The Top 5 Free Entrepreneur Resources.

Happy Monday! I wanted to provide my blog readers with a special treat this morning. Over the 4th of July weekend, I spent some time researching the best free resources for entrepreneurs. If you have other resources, please share them with me via Twitter. https://twitter.com/TwylaGarrett

#1. NewsWhip. http://www.newswhip.com/creators/leaderboard
I like this free resource because it helps business owners determine what content is trending on social media and pull in related trends to their specific industry.

#2. Cool Text http://www.newswhip.com/creators/leaderboard
This is an amazing tool that allows you to create customized lettering for your website, which could cost up to $20k in the corporate business world when you factor in right releases, etc.

#3. Bright Journey. http://www.brightjourney.com/about
This site is a great hub for mentoring! You can connect and learn from other entrepreneurs. If you are starting out, this is where you want to meet other business leaders!

#4. Google Entrepreneur. https://www.googleforentrepreneurs.com/
Most people don’t realize how big the Google brand is! Yes, Google has its own hub for entrepreneurs and you should visit it at least once (if not daily).

#5. Creative Live https://www.creativelive.com/
This is the spot for continued education with informative, entrepreneur-based business classes. You always have room to grow and with this free video service, you have an phenomenal resource within Creative Live.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Customer Service 101

I wanted to talk a bit today about customer service. It is a vital component of running any business. So, how do you know if your customers are running into excellent service if you are not busy on the front lines?

1. Call your main phone number (disguising your voice if you have to.) Are you happy with what you hear (and how long it takes to get someone to pick the phone?) Would you describe what happens as "welcoming?"

2. Log on to your website. Is it engaging? Friendly. Easy to navigate? Sending the message you want?

3. Eavesdrop on a conversation one of your employees is having with a customer, or potential customer. Are you happy with the way it went?

As a business owner, it is important to mark these three steps on your calendar at least every other month. If you feel your company’s customer service failed in response to questions 1 – 3, then you need to address why and then what the recovery plan is going forward.

I hope this information helps you mold your continued customer service plans and prevent issues for arising.

I will be off of the blog until Monday, July 7th. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Twyla N. Garrett

Public Speaking – Top 3 Tips of All Time!

I speak at many professional conferences and I do different media interviews. Did I take an advanced course in public speaking? No! Am I now comfortable with this task? Yes. However, this wasn’t a born gift or something I loved doing right out of the gate, it took lots of practice.

Tonight, I want to share my top 3 tops for public speaking. I hope you enjoy them.

#1. Cortisol is secreted by your adrenal glands when you’re anxious or stressed. So, how do you get rid of it? Exercise. That’s right, go for a walk or do sit ups about 20 minutes before you have to deliver a speech or a presentation and the anxiety will almost be non-existent.

#2. Set up a goal for the speech. Don’t just think of yourself as delivering a speech. Think about the ROI from the speech- either for you or your company. Next, set up a goal and work throughout the presentation or speech to reach this goal.

#3. Don’t read your slides! People will scan your slides. They don’t want any slides read to them. You are to present and speak to the people, recycling the information in the slide into something that connects with the audience. Simply reading a slide is boring and you will bore the audience.

I’m confident these tips will help you get through your next speech or presentation.

Until next time,
Twyla N. Garrett

Two of the Worst Employees – Ever

It is costly to replace a bad employee. Thus, many employers try to use corrective tools and training to offset employee issues. Well, this doesn’t always work. There are two types of employees that will not mold into honorable staff members simply because of personality traits.

The first is the social butterfly. This person is the talker in the group. He or she spends 20 minutes stopping by offices to chat when he or she should be working. Next up, lunch and then the walk back from lunch and then a stop in the bathroom to chat up someone else…. Their work hours are minimal even though they are at the office 8 hours a day.

The second is the TMI employee, yes- as in too much information. This person (sometimes often the same as the social butterfly) brings drama into the office and creates distraction for other employees from goals, work and even customer service. This type of employee thrives on sharing intimate details from personal life, the juicier the better. Not only are they unproductive, the information they share can make others uncomfortable and but you at legal risk!

If you have employees like the ones noted above- start with corrective action and speak with your legal team about their exit strategy.

Until Monday,

Twyla N. Garrett

Inspiring Team Work

It isn’t easy to get a group to start moving when it comes to work. Everyone usually stares at one another wondering who is going to be the project manager, which is a dreaded position since The Apprentice television show debuted.

Well, no longer do you (or your group) have to worry about team work or group projects. I have some amazing tips to scale massive projects as a group and eliminate in-fighting, etc.

1. Text message everyone the goal. Have them all respond with ‘I Understand and will work towards it.’ Sounds silly? First, you are eliminating any confusion as to what the goal is (yes, people will have to check this as they get deeper in) and 2) you are holding them accountable by asking them to reply. Now, they own the task with the group as their name and number is on a text stating they understand and will work towards the goal. They can’t be lazy and then place blame on the project manager- period!

2. Don’t rely on people to self-assign tasks. Instead, stand up and ask who wants to assign the tasks. If no one, you do it. And assign the tasks with a deadline date and a check-in date. Next, assign yourself two additional check-in dates. I promise you this process works.

3. Encourage people to take risks. If someone else is the project manager, do this on a personal level. Tell everyone they are going to do a great job in a personal way and get them passionate about the project by talking specifically about how their role will make the project glow!

Let me know how this works out for you and your group next time you have to work as a team.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

Free Underwear!

For today’s Homeland Security blog, I want to share an article courtesy of the Houston Press. Today, the newspaper had this to say, “If you're in the underwear-selling business, you've got a customer in the Department of Homeland Security.

Homeland Security is looking to buy thousands of pairs of men's, from size medium to 6X-large. (Who knew such a size existed?)

A solicitation posted earlier this month by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement explains that the department is looking to buy 3,500 pairs of men's underwear. The order is to be sent to El Paso.

As seen on CBS' website, Breitbart reported ICE has recently had an influx of detained immigrants awaiting deportation.

In the event you've got a couple hundred pairs of medium tighty whiteys around that you think you could sell to Homeland Security, the solicitation says "no partial shipments are permitted unless specifically authorized at the time of award." Darn.”

While the story is entertaining, the issue itself is no joke. People often don’t realize how expensive it is to house (repeatedly) those who enter this country illegally. Everything from food and shelter to underwear and flip flops costs money, and we are sustaining these expenses. It is even more irritating when you consider the now thousands of veterans who are not receiving proper care of benefits. Where is the boundary line?

So, on the Wednesday, I encourage you to do more research on where you stand on the issue of illegal immigration and the true cost it has on our country. Do you agree with how much and how we spend these funds? Do you feel like speaking up at a Town Hall meeting? Think about how you can help change the many issues- on both sides of the argument- associated with spending money to sustain illegal immigrants.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

5 Ways to Be A Better Business Person

There are a few unsaid rules in business that will help you go far. I wanted to share these rules on today’s blog so those of you left out of the loop stand a chance when it comes to etiquette. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to own a business to be part of the loop, you simply have to want growth as a dedicated professional in any industry.

Here we go:

1. Never over-promise results. Make sure you under promise and over deliver to be a rock star out of the gate each and every day!

2. You want to be professionally mature, not college cool so check your verbiage. Do you use slang? If so, stop. It downgrades you as a professional and people tend not trust you with major projects.

3. Stay away from political or religious conversations. Remember, it isn’t what you say or don’t say – it is how you say it. There is no right way to talk politics or religion with clients or co-workers, so stay away from these topics.

4. Don’t decorate your office or cubical. Why? It opens you up for unfair judgment by colleagues, clients and even the boss. Keep it simple, keep impersonal if you do feel the urge to decorate. Remember, you’re at work, not home. You don’t need photos of family, etc. everywhere!

5. Recognize and reschedule if someone’s day is getting away from them. If a business meeting is delayed until next week, it will be more productive than a rushed and distracted meeting today so it is always best to revisit important items when everyone has the time and focus to dedicate to the matter.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett