Archive for May, 2007

Xcel Wins “2006 Wetsuit of the Year” Award

Thursday, May 24th, 2007

xcel-logo.jpgInfiniti Series Recognized by Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association
at 10th Annual Industry Conference

Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawai’i - May 24, 2007 - Xcel Wetsuits (Xcel) has been awarded the prestigious “Wetsuit of the Year” award for 2006 for their Infiniti Series wetsuits. The recognition was formally announced at the Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association (SIMA) annual industry conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

CONGRATULATIONS from Success Dynamics, Inc.

Retail Selling Made Easy Audio Books Arrive

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007

audio-book.JPGThe long awaited shipment of our first audio book is here. I enjoyed recording this and am sure that you will benefit from listening to it.

The book store price for the audio book will be $34.95.
It will not be available on our web site for at least a week.

BLOG SPECIAL!!! $25.00
That’s $10 (well $9.95) off for 10 days only!

From today (May 24) until June 2, you can save $10 plus shipping by ordering now.
To cash in on this special offer you can order directly from our office, by e-mail, or by posting a comment on this blog asking us to contact you. DO NOT post any credit card data on the blog or e-mail.

BEEN SHOPPING LATELY?

Monday, May 21st, 2007

Did you have a “WOW” experience?

If so tell us all about it so that we can all go shopping there.

If your experience was less than that tell us about that too, but leave the names out to protect the guilty.

Once Can Be One Too Many

Sunday, May 20th, 2007

pedicure.jpgFor several months I got manicures and pedicures at the same place. I was content with the service. It was close by, and inexpensive. The last time I called for an appointment, I should have taken a clue from the owner’s hesitant reply, “Uh, oh well, I guess we can handle it, come on down”.
What I wound up with was an apparent inexperienced person that kept asking the technician next to her (in a foreign language) for advice as to what to do next.
I tolerated this incompetence until she drew blood on my toe. The owner of the salon, who assigned this person to me, may never know why I will never be back.
Customers can be very unforgiving for any sort of poor service or inconsiderate treatment.
Is my decision to go elsewhere too harsh? Should I give them another chance?

Say It Right

Sunday, May 20th, 2007

carlson-website-photo.jpgHow’s your English? Are you making the right impressions when you speak?
I was excited to see this article appear in today’s Honolulu Star Bulletin about Doug Carlson’s great new book; http://starbulletin.com/2007/05/20/business/story02.html
I was honored to have Doug work with me on E-Mail Etiquette Made Easy. HE AND I had a great time writing that one.
Cut and paste the above link into your browser and order your copy today.

Winning a 25 Year Customer Away From The Competition

Tuesday, May 15th, 2007

It was mid-December when I contacted Budget Rent-a-Car saying that I needed a car on Maui on Christmas Day. “No way”, or something like that was the response. I had to understand, since Christmas Day begins the busiest week of the year in Hawaii.
I week later I was on a plane to Maui and got into a discussion with the guy next to me. He turned out to be a VP of National / Alamo Car Rental. I explained my Christmas Day dilemma and he said, “If I can get you a car, can we have your business?” I said, “You can for that trip, for sure. Where we go from there we will have to see; I have been loyal to Budget for more than 25 years.”
He gave me his card saying, “E-mail me your flight information and I will see what I can do”. I did, and when I arrived on Maui on Christmas Day, there was a driver waiting for me with a brand new car.
Well that was a year and a half ago, and I have not been back to Budget since.
It pays to be willing to go the extra mile to get business.

9 STEPS to SUCCESS

Saturday, May 12th, 2007

9-step-card.JPGWe are pleased to announce that our new 9-Step reminder cards have arrived.
They are business card size, and designed to carry in your pocket for a quick review anytime you need one.
Call and ask me for a sample, or just go ahead and order a bunch from any of us. You can even click on “comment” to this post, tell me how many you want and I will get them to you without posting your comment.
They are quite colorful, designed to last, and we are recovering our cost at only $1 each.
What a Deal!
Click on the the photo to see a close-up. Click your back button to return to the blog.
Ron

LUCK and SUCCESS!

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

dice.jpgThe harder I work the luckier I get.
The best way to find luck is to be out there looking for it.
Success is only luck; ask any failure.

If success were a matter of luck, all of the successful people would be living in Las Vegas, where luck matters. Success is attracted by thinking the right thoughts and taking the right action. Failure is doing just the opposite.

The neat thing about this is that intelligence and education are not the major factors.

“It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.”
-Albert Einstein

Sage Advice from Captain Doug Smoyer

Monday, May 7th, 2007

ron-gets-wet-in-kaneohe-bay.JPGsage-advice.JPGAfter a relaxing Kaneohe Bay day aboard Doug Smoyer’s yacht, he leaned over to me and said, “We need to do this more often”.
That was quite a lesson for me. After spending 17+ years of exchanging business ideas and suggestions with Doug, this may have been some of his best advice yet.
Being an admitted workaholic for almost a half a century, I have seldom taken enough time to stop and smell the roses (or salt air).
This day on Kaneohe Bay with Masae, good friends, fine wine and some tasty snacks was indeed memorable.
Don Ho’s words, “Keep your toes in the sand” were ringing in my ear.

Brain Trust

Monday, May 7th, 2007

brain-trust.JPGWhenever I have the opportunity to sit and talk with Doug Smoyer; president of Retail Strategies, the thoughts and ideas that come up should be documented.
Too many times we meet, get excited about something, and then go off to our busy businesses leaving gold on the table.
Today, Masae and I are headed out to Kaneohe Bay with Doug and his wife, Joan (Owner of Noa Noa), on one of his yachts, and I am sure that we will return having had a good four hours of fun and fruitful discussions.
I am going to propose to Doug that on future get-togethers that I capture the essence of our discussions and post it right here for all to see today as well as in the future.
Stay tuned for photos from today as well as the outcome of this “proposal”.