I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Allis last night on the topic of business, his life as a social entrepreneur and his success. I can see why Ryan and i-Contact are so successful.

If you are someone who is in search of a top contact management system that is top-notch and affordable, I encourage you to visit i-Contact today and sign up! I get absolutely nothing from sending you over there other than the pleasure of connecting you to a super-sharp young businessman and one of the fastest growing companies in the country.

Listen to the audio interview with Ryan below…he has some wonderful advice on how to be successful in business.

 

 Ryan Allis Interview: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Gen Y is definitely thinking about saving its pennies. Check out Mint.com or QuickenOnline.com to see some of the websites it is using to track their funds.

Mintel research recently came out with a research study stating that Generation Y–defined as people born between 1977 and 1994–make up only about 5% of financial advisors’ client base.

This might lead you to think that there is a big opportunity for Investment Banks to have their financial advisers target Gen Y.

Not so fast on that one… 

I believe that Gen Y would rather do it themselves. Or would rather learn from their peers vs. some old financial advisor.

There are so many sites like the ones mentioned above that provide lots of free information. There are also some good personal finance blogs, such as www.IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com

Why pay when you don’t have to?

Yes, there is such thing as a free lunch…

What happens when you get ten top professionals on a call together to discuss the future of business and leadership? You walk away inspired to change the way you think, live and operate in business. Listen in as Bea Fields shares this open call with her partners from EDGE: A Leadership Story. Fields is joined by Michael Gerber, Michael Port, Corey Blake, Dave Buck, Andy Wibbels, Carol Dickson-Carr, Eva Silva-Travers, Kimberly George, and Roger Dewitt. Each professional was asked a question they have never been asked before about the future of business, and you don’t want to miss their answers. This is BIG!

 

 Mega Call [68:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The more I am in business, the more I hate e-mail. I am just so tired of it, but I do my best to stay in touch with my e-mail list to let everyone know what’s going on. I tried going without last year, and I had people e-mailing me asking me if I was still alive. Yet each time I send out an e-mail, I have people unsubscribe to my list. It still stings when that happens, but you know what…I have a lesson to learn in sending out e-mail. I know I am sick of it, so why shouldn’t other people? We are all overwhelmed enough without more e-mail. Argh!

It is not uncommon for business owners to dismiss their clients’ complaints and actions. But is this a smart move? I don’t think so. I prescribe to the belief that every single action, complaint, question or concern that comes back to me from a client is an opportunity for me to improve my products and services.  On the subject of e-mail, I am honestly considering going to a quarterly e-mail.  If people want to find me, they can find me on my blogs or pick up the phone and call me (I can be reached at 910-692-6118 for anyone who wants to call me.  I love to yack!)

I was speaking just last week with a young biz owner…not a Gen Y but bordering on Gen X/Gen Y. He was complaining about the number of returns of an item he was selling and was blaming it all on the customers. “They don’t know how to use the darn thing” or “They did not call the company to get help” and so forth. I asked him if he had called those customers to find out what was going on, and he came back with a few excuses about this and that and why he could not do this or that, blah, blah.

After talking through this with him, he began to see a way to create a better product…something new that would enhance the current product. I then asked him if he would have come up with that idea without this conversation. He said “maybe…I don’t know.” I then asked him what value the customers’ returns had offered him in this conversation. He then got it. The light bulb went on.

So, the next time a customer ticks you off or sends something back or complains…thank them. You have just been handed a bit of research that you can’t pay people to offer you.

In your opinion, is the customer always right? Leave us your comments.

Teleclass: EDGE: A Leadership Story: The Future of Business From the Minds of Ten Top Professionals

Date: Monday, July 14

Time: 7:00 P.M. Eastern

What happens when you get ten top professionals on a call together to discuss the future of business and leadership? You walk away inspired to change the way you think, live and operate in business. Join Bea Fields as she shares this open call with her partners from EDGE: A Leadership Story for a call you don’t want to miss. Fields will be joined by Michael Gerber, Michael Port, Corey Blake, Dave Buck, Carol Dickson-Carr, Roger Dewitt, Eva Silva-Travers, and Kimberly George. Each professional will be asked a question they have never been asked before about the future of business, and you don’t want to miss their answers. This is BIG!

Full details here.

Register Here Today