Steve Reports

Business Building Principle 101: Take Very Good Care of the Customers You Have While Marketing For New Ones

I am a frequent traveler and have earned status with United Air. I also  have a significant number of points with Continental Air. I have been looking forward to combining all of that into one account. Beyond that I simply want the continual ease of booking reservations and  online check in. I particularly enjoy having my boarding pass available on my iPhone when it is not convenient for me to print one out.

Overall United treats me well and they take the opportunity to let passengers know on each flight their advancements and plans for new equipment and technology. With all that marketing promotion I am surprised at how poorly the systems conversion this past weekend was handled. Specifically,

There was not advance communication of this conversion along with contingency plans in the event of any snags.

There is no information that I have found on the combining of frequent flyer accounts.

Saturday when I was trying to simply confirm my Sunday morning flight and retrieve my boarding pass I could not. I read a message to get to the gate early which is not very comforting. I also noticed a number to call for help. I did call and it took 40 minutes for the call to be answered. While on hold I heard more than 20 times a prerecorded message that United was investing 500 million in new equipment. I wanted to scream ..invest a few bucks in people staffing the phones so customers can be helped. Once connected it took another 10 minutes for the issue to be resolved…which thankfully it was.  Normally it takes me about 2-5 minutes to log in, check in and confirm my boarding pass so 50 minutes was not fun.

Now that I am able to see my account under the new system I noticed today the payment information and some of my profile information is gone. I have to re-enter it.  I noticed there is no evidence of my frequent flyer accounts being merged.  There is not communication on these items. In fact there was nothing more than a press release this morning saying this merger was largely successful.

United Airlines Should Fire The Executive Responsible For Customer Relations!

Other business owners use this example of what not to do and more specifically when you have major changes planned over communicate with your customers and set up contingency systems should things not go according to plan. This is fundamental…United Airlines did not ask me in advance.  I am telling you now!!

Steve Pohlit

International Business Development Consulting
Real Estate Investment Consulting
Executive Coach

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Steve Pohlit is a CPA,MBA and has been the CFO of several major domestic and international companies. Today Steve is an expert international business and real estate investment coach focused on helping companies improve their business performance including growing profits, revenues and customers. For a FREE 6 week mini course where you will receive 10 easy to implement action steps guaranteed to increase business revenue and profits by at least 30% in the next 90 days, please visit www.StevePohlit.com  All articles published by Steve unless specifically restricted may be freely published with this resource information.

 

 

One Dollar’s Worth
===================

The United States One Dollar Bill.
Take out a one dollar bill, and look at it.

The one dollar bill you’re looking at first came off the presses
in 1957 in its present design.

This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend
with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it.

It is actually material.

We’ve all washed it without it falling apart. A special blend
of ink is used, the contents we will never know.
It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make
it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.

If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United
States Treasury Seal.

On the top, you will see the scales for a balanced budget.
In the center you have a carpenter’s square, a tool used for an
even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury.
That’s all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of
that dollar bill is something we should all know.
If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles.

Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United
States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin
Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them
four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get
it approved.

If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted and the western side is dark.
This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore
the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization.

The Pyramid is un-capped, again signifying that we were not even
close to being finished. Inside the capstone, you have the all-
seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin’s
belief that one man couldn’t do it alone, but a group of men,
with the help of God, could do anything. “In God We Trust” is on
this currency, but that phrase was added in the 1950s during the
Red Scare.

Prior to that, none of our paper currency had that phrase.

The Latin above the pyramid, Annuit Coeptis, means, “God has
favored our undertaking.”

The Latin below the pyramid, Novus Ordo Seclorum, means, “a new
order has begun.”

At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully,
you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the
United States.

It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell,
Florida National Cemetery and is the centerpiece of most heroes’
monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President
of the United States, and it is always visible whenever he
speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two
reasons:

First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is
smart enough to soar above it.

Second, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the
King of England.

Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now
stand on its own.

At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying
congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one
nation.

In the Eagle’s beak you will read, “E Pluribus Unum”, meaning,
“one nation from many people.”

Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the
thirteen original colonies and any clouds of misunderstanding
rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.

Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive
branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never
be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to
face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward
the arrows.

They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is
almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room
numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor.
But think about this:

13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the Pyramid,
13 letters in the Latin above,
13 letters in “E Pluribus Unum”,
13 stars above the Eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits,
and if you look closely, 13 arrows.
And, for minorities: the 13th Amendment.

I always ask people, “Why don’t you know this?”
Your children don’t know this, and their history teachers don’t
know this.

Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning
fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that
didn’t care. Too many veterans never came home at all.

Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is on the
back of the UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL and what it stands
for. Otherwise, they will probably never know…

~Author Unknown~

Steve Pohlit
International Business and Real Estate Investment Coach 

THE NEW ANT and the Grasshopper, Two Versions:

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE OLD STORY:

You Are Responsible For Yourself!

MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving..

CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant
in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, ‘It’s Not EasyBeing Green…’

Occupy the Anthill stages a demonstration in front of the ant’s house where the news stations film the SEIU group singing, We shall overcome.

Then Rev. Jeremiah Wright has the group kneel down to pray for the grasshopper’s sake, while he damns the ants.

President Obama condems the ant and blames President Bush 43, President Bush 41, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper’s plight..

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant’s old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn’t maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and peaceful, neighborhood.

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be careful how you vote in 2012.

I’ve sent this to you because I believe that you are an ant not a grasshopper!

Make sure that you pass this on to other ants.

Don’t bother sending it on to any grasshoppers because they wouldn’t understand it, anyway

Steve Pohlit

Birthdays and major holidays are the most common times when we send and receive cards.  Other events are graduations, engagements, weddings, sympathy, birth.  One often missed is a simple thank you card.

I have not been great a sending cards. Going to the card shop, selecting a card and getting it mailed was something I just did not do very often.  That is changing for me because I finally paid attention to Send Out Cards   This system is awesome.  I am building my address book in the system.  If you already have a good address book on line, you can import it with ease.

Major Benefits and Features of  Send Out Cards 

The cards and gifts are more economical than most you will find in the store
Select a card, design a card from your computer and send it with a push of the button
Use the retail system right now (just click here)
If you are interested in what possibly is the perfect business, join as a representative.  When you send cards you are actually marketing this business.
This is the perfect system for realtors, business owners, entrepreneurs as Send Out Cards is the best system for supporting your appreciation marketing program.

State of The Art Features

Add your own pictures
Upload your actual signature
Use OCR code which links to your own custom video
Design your own gifts

I think the most surprising part of Send Out Cards is the cost of sending a card or card and gift. You may be aware that the cost of the products marketed by most direct selling companies or network marketing businesses is higher than comparable retail prices.  The cost of Send Out Cards  is actually lower plus there is  the convenience of selecting and sending cards and gifts right from you computer.

Click Here Now And Send Someone You Care About A Card ….See How Easy It Is Plus You Can Send  A Card FREE Today!

 

Action Steps

Join Me in the Confidence Success Blueprint System

Get A Business Coach! If you already have a business with more than 10 employees,  Hire A Consultant who is  able to work with you part of the time on-site.

Would you like to be in the next group of very successful companies and entrepreneurs?

Contact me now.

Steve Pohlit

Business Development Consulting
International Business and Real Estate Investment Coach

Social Media Services
New Digital Media, Inc.

Connect With Steve On:

Twitter

Facebook

Linked in

Phone:                 727-587-7871

Email

 

Self-confidence formula by Napoleon Hill as presented in Think and Grow Rich

First I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definitive definite purpose in life therefore I demand of myself persistent continuous action towards it’s attainment and I here and now promise to render such action.

Second I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward physical action and gradually transform themselves into physical reality. Therefore I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty  minutes  daily upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture.

Third I know through the principle of autosuggestion any desire that I  persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it. Therefore I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of self-confidence.

Forth I have clearly written down a description of my Definite Chief Aim in life and I will never stop trying until I have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

Fifth I fully realize that no wealth position can long indoor unless it is  built upon truth and justice therefore I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects.  I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy selfishness and cynicism by developing love for all humanity because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me because I will believe in them and in myself

I will sign my name to this formula commit it to memory and repeat aloud once a day with full faith it will gradually influence my thoughts and actions so that I will become self-reliant and successful person

Now you know the formula. Will you follow it or continue to bemoan the lack of success in your life?

Join Me in the Confidence Success Blueprint System

Action Steps

Get A Business Coach! If you already have a business with more than 10 employees, Hire A Consultant who is  able to work with you part of the time on-site.

Would you like to be in the next group of very successful companies and entrepreneurs?

Contact me now.

Steve Pohlit

Business Development Consulting
International Business and Real Estate Investment Coach

Social Media Services
New Digital Media, Inc.

Connect With Steve On:

Twitter

Facebook

Linked in

Phone:     727-587-7871

Email

This ran once  - during the 2002 Superbowl One person captured this message and it has now been viewed over 4 million times. Let’s take this up a notch ….like to 100 million.  The horses get it…it is time we did.

Steve Pohlit
I Stand For Freedom

If you have read it, it is worth reading again and making notes. If you have not read it,  you will be well served by reading it.  The book “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill  is readily available on line. It is priceless.

I am writing formula “Six Ways To Turn Desires Into Gold” as a reminder for myself. I hope you benefit from this formula.

“Every human being who reaches the age of understanding of the purpose of money wishes for it. Wishing will not bring riches.  But desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure will bring riches.

The method by which desire for riches can be transmuted into its financial equivalent, consists of six definitive, practical steps:

First: fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say “I want plenty of money.” Be definitive as to the amount.

Second: determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. There is no such thing as something for nothing.

Third: establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.

Fourth: create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Fifth: write out a clear concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for it’s acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan though which you intend to accumulate it.

Sixth: read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. As you read – see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money.

Action Steps

Get A Business Coach who will help accelerate your realization of goals!  If you already have a business with more than 10 employees, Hire A Consultant who is able to work with you part of the time on-site.

Would you like to be in the next group of very successful companies and entrepreneurs?

Contact me now.

Steve Pohlit

 

Business Development Consulting
Business  Coach
727-587-7871

Social Media Services
New Digital Media, Inc.

Connect With Steve On:

Twitter

Facebook

Linked in

Email

 

The Real Question Is What Is the Solution For You?

Stop reading the newspapers, watching TV and engaging in conversations with co-workers and others about negative news headlines. George Ross, Donald Trump’s key attorney and deal closure reminds us that most news is not credible or at least not the complete picture.  As importantly, the most immediate item that affects  us individually is what we do  for ourselves.

Wayne Allyn Root coaches his clients on implementing a success plan that is not dependent on an employer. More specifically start your own business. Wayne uses the opportunities for learning marketing and developing a network that is taught by direct sales companies or network marketing companies.  This is one  great opportunity to be your own boss, work with other successful people and not have to worry about what an employer will do.

One of the areas of my own business interests is being with an organization that coaches business owners and other interested in successful real estate investing how to move forward and achieve continually increasing performance goals.

The theme here is individual responsibility for what happens in your life. Most of us have the resources to move forward and do a lot better than we are doing today. I like the example I heard once where the question was asked “if you had the opportunity to buy a new $100,000 car for $5000 would you be able to figure out how to come up with the $5000? Most everyone said yes. Then why would you ever resist the opportunity to start your own business because you didn’t have a couple thousand dollars you need for basic infrastructure and expenses during the start up period?

Are you unemployed? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Are you unhappy with the work you do? Don’t look outside of yourself for someone to solve these or any other issue.  Do you feel you don’t have enough knowledge or education? I just finished a couple days of coaching a person who has three businesses, lives in a million dollar home with a quarter million dollar boat outside. He is a high school graduate. He figured it out. You probably know of others like him or read about them.

If you want some ideas, email me.  I also highly recommend attending Mega Partnering 4 where  you will meet incredible people . Figure out a way to buy a VIP ticket where you will have dinner with the featured speakers and business leaders attending.  Are you nervous about meeting successful people and not sure what to say  or do?  Register for my email list on this page and look for an article real soon on what I have found to be the most effective networking skills and how easy it is for anyone to follow those steps. I was taught these skills and will share them with my readers.

Bottom line: you are responsible and the only way to solve any situation you don’t prefer in your life is to develop an action plan and then take action.

Action Steps

Get A Business Coach! If you already have a business with more than 10 employees, Hire A Consultant who is able to work with you part of the time on-site.

Would you like to be in the next group of very successful companies and entrepreneurs?

Contact me now.

Steve Pohlit

Business Development Consulting
Executive Coach

Social Media Services
New Digital Media, Inc.

Connect With Steve On:

Twitter

Facebook

Linked in

727-587-7871

Email

What We Say We Celebrate on The Fourth of July

It is called Independence Day and we celebrate the day the Declaration of Independence was signed.  The leaders of the day formed the foundation of the United States on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.  Our constitution detailed the intent of the scope and responsibility of government and the separation of church and state.  This foundation is cause for massive celebration.

In 2011 what are we celebrating and who are we applauding?  Our country is being chocked by the size of the government and debt at the Federal and in many cases the state and local level. Can this country cease to exist? Of course it can. History is peppered with evidence of great nations that expired.  We have a choice as to how we move forward and it is time to rise up and say the formulas we are using including the leadership in place is clearly not working.  Of course we can maintain the same delusional view that all will be fine and someone will figure it out.  They haven’t so far except for people like  Wayne Allyn Root, Ron Paul and others with similar understanding and experience.  The problem is people who do understand, who are leaders, who can reestablish the solid foundation of this country cannot get elected right now. Why is that? Look in the mirror.

How many more years do we have to celebrate Independence Day?  Actually I believe what was once Independence is now only recalled in the archives of history.  The government is nearly in our face at every turn and wants more.  Obama wants to be in control of our lives and those in Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike for the most part want to let him.

Let’s not forget what this country stands for and why people came to America in the first place

What Is The Reality of the Fourth of July Celebration?

Most people in the US view the 4th of July 2011 as an opportunity to take a long weekend as the 4th falls on a Monday.  For the next four years the holiday will be extended in the minds of most. “There is no sense starting anything significant now as the holiday is right around the corner”.   The notable exceptions are owners of  for profit businesses that grant their staff the holiday and then lose sleep with the related loss of revenue. Yes even one day can make a serious difference in cash flow. Many of these same owners are looking at the performance to date and working on strategic adjustments in order to have some measure of success in 2011. The 4th of July in many cases is not any different in terms of work done than any other day. Contrast that with the majority of government employees who are off and likely not thinking about how to do a better job in the second half of the year. Most governments employees are not thinking about saving money or whether their job is even needed.  Most are thinking ” I am so happy I have this regular paycheck and benefits.”  And we accept this culture in government even though we are footing the bill for it’s cost.

Overtaxing and Not Extending Credit to Small Business Stops The Growth Engine

Business profits are increasingly hard to earn because generally the banks are not lending for expansion or for any business reason and the cost of doing business continues to increase because of  increased taxes, regulatory requirements and healthcare. This is a topic for an entire book.  For now,  understand privately held small businesses are the lifeblood of this economy and our government is restricting their progress.

Most government employees have the day off. Most small business owners shutter at the loss of revenue with any holiday. The cost of government at the federal, state and local level increases the already outrageous level of debt purposely built by elected officials.  The federal deficit was a campaign issue elevated by every candidate running against George Busch including Obama. Obama capitalized on his power of persuasion to be elected president even though he had no demonstrated experience to step into that leadership position.  He proceeded to appoint other text smart people as his support team and now look at the accelerating mess: higher unemployment, accelerating national , state and local  debt, and a rapidly expanding set of rules and regulations that add even more burden to companies that are the lifeblood of our economy. Privately held business that are the source of the majority of job creation in our country are penalized with ever increasing taxes, costs of reporting compliance, a virtual shutdown on the ability to obtain expansion capital in the form of bank loans and more.

The Key Barriers To Job Creation and Economic Growth

Big government, entitlements  and extreme regulations …there is nothing productive about that formula and it flies in the face of the intent of the US Constitution.

A government that thinks it can solve economic issues is dangerous as evidence by the results of the recent past.  The fact is that most in government have no experience running a profitable business and have a lifetime of being on public payrolls and benefit programs. Did you know that there was no time to read the $800 billion stimulus package that was pushed through by Obama and passed by the Congress.  There are many more examples of the absurdity of how we allow our governments to operate.

What Is Action Plan To Fix This Mess?

First step is don’t believe everything you hear or read including this article. Do your own research. I suggest registering with the CATO Institute. I highly recommend Wayne Allyn Root’s book   “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gold and Tax Cuts” You may not agree with all the ideas for solving today’s massive issues. However, it will be hard to ignore the facts of the national debt,  true unemployment, loss of economic base resulting from the decline in real estate values and the impact of an ever increasingly intrusive government.

Solutions start with clear awareness of the current situation and a clear definition of the intended goal.  Most Americans are comatose on the significance of the issue we have in this country and world. Most spend more time analyzing a sports game or murder trial than on our country’s strength or lack thereof.  The first step is to wake up and become aware.  The second step is to start paying close attention to those leaders who have the value system espoused by our founding fathers and the experience on making the tough decisions that are need to get government out of the way of economic vibrancy. The related action is to get those people elected and through the rest of the bums out…and there are Democrats and Republicans alike who should be thrown out.  When taking out the trash, don’t forget the piles at the state and local level.

Be on the sidelines and watching the play or being in the game.

Steve Pohlit, Business Development Consulting, Business Coach

Real Estate Investment

Social Media Services
New Digital Media, Inc.

Connect With Steve On:

Twitter

Facebook

Linked in

727-587-7871

Email

About: Steve Pohlit CPA,MBA has been the CFO and COO of  major domestic and international companies.  Steve has extensive business ownership experience having purchased and started off line and on line businesses.  Steve offers his  business building experience to companies and entrepreneurs with business coaching and business consulting.  His  focus is on building business  profits and net asset value at above average rates.   All articles published by Steve unless specifically restricted may be freely published with this resource information.

 

The title of this blog is Build Business Profits.  The domain is Steve Reports.  I teach students not to do this and yet I often don’t get around to doing what I teach. Now I have a coach and I am being held accountable to taking action that makes sense.

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