Inside the Envelope

Nineteenth-century humorist Josh Billings famously said, "Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of." Here are five tips to help you make sure life's polishing you into a beautiful gem: Slow down. Yes, we're all busy, and we all have deadlines we need to meet. But trying to go 100 miles per hour in 20 different directions simultaneously will only get you nowhere that much faster. Take some time each day to step away from the grind, unwind, and slow down. Go for a walk. Spend time by yourself. Buy a coworker lunch or a cup of coffee. Or just relax, recharge, and reconnect with the world around you. You'll return more focused and better able to handle the day. Show appreciation. As human beings, we all appreciate feeling, well, appreciated. Make sure you thank those around you for the things they do to help and encourage you. Let your coworkers know how much their time, talents, encouragement, ...

In order to satisfy today's information-hungry audience, K.I.S.S. (keep it simple sweetie) doesn't always apply. Prospects and customers are looking for detailed information to help them make informed decisions. Here are a few tips to help you educate your audience about the products and services you sell: Make your marketing materials more educational. Include a product history, list benefits from a customer perspective, explain how it works, and provide comparisons of why your product is better than the competition. Provide customized information packets neatly organized in a pocket folder full of detailed information for customers interested in a specific product or service. Show confidence in your products by providing free samples, free product evaluations, or a discounted, no-obligation trial for customers to try your products or services firsthand and learn more about them before making a decision to buy. Take advantages of opportunities to be viewed as an expert in ...

Of Manhole Covers and Marketing You've probably heard the question asked, "Why are manhole covers round?" Answers vary from the obvious ("because manholes are round") to the more obscure. Wikipedia offers several possibilities . My personal favorites? A round manhole cover cannot be accidentally dropped into the round hole it covers.   The circular shape makes the heavy covers easier to roll.   Round castings are easier to machine lathe than those of another shape and less expensive to produce in a size wide enough for a person to fit through.   The round shape makes it easy to replace an open cover without having to line up the corners.   A round tube holds up better against the earth's compression surrounding it than a shape with corners would. If I were to guess, I'd say it's probably a combination of all these things (and maybe more) that made round manholes and manhole covers so popular. Which brings me around to marketing. Like a manhole cov...