First Word

One of the most important focuses any business should be customer service. Never undervalue or under-rate customer service. Focus on superior customer service and reap the rewards, which are repeat business, referrals, and essentially more business. And when it comes to customer service, here are some suggested policies and ideas you should adopt: Consistent, on-time and on deadline -- if you promise to do something you honor it. You deliver whatever it is you said you were going to deliver. If it's a project and you say you're going to get it done by a certain time, honor it and make it happen. If it's a meeting and you say you're going to be there, you show up. It doesn't matter what it is, be consistent, be on-time and meet the deadline. 24-hour response time -- at 3L Publishing it's our standard policy to always respond to a client with 24 hours. We might not always be able to take the phone call on the spot, but we will do our best to ensure we call ...

I drink one cup of coffee a day, period and that's it. My Italian author and friend Michael Perrotta, who just released Under the Sycamores (fantastic book and highly recommended) encourages me not to drink coffee at all. He says and I quote, "It's bad for you," in this thick and wonderful Italian accent. Yes, Michael it probably is ... but if I only have one vice and that's coffee then oh well. I am up in Northern California combining play time with work and networking. I decided to return to where 3L Publishing has the strongest base to focus on business development. You know I personally moved about six months ago, but 3L is headquartered here in Sacramento. Our storage facilities are here, and my wizard of an operations manager runs everything from here. I really don't see myself in the long term in LA (too many people), but I am not sure when I'll return up here on a permanent basis. I am going to be flying back and forth more often in the coming mon...

I've read some business owners who have complaints about owning the business. I see absolutely no downside to it not when you compare the downside to corporate. When I listen to friends bemoan their corporate situations, I am constantly reminded why I have no interest in working for someone else. So why do I love owning the business? My corporate attire consists of either a purple or blue bathrobe that I switch out of into comfortable clothes around, say, noon . I tossed out every suit in my closet years ago. I actually donated them to Goodwill to help other women dress for success. Yes, my good, ole bathrobe. No wedgies. No nylons (ack, does anyone wear nylons anymore?). No dry cleaning bills. Love it. I don't commute, and therefore I don't pollute . My commute looks like this: roll out of bed and stumble into office chair. No fear of greenhouse emissions here. I have a very low carbon footprint. I sleep in right up until my day gets under way. Yes, I am responsible ...

Merry Christmas to my First Word blog followers. You are a rapidly growing crowd. I thank you, appreciate and value your support!  Michelle