Recently I purchased a boxed appliance and upon opening it was amazed at all the stuff used to package it.  Plastic wrap, cardboard, twisty ties, at least three diffent pieces of paper to warantee and promote other products.  And, on top of all that…..big blocks of white styrofoam.  All destined to become part of a landfill or semi recycled.

Well, what if you could become a small part of the chain?  What if you could set up some agreement with a store that sells TVs and other stuff packaged in styrofoam and then, once a week or so, pick it up and reuse, repurpose, recycle it for staging plants??

Granted, a bit of trouble to go through but….what a neat win/win situation and what a good thing to point out to your clients.

Just a thought…..

Most of you know how often I recommend a Lead Group or Networking Group.  Some of you also belong to a local IFM, BOMA, or LEED chapter.  All of these have one thing in common…..the monthly or weekly meeting.  This is your opportunity to find out the inside dope on who is moving where, who has been laying off or hiring, or who is moving into town.  Valuable information.

Now, you can just show up on time armed with notebook and business cards and thats a good thing, but what if you got there 15 minutes early?  This gives you time to check out the scene, to identify the key people, speak with them, etc.  I make sure I never get in their way but just let them know I’m there.  Usually, as people come in someone introduces me or I walk up and without being pushy introduce myself.

Once the meeting starts it may be difficult to mix and interact.  There may b a speaker or a meal and the attendees are less accessible.  Or, when the meeting is over, most head out the door for their offices.  That is why, showing up early is advantageous.  Next time you go to one of these meetings, try it.  I think you’ll see a great difference.  Now go out there and get ‘em, Tiger.

OK.  OK.  You’re up to your knees in Poinsettia and here I am asking about your Green Plant maintenance frequency.  Hmmph!

Well, its important and I encourage you to look at how often you are doing what you do and figuring out if weekly, 10 day or 2 week intervals would work for some of your accounts.  Why?  Because this is the one thing you have control of that can and will impact your bottom line.  Yes, gas is down again, but, trust me, it will rise.  Employees are worried about jobs so the pressure for raises is low, but, trust me that will change.  The time to institute a change is at the beginning of the year after Holiday Takedown subsides.  Pull out a pen and paper and a route sheet and an Accounts List and see where you can start.

I mention this now because a TOPsider customer called to place an order (thank you Bruce) and when he heard my voice he just had to thank me for pushing him to do this.  He says it has totally changed his business for the better and put many $$ in his pocket.

You’re Welcome.