-- Speaker, the one who makes the request, offer, or promise. 
 -- Listener, the one to whom the request, offer, or promise is made. 
 -- Future action, what is being offered, requested, or promised. 
 -- Time, when t
 Employment and Career Starting Points
Most free market economists know that the minimum wage laws are an evil crutch for society and civilizations. Nevertheless some people believe we need a minimum-wage law, however it has been estimated that if you raise the minimum wage one dollar per hour you lose 800,000 jobs and if you raise it to dollars per hour you will lose 1.6 million jobs and some estimate that the number may be even higher.For two reasons one, because som
How can we think about language as we use it in business so that we can use it more effectively?
First, let's consider the purpose of our language acts in business. Without attempting to make an exhaustive list, we might notice that we use language to:
-- make an offer (advertise, market, invite).
-- negotiate and affirm agreements (form alliances, close sales).
-- make requests (asking for sales, support, partnerships).
It is easy to see that we could not be in business for even one day without making offers, requests, and promises. In fact, this is one of the problems of being in business: We use language so often and so unconsciously that we do not notice whether or not we are being skillful. Indeed, until a problem shows up we may not even realize that skill is possible and needed. Notice, then, that the problems you encounter in your business (or career, or marriage, etc.) are often signals that are inviting you to enter into a more skillful conversation.
This notion of problems as invitations to greater skill is good news so long as we have a way to respond to the invitation. We need to notice enough of the structure of language that we can learn as we speak and listen, just as a golfer might watch a pro's swing so that s/he can copy it during her/his own game.
These are the distinctions that I've found most helpful. Every request, offer, or promise in business or out must have all of these elements in order to be complete. What's more, each of these elements needs to be aligned with your purpose and must be expressed in a way that connects your reality to the reality of the people with whom you communicate.
-- Speaker, the one who makes the request, offer, or promise. 
 -- Listener, the one to whom the request, offer, or promise is made. 
 -- Future action, what is being offered, requested, or promised. 
 -- Time, when th
 I Can't Afford a Virtual Assistant!
Starting out in business is expensive and so business owners come to the conclusion that they can take care of everything themselves.  Wrong!  The job of a business owner is to market their business and increase profits.Taking care of administrative tasks takes you away from your main focus.  There are so many tasks to take care of on a daily basis, if you attempt them all on your own; you will burn out very quickly.  Thousands of
-- make requests (asking for sales, support, partnerships).
It is easy to see that we could not be in business for even one day without making offers, requests, and promises. In fact, this is one of the problems of being in business: We use language so often and so unconsciously that we do not notice whether or not we are being skillful. Indeed, until a problem shows up we may not even realize that skill is possible and needed. Notice, then, that the problems you encounter in your business (or career, or marriage, etc.) are often signals that are inviting you to enter into a more skillful conversation.
This notion of problems as invitations to greater skill is good news so long as we have a way to respond to the invitation. We need to notice enough of the structure of language that we can learn as we speak and listen, just as a golfer might watch a pro's swing so that s/he can copy it during her/his own game.
These are the distinctions that I've found most helpful. Every request, offer, or promise in business or out must have all of these elements in order to be complete. What's more, each of these elements needs to be aligned with your purpose and must be expressed in a way that connects your reality to the reality of the people with whom you communicate.
-- Speaker, the one who makes the request, offer, or promise. 
 -- Listener, the one to whom the request, offer, or promise is made. 
 -- Future action, what is being offered, requested, or promised. 
 -- Time, when t
 Word of Mouth Works
You can't deny it: word of mouth works.And the most fascinating things about WOM are the little stories, encounters and contexts in which it is spread.  Me, I monitor my company's word of mouth in a WOM journal.  (I suggest you do the same with your company.)Anyway, the WOM Gods have been good to me this year, so here are 11 recent encounters that have boosted sales, increased visibility and enhanced crediblit
up we may not even realize that skill is possible and needed. Notice, then, that the problems you encounter in your business (or career, or marriage, etc.) are often signals that are inviting you to enter into a more skillful conversation.
This notion of problems as invitations to greater skill is good news so long as we have a way to respond to the invitation. We need to notice enough of the structure of language that we can learn as we speak and listen, just as a golfer might watch a pro's swing so that s/he can copy it during her/his own game.
These are the distinctions that I've found most helpful. Every request, offer, or promise in business or out must have all of these elements in order to be complete. What's more, each of these elements needs to be aligned with your purpose and must be expressed in a way that connects your reality to the reality of the people with whom you communicate.
-- Speaker, the one who makes the request, offer, or promise. 
 -- Listener, the one to whom the request, offer, or promise is made. 
 -- Future action, what is being offered, requested, or promised. 
 -- Time, when t
 Business Boosting Fundraising Events - How to Make the Most of Them!
So, you’ve booked your space at the fundraising event - now what? Here are some basic tips to get the most out of the opportunity:- Whatever your business you’ll need to have some kind of a display – don’t just turn up on the day without thinking about this!  Your table at the fundraising event will be your shop window.  Make sure you have a bright, eye-catching display – and that’s not just for products, it could simpl
otice enough of the structure of language that we can learn as we speak and listen, just as a golfer might watch a pro's swing so that s/he can copy it during her/his own game.
These are the distinctions that I've found most helpful. Every request, offer, or promise in business or out must have all of these elements in order to be complete. What's more, each of these elements needs to be aligned with your purpose and must be expressed in a way that connects your reality to the reality of the people with whom you communicate.
-- Speaker, the one who makes the request, offer, or promise. 
 -- Listener, the one to whom the request, offer, or promise is made. 
 -- Future action, what is being offered, requested, or promised. 
 -- Time, when t
 Make Your Small Office-Home Office e-Green
The good news is that an e-green office is not only good 
 for the planet, it’s economical. And, when combined with a 
 few other green tactics, it is healthier. Try some or all of 
 the following:1. Purchase upgradeable computers and other electronic 
 equipment. When necessary, upgrade rather than replace. 
 You save money and reduce consumerism.2. Turn off electronic equipment when not in use to reduce 
 energy by 25%. I
s needs to be aligned with your purpose and must be expressed in a way that connects your reality to the reality of the people with whom you communicate.
-- Speaker, the one who makes the request, offer, or promise. 
 -- Listener, the one to whom the request, offer, or promise is made. 
 -- Future action, what is being offered, requested, or promised. 
 -- Time, when the future action will take place and/or be complete. 
 -- Conditions of satisfaction. 
 -- Presupposition of competence. Speaker and listener are presupposed to be able to follow through. 
 -- Sincerity. Speaker and listener are presupposed to be sincere. 
 -- Background of shared obviousness. Speaker and listener share enough mutual unspoken context that they will interpret requests, offers, promises in the same way. 
 -- Something missing. The request, offer, or promise addresses a concern, a need, or a possibility that is not currently taken care of.
At first blush, some of these distinctions may seem obvious, even trivial. Yet how often do we make offers in business without really knowing who is listening, hoping that someone will pick up our offer and respond without taking care to make sure that they can hear or that we are speaking in the language of the ones who are likely to hear?
How often do we fail even to be speakers? "My work speaks for itself," asserts the artist, unable to see that for most listeners a different kind of speaker must deliver the message. "I want to build my business through word-of-mouth," declares the coach or therapist, unaware that there must be a speaker delivering the message for word-of-mouth to begin.
You are invited to review the distinctions above. Make a study of one or two that seem to you so obvious as to be marginalized in your awareness. Write the names of these "trivial" distinctions on your calendar or carry them in your wallet. See if