there is something about meditation

Got up at 7:15 a.m. today to attend a kundalini yoga meditation on the self. Since I had only gone to bed a few hours before it was essential that before I walked Clinton that I get my morning cup of coffee. I realize that coffee and meditation may not appear to go together however I thought it wiser to be awake and participating than snoring and checked out in for the morning’s events. So important to me was this group meditation that I blew off the sold-out Blogher10 Conference at the NY Hilton here in New York to do this meditation.

(Did I hear a collective groan from those women who wanted to attend and could not? I apologize and realized too late that I was not going to make it there.

Perhaps you will forgive me as you read this posting.

The class was led by my spiritual teacher and friend, Sarabjot who is also known as Arlene.

Want to be loved by your customers? Do this.

What if you could easily and effortlessly get referrals from your customers, wouldn’t that be great?

Sometimes all it takes is considering how YOU would like to be treated as a customer.

Here are some Do’s that might have them jumping for JOY.

Happy customers = More business — Love your Business

DO be someone who builds relationships before results. Be a person your customers ENJOY.

DO CALL your customers to check in with how you are doing. Ask your customers if they have any ideas or suggestions that would help you to serve them better.

DO offer continuous service or product improvements.

DO remember to THANK your customers for their business. A HANDWRITTEN note on a nice card via regular mail will WOW your customers.

DO keep your customers in the loop if there are problems with your product or service. (Think: Steve Jobs handling the iPhone 4.0 situation)

DO teach your customers how to get the most from your product or service.

DO something totally unexpected that adds value to your customer just because.

DO give clients special services or a for-clients-only club with special offers.

DO follow-up, ask for feedback.

DO remember client birthdays.

DO stay ahead of the pack. Look for ways to innovate and offer something nobody else does. Be a leader.

DO love your customers and they will love you back.

Want to be more effective when working at home?

I don’t know about you but as an on again, off again blogger I find it very difficult to sit down and just write.

It’s not for lack of ideas rather for lack of a disciplined schedule. That would work for me. Of course if your life is hectic and full of challenges, you might laugh and say.

“Disciplined schedule is she kidding? I can hardly make time to eat!”

Yes you can. Make the time. Pick a tip from the list below.

Then put the idea into action and notice any changes.

Pick another and keep going.

Their design is meant to keep you moving forward.

1. Set a deadline. Give yourself a reward or give someone else a reward, depending on outcome. Using a timer like from your iPhone or an egg timer can help, a lot.

Miss it: Put a $5.00 bill in a jar to donate to charity. Make it: Take the $5.00 and and save up for that massage you long for.

2. Work with a buddy, friend, colleague, coach. Check in at start, check in 30 second call> stay on task, and check in at finish to see how you both did.

3. Do only what you love to do or you won’t do it. Focus is easier if you love what you do.

Delegate or dump anything that keeps you stuck in the land of excuses.

4. Develop a routine. What is your working style? I like early mornings to write ideas in my journal.

5. Train family members to respect your working time. Or lock the door or go to library or Starbucks.

6. LOVE your work environment. This is a biggie. Mine was a mess. The walls were pink with big blue blobs. And overflowing with who knows what.

Now it’s the color of Pismo Beach dunes and my dog Clinton can be on the deck with me. Here he is testing a rug for me.

7. Set yourself up with your beverages, snacks, tissues. All the necessities you will need to get down to business and not have to keep jumping up, which is an avoidance tactic.

8.Define your daily goals. Break big tasks into little actions. Define what you want to accomplish. Baby steps can be very meaningful. Make it so.

9. Start your day with a smile. Keep it in your heart.Take a walk. Meditate for 3 minutes. Stretch. Have a delicious cup of coffee, english breakfast tea or hot water with lemon.

10. At the end of the day write down 10 things you were glad you did today. Could even be you got the laundry put away. Just make sure ONE of them advances your goals for being more effective in your business.