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Effective Personal Branding & Customer Service- Trader Joe’s Case Study 0

I love to shop at Trader Joe’s.  I find it makes me happy to just think about going to that store.  And yes, I do spend money and deal with the parking headaches in their lots.  But I still go happily.  Not only that, every time the name, “Trader Joe’s” comes up, I feel happy.

In personal brand management, we teach that everything is about the emotional quotient- what feeling do you drum up in us about who you are so that we remember you and want to be around you, buy from you, etc? Trader Joe’s clearly has that emotional quotient value mastered.

We can all agree that their quality may not be the absolute best and their prices are low, but not the lowest.  We’ve all noticed how the packaging tends to shrink (one less egg-roll, a few ounces less jam), but I still go back and so do all the people we have surveyed.  The reason is that Trader Joe’s still gives us that happy feeling-and that is priceless.

In addition, the customer service in their stores is excellent. Every employee works with passion and purpose and acts like they own the company! I love it.  I’ve heard they receive excellent benefits- even if they are part-time workers.  So clearly, Trader Joe’s has figured out the customer service personal branding secret, too- hire well, take care of your employees and the rest is history.

So stop and ask yourself- do you make your clients and prospects and friends and family happy?  When we think of you, do we forget the not-so-perfect stuff and remember you for the happiness you elicit in us?  Do you train your staff to provide that same level of happy customer service?  Hope so.  Visit a Trader Joe’s store and see how it works.

Posted on: 04-9-2012
Posted in: Behavior, Being Memorable, Business Brand, Communication, Corporate Image, customer service, Fees/Pricing, Personal branding, Uncategorized

How Productive Will You Be in 2012? 0

Right around this time of year, some of us get serious about how we want to “be” in the new year.  Many of us may set new years resolutions, but only some of us are genuine about it.   Often times, people set resolutions involving productivity and production.  I have no problems with resolutions- if you are genuine and really mean it.   No one else is impacted more than yourself if you don’t keep your resolution. You are actually robbing yourself, and being disingenuous with yourself,  if you make a resolution and don’t keep it.

So my wish (and subtle hint) for all of you is to resolve to be productive, by being efficient and effective in everything you do.  Don’t do it for me or for someone else- do it because being productive based on efficiency and effectiveness is a fabulous personal brand maker.

I resolved in late third quarter 2011 to work more efficiently and effectively while working LESS.  Guess what folks- it really does work!  Most of us are under the misconception that we have to work really hard and long hours to be productive and profitable and effective.  Not true in my book.

In my experience, clients with a great personal brand – those with a  great business AND personal life- are organized so they can work less, but more efficiently and effectively. The end result is that they are super productive people. These same people are more positive- they don’t resent having to “work” all the time and yet have nothing to show for it.  They take their extra time left over after working efficiently and productively to go spend quality time in their personal lives- which makes them all around peaceful, joyful, and excited to—-you guessed it— get back to work because work is a positive experience where results are had!!

Wouldn’t you want to be around (and give your business to)  a highly productive, effective, efficient person who is joyful?!  Of course, you would. Hence why these folks have a great personal brand and huge business successes.

So if you want a strong personal brand based on being productive, please take a moment to decide:

-What does being productive look like for you?

-How would you have to change your way of being right now so that you may be more productive?

-What poor work, and personal,  habits would you have to give up in order to be more productive?

-Can you do this alone or should you ask for help?

-Are your answers above realistic? If you are not sure, share your answers with a friend who knows you very well.

Let us know if we can support you in your productivity way of being in 2012!  We at Puris Image  are here as a stand for your personal brand success.

Posted on: 01-2-2012
Posted in: Behavior, Business Brand, Corporate Image, Efficiency, goal-setting, Personal branding, Productivity, Resolutions

Are You “Cheap”? 0

Do you avoid paying your fair portion of the bill when you go out to lunch with a big group of business associates?  Do you have all sorts of excuses to avoid paying your business/life coach or vendor on time?  Why should you buy your assistant the expensive holiday gift- after all, you share your assistant’s services with a partner in your firm, so the partner should buy the nicer gift since he/she makes more money than you as an associate?  Do you not go to feed the homeless with the rest of the office because there is no money to be made or prospects to be found at the homeless shelter?

So we all know of the stereo-types regarding cheapness.  Obviously we can’t assume someone is cheap and attribute a negative personal brand to him/her, just because of a stereotype.   It is unfair and not often true.

However, we have all seen the above-mentioned questions in the first paragraph play out.  And- make no mistake about it, we have ALL taken note of your cheapness in these situations.  We just don’t say anything to you.   Maybe we don’t consciously realize we think you are “cheap”.  However,  we’ve stored away the causal connection between: 1) you, as a (insert your career title here) and, 2)  you as a cheap person.  The further conclusion we likely draw is that you are petty, greedy, a hoarder and all about yourself.   Guess what folks- you now have a really negative personal brand that will require some serious work to rehabilitate!!

If you come across as cheap it means  we do not want to do business with you.  After all, you may rip us off or deny us our fair share of services, kudos, or kindness. No one in business wants to refer business to someone who is cheap. Not only do we not do business with you, but we likely don’t even want to be friends with you socially.  You’ll likely be the one to bring the $2 bottle of wine to the holiday gift exchange.

So stop and think- are you cheap?  Have you done things that could be seen as cheap or stingy?  Or do you freely give of yourself and your time because you care about people and want to help?  You have complete control over this personal brand perception maker/breaker.

EMAIL US AND SHARE A “CHEAP COLLEAGUE” STORY THAT HAS LEFT YOU WITH A NEGATIVE PERSONAL BRAND  PERCEPTION OF THAT PERSON.

Posted on: 12-12-2011
Posted in: Behavior, Business Brand, Careers, Community Service, Corporate Image, Personal branding, Poor Image
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