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Join us in Oregon for our Bloom Together Business Soiree on September 4th! Get your ticket while you can at https://www.cubicletoceo.co/bloomtogether Most companies in the custom closets and home organization industry outsource their manufacturing, but Jennifer Q. Williams did the opposite, and it changed everything. As the founder of Saint Louis Closet Co., Jennifer invested in bringing the entire production process in-house from day one, a bold move that allowed her to deliver fully customizable builds, reduce lead times to 4–6 weeks, and maintain a 100% on-time installation rate. This strategy has fueled 34 years of sustainable growth and empowered her to say yes to complex, last-minute projects — including a high-profile build-out for Grammy-winning rapper, Nelly. In today's case study on building a customer service centric company, we'll dig into how in-house manufacturing didn't just build customer trust and media buzzworthy opportunities, but how it also protected her business from supply chain chaos during Covid and the recent tariffs, led to faster payment collection, and created loyal clients who now drive over 50% of Saint Louis Closet Co.'s revenue through repeat and referral business. Connect with Jennifer: Check out Nelly's closet: https://www.instagram.com/stlouisclosetco/reel/DHLxto6uTv5/ https://stlouisclosetco.com Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/saint-louis-closet-co/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/stlouisclosetco IG: @stlouisclosetco Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://cubicletoceo.co/quiz If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you. Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This weekend Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away kicked off its inaugural run with two nights of dress rehearsals and an opening on Sunday. This new parade, long awaited and hoped for by Walt Disney World fans is simply magical. It's not perfect, but it's simply beautiful and is what has been needed for so long since its ancestors, The Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic had long parted. We visit this parade and talk all the details of what makes it work--and at times, not so perfectly work. It's a must-see event at Walt Disney World and a welcome tradition for years to come. And my belief is, that it will only get better over time. So join us as we review Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away! ____________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic! And now as part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we have a new interactive Disney Insight Fact Discovery, which unlocks scores of fascinating details few know about. With text, images, video and audio, we explore these realms whether you are right on the streets of the "Happiest Place on Earth" or enjoying it virtually from your own couch at home. Join today! Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe. DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts. Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others. My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence. ________________________________________________________ Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation! David & Leah Zanolla ZanollaTravel.com Owner/Agents (309) 863-5469 ____________________________________________________________________ Performance Journeys This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level. Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench. Need Consulting? I've worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena. Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement. Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!
Most patients won't complain—they'll just stop coming. In this episode, Jeff Blumberg shares the 12 most common customer service slip-ups that quietly wreck patient retention, and how to fix them fast to boost satisfaction, referrals, and revenue. DDS Success (coupon code RX269) - https://ddssuccess.com/ The MGE Power Program - https://www.mgeonline.com/power-program The Art of Scheduling Live Stream - https://www.mgeonline.com/scheduling-livestream/
In today's explosive collection of Karen encounters, we meet a pizza shop regular who learns the hard way that the manager does bite back, a taxi rider in Germany who throws a fit over seating rules, and a parking lot showdown that turns physical. We also follow a Lidl customer who thinks employees should bake her bread on command, a woman who gets an unsolicited cat sermon when simply trying to find a boarding facility, and a gas station encounter where a woman goes from justified to obnoxious in seconds. Each story highlights the entitlement, tantrums, and sometimes outrageous behavior that give Karens their reputation. Buckle up, it's a bumpy ride through peak entitlement.Submit your own stories to KarmaStoriesPod@gmail.com.Karma Stories is available on all major Podcasting Platforms and on YouTube under the @KarmaStoriesPodcast handle. We cover stories from popular Reddit Subreddits like Entitled Parents, Tales From Tech Support, Pro Revenge and Malicious Compliance. You can find new uploads here every single day of the week!Rob's 3D Printing Site: https://Dangly3D.comGet your Custom Hand Turned Pen by Rob at https://CanadianRob.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/karma-stories--5098578/support.
The Intuitive Customer - Improve Your Customer Experience To Gain Growth
In this episode of The Intuitive Customer, Colin Shaw speaks with Andy Traba, VP of Product Marketing at NICE, about the company's new mission: Creating a NiCE World. This isn't just a rebranding message — it's a strategic shift toward unified, proactive, and AI-enabled customer experiences. Andy and Colin explore why AI alone isn't enough, the dangers of siloed implementations, and why leading organizations are turning to platforms — not point solutions — to orchestrate connected, emotionally resonant journeys. If your organization is serious about CX transformation, this conversation provides clear guidance on where to start, what to avoid, and how to align internal functions toward a shared customer strategy. Quote of the Episode “The moment you find success with AI, you'll want more. That's why you have to start with a platform — not a point solution — so your entire organization can scale, align, and deliver a truly connected experience.” — Andy Traba, VP of Product Marketing, NiCE
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Real Estate Pro Show, host Erika interviews Daniel Osborne, a drywall repair expert known as the 'brain surgeon of drywall.' Daniel shares insights into his business philosophy, emphasizing the importance of trust, authenticity, and quality in contracting. He discusses the significance of networking, the value of being teachable, and offers advice for newcomers in the industry. The conversation also touches on the future of DRR Drywall and the importance of maintaining high standards in service delivery. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
In this episode of Quite Frankly, Frankie Val dives headfirst into the Orwellian tactics of modern censorship and the emerging threats of AI-driven narrative control. He opens with commentary on Trump's viral “Epstein hoax” post and explores whether it's a strategic nudge to expose mainstream hypocrisy or a larger piece of psychological warfare. Frankie digs into Google's new “About This Image” tool, explaining how it fits into a broader campaign to delegitimize independent research, especially around subjects like biolabs, war crimes, and election interference. He compares these efforts to digital book burning, where tech giants erase context and reshape the past in real time. From secret Fauci emails about Wuhan labs to bombshell articles on war profiteering and suppressed medical data, the episode paints a clear picture: we're in an information war, and the battlefield is your perception. Frankie wraps with a passionate call to seek truth beyond curated headlines, reminding listeners that history is being rewritten by those who fear transparency most.
Sarah went camping with her family and it was predictably calamitous in the best way possible. We hear why kids don't ride bikes anymore, parents are chauffeurs, and why it matters. We talk about how much camp meant to Sarah growing up and then as a counselor, and we lament that tragedy in Texas at the Christian camp. Sarah explains why customer service is so bad now, why you shouldn't accept it, and what you can do about it. Plus, she describes a genius way we can band together and combat the "sludge" of customer service quagmires.0:29 - Sarah's planning something romantic.5:12 - The Rice family's calamitous camping trip.16:51 - Article: Kids are missing out on things we used to do all the time. 28:58 - Wes Bergmann told Sarah....30:42 - Susie and Sarah discuss the tragic Texas floods. 38:13 - They do it on purpose! Those infuriating customer service calls that cut you off. 48:55 - Don't get on Susie's bad side! Cuz she'll........Brain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Flag Of Approval: https://gravityhaus.com/Shout out to writer Chris Colin for this fantastic Atlantic article about intentional dropped calls.Sponsors:For 50% off your order, head to https://www.dailylook.com and use code BRAINCANDYCancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster at https://rocketmoney.com/braincandy today.Get 25% off your first month of Ritual when you visit https://ritual.com/braincandy & add Essential Protein today.For 15% off your order and a special gift, head to https://pacagen.com/braincandy and use code BRAINCANDYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Real Estate Pro Show, host Erika speaks with Lydia Craven, a prominent figure in the title and real estate industry. Lydia shares her insights on navigating the Maryland and Virginia markets, the challenges faced in title transactions, and the importance of communication and customer service. She discusses her future plans for Stone Street Title, including expansion into new markets, and emphasizes the significance of building relationships and staying relevant in the industry. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
Fix Whats Broke Ditch Whats Stale Grow Whats Golden in Your BusinessAre you tired of generic business advice that leaves you spinning your wheels? Welcome to Tech Diva Biz Talks, where we're shaking up the entrepreneurial landscape and giving your business the reset it craves. As your host, I'm Audrey Wiggins, a branding strategist and tech-savvy marketer ready to serve up a weekly dose of business therapy with a side of sass and sparkle.Revitalizing Your Business VisionIn this podcast, we're not just talking – we're transforming. Each episode is crafted to:Challenge outdated business practicesProvide actionable insights for genuine growthOffer a fresh perspective on common entrepreneurial hurdlesWhat Makes Tech Diva Biz Talks Stand Out?No-fluff approach: We cut through the noise to address what's truly holding you backExpert guests: Gain wisdom from industry leaders who've walked in your shoesTech-forward solutions: Learn how to harness technology to propel your business forwardYour Weekly Entrepreneurial Reality CheckWhether you're a seasoned business owner or just starting out, Tech Diva Biz Talks is your go-to resource for:Identifying and repairing the broken elements in your business modelDiscarding strategies that no longer serve your growthNurturing and expanding the aspects of your business that show promise"We fix what's broke, ditch what's stale, and grow what's golden."Tune In, Level Up, Embrace TechReady to reset your business and embrace real growth? Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or your preferred podcast platform. Join us weekly for insights that will challenge your thinking, inspire action, and help you navigate the ever-changing business landscape with confidence and style.Don't just listen – implement. Share the gems you uncover, leave a review, and most importantly, put your newfound knowledge into action. It's time to turn up the volume on your business success and plug into the power of transformation.Send us a messageBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEContent Creator MachineThe integrated all-in-one online marketing, business tool/platform.Altogether Domains, Hosting and MoreBringing your business online - domain names, web design, branded email, security, hosting and more.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showWant to be a guest on Tech Diva Biz Talks? Send Audrey Wiggins a message on PodMatch, here: podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/audreywiggins To work with Audrey schedule a breakthrough/discovery session.
Summary In this episode of the Customer Service Revolution podcast, John R. DiJulius III shares his journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the impact of his family dynamics, struggles in school, and the role of sports in shaping his character. John reflects on his experiences working at UPS, which became a turning point in his life, leading him to pursue college baseball and eventually entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, luck, and giving back to the community through his initiative, Believe in Dreams. Takeaways John's childhood was marked by the absence of his father. He struggled academically but found solace in sports. Sports played a crucial role in developing his leadership skills. Working at UPS provided him with financial stability and discipline. He walked on to play college baseball after years away from the sport. John's experiences shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. He emphasizes the importance of luck in his success. Giving back to the community is a core value for him. He learned valuable lessons from his family dynamics. John's journey highlights resilience and determination. Chapters Part 1 (episode 213) 00:00Introduction to Customer Service Revolution Podcast 02:37John's Early Life and Family Background 05:03The Impact of Family Dynamics on John 07:35School Challenges and Academic Struggles 10:05The Role of Sports in John's Life 12:30Navigating High School and Early Career Aspirations 15:00The Journey Through College and Entrepreneurship 17:59Developing Leadership Skills Through Sports 20:29Reflections on Personal Growth and Identity 30:49Academic Struggles and Realizations Part 2 (episode 214) 33:41The Turning Point: A Job at UPS 39:00The Walk-On Experience: A New Opportunity 44:28The Journey to Graduation 49:28From UPS Driver to Entrepreneur 53:24The Impact of Luck and Hard Work 01:02:09Giving Back: Believe in Dreams Links Episode 192: From UPS Driver to CX Authority. https://thedijuliusgroup.com/csr-192/ Customer Experience Executive Academy: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/project/cx-executive-academy/ Interview Questions: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/resources/ The DiJulius Group Methdology: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/x-commandment-methodology/ Experience Revolution Membership: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/membership/ Schedule a Complimentary Call with one of our advisors: tdg.click/claudia Books Contacts: Lindsey@thedijuliusgroup.com , Claudia@thedijuliusgroup.com Subscribe We talk about topics like this each week; be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode.
Customer Experience University - Winning Loyalty & Engagement One Customer at a Time
In this episode, Dr. Joseph Michelli explores the crucial role of consistency in customer experience across multiple business locations, drawing on examples from renowned brands like Starbucks and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He outlines strategies for achieving uniformity in service quality, including standardizing training programs, leveraging technology for oversight, and empowering local managers to adapt to regional needs while maintaining core brand values. Dr. Michelli emphasizes the importance of regular performance monitoring and fostering a unified company culture to ensure customers receive the same high-quality service at every touchpoint. Listeners can access a detailed infographic based on this podcast from Joseph's website. Those who want to speak to Joseph are encouraged to contact him directly. If you find value in this podcast, please like, rate, comment, share, or subscribe!
07-16-25 - BR - WED - John Struggles Dealing w/Customer Service For His Outdoor Umbrella After Leaving 3 Star Review - 4 In 10 Americans Can't Get Through Day w/o Cussing At Least OnceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
CONTRIBUTE your own response to this episode's interview questions!In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett interview three homeschool veteran moms who also happen to be members of our incredible customer service team here at The Well-Trained Mind Press!1. Kat discovered homeschooling through the writing of early homeschool thought leader John Holt. Check out his organization and books here.2. TedXTalk on renaming postpartum depression recommended by Susanna2. Articles on the loneliness of motherhood, recommended by Susan:https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/aug/21/it-felt-shameful-the-profound-loneliness-of-modern-motherhoodhttps://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/07/the-captivity-of-motherhood/398525/https://msmagazine.com/2023/05/11/motherhood-mom-lonely-mental-health/https://www.mother.ly/life/motherly-stories/motherhood-is-lonely/ (00:00) - Intro with the Customer Service team (04:09) - Discovery of Homeschooling (11:15) - Biggest homeschooling fears (15:57) - Keeping the fear at bay (22:59) - Break (23:01) - Homeschooling evolution (28:30) - Biggest challenge as a homeschool parent (40:01) - Homeschool pride (41:32) - Adapting curriculum (50:44) - One piece of advice (54:25) - Outro
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Real Estate Pros podcast, Alfredo Rodriguez shares his inspiring journey from being an immigrant with no credit to becoming a successful real estate investor in Tampa Bay. He discusses the importance of mindset, overcoming challenges, and the unique opportunities in the Tampa Bay market. Alfredo emphasizes the significance of customer education and providing exceptional service in his business. He concludes with valuable advice for aspiring investors, encouraging them to keep learning and stay humble. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
In this episode of UNSCRIPTED, host Sarah Nicastro speakswith Dave Sarazen, Vice President of Customer Service at Multivac, about how his organization successfully cut technician turnover in half through strategic initiatives and leadership practices that prioritize both recruitment and retention.
07-16-25 - BR - WED - John Struggles Dealing w/Customer Service For His Outdoor Umbrella After Leaving 3 Star Review - 4 In 10 Americans Can't Get Through Day w/o Cussing At Least OnceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
100 Proven Ways to Acquire and Keep Clients for Life with Richard Weylman (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 138) In this compelling episode of The Price and Value Journey, host John Ray interviews Richard Weylman, international bestselling author of 100 Proven Ways to Acquire and Keep Clients for Life. Despite being orphaned at age […]
"Third time's the charm" is a saying that suggests perhaps the third attempt will be more successful than the two prior failures. By no means has the past two versions of Test Track been failures. But it seems like this is a huge opportunity to learn from the previous experiences and truly come up with something that could be loved for years to come. We chart out not only all three, but also talk about its forefather, The World of Motion. On our journey I pick up my friend and colleague Nick Grande, to talk about our experience testing Test Track, where it works, where it doesn't and where it retreads. Great news! There is much to love about this new version. And while we've seen people either completely love or hate it, we'll give you a complete sense of how you can get both responses. Join us for Test Track 3.0. Is the third time the charm? ____________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic! And now as part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we have a new interactive Disney Insight Fact Discovery, which unlocks scores of fascinating details few know about. With text, images, video and audio, we explore these realms whether you are right on the streets of the "Happiest Place on Earth" or enjoying it virtually from your own couch at home. Join today! Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe. DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts. Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others. My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence. ________________________________________________________ Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation! David & Leah Zanolla ZanollaTravel.com Owner/Agents (309) 863-5469 ____________________________________________________________________ Performance Journeys This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level. Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench. Need Consulting? I've worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena. Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement. Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!
In this special compilation episode of Mission Admissions, host Jeremy Tiers sifts through his Season 4 conversations to bring you some important leadership reminders, as well as a handful of customer service strategies that will help you deliver a more memorable college search experience for prospective students and families.Guest Names:Ken Anselment, Vice President for Enrollment Management, RHB Stephanie Dickerson, Associate Director of Admission, University of Louisville Pasquale Romano Jr., Hospitality Expert & Accounts Manager, UrVenue Dr. Matt McLendon, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Enrollment Management at The University of Alabama McKenzie Sullivan, Admissions Counselor, The University of Akron Reece Baines, Junior, Wilson High School, PA Mickey Baines, Partner and Technology Services Practice Leader, Kennedy & Company Guest Social: Ken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenanselment/Stephanie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-dickerson-m-a-a816779a/Pasquale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pasquale-romano-jr/Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mclendon/McKenzie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenzie-sullivan-m-ed-36051b144/Mickey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyb/Guest Bios: Ken Anselment is Vice President for Enrollment Management at RHB, a division of Strata Information Group. He joined RHB in May 2022 after serving as the Vice President for Enrollment at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he worked for 18 years.Stephanie Dickerson is currently in her eighth recruitment cycle with UofL. She began her career there in 2017 as an Admissions Counselor and progressed into a Senior Admissions Counselor role, then the Coordinator of the Dual Credit Program & AP Summer Institute, and now her current role as Associate Director. A seasoned hospitality professional with over 15 years of experience in Las Vegas, working with renowned hotels and nightlife/daylife concepts, Pasquale Romano Jr. is now an advisor for UrVenue the leading hospitality technology solution working with well-known hospitality brands like Tao Group, Groot Hospitality, and Wynn Nightlife.Dr. Matthew B. McLendon leads the University of Alabama's enrollment efforts, providing strategic leadership for enrollment planning, implementation and assessment. He also has fiscal responsibility for all facets of enrollment management.McKenzie Sullivan currently serves as an admissions counselor at The University of Akron. In addition to her work at UA, she sits on the OACAC executive board as the Northeast Ohio Delegate and is a part of the NACAC NEXT leadership cohort for 2024-2025.Reece Baines is currently finishing up his junior year of high school in Pennsylvania. He's an avid drummer, also works part time for a local community organization, and he volunteers as an orientation counselor at his high school. As a consultant and former practitioner in higher education, Mickey Baines has over 25 years of experience building, implementing, and leading enrollment and student success systems and teams. In his current consulting role he leads the technology services practice for Kennedy & Company, helping colleges and universities with their design, implementation, and customization of CRM technologies. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Jeremy Tiershttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremytiers/https://twitter.com/CoachTiersAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Mission Admissions is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025!
When you're ‘not quite ready’ to raise prices, hire more team members, up that advertising spend… What’s the hidden toll? How to recognise the subtle ways shrinking back is costing you visibility and revenue. Playing bigger doesn’t have to be reckless, today's episode is about choosing discomfort on purpose. About the power of small, strategic risks that move you forward: raising prices by 10%, hiring a VA for 5 hours a week, or investing in a professional development opportunity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors. Promotive can help you find your dream job. Touch HERE to see open jobs. Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HEREIn this episode, Jeff Compton sits down with technician Bryan Bueckert to talk through career challenges and the realities of working in the automotive repair industry. Brian shares his journey of entering the trade later in life, including the financial sacrifices and steep learning curve involved in switching from a call center job to turning wrenches. The discussion highlights key issues like low shop door rates and reluctance to charge for diagnostic labor, which make it difficult for technicians to earn a livable wage.00:00 "Subaru Enthusiast's Job Search"05:39 Skilled Trade Pay Disparity Debate13:47 Mastering European Car Systems20:00 Space Dilemma and Hiring Needs21:55 "Challenges of Small Auto Shops"29:51 Proper Oil for Euro Cars33:44 "No Tolerance for Customer Abuse"41:41 Final School Day in Windsor43:11 Subaru Salary Insights49:42 Oil Change: More Than Routine55:45 Revamping Traditional Auto Service Methods01:00:27 Quality Parts Ensure Trust01:06:57 Subaru CVT Fluid Maintenance Advice01:10:48 Car Service Decisions Explained01:18:08 Spare Key Programming Challenges01:22:40 Efficient Airbag Installation Story01:28:57 Considering Teaching High School Shop01:33:10 Pursuing Passion After Mortgage Follow/Subscribe to the show on social media! TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJadedMechanicFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091347564232
Phillip Salem shares how bold authenticity, fashion-forward branding, and mental wellness helped him build a bi-coastal business and referral empire. Discover the REI Agent Podcast episode that will change your mindset forever.See full article: https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/the-bold-bi-coastal-baddie-who-broke-the-real-estate-mold-with-phillip-salem/(00:00) - Introduction to The REI Agent Podcast(00:24) - Mattias Teases the Bicoastal Baddie: Phillip Salem(03:30) - Phillip's Nicknames: Agent P and Not Your Basic Broker(04:45) - Mattias on Standing Out and the Purple Cow Principle(05:01) - Phillip's Journey from Fashion to Real Estate(07:29) - The Dream of Selling on Both Coasts(09:29) - Building Business in Two Markets(10:10) - Starting in NYC with Rentals and Climbing Up(12:51) - Making LA Work with Strategic Travel and Mentorship(13:42) - Losing Deals but Staying Grounded(15:26) - Mattias on Managing High Stakes Logistical Chaos(16:01) - Phillip's Deal Minimum and Referrals Strategy(17:21) - Selling Glinda's Home: Ariana Grande's Apartment(18:28) - Time Split Between NYC and LA(18:46) - Referral Model and Smart Delegation in LA(20:08) - Do Clients Always Want the Bicoastal Baddie?(20:30) - Setting Client Expectations and Respectful Relationships(21:52) - Examples of Working Remotely in Real Estate(22:53) - National Brands and Local Trust: Eklund, Serhant, and LV(24:24) - Customer Service from Fashion to Real Estate(26:29) - Mattias on the Disney Brand Archetype(27:17) - Treating Every Client Like Beyoncé(28:36) - Creating Boundaries and Taking Days Off(29:04) - Letting Go of Clients Who Don't Respect Boundaries(30:26) - Commission is Earned: The Emotional Weight of the Work(31:23) - Staying Grounded Through Volunteering(32:18) - Dog Rescues, The Blind Center, and Giving Back(33:46) - Flying to Vegas for Janet Jackson: The Power of Joy(34:13) - Tech Nerd Dreams and The Vegas Sphere(35:32) - Music, CrossFit, and Creative Outlets(36:40) - Agents Can Have Talents Outside of Work(37:29) - Third Places: Volunteering, Gyms, and Social Events(39:02) - Building Brand Through Passionate Networking(40:46) - Surrounding Yourself With Confidence and Opportunity(42:35) - Value and Confidence: Why You Deserve That Listing(43:42) - Surgeon Analogy and Being Prepared(44:06) - Golden Nugget: Be Authentic and Go Against the Grain(47:16) - Phillip's Favorite Book: The Meaning of Mariah Carey(48:50) - Shoutout to Tampa Bri and Fearless Branding(50:01) - Collaboration Over Competition: Agent Masterminds(50:37) - How to Contact Phillip Salem(51:03) - Closing Messages from The REI Agent TeamContact Phillip Salemhttps://phillipowensalem.com/https://www.instagram.com/phillipowensalemFor more authentic content to enhance your holistic success, visit https://reiagent.com
TakeawaysAmazon Prime Day saw a significant increase in consumer spending compared to previous years.Retail media plays a crucial role in helping brands get noticed on Amazon's marketplace.Consumers are increasingly focused on basic needs rather than luxury items during shopping events.Retailers are managing prices strategically to absorb costs and maintain consumer interest.Membership programs like Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus are becoming essential for retailers.Customer service quality is a key differentiator for retailers in a competitive market.The trend of comparison shopping is growing among consumers, especially between Amazon and Walmart.Retailers are leveraging technology and AI to improve efficiency and customer experience.The impact of tariffs on consumer prices is a concern for retailers and consumers alike.The future of retail may see tiered membership programs to cater to different consumer segments. Chapters00:00 The Dynamics of Prime Day Discounts07:27 Retail Media and Brand Visibility09:37 Innovations in Delivery: E-bikes and Instant Needs11:59 Consumer Behavior: Shifts in Purchasing Trends14:35 Retail Strategies: Managing Prices and Inventory17:28 The Competitive Landscape: Walmart vs. Amazon20:05 Customer Service: The Key to Retention23:06 The Future of Grocery and E-commerce25:49 Membership Models: The Next Frontier31:08 Final Thoughts and Predictions
I'm CT… When I'm not busy being Arroe the podcaster, I live in the real world. Everybody has to have a job. Mine is C.S. Customer Service. Solutions, relationships while keeping my team motivated to keep a constant connection with each guest who's chosen to stop their day to visit our location. Episode 184 More management changes, saving the most money and show scrubs? What? This is C.T.C.S. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.
Investing in Bizarro World Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIAfIjKxr02sAztzlJNy1ug5bDvTVZkME&si=w2d_EF-B5jMo1dYD Subscribe to Investing In Bizarro World: @bizarroworld Programming Note: We will be financing a new 3-cent copper company next week in Private Placement Intel. We'll be going in alongside some legendary resource investors amid a restructure. You can join Private Placement Intel now to participate at the still-discounted rate of $2,025 per year. Or call Jimmy Mengel in Customer Service at 844-334-4700 for more information. More details here: https://bit.ly/44jFjqmThe free version of the 324th episode of Investing in Bizarro World is now published.Here's what was covered:Macro Musings - Gerardo pulled on the “supply & demand” hoodie, and Nick showed why it's more than a fashion statement. With a fresh multi-trillion-dollar bill that Trump wants signed on July 4th—because of course—the dollar's tanking, the debt's exploding, and inflation isn't done with us yet. Ray Dalio's math says we're headed for “big painful disruptions.” Gerardo and Nick explain why that's bullish for gold, copper, and popcorn (seriously—$89 buckets are coming).Market Takes - Copper's still above $5, lithium is quietly waking up, and platinum just had its best monthly move in 40 years. The NASDAQ and S&P are calm, but don't confuse quiet indices with a healthy economy. Gerardo and Nick are eyeing the real signal. “It's not a complicated thesis,” Gerardo says. “You just have to know what you own.” A new copper deal is dropping next week. Nick and Gerardo walk through the behind-the-scenes work it took to secure an unusually favorable structure: strategic investors, a 12-month lock-up, over $100M in potential partner funding, and a massive land position in Australia's Macquarie Arc. This is the kind of deal where legends like Rick Rule are writing checks—and it's coming to subscribers first. Join Private Placement Intel to participate in the deal next week. Details here: https://bit.ly/44jFjqmBizarro Banter - From AI anime YouTube channels with 30M followers to Google buying nuclear fusion power that doesn't exist yet, the guys riff on the weird intersection of technology, media, and energy. Nick also drops a righteous rant on local politics, semantics, and why Spokane's city council should stop serving hot dogs and calling them hamburgers. Gerardo weighs in on the Lia Thomas ruling and says what most people are thinking but too afraid to say: you can respect someone's identity and still want fairness in women's sports. Nick breaks it down with Pew poll data, Orwell quotes, and a reminder that logic is not bigotry. “You're born either male or female. That's not politics—it's biology.”Premium Portfolio Picks - For paid listeners only. Click here: https://bit.ly/4eCAfADYou can watch the full episode here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr210Zx-LF40:00 Introduction1:54 Macro Musings: Dollar Supply & Demand. Beautiful Bill's Ugly Debt. Inflation and $89 Popcorn14:33 Market Takes: Metals Moving. Record Indexes. Copper Private Placement. Details here: https://bit.ly/44jFjqm23:06 Bizarro Banter: AI's YouTube Takeover. Spokane Defies the People. Male vs. Female. 40:14 Premium Portfolio Picks: Digital Supply Chain Leader. Gold Prospect Generator. Oil ETF. (You need to subscribe to Bizarro World Live to get this section) Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/4eCAfADPLEASE NOTE: There are now two versions of this podcast. 1. Bizarro World Live — Pay $2 per episode to watch us record the podcast live every Thursday and get Premium Portfolio Picks every week. Plus an archive of all premium episodes. Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/4eCAfAD2. Bizarro World Free — Published the Monday after the live recording with no Premium Portfolio Picks.Visit our website Daily Profit Cycle for more content like this and more! https://dailyprofitcycle.com/
To be a modern consumer is to experience poor customer service at some point in your life. The kind of service that has you in a fever dream of pressing “1” for “representative,” getting your call dropped, calling back again, and then asking to speak to a manager who can't solve your problem. Experts call this kind of service “sludge,” an administrative morass meant to deter, not help, consumers. And for some businesses, it's a feature not a bug. We'll talk to journalist Chris Colin about the practice and hear from you: what's your sludge story? Guests: Chris Colin, journalist, The Atlantic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Thomas Barnes. A technology entrepreneur and franchise owner, shares his journey from corporate IT to owning an Experimax store, specializing in Apple product sales, service, and repairs. He discusses entrepreneurship, customer service, hiring strategies, and the challenges of competing in the tech repair industry. Segment Breakdown & Key Highlights Introduction & Background Host Rushion McDonald introduces Thomas Barnes as Atlanta’s Technology Guru, highlighting his love for math and science that led him into the tech industry. Thomas reflects on his 30+ years in IT, working with Fortune 50, 100, and 500 companies, and his decision to become a business owner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Entrepreneurial Journey & Franchise Ownership Shares his motivation to own a business instead of working for others, officially becoming an Experimax franchise owner in 2021. Explains his research process, initially exploring food and beverage franchises before discovering the Apple-focused Experimax model. Highlights the brand's niche market—specializing in Apple product repairs and sales, leveraging his tech and business expertise. Challenges & Competitive Strategy Discusses the difficulty of hiring skilled technicians, emphasizing the need for Apple expertise but openness to training individuals with Android/Windows experience. Introduces John Goldwasser, his store manager, who is proficient in both Apple and Android technology. Differentiates Experimax from Apple Stores, offering shorter wait times, personalized service, and no mandatory appointments. Competes with local repair shops, emphasizing his store’s established reputation and specialized expertise. Customer Service & Business Growth Emphasizes treating employees with respect to ensure loyalty and a strong team culture. Discusses customer acquisition costs and his strategy of actively networking and promoting his store. Highlights customer experiences, mentioning loyal Apple users seeking alternatives for repairs and upgrades. Entrepreneurship & Lessons Learned Stresses the importance of faith, resilience, and risk-taking in business. Encourages entrepreneurs to step out on faith and not fear challenges. Talks about the importance of a business plan, sharing his experience of developing financial projections for securing loans. About Thomas Barnes Atlanta-based technology entrepreneur with 30+ years in IT. Franchise owner of Experimax Sandy Springs, specializing in Apple product sales, service, and repairs. Passionate about customer service, mentorship, and business growth. Advocate for entrepreneurship, faith-based leadership, and strategic planning. Thomas’ journey showcases determination, business acumen, and a commitment to providing quality tech services. His Experimax store serves as a go-to alternative for Apple users, offering expert repairs and personalized customer experiences. Want to learn more? Visit Experimax Sandy Springs or follow Thomas Barnes' business updates online. #BEST #STRAW #SHMS Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are you focusing on the right customers? Is your culture creating consistent customer value? Are you leading in ways that actually drive results? In this episode of Doing CX Right®, Stacy Sherman shares five standout takeaways from her conversation with marketing legend Seth Godin. Most brands get customer experience wrong. Seth and Stacy reveal what to do instead—clear, actionable insights that challenge outdated thinking and support long-term growth. Learn more at Access our FREE Customer Experience Audit Tool: Grow as a CX Professional with our numerous Book time with Stacy through this
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Investor Fuel podcast, host Michelle Kesil speaks with Scott Snofke from REI Printmail about innovative strategies in direct mail marketing for real estate. Scott emphasizes the importance of tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to optimize marketing efforts and ensure client success. He shares insights on the challenges of data management in real estate, the effectiveness of direct mail in generating leads, and the significance of building strong client relationships. The conversation highlights the need for a customer-centric approach and the value of personalized service in the industry. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
Today With Tara Kennedy: Today with Tara Kennedy, Director of Marketing at Window Modes, we explore what exceptional dealer support looks like in the window treatment industry. Tara brings a unique background from Direct Response marketing to this wholesale fabricator that's been serving professionals since the early 90s. We discuss their approach to motorization education, concealment systems through their Blind Space partnership, and how they've built lasting relationships with dealers through high-touch customer service. From their 24-48 hour remake policy to getting on calls with dealers who are troubleshooting on job sites, this conversation reveals what it takes to be a true partner in today's increasingly technical marketplace. Whether you're exploring new manufacturing relationships or looking to expand into motorization and concealment systems, you'll gain valuable insights into finding vendors who invest in your success More About Tara Kennedy As the Director of Marketing at Window Modes, Tara Kennedy brings over a decade of experience driving growth and visibility for innovative brands across the home design and consumer goods industries. She began her career in the high-stakes world of Direct Response marketing, where she mastered the art of launching products from concept to retail shelf—through TV, e-commerce, and big box stores. Today, she leads marketing efforts for Window Modes, a leading nationwide fabricator of manual and motorized window treatments. From brand storytelling to SEO, and from trend forecasting to product launches, she is passionate about combining design with data to create impactful campaigns that connect with customers and deliver results. Her work is guided by a love of beautiful fabrics, clean hardware, and smart concealment—and an unrelenting drive to elevate the window treatment category through education and innovation. Whether she's behind a campaign or in front of a camera for her YouTube series “In the Know”, she brings energy, humor, and strategy to everything she touches. Connect with Tara Kennedy Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Blindspace for Window Modes: We are proud to be a distributor for Blindspace products. IWCE 2025 - Page 46 Blindspace Product Resource Page IWCE Booth Video Instagram Reel Tara's LinkedIn A Big THANK YOU to Today's Podcast Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Exciting Windows! What's new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour Watch the Docuseries! http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn's Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn's Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn's Website LuAnn's Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Resources: This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here! AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design Other Shows: WTFP #61: Jessica Harling: The 7 Step Sales Process and 3 Proven Sales Techniques to be More Successful WTFP #289: What Would Lu Do?: Exceptional Customer Service is Key to Profitability WTFP #314: What Would Lu Do?: How to Attract High-End Window Treatment Clients by Speaking to Their Priorities—Not Their Wallets
The Business Chop is now Tech Diva Biz Talks.Are you tired of generic business advice that fails to address your unique challenges? Welcome to Tech Diva Biz Talks, where we shake up stale strategies and inject fresh energy into your entrepreneurial journey. As your host, I'm Audrey Wiggins, a branding strategist and tech-savvy marketer ready to serve up a weekly dose of business therapy with a side of glam and humor.Resetting Your Business MindsetIn this podcast, we're not just talking – we're transforming. Each episode is designed to:Challenge outdated business practicesProvide actionable insights for real growthOffer a fresh perspective on common entrepreneurial hurdlesWhat Sets Tech Diva Biz Talks Apart?No-nonsense approach: We cut through the fluff to address what's truly holding you backExpert guests: Gain insights from industry leaders who've been in your shoesTech-savvy solutions: Learn how to leverage technology to propel your business forwardYour Weekly Business Reality CheckWhether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Tech Diva Biz Talks is your go-to resource for:Identifying and fixing what's broken in your business modelDiscarding outdated strategies that no longer serve youNurturing and expanding the aspects of your business that show promise"We fix what's broke, ditch what's stale, and grow what's golden."Tune In, Level Up, TSend us a messageBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEContent Creator MachineThe integrated all-in-one online marketing, business tool/platform.Designrr for eBooks, BlogsCreate eBooks, Blogs, Lead Magnets and more! Riverside.fm Your Own Virtual StudioProfessional Virtual StudioAltogether Domains, Hosting and MoreBringing your business online - domain names, web design, branded email, security, hosting and more.Digital Business CardsLet's speed up your follow up. Get a digital business card.Small Business Legal ServicesYour Small Business Legal Plan can help with any business legal matter.Get Quality Podcast Guests NowKeep your podcast schedule filled with quality guests from PodMatch.Mens and Womens HatsSince 1972, American Hat Makers has been dedicated to the art of fine hat making.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showWant to be a guest on Tech Diva Biz Talks? Send Audrey Wiggins a message on PodMatch, here: podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/audreywiggins To work with Audrey schedule a breakthrough/discovery session.
I'm CT… When I'm not busy being Arroe the podcaster, I live in the real world. Everybody has to have a job. Mine is C.S. Customer Service. Solutions, relationships while keeping my team motivated to keep a constant connection with each guest who's chosen to stop their day to visit our location. Episode 184 More management changes, saving the most money and show scrubs? What? This is C.T.C.S. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.
Handling Bad Reviews, Firing Clients, and Knowing Your Real Profit In this episode, Chris and Kevin break down real questions from our Facebook group, and this one hits home: How do you handle negative reviews without hurting your business? They share: ✅ How to respond to bad reviews with confidence and professionalism ✅ What private equity really looks at when you go to sell your business ✅ Why showing $0 profit after $100k/month might raise red flags ✅ How to identify (and fire) problem clients the right way ✅ Tips for students looking to break into blue collar industries ✅ How to ask better questions that get real answers. This is real talk from real operators who've been through it, from reviews to revenue, we're giving you the playbook. Check out https://bluecollarmillionaire.net Learn more about Board Room Elite and how to connect with our community.
If your client was riding in your car all day, would they see you as a dedicated professional, or just someone running errands? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Sharon Mills. Sharon is one of Northeast Florida's leading realtors. Sharon dives deep into her journey, highlighting how her early corporate experiences at General Motors shaped her into a meticulous professional dedicated to client service and relentless attention to detail. She shares invaluable lessons learned from transitioning through multiple industries—including owning an interior design firm—to becoming a top-producing luxury real estate agent. Throughout the conversation, Sharon emphasizes the importance of treating real estate like a true profession, investing deeply in self-education, and knowing your market inside and out. From setting clear boundaries with clients to maintaining consistent work ethics even during downturns, Sharon delivers actionable advice on building resilience and establishing yourself as a go-to realtor for life. Want to set yourself apart in the competitive world of real estate? Tune in, learn Sharon's proven strategies, and commit to investing in yourself. Subscribe to the Real Estate Excellence Podcast now and elevate your real estate career! Highlights: 00:00 - 14:20 Sharon Mills Early Career and Life Experiences Sharon's journey from Buffalo to Jacksonville Working at Liberty Mutual as a teenager Corporate growth at General Motors Importance of mentors and early responsibilities Transition from corporate America to entrepreneurship 14:21 - 28:50 Building a Real Estate Career Amid Challenges Entering real estate during the 2006 downturn Consistency and discipline during tough markets Learning short sales and foreclosures Rising to the top 1% of agents Reinventing yourself to stay relevant 28:51 - 43:15 Treating Real Estate as a Serious Profession Structuring your business day effectively Setting clear professional boundaries with clients Defining work hours and customer expectations Importance of business mindset and planning Creating worklife balance through scheduling 43:16 - 58:00 Importance of Continuous Learning and Preparation Educating yourself beyond basic real estate skills Understanding the nuances of luxury homes Attending seminars and training events nationwide Developing confidence through knowledge Building relationships through informed conversations 58:01 - 01:11:40 Establishing a Loyal Client Base Providing genuine value and consistent followup Understanding client needs and preferences Becoming the go-to real estate professional for life Maintaining integrity and honesty in transactions Using knowledge as the foundation of relationships 01:11:41 - 01:26:43 Advice for New and Growing Agents Developing market expertise early Managing downtime effectively Leveraging your network and community involvement Avoiding comparison and focusing on personal growth Committing to continuous selfimprovement and adaptability Quotes: "You have to have a passion for what you do and keep reinventing yourself." – Sharon Mills "Customer service isn't just customer service—it's people service." – Sharon Mills "The biggest mistake agents make is assuming success will just fall into their laps." – Sharon Mills "If you don't know your value, others will define it for you." – Sharon Mills To contact Sharon Mills, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website and Instagram. Connect with Sharon Mills! Website: http://sharonmills.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmills10/ Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best. #RealEstateExcellence #SharonMills #LuxuryRealEstate #RealEstateCareer #TopAgent #CustomerService #RealEstateAdvice #FloridaRealEstate #MillionDollarAgent #AgentTips #RealEstateSuccess #RealtorLife #RealEstatePodcast #JacksonvilleRealtor #RealEstateEducation #BusinessMindset #RealEstateAgent #HomeSellingTips #ContinuousLearning #PodcastEpisode
Kickstart your career in 2025 by joining a great team, building problem-solving skills, and gaining experience that opens doors across industries. Discover why starting in customer service could be your smartest career move yet.More information is available at https://www.ttecjobs.com/en/job/mcallen/customer-service-representative/44028/79803912000 TTEC City: Austin Address: 100 Congress Avenue Website: https://www.ttecjobs.com/en
Welcome to the cozy ASMR secondhand bookstore, where we focus on romance books. Today I'll provide you some dedicated customer service to help you find the perfect romance reads for you and some friends of yours. I'll take note of what you're looking for and then collect some books that I think you would be interested in. We'll go through each book and you can pick the ones you want to purchase. I hope you enjoy the soft-spoken chit chat, thocky creamy keyboard typing, gentle book tapping, page flipping, and personal attention. Happy reading!
Mastering the Art of Listening Summary In this episode of the Customer Service Revolution podcast, John DiJulius and Denise Thompson discuss the importance of listening in customer service and leadership. They explore recent trends in customer experience, the art of listening, and practical tips for improving listening skills. The conversation emphasizes curiosity, engagement, and the need for leaders to create an environment where everyone feels heard. They also touch on the concept of a 'reality distortion field' and how it can inspire teams to achieve the impossible. Takeaways Listening is a critical skill in customer service and leadership. Curiosity drives better conversations and deeper connections. Effective listening requires patience and the ability to let others finish their thoughts. Leaders should speak last to empower their teams and encourage open dialogue. Avoid multitasking during conversations to show respect and engagement. Asking probing questions enhances the quality of discussions. Listening like you're wrong can lead to better understanding and service recovery. Being a trampoline, not a sponge, fosters more engaging conversations. Everyone has a story that can provide valuable insights. Creating a reality distortion field can help teams achieve extraordinary results. Chapters 00:00Introduction to Customer Experience and DoorDash's New Policy 05:09The Art of Listening: Self-Assessment and Improvement 09:30Keys to Becoming a Great Listener 14:48The Difference Between Being a Sponge and a Trampoline 20:08Conversation Nevers and Always: Enhancing Listening Skills 22:15Understanding the Ford Concept 23:13The Impact of Call Waiting on Communication 24:41The Importance of Speaking Last in Meetings 29:22The Art of Listening and Its Challenges 38:06Living an Extraordinary Life through Curiosity Links Contacts: Lindsey@thedijuliusgroup.com , Claudia@thedijuliusgroup.com Customer Experience Executive Academy: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/project/cx-executive-academy/ Interview Questions: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/resources/ The DiJulius Group Methdology: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/x-commandment-methodology/ Experience Revolution Membership: https://thedijuliusgroup.com/membership/ Schedule a Complimentary Call with one of our advisors: tdg.click/claudia Books Subscribe We talk about topics like this each week; be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode.
While last week's post shared lament over the closing of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, we return to Disneyland's 70th Anniversary to celebrate the heritage of Frontierland. While you might think Frontierland is a thing of the past, knowing the past of this land will give you appreciation for the remarkable role it has played in four of Disney's theme parks around the world. We'll step inside the fort entrance to hear some stories many may have never heard before about the history of Frontierland. Did you know there was at one point a big Indiana Jones attraction developed for Frontierland. We share all the Wild West with you. From the Trading Post to the Golden Horseshoe; From The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Big Thunder Ranch, and from the Halloween Tree to a Petrified Tree, we bring you tall and true tales of Disneyland's Frontierland. ____________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic! And now as part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we have a new interactive Disney Insight Fact Discovery, which unlocks scores of fascinating details few know about. With text, images, video and audio, we explore these realms whether you are right on the streets of the "Happiest Place on Earth" or enjoying it virtually from your own couch at home. Join today! Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe. DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts. Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others. My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence. ________________________________________________________ Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation! David & Leah Zanolla ZanollaTravel.com Owner/Agents (309) 863-5469 ____________________________________________________________________ Performance Journeys This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level. Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench. Need Consulting? I've worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena. Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement. Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!
Deloitte AI360: A 360-degree view of AI topics in 360 seconds
Tim Cercelle is Deloitte's insurance sector AI lead and a 35-year veteran of the industry. On this episode, he joins Jim to talk about the biggest AI advancements in the field, from compliance evaluation to improving customer service in real-time during emergencies. Plus, why governance helps you move faster with AI.
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 23rd July 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: Sam Mullins, Trustee at SS Great Britainhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sammullins/https://www.ssgreatbritain.org/ Transcriptions: Paul Marden: What an amazing day out here. Welcome to Skip the Queue. The podcast for people working in and working with visitor attractions, I'm your host, Paul Marden, and today you join me for the last episode of the season here in a very sunny and very pleasant Bristol Dockyard. I'm here to visit the SS Great Britain and one of their trustees, Sam Mullins, who until recently, was the CEO of London Transport Museum. And I'm going to be talking to Sam about life after running a big, family friendly Museum in the centre of London, and what comes next, and I'm promising you it's not pipes and the slippers for Sam, he's been very busy with the SSGreat Britain and with other projects that we'll talk a little more about. But for now, I'm going to enjoy poodling across the harbour on boat number five awaiting arrival over at the SS Great Britain. Paul Marden: Is there much to catch in the water here?Sam Mullins: According to some research, there's about 36 different species of fish. They catch a lot of cream. They catch Roach, bullet, bass car. Big carpet there, maybe, yeah, huge carpet there. And then your European great eel is here as well, right? Yeah, massive things by the size of your leg, big heads. It's amazing. It goes to show how receipt your life is. The quality of the water is a lot better now. Paul Marden: Oh yeah, yeah, it's better than it used to be years ago. Thank you very much. All right. Cheers. Have a good day. See you later on. So without further ado, let's head inside. So where should we head? Too fast. Sam Mullins: So we start with the stern of the ship, which is the kind of classic entrance view, you know. Yeah, coming up, I do. I love the shape of this ship as you as you'll see.Paul Marden: So lovely being able to come across the water on the boat and then have this as you're welcome. It's quite a.Sam Mullins: It's a great spot. Isn't it?Paul Marden: Really impactful, isn't it? Sam Mullins: Because the amazing thing is that it's going this way, is actually in the dry dock, which was built to build it. Paul Marden: That's amazing. Sam Mullins: So it came home. It was clearly meant to be, you know,Paul Marden: Quite the circular story.Sam Mullins: Yeah, yeah. Thank you. Paul Marden: Thank you. Wow. Look at that view.Sam Mullins: So that's your classic view.Paul Marden: So she's in a dry dock, but there's a little bit of water in there, just to give us an idea of what's going on. Sam Mullins: Well, what's actually going on in here is, preserving the world's first iron ship. So it became clear, after he'd come back from the Falklands, 1970 came back to Bristol, it became clear that the material of the ship was rusting away. And if something wasn't done, there'd be nothing left, nothing left to show. So the innovative solution is based on a little bit of science if you can reduce the relative humidity of the air around the cast iron hull of the ship to around about 20% relative humidity, corrosion stops. Rusting stops. It's in a dry dock. You glaze over the dock at kind of water line, which, as you just noticed, it gives it a really nice setting. It looks like it's floating, yeah, it also it means that you can then control the air underneath. You dry it out, you dehumidify it. Big plant that dries out the air. You keep it at 20% and you keep the ship intact. Paul Marden: It's interesting, isn't it, because you go to Mary Rose, and you go into the ship Hall, and you've got this hermetically sealed environment that you can maintain all of these beautiful Tudor wooden pieces we're outside on a baking hot day. You don't have the benefit of a hermetically sealed building, do you to keep this? Sam Mullins: I guess the outside of the ship is kind of sealed by the paint. That stops the air getting to the bit to the bare metal. We can go down into the trigger, down whilst rise up.Paul Marden: We're wondering. Sam, yeah, why don't you introduce yourself, tell listeners a little bit about your background. How have we ended up having this conversation today.Sam Mullins: I'm Sam Mullins. I'm a historian. I decided early on that I wanted to be a historian that worked in museums and had an opportunity to kind of share my fascination with the past with museum visitors. So I worked in much Wenlock in Shropshire. I worked created a new museum in market Harbour, a community museum in Leicestershire. I was director of museums in St Albans, based on, you know, great Roman Museum at Verulamium, okay. And ended up at London Transport Museum in the 90s, and was directed there for a long time.Paul Marden: Indeed, indeed. Oh, we are inside now and heading underground.Sam Mullins: And you can hear the thrumming in the background. Is the dehumidification going on. Wow. So we're descending into thevery dry dock.Paul Marden: So we're now under water level. Yes, and the view of the ceiling with the glass roof, which above looked like a lovely little pond, it's just beautiful, isn't it?Sam Mullins: Yes, good. It sets it off both in both directions, really nicely.Paul Marden: So you've transitioned now, you've moved on from the Transport Museum. And I thought that today's episode, we could focus a little bit on what is, what's life like when you've moved on from being the director of a big, famous, influential, family friendly Museum. What comes next? Is it pipe and slippers, or are there lots of things to do? And I think it's the latter, isn't it? Sam Mullins: Yes. Well, you know, I think people retire either, you know, do nothing and play golf, or they build, you know, an interesting portfolio. I wanted to build, you know, something a bit more interesting. And, you know, Paul, there's that kind of strange feeling when you get to retire. And I was retiring from full time executive work, you kind of feel at that point that you've just cracked the job. And at that point, you know, someone gives you, you know, gives you a card and says, "Thank you very much, you've done a lovely job." Kind of, "Off you go." So having the opportunity to deploy some of that long term experience of running a successful Museum in Covent Garden for other organisations was part of that process of transition. I've been writing a book about which I'm sure we'll talk as well that's been kind of full on this year, but I was a trustee here for a number of years before I retired. I think it's really good career development for people to serve on a board to see what it's like, you know, the other side of the board. Paul Marden: I think we'll come back to that in a minute and talk a little bit about how the sausage is made. Yeah, we have to do some icebreaker questions, because I probably get you already. You're ready to start talking, but I'm gonna, I'm just gonna loosen you up a little bit, a couple of easy ones. You're sat in front of the telly, comedy or drama?Sam Mullins: It depends. Probably.Paul Marden: It's not a valid answer. Sam Mullins: Probably, probably drama.Paul Marden: Okay, if you need to talk to somebody, is it a phone call or is it a text message that you'll send?Sam Mullins: Face to face? Okay, much better. Okay, always better. Paul Marden: Well done. You didn't accept the premise of the question there, did you? Lastly, if you're going to enter a room, would you prefer to have a personal theme tune played every time you enter the room. Or would you like a personal mascot to arrive fully suited behind you in every location you go to?Sam Mullins: I don't know what the second one means, so I go for the first one.Paul Marden: You've not seen a football mascot on watching American football or baseball?Sam Mullins: No, I try and avoid that. I like real sport. I like watching cricket. Paul Marden: They don't do that in cricket. So we are at the business end of the hull of the ship, aren't we? We're next to the propeller. Sam Mullins: We're sitting under the stern. We can still see that lovely, gilded Stern, saying, Great Britain, Bristol, and the windows and the coat of arms across the stern of the ship. Now this, of course, was the biggest ship in the world when built. So not only was it the first, first iron ship of any scale, but it was also third bigger than anything in the Royal Navy at the time. Paul Marden: They talked about that, when we were on the warrior aim the other day, that it was Brunel that was leading the way on what the pinnacle of engineering was like. It was not the Royal Navy who was convinced that it was sail that needed to lead. Sam Mullins: Yeah, Brunel had seen a much smaller, propeller driven vessel tried out, which was being toured around the country. And so they were midway through kind of design of this, when they decided it wasn't going to be a paddle steamer, which its predecessor, the world's first ocean liner, the Great Western. A was a paddle steamer that took you to New York. He decided that, and he announced to the board that he was going to make a ship that was driven by a propeller, which was the first, and this is, this is actually a replica of his patent propeller design. Paul Marden: So, this propeller was, is not the original to the show, okay?Sam Mullins: Later in its career, it had the engines taken out, and it was just a sailing ship. It had a long and interesting career. And for the time it was going to New York and back, and the time it was going to Australia and back, carrying migrants. It was a hybrid, usually. So you use the sails when it was favourable when it wasn't much wind or the wind was against. You use the use the engines. Use the steam engine.Paul Marden: Coming back into fashion again now, isn't it? Sam Mullins: Yeah, hybrid, yeah.Paul Marden: I can see holes in the hull. Was this evident when it was still in the Falklands?Sam Mullins: Yeah, it came to notice in the 60s that, you know, this world's first it was beached at Sparrow Cove in the Falkland Islands. It had lost its use as a wool warehouse, which is which it had been for 30 or 40 years. And a number of maritime historians, you and call it. It was the kind of key one realised that this, you know, extraordinary, important piece of maritime heritage would maybe not last too many war winters at Sparrow cope had a big crack down one side of the hull. It would have probably broken in half, and that would have made any kind of conservation restoration pretty well impossible as it was. It was a pretty amazing trick to put it onto a to put a barge underneath, to raise it up out of the water, and to tow it into Montevideo and then across the Atlantic, you know, 7000 miles, or whatever it is, to Avon mouth. So it's a kind of heroic story from the kind of heroic age of industrial and maritime heritage, actually.Paul Marden: It resonates for me in terms of the Mary Rose in that you've got a small group of very committed people that are looking to rescue this really valuable asset. And they find it and, you know, catch it just in time. Sam Mullins: Absolutely. That was one of the kind of eye openers for me at Mary rose last week, was just to look at the kind of sheer difficulty of doing conventional archaeology underwater for years and years. You know, is it 50,000 dives were made? Some immense number. And similarly, here, you know, lots of people kind of simply forget it, you know, it's never gonna, but a few, stuck to it, you know, formed a group, fund, raised. This is an era, of course, you know, before lottery and all that jazz. When you had to, you had to fundraise from the public to do this, and they managed to raise the money to bring it home, which, of course, is only step one. You then got to conserve this enormous lump of metal so it comes home to the dry dock in which it had been built, and that has a sort of fantastic symmetry, you know about it, which I just love. You know, the dock happened to be vacant, you know, in 1970 when the ship was taken off the pontoon at Avon mouth, just down the river and was towed up the curving Avon river to this dock. It came beneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which, of course, was Brunel design, but it was never built in his time. So these amazing pictures of this Hulk, in effect, coming up the river, towed by tugs and brought into the dock here with 1000s of people you know, surrounding cheering on the sidelines, and a bit like Mary Rose in a big coverage on the BBC.Paul Marden: This is the thing. So I have a very vivid memory of the Mary Rose being lifted, and that yellow of the scaffolding is just permanently etched in my brain about sitting on the carpet in primary school when the TV was rolled out, and it was the only TV in the whole of school that, to me is it's modern history happening. I'm a Somerset boy. I've been coming to Bristol all my life. I wasn't alive when Great Britain came back here. So to me, this feels like ancient history. It's always been in Bristol, because I have no memory of it returning home. It was always just a fixture. So when we were talking the other day and you mentioned it was brought back in the 70s, didn't realise that. Didn't realise that at all. Should we move on? Because I am listening. Gently in the warmth.Sam Mullins: Let's move around this side of the as you can see, the dry dock is not entirely dry, no, but nearly.Paul Marden: So, you're trustee here at SS Great Britain. What does that mean? What do you do?Sam Mullins: Well, the board, Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of the charity. We employ the executives, the paid team here. We work with them to develop the kind of strategy, financial plan, to deliver that strategy, and we kind of hold them as executives to account, to deliver on that.Paul Marden: It's been a period of change for you, hasn't it? Just recently, you've got a new CEO coming to the first anniversary, or just past his first anniversary. It's been in place a little while.Sam Mullins: So in the last two years, we've had a, we've recruited a new chairman, new chief executive, pretty much a whole new leadership team.One more starting next month, right? Actually, we're in July this month, so, yeah, it's been, you know, organisations are like that. They can be very, you know, static for some time, and then suddenly a kind of big turnover. And people, you know, people move.Paul Marden: So we're walking through what is a curved part of the dry dock now. So this is becoming interesting underfoot, isn't it?Sam Mullins: This is built in 1839 by the Great Western Steamship Company to build a sister ship to the Great Western which was their first vessel built for the Atlantic run to New York. As it happens, they were going to build a similar size vessel, but Brunel had other ideas, always pushing the edges one way or another as an engineer.Paul Marden: The keel is wood. Is it all wood? Or is this some sort of?Sam Mullins: No, this is just like, it's sort of sacrificial.So that you know when, if it does run up against ground or whatever, you don't actually damage the iron keel.Paul Marden: Right. Okay, so there's lots happening for the museum and the trust. You've just had a big injection of cash, haven't you, to do some interesting things. So there was a press release a couple of weeks ago, about a million pound of investment. Did you go and find that down the back of the sofa? How do you generate that kind of investment in the charity?Sam Mullins: Unusually, I think that trust that's put the bulk of that money and came came to us. I think they were looking to do something to mark their kind of, I think to mark their wind up. And so that was quite fortuitous, because, as you know at the moment, you know, fundraising is is difficult. It's tough. Paul Marden: That's the understatement of the year, isn't it?Sam Mullins: And with a new team here and the New World post COVID, less, less visitors, income harder to gain from. Pretty well, you know, all sources, it's important to keep the site kind of fresh and interesting. You know, the ship has been here since 1970 it's become, it's part of Bristol. Wherever you go in Bristol, Brunel is, you know, kind of the brand, and yet many Bristolians think they've seen all this, and don't need, you know, don't need to come back again. So keeping the site fresh, keeping the ideas moving on, are really important. So we've got the dockyard museum just on the top there, and that's the object for fundraising at the moment, and that will open in July next year as an account of the building of the ship and its importance. Paul Marden: Indeed, that's interesting. Related to that, we know that trusts, trusts and grants income really tough to get. Everybody's fighting for a diminishing pot income from Ace or from government sources is also tough to find. At the moment, we're living off of budgets that haven't changed for 10 years, if we're lucky. Yeah, for many people, finding a commercial route is the answer for their museum. And that was something that you did quite successfully, wasn't it, at the Transport Museum was to bring commercial ideas without sacrificing the integrity of the museum. Yeah. How do you do that?Sam Mullins: Well, the business of being an independent Museum, I mean, LTM is a to all sets of purposes, an independent Museum. Yes, 81% of its funding itself is self generated. Paul Marden: Is it really? Yeah, yeah. I know. I would have thought the grant that you would get from London Transport might have been bigger than that. Sam Mullins: The grant used to be much bigger proportion, but it's got smaller and smaller. That's quite deliberate. Are, you know, the more you can stand on your own two feet, the more you can actually decide which direction you're going to take those feet in. Yeah. So there's this whole raft of museums, which, you know, across the UK, which are independently governed, who get all but nothing from central government. They might do a lottery grant. Yes, once in a while, they might get some NPO funding from Ace, but it's a tiny part, you know, of the whole. And this ship, SS Great Britain is a classic, you know, example of that. So what do you do in those circumstances? You look at your assets and you you try and monetise them. That's what we did at London Transport Museum. So the museum moved to Covent Garden in 1980 because it was a far sighted move. Michael Robbins, who was on the board at the time, recognised that they should take the museum from Scion Park, which is right on the west edge, into town where people were going to be, rather than trying to drag people out to the edge of London. So we've got that fantastic location, in effect, a high street shop. So retail works really well, you know, at Covent Garden.Paul Marden: Yeah, I know. I'm a sucker for a bit of moquette design.Sam Mullins: We all love it, which is just great. So the museum developed, you know, a lot of expertise in creating products and merchandising it. We've looked at the relationship with Transport for London, and we monetised that by looking at TFL supply chain and encouraging that supply chain to support the museum. So it is possible to get the TFL commissioner to stand up at a corporate members evening and say, you know, you all do terribly well out of our contract, we'd like you to support the museum as well, please. So the corporate membership scheme at Transport Museum is bigger than any other UK museum by value, really, 60, 65 members,. So that was, you know, that that was important, another way of looking at your assets, you know, what you've got. Sometimes you're talking about monetising relationships. Sometimes it's about, you know, stuff, assets, yeah. And then in we began to run a bit short of money in the kind of middle of the teens, and we did an experimental opening of the Aldwych disused tube station on the strand, and we're amazed at the demand for tickets.Paul Marden: Really, it was that much of a surprise for you. And we all can talk. Sam Mullins: We had been doing, we've been doing some guided tours there in a sort of, slightly in a one off kind of way, for some time. And we started to kind of think, well, look, maybe should we carry on it? Paul Marden: You've got the audience that's interested.Sam Mullins: And we've got the access through TFL which, you know, took a lot of work to to convince them we weren't going to, you know, take loads of people underground and lose them or that they jump out, you know, on the Piccadilly line in the middle of the service, or something. So hidden London is the kind of another really nice way where the museum's looked at its kind of assets and it's monetised. And I don't know what this I don't know what this year is, but I think there are now tours run at 10 different sites at different times. It's worth about half a million clear to them to the museum.Paul Marden: It's amazing, and they're such brilliant events. So they've now opened up for younger kids to go. So I took my daughter and one of her friends, and they were a little bit scared when the lights got turned off at one point, but we had a whale of a time going and learning about the history of the tube, the history of the tube during the war. It was such an interesting, accessible way to get to get them interested in stuff. It was brilliant.Sam Mullins: No, it's a great programme, and it was doing well before COVID, we went into lockdown, and within three weeks, Chris Nix and the team had started to do kind of zoom virtual tours. We all are stuck at home looking at our screens and those hidden London hangouts the audience kind of gradually built yesterday TV followed with secrets of London Underground, which did four series of. Hidden London book has sold 25,000 copies in hardback, another one to come out next year, maybe.Paul Marden: And all of this is in service of the museum. So it's almost as if you're opening the museum up to the whole of London, aren't you, and making all of that space you're you. Museum where you can do things.Sam Mullins: Yeah. And, of course, the great thing about hidden London programme is it's a bit like a theatre production. We would get access to a particular site for a month or six weeks. You'd sell the tickets, you know, like mad for that venue. And then the run came to an end, and you have to, you know, the caravan moves on, and we go to, you know, go to go to a different stations. So in a sense, often it's quite hard to get people to go to an attraction unless they've got visitors staying or whatever. But actually, if there's a time limit, you just kind of have to do it, you know.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Everybody loves a little bit of scarcity, don't they? Sam Mullins: Should we go up on the deck? Paul Marden: That sounds like fun to me.Sam Mullins: Work our way through.Paul Marden: So Hidden London was one of the angles in order to make the museum more commercially sound. What are you taking from your time at LTM and bringing to the party here at the SS Great Britain?Sam Mullins: Well, asking similar, you know, range of questions really, about what assets do we have? Which of those are, can be, can be monetised in support of the charity? Got here, Paul, so we're, we've got the same mix as lots of middle sized museums here. There's a it's a shop, paid admission, hospitality events in the evening, cafe. You know that mix, what museums then need to do is kind of go, you know, go beyond that, really, and look at their estate or their intellectual property, or the kind of experiences they can offer, and work out whether some of that is monetisable.Paul Marden: Right? And you mentioned before that Brunel is kind of, he's the mascot of Bristol. Almost, everything in Bristol focuses on Brunel. Is there an opportunity for you to collaborate with other Brunel themed sites, the bridge or?Sam Mullins: Yeah. Well, I think probably the opportunity is to collaborate with other Bristol attractions. Because Bristol needs to. Bristol's having a hard time since COVID numbers here are nowhere near what they were pre COVID So, and I think it's the same in the city, across the city. So Andrew chief executive, is talking to other people in the city about how we can share programs, share marketing, that kind of approach.Paul Marden: Making the docks a destination, you know, you've got We the Curious. Where I was this morning, having coffee with a friend and having a mooch around. Yeah, talking about science and technology, there must be things that you can cross over. This was this war. This feels like history, but it wasn't when it was built, was it? It was absolutely the cutting edge of science and technology.Sam Mullins: Absolutely, and well, almost beyond, you know, he was Brunel was pushing, pushing what could be done. It is the biggest ship. And it's hard to think of it now, because, you know, you and I can walk from one end to the other in no time. But it was the biggest ship in the world by, you know, some way, when it was launched in 1845 so this was a bit like the Great Western Railway. It was cutting edge, cutting edge at the time, as we were talking about below. It had a propeller, radical stuff. It's got the bell, too,Paul Marden: When we were on, was it Warrior that we were on last week at the AIM conference for the first. And warrior had a propeller, but it was capable of being lifted, because the Admiralty wasn't convinced that this new fangled propeller nonsense, and they thought sail was going to lead. Sam Mullins: Yeah. Well, this ship had, you could lift a you could lift a propeller, because otherwise the propeller is a drag in the water if it's not turning over. So in its earlier configurations, it was a, it was that sort of a hybrid, where you could lift the propeller out the way, right, set full sail.Paul Marden: Right, and, yeah, it's just, it's very pleasant out here today, isn't it? Lovely breeze compared to what it's been like the last few days. Sam Mullins: Deck has just been replaced over the winter. Paul Marden: Oh, has it really. So say, have you got the original underneathSam Mullins: The original was little long, long gone. So what we have replaced was the deck that was put on in the in the 70s when the ship came back.Paul Marden: Right? You were talking earlier on about the cafe being one of the assets. You've done quite a lot of work recently, haven't you with the team at Elior to refurbish the cafe? What's the plan around that?Sam Mullins: Yeah, we're doing a big reinvestment. You always need to keep the offer fresh anyway, but it was time to reinvest. So the idea is to use that fantastic space on the edge of the dock. It's not very far down to where the floating harbour is really well populated with kind of restaurants and bars and an offer, we're just that 200 meters further along the dock. So perhaps to create an offer here that draws people up here, whether they visit the ship, you know, or not. So it's money, it's monetising your assets. So one of the great assets is this fabulous location on the on the dockside. So with early or we're reinvesting in the restaurant, it's going to go in the auto into after some trial openings and things, Paul, you know, it's going to have an evening offer as well as a daytime offer. And then it's been designed so the lights can go down in the evening. It becomes, you know, an evening place, rather than the museum's all day cafe, yes, and the offer, and obviously in the evenings would similarly change. And I think our ambition is that you should, you should choose this as the place to go out in the evening. Really, it's a great spot. It's a lovely, warm evening. We're going to walk along the dockside. I've booked a table and in the boardwalk, which is what we're calling it. And as you pay the bill, you notice that actually, this is associated with Asus, Great Britain. So, you know, the profit from tonight goes to help the charity, rather than it's the museum cafe. So that's the,Paul Marden: That's the pitch.Sam Mullins: That's the pitch in which we're working with our catering partners, Eli, or to deliver.Paul Marden: Andrew, your CEO and Claire from Eli, or have both kindly said that I can come back in a couple of months time and have a conversation about the restaurant. And I think it would be rude to turn them down, wouldn't it?Sam Mullins: I think you should test the menu really fully.Paul Marden: I will do my best. It's a tough job that I have. Sam Mullins: Somebody has to do this work. Paul Marden: I know, talking of tough jobs, the other thing that I saw when I was looking at the website earlier on was a press release talking about six o'clock gin as being a a partnership that you're investigating, because every museum needs its own tipple, doesn't it?Sam Mullins: Absolutely And what, you know, I think it's, I think what people want when they go to an attraction is they, they also want something of the offer to be locally sourced, completely, six o'clock gym, you know, Bristol, Bristol beers. You can't always do it, but I think, I think it's where you've got the opportunity. And Bristol's a bit of a foodie centre. There's quite a lot going on here in that respect. So, yes, of course, the museum ought to be ought to be doing that too.Paul Marden: I was very kindly invited to Big Pit over in the Welsh Valleys about 8 or 12 weeks ago for the launch, relaunch of their gift shop offering. And absolutely, at the core of what they were trying to do was because it's run by Museums Wales, they found that all of their gift shops were just a bland average of what you could get at any of the museums. None of them spoke of the individual place. So if you went to big pit, the gift shop looked the same as if you were in the centre of Cardiff, whereas now when you go you see things that are naturally of Big Pit and the surrounding areas. And I think that's so important to create a gift shop which has things that is affordable to everybody, but at the same time authentic and genuinely interesting.Sam Mullins: Yeah, I'm sure that's right. And you know I'm saying for you is for me, when I when I go somewhere, you want to come away with something, don't you? Yes, you know, you're a National Trust member and you haven't had to pay anything to get in. But you think I should be supporting the cause, you know, I want to go into that shop and then I want to, I want to buy some of the plants for my garden I just seen, you know, on the estate outside. Or I want to come away with a six o'clock gin or, you know, whatever it might be, there's and I think, I think you're more likely to buy if it's something that you know has engaged you, it's part of that story that's engaged you, right, while you're here. That's why everyone buys a guidebook and reads it afterwards.Paul Marden: Yeah, it's a reminder, isn't it, the enjoyable time that you've had? Yeah, I'm enjoying myself up on the top deck. Sam Mullins: But should we go downstairs? The bow is a great view. Oh, let's do that. I think we might. Let's just work our way down through.Paul Marden: Take a sniff. Could you travel with these smelly passengers? Oh, no, I don't think I want to smell what it's like to be a cow on board shit. Sam Mullins: Fresh milk. Just mind yourself on these companion, ways are very steep now. This is probably where I get completely lost.Paul Marden: You know what we need? We need a very good volunteer. Don't we tell a volunteer story? COVID in the kitchen. Wow. Sam Mullins: The Gabby.Paul Marden: Generous use of scent. Sam Mullins: Yeah, food laid out pretty much based on what we know was consumed on the ship. One of the great things about the ship is people kept diaries. A lot of people kept diaries, and many have survived, right? You know exactly what it was like to be in first class or in steerage down the back.Paul Marden: And so what was the ship used for? Sam Mullins: Well, it was used, it was going to be an ocean liner right from here to New York, and it was more like the Concord of its day. It was essentially first class and second class. And then it has a founders on a bay in Northern Ireland. It's rescued, fitted out again, and then the opportunity comes take people to Australia. The Gold Rush in the 1850s. Migration to Australia becomes the big kind of business opportunity for the ships. Ships new owners. So there's more people on board that used to it applies to and fro to Australia a number of times 30 odd, 40 times. And it takes, takes passengers. It takes goods. It does bring back, brings back gold from because people were there for the gold rush. They were bringing their earnings, you know, back with them. It also brings mail, and, you know, other. Kind of car goes wool was a big cargo from. Paul Marden: Say, people down and assets back up again.Sam Mullins: People both directions. Paul Marden: Okay, yeah. How long was it taking?Sam Mullins: Well, a good trip. I think it did it in 50 odd days. Bit slower was 60 odd. And the food was like this. So it was steerage. It was probably a bit more basic. Paul Marden: Yeah, yes, I can imagine. Sam Mullins: I think we might. Here's the engines. Let's do the engines well.Paul Marden: Yes. So now we're in the engine room and, oh, it's daylight lit, actually. So you're not down in the darkest of depths, but the propeller shaft and all of the mechanism is it runs full length, full height of the ship.Sam Mullins: Yeah, it runs off from here, back to the propeller that we're looking at. Okay, down there a guy's stoking the boilers, putting coal into into the boilers, 24 hour seven, when the engines are running. Paul Marden: Yes, that's going to be a tough job, isn't it? Yeah, coal is stored in particular locations. Because that was something I learned from warrior, was the importance of making sure that you had the coal taken in the correct places, so that you didn't unbalance the ship. I mean,Sam Mullins: You right. I mean loading the ship generally had to be done really carefully so, you know, sort of balanced out and so forth. Coal is tends to be pretty low down for yes, for obvious reasons.Paul Marden: So let's talk a little bit about being a trustee. We're both trustees of charities. I was talking to somebody last week who been in the sector for a number of years, mid career, interested in becoming a trustee as a career development opportunity. What's the point of being a trustee? What's the point of the trustees to the CEO, and what's the benefit to the trustees themselves? Sam Mullins: Well, let's do that in order for someone in the mid part of their career, presumably looking to assume some kind of leadership role. At some point they're going to be dealing with a board, aren't they? Yes, they might even be doing, you know, occasional reporting to a board at that at their current role, but they certainly will be if they want to be chief executive. So getting some experience on the other side of the table to feel what it's like to be a trustee dealing with chief executive. I think he's immensely useful. I always recommended it to to my gang at the Transport Museum, and they've all been on boards of one sort or another as part of their career development.Sam Mullins: For the chief executive. What's the benefit? Well, the board, I mean, very directly, hold the chief executive to account. Yes, are you doing what we asked you to do? But also the wise chief executive recruits a board that's going to be helpful in some way or another. It's not just there to catch them out. Yeah, it's it's there to bring their experience from business, from IT, from marketing, from other museums into the business of running the place. So here we've got a range of Trustees. We've been we've recruited five or six in the last couple of years qquite deliberately to we know that a diverse board is a good board, and that's diverse in the sense not just a background, but of education, retired, still, still at work, young, old, male, female, you know, you name in.Paul Marden: In all of the directionsSam Mullins: Yeah. So a diverse board makes better decisions than one that just does group think all the time. It's, you know, it's a truism, isn't it? I think we all kind of, we all understand and understand that now and then, for the trustee, you know, for me, I particularly last couple of years, when the organization has been through huge changes, it's been really interesting to deploy my prior experience, particularly in governance, because governance is what it all comes down to in an organisation. You do learn over the course of your career to deploy that on behalf, you know, this is a great organisation, the story of Brunel and the ship and and, you know, his influence on the railways. And I travel down on the Great Western railways, yeah, the influence of Brunel is, you know, is enormous. It's a fantastic story. It's inspiring. So who wouldn't want to join? You know what in 2005 was the Museum of the year? Yes, I think we'll just go back there where we came. Otherwise, I never found my way.Paul Marden: Back through the kitchen. Sam Mullins: Back through the kitchen. It looks like stew is on the menu tonight. You've seen me at the mobile the rat.Paul Marden: And also the cat up on the shelf. He's not paying a lot of attention to the ratSam Mullins: Back on deck. Paul Marden: Wonderful. Yeah. So the other great endeavor that you've embarked on is writing, writing a book. Tell us a little bit about the book.Sam Mullins: Yeah, I've written a history of transport in London and its influence on London since 2000 since the mayoralty, elected mayoralty was, was started, you know, I was very lucky when I was running the museum where I had kind of one foot in TfL and one foot out. I knew lots of people. I was there for a long time, yes, so it was, it was easy to interview about 70 of them.Paul Marden: Right? I guess you've built trust levels, haven't you? Yeah, I don't mean that you don't look like a journalist walking in from the outside with an ax to grind. Sam Mullins: And I'm not going to kind of screw them to the Evening Standard, you know, tomorrow. So it's a book based on interviews, oral reminiscences. It's very much their story. So it's big chunks of their accounts of, you know, the big events in London. So what was it like to be in the network control room on the seventh of July, 2005 when the bombs went off? What was it like to be looking out for congestion charge the day it started? Yep. What was it like to kind of manage the Olympics?Paul Marden: You know? So you're mentioning these things. And so I was 10 years at British Airways. I was an IT project manager, but as well, I was a member of the emergency planning team. Yeah. So I got involved in the response to September the 11th. I got involved in some of the engagement around seven, seven, there's seminal moments, and I can, I can vividly remember myself being there at that time. But similarly, I can remember being there when we won the Olympics, and we were all sat in the staff canteen waiting to hear whether we'd won the Olympics, and the roar that erupted. There's so many of those things that have happened in the last 25 years where, you know, you've got, it's recent history, but it's real interesting events that have occurred that you can tell stories of.Sam Mullins: Yeah. So what I wanted to get in the book was a kind of sense of what it was like to be, really at the heart of those, those stories. And there are, you know, there are, there are people in TfL who made those big things happen? Yes, it's not a big, clumsy bureaucracy. It's a place where really innovative leadership was being exercised all the way through that 25 years. Yes, so it runs up to COVID, and what was it like when COVID struck? So the book's called Every Journey Matters, and it comes out in November.Paul Marden: Amazing, amazing. So we have, we've left the insides of the ship, and we are now under, what's this part of the ship? Sam Mullins: We're under the bow. There we go, and a bow spread that gets above our heads. So again, you've got this great, hulking, cast iron, black hull, beautifully shaped at the bow. Look the way it kind of tapers in and it tapers in and out.Paul Marden: It's a very three dimensional, isn't it? The curve is, is in every direction. Sam Mullins: Yeah,it's a great, great shape. So it's my sort of, I think it's my favourite spot. I like coming to look at this, because this is the kind of, this is the business, yeah, of the ship.Paul Marden: What have we got running along the front here? These these images in in gold.Sam Mullins: This is a figurehead with Victoria's Coat of Arms only sua Kim Ali points on top with it, with a lion and a unicorn.Paul Marden: It's a really, it's not a view that many people would have ever seen, but it is such an impressive view here looking up, yeah, very, very cool. And to stand here on the on the edge of the dry dock. Sam Mullins: Dry Docks in to our right, and the floating harbor is out to our left. Yeah.Paul Marden: And much going on on that it's busy today, isn't it? Sam Mullins: Yeah, it's good. Paul Marden: So we've done full loop, haven't we? I mean, it has been a whistle stop tour that you've taken me on, but I've loved every moment of this. We always ask our guests a difficult question. Well, for some it's a difficult question, a book recommendation, which, as we agreed over lunch, cannot be your own book. I don't think, I think it's a little unfair Sam Mullins: Or anything I've ever written before.Paul Marden: Yes, slightly self serving, but yeah.Sam Mullins: It would be, wouldn't it look the first thing that comes to mind is, I've actually been reading my way through Mick Herron's Slow Horses series, okay, which I'm a big fan of detective fiction. I love Ian Rankin's Rebus. Okay, I read through Rebus endlessly when I want something just to escape into the sloughhouse series Slow Horses is really good, and the books all have a sort of similar kind of momentum to them. Something weird happens in the first few chapters, which seems very inconsequential and. Suddenly it turns into this kind of roller coaster. Will they? Won't they? You know, ending, which is just great. So I recommend Mick Herron's series. That's that's been the best, not best, fiction I've read in a long time.Paul Marden: You know, I think there's something, there's something nice, something comforting, about reading a series of books where the way the book is structured is very similar. You can, you can sit down and you know what's going to happen, but, but there's something interesting, and it's, it's easy. Sam Mullins: It's like putting on a pair of old slippers. Oh, I'm comfortable with this. Just lead me along. You know, that's what, that's what I want. I enjoy that immensely.Paul Marden: And should we be? Should we be inviting our listeners to the first book in the series, or do they need to start once, once he's got his, got his, found his way? Sam Mullins: Well, some people would have seen the television adaptation already. Well, that will have spoilt the book for them. Gary Oldman is Jackson lamb, who's the lead character, okay, but if you haven't, or you just like a damn good read, then you start with the first one, which I think is called Sloughhouse. They're all self contained, but you can work your way through them. Paul Marden: Well, that sounds very good. So listeners, if you'd like a copy of Sam's book, not Sam's book, Sam's book recommendation, then head over to Bluesky and repost the show notice and say, I want a copy of Sam's book, and the first one of you lovely listeners that does that will get a copy sent to you by Wenalyn. Sam This has been delightful. I hope listeners have enjoyed this as much as I have. This is our first time having a @skipthequeue in real life, where we wandered around the attraction itself and hopefully narrated our way bringing this amazing attraction to life. I've really enjoyed it. I can now say that as a West Country lad, I have actually been to the SS Great Britain. Last thing to say for visitor, for listeners, we are currently midway through the Rubber Cheese Annual Survey of visitor attraction websites. Paul Marden: If you look after an attraction website and you'd like to share some information about what you do, we are gathering all of that data together to produce a report that helps people to understand what good looks like for an attraction website. This is our fourth year. Listeners that are interested, head over to RubberCheese.com/survey, and you can find out a little bit more about the survey and some of the some of the findings from the past and what we're looking for for this year. Sam, thank you so very much.Sam Mullins: Enjoyed it too. It's always good to rabbit on about what you do every day of the week, and being here and part of this really great organisation is huge privilege.Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode of the Real Estate Pros Podcast, host Mike Stansbury interviews Chris Lengquist, a seasoned real estate professional from Kansas City. Chris shares his journey from being a struggling entrepreneur to becoming a successful real estate agent and educator. He discusses the importance of customer service in real estate, the challenges faced by tenants today, and the need for a strong partnership between property managers and investors. Chris also emphasizes the value of mentoring and the impact of technology on the industry. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
00:51 Customer Training for Coffee Roasters03:44 The Role of Trainers in Coffee Businesses07:45 Monetizing Training Programs11:37 Engaging Different Learning Styles14:39 Training Centers vs. On-Site Training18:36 Monetizing Training and Communicating Value22:29 The Importance of Standards in Training26:00 Alternative Brewing Methods in Restaurants29:31 Consultative Selling in Coffee Training32:41 Communication Styles in Training37:02 Standardization vs. Individual Expression43:49 The Value of Industry Standards52:43 Conclusion: The Importance of Training in Coffee Visit and Explore Covoya! TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY
When you're ‘not quite ready’ to raise prices, hire more team members, up that advertising spend… What’s the hidden toll? In today's episode, Stacey unpacks The Subtle Signs You’re Playing Small in your Business (and Don’t Even Know It). Sometimes shrinking back doesn’t look like fear—it looks like being “busy”, over-preparing, or endlessly tweaking. Such as: Avoiding awards, speaking gigs or collaborations because “others are more qualified” Saying yes to work that’s not aligned because you’re afraid to say no Delaying launching because “it’s not perfect yet” This is part 2 of a 3 part series, stay tuned to next week's episode to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Are your customers truly delighted, or are company silos preventing your understanding their unspoken desires? How can you transition from providing adequate service to delivering exceptional, memorable experiences through effective design? Stacy Sherman and featured guest Katie Webb, Head of Transformation and Innovation at Aflac, share strategies to help you understand customer needs, the power of experience design, and ways to foster cross-team collaboration. Discover how everyone in your company can play a role in enhancing customer interactions and driving business success. Learn more at Access our FREE Customer Experience Audit Tool: Grow as a CX Professional with our numerous Book time with Stacy .