Zig Ziglar: Memorable Quotes to Live By

Attitude Makes a Difference

Your attitude, particularly in business, makes a difference. Life is not perfect and every now and then we all get throw a curve ball or two. How you deal with these situations can make or break the success of your business. Successful business owners do not focus on the negative, but instead channel their energy on what they can do to move their business forward. 

(Photo courtesy of
http://winthecustomer.com/customer-service-attitude)

Having a positive attitude and staying motivated takes patience and practice. The father of motivational speaking, Zig Ziglar said it best, 

“Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on a regular basis.”
 
A World War II veteran, Ziglar became the top sales person in several organizations before going out on his own as a motivational speaker and author. Ziglar wrote over two dozen books and enchanted millions with his lessons in positivity and leading a balanced life. Passing away at 86, Ziglar will be remembered as a man who inspired millions of people to believe in themselves and their dreams.

So the next time you need a little positive push, think of some of these memorable and reassuring Zig Ziglar quotes.

• “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”
• “Remember that failure is an event, not a person."
• “Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.”
• “Attitude, not Aptitude, determines Altitude.”
• “Of course motivation is not permanent. But then, neither is bathing; but it is something you should do on regular basis.”
• “Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart.”
• “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.”
• “There has never been a statue erected to honor a critic.”
•  “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.”
• “A goal properly set is halfway reached.”
• “If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere."

Increase Sales Without Spending a Lot of Money

One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to increase sales is to keep your current customers happy. Sounds pretty obvious, right? However, as simple as it seems you'd be surprised by just how many companies don’t  execute a retention strategy.  If you haven't already implemented a retention plan or are looking to improve the one you already have, we've included a few simple and effective tactics.

3 Reasons Why to Implement a Retention Strategy Today

• It is 6-7 times more costly to attract a new customer than it is to retain an existing customer.  (White House Office of Consumer Affairs).
•  A 2% increase in customer retention has the same effect as decreasing costs by 10%. (Leading on the Edge of Chaos, Emmet Murphy & Mark Murph).
•  Depending on your industry, reducing your customer defection rate by 5% can increase your profitability by 25-125%. (Leading on the Edge of Chaos, Emmet Murphy & Mark Murph)

Simple & Effective Customer Retention Strategies

• Start a VIP Program. VIP programs make people feel special and give them a sense of status. Identify top customers and offer them specialized services, special promotions, incentives, or exclusive access to new products and services. 
• Exceptional Customer Service. Fact: 89% of consumers have stopped doing business with a company after experiencing poor customer service. (RightNow Customer Experience Impact Report). Besides having representatives that are knowledgeable and courteous, it is also important that your customers can reach you when they need to. Advancements in technology offer businesses of any size (big or small) the ability to look bigger and sound more professional overnight. If you don’t already have a business VoIP solution installed in your office/business, it’s time you looked at some of the benefits it can bring – such as cost savings and Fortune 500 calling features such as Virtual Receptionist, Voicemail to Email and Find Me Follow Me (which allows your customers  to reach you anytime, anywhere and from any device).
• Implement customer feedback surveys. Price is not the main reason for customer churn, it is actually due to the overall poor quality of customer service. (Accenture global customer satisfaction report 2008). Surveys can help you find out what your customers’ expectations are, what you are doing well, 
• Start a blog. A blog can be a great place to not only keep your current customers happy, but also attract new ones. Everyday people search the Web for answers – become an expert in your field. Cover topics that your audience would find of value and become the 'go-to-guy' in your industry. 
• Build relationships through social media. These days, people are glued to their computer screens and smartphones. You can use this opportunity to connect with your customers through social media venues like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. You can post things such as company news and pictures, promotions, tips, and contests.
• Referral programs. Start a program that rewards both your customers as well as their referrals. Show your customers that you not only appreciate their business, but that their referrals make a big difference in your business as well.