepreneurs increase productivity by as much as 600%, and revenues by as much as 250%. Visit www.processprodigy.com/ezine and grab your FREE systems starter kit valued at $297.00.