Cool Consortium

Norman Steisel, who served New York City as Sanitation Commissioner and as Deputy Mayor has the reputation as one of the first professional managers to bring modern management techniques to city government.

In recent years, Norman Steisel has been working in the private sector; presently he is an executive with the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

However, it was the hardscrabble world of city government that Norman Steisel made his reputation, as a tough be fair manager who always got results.

For some excellent background on the career of Norman Steisel in NYC government see the article by Deirdre Carmody in the February 9 issue of the New York Times.

In this article Deirde Carmody provides several dramatic examples of Norman Steisel’s effective management methods.

This quote, from a researcher at Columbia Business School was contained in the article:

“Here was a department (Sanitation) that was operating with 19th century methods-it really hadn’t changed the way it operated in decades and decades, both in its daily procedures in the field and in its bureaucratic procedures in headquarters,” said John Kaiser, a senior research associate at the Columbia University Business School. Mr. Kaiser wrote the chapter in the Sanitation Department for “Setting Municipal Priorities in 1986,” the annual analysis on the New York City government by two professors, Charles Brecher and Raymond D. Horton.”

Mr. Kaiser pointed out that when Norman Steisel came to the Sanitation Department it had high absenteeism, and a high injury rate.

Under Norman Steisel’s leadership the Sanitation Department was rejuvenated and reorganized.

When Norman Steisel was appointed commissioner, he brought with him training as a chemical engineer and systems analyst as well respect for modern management practices. He took an innovative approach to his job and one of the first things he did was to send some of his subordinates to Harvard Business School, an extremely unusual and controversial decision.

Better management, under Commissioner Norman Steisel, paid off big for the city. Productivity and morale soared and NYC saved millions of dollars.

1. Sell more back end products to your existing
customer base. You already created rapport, trust
and proved your credibility to them.

2. Make it a practice to up sell to new and existing
customers. After they decide to buy one product,
offer them another product.

3. Cross promote your products and services with
other businesses that aren’t competition. You will
reach a wider audience at less cost.

4. Create joint venture deals with other businesses.
You can expand your product line and target other
profitable markets at a lower cost.

5. Start an affiliate program for your business. You
will be able to spend less profits on risk advertising
and spend more money on guaranteed sales.

6. Trade advertising with other businesses to save
revenue. You could trade e-zine ads, banners ads,
links, print ads, etc.

7. Out source part of your workload. This can save
on employee costs, equipment costs, taxation costs,
expansion costs, etc.

8. Add low cost bonuses to your offer that have a
high perceived value. It could be ebooks, members
only sites, consulting, e-reports, etc.

9. Use viral marketing to promote your business on
the internet. Give away free stuff with your ad copy
include on it so others can give it away.

10. Follow up with all your prospects. You can use
a free e-zine, a follow-up autoresponder, an update
or reminder list, etc.

About the author:

Rojo Sunsen is a specialized bounty hunter who prefers to work quietly/confidentially for the benefit of her clients.

For those who love cars and are also in need of starting their own businesses to fulfill their destiny, often they will consider low-cost businesses to start. But what kind of business should they consider, as there are so many choices?

Well let us look at two-options; a mobile car wash and a mobile oil change business. Recently a “car guy” type asked this question online. Here are some thoughts. I think for the low-level of upfront investment the mobile car washing and detailing can be a good business, if done correctly. Although if you look at Jiffy Lube in the 90’s their average ticket price was nearly $160 per car and the average car was in and out in under 30 minutes. Kind of hard to beat that, but there is a lot of over head and thus the comparison may not necessarily be relevant to a mobile car wash and/or auto detailing business.

Also consider the rock bottom mobile car wash business model entrant; a Hispanic Mobile Auto Detailer with $1500 total investment in a trailer, water tank and pressure washer, generator and some towels? You see where I am coming from? These businesses are all cash, with little or no upfront costs and extremely low overhead. Perhaps you have considered such a business in your future. If so, remember what I have said here and consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Positive Affirmations are things we say to ourselves that build us up and make us strong. They empower us to take chances and to be our best. Thoughts run through our mind thousands of times a day and are often negative. Making positive affirmations a daily practice gives you a powerful tool to strengthen your inner foundation and follow your bliss.

1. Get over feeling funny. Doing something new takes practice and because it is unfamiliar it might feel funny at first. Get over it. So often, it doesn’t feel funny to talk negatively to ourselves, but praise feels awkward. Just do it and don’t worry if it feels funny. In time, you will feel less and less awkward.

2. Begin your affirmation with “I.” The more you personalize what you say the more it will hit home and stick.

3. Put your affirmation in the present tense. Keeping the statement in the present will give it more power. Avoid can, will, could or should in your statements.

4. Make it short and sweet. Make the affirmation meaningful to you. If affirmations are too long, you may find it cumbersome or difficult to say on a regular basis. Longer affirmations work well during meditative moments.

5. Practice. Teaching our inner voice to speak well to us takes some practice. For most people it is an under developed muscle. Practice and your affirming voice will become stronger.

6. Clear vision. Hold a clear vision of what is possible for you in your life. Picture yourself absorbing the positive affirmations as they become a part of you.

7. Write it down. Writing down the positive affirmations helps your mind remember the new statements.

8. Repeat them often. Repetition facilitates learning. The more often you say positive affirmations the more they become a part of you.

9. Make them fun. Enjoy yourself with them. Laugh and hold out a sense of lightness.

10. Remember to be gentle. Remember that the more you nourish and cherish yourself the better able you are to live a life you love. Be patient and loving as you learn something new.