Worksheet. What it takes to be a businessman. Check yourself!

Under each question, check the answer that says what you feel or comes closest to it. Be honest with yourself- you're the one who benefits from your brutally candid honesty:

➢ Are you a self-starter?

* I do things on my own; nobody has to tell me to get going.

* If someone gets me started, I keep going all right.

* Easy does it. I don't put myself out until I have to.

➢ How do you feel about other people?


* I like people. I can get along with just about anybody.
* I have plenty of friends--don't need anyone else.

* Most people irritate me.

➢ Can you lead others?

* I can get most people to go along when I start something.

* I can give the orders if someone tells me what we should do.

* I let someone else get things moving. Then I go along if I feel like it.

➢ Can you take responsibility?

* I like to take charge of things and see them through.

* I'll take over if I have to, but I'd rather let someone else be
responsible.

* There's always some eager beaver around wanting to show how smart he is. I say let him.

➢ How good an organizer are you?

* I like to have a plan before I start. I'm usually the one to get things lined up when the group wants to do something.

* I get all set and then something comes along and presents too many problems. So I just take things as they come.

* I do all right unless things get too confused. Then I quit.

➢ How good a worker are you?

* I can keep going as long as I need to. I don't mind making sacrifices and working hard for something I want.

* I'll work hard for a while, but when I've had enough, that's it.

* I can't see that hard work gets you anywhere.

➢ Can you make decisions?

* I can make up my mind in a hurry if I have to. It usually turns out O.K., too.

* I can if I have plenty of time. If I have to make up my mind fast, I think later I should have decided the other way.

* I don't like to be the one who has to decide things.

➢ Can people trust what you say?

* You bet they can. I don't say things I don't mean.

* I try to be on the level most of the time, but sometimes I just say what's easiest.

* Why bother if the other person doesn't know the difference?

➢ Can you stick with it?

* If I make up my mind to do something, I don't let anything stop me.

* I usually finish what I start--if it goes well.

* If it doesn't go right away, I quit. Why beat your brains out?

➢ How good is your health?

* I never run down!

* I have enough energy for most things I want to do.

* I run out of energy sooner than most of my friends seem to.


Count the Checks You Made-
How many checks are there beside the first answer to each question?

How many checks are there beside the second answer to each question?

How many checks are there beside the third answer to each question?

If most of your checks are beside the first answers, you probably have what it takes to run a business. If not, you're likely to
have more trouble than you can handle by yourself.

Better find a partner who is strong on the points you're weak on.

If many checks are beside the third answer, not even a good partner will be able to shore you up.

The Importance of Overdelivering

As an online merchant, your customers cannot see your face. They cannot hear your voice when you are recommending your products, and they cannot see the emotions on your face when you are telling your customers what benefits they can derive out of your products.

The Internet is a level playing field for every Internet marketer and merchant out there. The sheer connectivity means that you can reach every individual in the world. You are not limited by geographic constraints and anyone can be your customer or client.

This is precisely why you should overdeliver. When every competitor of yours has access to everyone in the market, your only way of winning the battle is to overdeliver, again and again. When you overdeliver, you present yourself as a person with the customer’s interest at heart. You become a trusted friend and not a greed-driven marketer out looking for their money. Overdelivering is simply your only way to differentiate yourself from your competitors.

You can start overdelivering by providing superb support for your customers. How many times have you been turned away with rude answers when asking about a certain product you purchased? Compare that with the number of times you have been provided very good service, as if you're being helped by a personal friend. The ratio is just off balance, proving how scarce good customer support is. By providing excellent support to your customers and answering to their every needs patiently, you will gain customers that are fiercely loyal to you because they know you have their best interest at heart.

When you provide excellent customer support, you're already ahead of most of your competitors. Take it a step further and think: in what other ways can you over deliver to your customers?

One very good way is to give your customers a pleasant surprise when they make a purchase from you. For example, if a customer buys your cooking utensils, you might throw in a bonus recipe book for them. However, do not use the bonus as an incentive for the customer to buy your products. Your products must be good enough to make the customer buy it in the first place, and the bonus must serve as a surprise element; you must not announce it in the product catalogue.

The final way is to build a long-lasting relationship with your customers. If a customer buys regularly from you, you should send greeting cards during birthdays and on every holiday, be it Christmas, New Year, Easter, even Chinese New Year! Your customer will again remember you as a friend, not a business associate, and will favour you above other merchants because of the warm relationship.

So, remember to start overdelivering today!

Success or Failure? The Strategy Paradox