Secrets of Effective Customer Service

Foundational Success is now available online

2009-06-09T08:18:00.001-07:00

Foundational Success - Building Blocks for Personal and Professional Success is now available online at: www.foundationalsuccess.com

This amazing collection of wisdom from 30 top experts from North America and around the world was created by Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey to support the CAPS Foundation.

Visit: www.foundationalsuccess.com today and safely purchase your own copy for only $20.

$19 of each purchase goes directly to the CAPS Foundation. $1 is used by our CAPS National Office to cover credit cards and processing.

Tell your friends and family to visit as well. Share this with your colleagues and your clients so they too, can build some foundational success.

Foundational Success to launch in May

2009-04-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

A new joint venture with 30 top experts and authors from around the globe is set to launch in May 2009.

Foundational Success - Building Blocks for Personal and Professional Success

This value added e-publication is led by Canada's Ideaman, Bob Hooey and is a fund raising project for the CAPS Foundation. Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.

Pre-order price is only $20 and proceeds go directly to the CAPS Foundation.

Visit: www.foundationalsuccess.com to see who contributed their wisdom to this new tool in your personal and professional success.

Service sells

2009-04-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

Service is the secret to long term business and sales success.

Canadian Ideaman travelled to Iran in November to speak on this and other topics.

He also spoke in Mumbai, India to keynote at the 2nd annual Innovation Summit. He talked about the human side of innovation as a tool in building long term relationship with our clients.

Click here to view a clip from that keynote

Canada's first ever Red Day event launched

2008-11-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Brick leads the way in creating a new shopping holiday. Canada's first ever Red Day is their answer to the famous Black Friday promotions in the US.

Staples and other retailers have followed their lead.

It is hoped this will become a national sales promotion and each year more retailers will sign on to promote it.

We will be assisting in this process for 2009.

Secret Selling Tips goes international

2008-11-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

Following Bob's 6 day speaking tour in Iran, Secret Selling Tips now has subscribers in Iran as well as Dubai, UAE.

WE love being able to serve our readers in 5 countries and counting.

Picture is during a session for 170 Sales Managers for the Industrial Management Organization of Iran

Special offer to our readers or customers

2008-09-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a very special offer to those who read this blog. We recently released Bob's In The Company of Leaders with 40 leadership experts and guest authors. This ebook retails for $32.95 and is gaining popularity and downloads around the globe.

Bob has offered to allow his blog readers to purchase a downloadable, printable version for only $20 CDN plus taxes. Follow this link to check it out. This one way of saying thanks to our 'customers' or in this case readers.

These amazing authors have contributed their wisdom and you can leverage yoursuccess and leadership by applying their sage wisdom.

Secret Selling Tips now available for small group and individual subscriptions

2008-03-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

When you enroll today, you will also receive a FREE copy of Bob's new 'Sales Success,' a $14.95 value with your paid subscription to Secret Selling Tips.

How much would a 10 to 50% increase in your sales be worth to your bottom line and commissions? How would that impact your success and performance?

Ask yourself:
Are you serious about your role as a selling professional?
Are you committed to investing in your growth and future?
Are you willing to learn and apply proven techniques and tips?
Are you willing to be a sales leader and not just an order taker?
Are you open to new ideas and challenges in your career?

The Secret Selling Tips, sales leader's success program was created for those selling professionals who want to be leaders, make more money, have more fun and better serve their customers.

Are you at that level in commitment? Do you want to be?If so, then we invite you to subscribe today and start enhancing your sales and career.

How to Generate More Sales - a bonus publication for subscribers to Bob's Motivational Sales Quotes

2008-03-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Selling is a challenging career. It is also one where keeping your motivation high is critical to your success.

Sign up today for Bob's free, weekly Motivational Sales Quotes and get a bonus copy of this new ebook from the creative and productive brain of Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey. Keep your motivation high and see your sales soar!

Visit: www.SecretSellingTips.com for more information on this and other sales success services.

Happy Personal New Year, Irene

2008-01-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

My friend and web-maven Irene celebrates her personal new year today. Can't tell you how old she is...I know, but I can't tell you, because I want to live to see my next Personal New Year later this spring.

All to often we forget to pause and ponder the last year in our lives. What did we do, how did we do, who did we share it with? Those kind of questions.It is also a good time to say thanks to those who have been helping over the past year.

In this case, it is my opportunity to say thanks to a delightful friend who has been more than just supportive in my own work as a speaker, writer, leadership and sales trainer. Her help with our various websites has been an inspiration.

Happy New Year, Irene.

Advice from my Web master

2008-01-28T15:36:00.000-08:00

One of the things I have told my web design clients is that to get your site talked about and indexed, get out there and get involved online. Post articles, talk in forums, become the expert, and above all, start your own blog. Most of us keep making excuses why we can't do something, but I figure it's time to put my money where my mouth is. (This is from Irene's first blog.)

Web design is a relatively new part of my life. I've been online forever, with my career in science research, it's pretty much always been a part of the way things are done. As I've seen the pages and sites evolve, it got my scientific and creative minds together to discover how much of this I could learn and create for myself and subsequently, for others.

What began as a way to help out my friend Bob fix up his Ideaman site has turned into a part-time business creating new sites like Secret Selling Tips and, most recently, The Prosperous Farmer. I've also helped others, like Jeff with his investigations business, update what is otherwise a really nice site. Each design, each success, has taught me something new and I believe that is the most important thing.

Visit my Vitrak Creative site: Helping you harness the creative power of your mind to maximize your message on the web

One of the most important attributes of a vibrant personality is their ability to keep growing, to keep learning, to never take for granted the store of knowledge that is available to them. This is the true power of the web. We can access the knowledge of millions of minds - brilliant, average, and otherwise - but it is there for us to learn from. Then, finally, we too can share our 'wisdom', such as it is.

So, that is my bit of wisdom for this time around. Keep learning. Keep thinking.Keep questioning. But above all, Have fun!

Irene Gaudet, Creative Consultant
Vitrak Creative Services
Helping you harness the creative power of your mind to maximize your message on the web

Being a resource is a good customer service success strategy

2007-12-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

I've told you about the work 20 speakers are doing in creating the Alberta Speakers website and ad-venture promotional team. This group is using a website which is supported by print advertising as a way to leverage their reach.

Mid November we expanded that outreach by inviting additional speakers to join us in two more online web-based promotional websites. We've had a good response for Edmonton Speakers and Calgary Speakers websites.

Last week we invited speakers from BC to become a part of a new online program to promote Vancouver Speakers and Kelowna/Okanagon Speakers. Again, the response has been good. Obviously, these ideas have struck a chord with our fellow speakers. Yahoo!

Glad to help where we can and we have several other projects under consideration: Atlantic Canada Speakers, Saskatchewan Speakers, Manitoba Speakers, Ontario Speakers, Toronto Speakers, Hamilton Speakers, and Ottawa Speakers. Interesting way to leverage my spare time, keep my webmaster busy, and leverage my reach along with helping my fellow speakers with theirs.

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey

Bob's article featured in The Software Sales Journal

2007-11-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

One of Bob's Articles on how to increase your professionalism and sales was featured in the October '07 issue of The Software Sales Journal.

Visit this link to read the whole article.

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey

Customer Service Secrets revealed

2007-10-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Had the opportunity to share a few secrets for Small Business Week to assist the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

Shared Secrets Top Selling Professionals use to work smarter, make more money and have more fun in the selling game.

Very interested crowd and we were able to unveal our new individual 'Sales Leaders' subscription to Secret Selling Tips.

Looking forward to adding thousands of individual sales leaders to our Secret Selling Tips family over the next year.

Visit: http://www.secretsellingtips.com/ for more information on how you can subscribe or sign up your entire sales team.

Bob Hooey

Ideas to extend our customer service

2007-10-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Been very busy working on some new internet based projects.Two new websites as an extention of what we are doing with our http://www.albertaspeakers.com/ joint venture promotional project.

Visit: http://www.edmontonspeakers.com/ and http://www.calgaryspeakers.com/ for more information.

We will be expanding this service to speakers in other geographical areas across Canada in the future.Am also launching several destination based speaker websites for strategically targeted areas I would like to visit or work.

Visit: http://www.novascotiaspeaker.com/, http://www.phoenixspeaker.com/, http://www.arizonaspeaker.net/ or http://www.lasvegasspeaker.net/ for more information.More to follow.More targeted sites are in the works.

Bob Hooey

Denver Secrets revealed

2007-10-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

Being a customer service catalyst means sticking your neck out at times.

I was invited to Denver to exhibit our online Secret Selling Tips sales leaders' success program by the Canadian Consulate.

Governor Bill Ritter opened the event and shared a few thoughts in his opening remarks. I thought he did a good job and told him that when I was introduced to him and we had a few minutes to chat. I found him open, approachable and not at all like a normal politician.

Someone later told me he had just taken office in January. I hope he keeps speaking his own mind and moves away from the trap of politician thinking and speaking.

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey
http://www.ideaman.net/

Secret Selling Tips going to Denver

2007-10-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

News Flash: Oct 9-12: Denver, CO.

Canadian Trade Mission at CSIA's DemoGala2007 with 900 key technology professionals, government leaders, business leaders, venture capitalists, investment bankers and market influencers! 55 technology companies (inlcuding 9 Canadian) have been invited to display. CSIA theme is intensity, innovation and inspiration.

We feel, as does the Canadian Trade Comissioner, that we are leveraging technology in this innovative and inspirational service to engage and equip sales teams. We have been invited to participate and display our innovative tecnology-supported "Secret Selling Tips," sales leaders success program.

I am looking forward to meeting Colorado leaders who want to help their sales forces become more effective and profitable.

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey

http://www.secretsellingtips.com/

Drop Zone a success

2007-09-28T15:53:00.000-07:00

Bob successfully negotiated this high adventure in support of AB Easter Seals.

On Sept 10th, he stepped off the ledge of the 27 story Sutton Place Hotel to raise $3200 for this great cause.

Visit: http://www.dropzonebob.com/ for pictures and raw video footage of this fun event.

Bob Hooey

Service from the top of a 26 story building... Drop Zone

2007-08-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Anyone who raises a minimum pledge of $1500 for the Alberta Easter Seals Drops Zone before Sept. 10th (actually before my training on Sept. 5th) will earn the chance to rappel down the side of the 26-story Sutton Place Hotel (10235 101 St in Edmonton). Since 2005, more than 600 superheros joined this exclusive Superhero Club for Easter Seals.

I am committed to being a part of that courageous group this year in helping Easter Seal Kids. (gulp)

I am asking for your involvement in making that goal a reality. I could donate the $1500 for the chance to walk down the building, but that would defeat the process of engaging and involving a greater number of people in the process. People like you... I believe in the power of making a 'leveraged' difference.

This program is being used by Easter Seals all across Canada. Last year (Edmonton's first) 39 people rappeled down and this year they have a goal of doubling that number. They have room for 70 Superheros. I would love to be one of them this year and with your help, surpass that challenging goal.

I've pledged to raise at least $2500. I am asking your help to surpass this challenging goal.
Check out this flash movie to see what I have to look forward to (gulp!) and follow the link below to go to my personal donation page.

As many of you know I am not very comfortable with heights; but I believe to get to the winner's zone we need to move outside my comfort zone. This adventure will certainly move me 'way' past my comfort zone. (SMILE!!!) With your help I will on Sept. 10th, 2007. We'll see if we can get some pictures to share of this adventure.

Check out my personal donation page and support this great cause. (You can make a donation online)

Bob Hooey

Secret "Service" Tips coming soon

2007-08-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Bob wanted to let you know that he is working on a new Pocket Wisdom - Motivational Companion called Secret "Service" Tips. This pocket sized book will be available to help those in sales or service keep motivated and focused on building great businesses by building great relationships with their customers. It will be priced at $4.95

He will also be creating a Secret "Service" Tips website and offer bi-weekly tips to help you and your teams grow and succeed. This new service will parallel what he has done with Secret Selling Tips and be available in Fall 2007

Ideas At Work!

Johnny The Bagger A True Story Of Customer Service

2007-07-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

Johnny The Bagger A True Story Of Customer Service: "'The only thing your competition can't take away from you is the relationship your people have with your customers. After you experience Johnny the Bagger, you will see how you and everyone in your organization can make a difference in your customers' lives. The memories you create will keep people coming back-and bringing their friends-for years to come.” Ken Blanchard

VisionPoint's newly released, Johnny the Bagger: A True Story of Customer Service, celebrates the incomparable power of customer service delivered from the heart. Based on the work of noted author and speaker, Barbara Glanz, this inspiring new program features the true story of 'Johnny,' a young man with Down syndrome who made a positive choice about his personal responsibility to provide from-the-heart service and changed the culture of an entire organization.

Johnny the Bagger will help motivate your employees to take personal responsibility for creating a positive, memorable experience for internal or external customers; the kind of experience needed to generate customer loyalty, improve employee retention and strengthen team morale.

Learning Point Highlights:

Explains why truly extraordinary service must come from the heart (i.e., from person-to-person connections, not business-to-person connections)
Outlines the key mindsets and daily actions that are necessary to deliver exceptional, memorable customer service
Equips participants to add their own 'personal signature' to their work to surprise and delight customers"

My friend Barbara has created something with Ken Blanchard that will revolutionize your understanding of customer service and its value to both the top and bottom lines of your business.

Bob Hooey,
Author of 'Secrets of Effective Customer Service'

Businesspeek.com - Customer Service Article

2007-07-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Businesspeek.com - Customer Service Article: "Customer service represents a wide-ranging business discipline that is core to many companies success. Customer service includes measuring customer satisfaction levels, improving enterprise-wide support and response times, as well as managing customer data to look for buying or complaint trends. As such, customer service is business requirement that impacts an organization at nearly every level.

The Advantages of Strong Customer Service
A company can outperform it's competitors only if it can establish a competitive advantage that it can maintain. Customer service has the potential to be such a competitive advantage. Customer service can be very challenging to manage, and therefore difficult for competitors to imitate. Customer service is a challenge to manage because of its variability. The level of customer service may even differ significantly between two providers within the same company. It may also vary from one moment to another, even as delivered by the same provider. The challenge of providing high-quality customer service is compounded in multi-location operations - in addition to variability within individual locations, there is also variability in customer service among locations themselves.

That is both the challenge and the opportunity. The consistent delivery of superior customer service requires the careful planning and execution of a large number of activities that includes people, processes, and technology. For companies that can sucessfully manage this set of customer service activities they are rewarded with a competitice advantage that can help them significantly. Companies with strong customer service are sought out by their customers, referred to new customers, and retain customers much better than companies that have not focued on these activities."

Editor's note: Working on this area of your business will ensure you are around to take care of your customers in the future.

Bob Hooey

ICSA Toronto Chapter

2007-07-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

ICSA Toronto Chapter: "The International Customer Service Association (ICSA) is dedicated to promoting the development and awareness of the customer service profession through networking, education and research.

ICSA is a non-profit association led by customer service professionals for customer service professionals. These are people who have walked in your shoes and understand your challenges and motivation."

Check to see if they have chapters in your area and get involved. Learn by associating with those with a similar focus.

Bob

Idea Site for Business - Customer Service Ideas

2007-07-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Idea Site for Business - Customer Service Ideas

Here is a good site for those of you looking to fine tune your customer service efforts. Simple and easily applied tips to make what you do easier for your customers which will help build your business and long term relationships with clients.

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey

Business and career building resources

2007-01-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

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Personal note: I have been a subscriber for over three years and have found this monthly service to be invaluable in my speaking, training and leadership coaching and consulting business. I personally recommend this as a solid investment in your leadership, career, or business growth and success. Your creativity will be enhanced as well as your success!

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey

North America's top experts help you enjoy Quantum Success in your career, company or leadership.

2006-09-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

North America's top experts help you enjoy Quantum Success in your career, company or leadership.

Update: Our collection of wisdom and writing goes international with UK's Paul Z Jackson putting us over the 85 mark for contributing authors.

Schedule for launch is October 12th for this 3-volume set from the pens of North America's (and the UK) top authors and business experts.Visit: Quantum Success for a complete list of authors and come see us after October 12th to download your complimentary copy of these 3 success volumes.

Help us raise awareness and fun research to cure Huntington's disease. Visit Laura's Hope for more information and to make a donation today.

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey
Creative Catalyst & Idea Farmer
Creative Lead: Quantum Success