Soft Skills Pluralsight Review Thoughts by Steven McEvoy

Soft Skills Pluralsight Review Thoughts by Steven McEvoy Steven McEvoy is a senior systems analyst and DevOps professional in Canada.  Earlier this year he wrote a really cool blog post (Jason Alba Pluralsight, JibberJobber, Author and more) just about my courses here are some of my favorite parts: Okay, that title is pretty cool.  I work in a home office (with a distributed team, of course) and sometimes its easy to feel alone and not remember some of the things Ive accomplished. Just seeing those three major accomplishments is pretty cool.  For job seekers: when you feel lonely, alone, or unaccomplished, start listing (aka brainstorming) ANY accomplishment youve ever had. EVER. Big, small, everything. This could be a running list that will grow.  You might be surprised at all the cool things youve ever done, but have forgotten. Need a pickmeup?  That is it! I am very impressed with Jasons presenting style. He is engaging, entertaining and honest. His courses are great.  Heres a bit of the backstory: When I sat down to do my first Pluralsight course I was quite lost.  I was just finishing a run of speaking for a few years in person. Probably hundreds of presentations on a stage, and I dont know how many dozens of webinars. From a stage I feed off of the audiences energy. The first laugh I get is all I need to keep going.  In a webinar, I get way less feedback, but I do monitor the chat window, and sometimes there are others who are talking.  I had trained my presentations skills to be optimized for a live audience.  But doing a recording course? WAY different. In my live course I like to have very few words on a slide.  In a record course, I dont have eye contact, I cant gauge engagement, and one word slides, I think, werent going to work.  Anyway, this is too long to say: it took me a while to find and hone my style.  And Im rea lly grateful that its appreciated. For job seekers: sometimes (many times?) we just have to get out of our comfort zone, whether we want to or not. He teaches on a wide range of skills and competencies that will help you grow, but not just in your abilities at work these skills can transfer to all areas of your life. Yes.  my hope is that your soft/people skills will improve and you will have richer relationships, at work, and outside of work. Imagine improving ourselves so we are better in all of our relationships, not just the ones at work. For job seekers: you can tell an employer the obvious (that you are good at your job) but can you illustrate the benefits they will get from your job well-done? I will warn you once you start learning with Jason or Pluralsight you wont want to stop you might become hooked That is pretty nice to say  For job seekers: What are you doing, or what can you do, to have employers and network contacts hooked on you? I recently submitted the proposal for my 30th Pluralsight course.  30 is a lot I dont know how many authors have that many courses.  Im glad to offer a 30 day pass to JibberJobber users, where they can watch all of my courses (or any of the almost 5,000 courses) at no cost.  After 30 days, a monthly subscription is a low $29.  Bonus:  Every time yoiu watch a Jason Alba course, report back and well upgrade you on JibberJobber for  a few days. There is no limit to this bonus. Learn how here. Soft Skills Pluralsight Review Thoughts by Steven McEvoy Steven McEvoy is a senior systems analyst and DevOps professional in Canada.  Earlier this year he wrote a really cool blog post (Jason Alba Pluralsight, JibberJobber, Author and more) just about my courses here are some of my favorite parts: Okay, that title is pretty cool.  I work in a home office (with a distributed team, of course) and sometimes its easy to feel alone and not remember some of the things Ive accomplished. Just seeing those three major accomplishments is pretty cool.  For job seekers: when you feel lonely, alone, or unaccomplished, start listing (aka brainstorming) ANY accomplishment youve ever had. EVER. Big, small, everything. This could be a running list that will grow.  You might be surprised at all the cool things youve ever done, but have forgotten. Need a pickmeup?  That is it! I am very impressed with Jasons presenting style. He is engaging, entertaining and honest. His courses are great.  Heres a bit of the backstory: When I sat down to do my first Pluralsight course I was quite lost.  I was just finishing a run of speaking for a few years in person. Probably hundreds of presentations on a stage, and I dont know how many dozens of webinars. From a stage I feed off of the audiences energy. The first laugh I get is all I need to keep going.  In a webinar, I get way less feedback, but I do monitor the chat window, and sometimes there are others who are talking.  I had trained my presentations skills to be optimized for a live audience.  But doing a recording course? WAY different. In my live course I like to have very few words on a slide.  In a record course, I dont have eye contact, I cant gauge engagement, and one word slides, I think, werent going to work.  Anyway, this is too long to say: it took me a while to find and hone my style.  And Im rea lly grateful that its appreciated. For job seekers: sometimes (many times?) we just have to get out of our comfort zone, whether we want to or not. He teaches on a wide range of skills and competencies that will help you grow, but not just in your abilities at work these skills can transfer to all areas of your life. Yes.  my hope is that your soft/people skills will improve and you will have richer relationships, at work, and outside of work. Imagine improving ourselves so we are better in all of our relationships, not just the ones at work. For job seekers: you can tell an employer the obvious (that you are good at your job) but can you illustrate the benefits they will get from your job well-done? I will warn you once you start learning with Jason or Pluralsight you wont want to stop you might become hooked That is pretty nice to say  For job seekers: What are you doing, or what can you do, to have employers and network contacts hooked on you? I recently submitted the proposal for my 30th Pluralsight course.  30 is a lot I dont know how many authors have that many courses.  Im glad to offer a 30 day pass to JibberJobber users, where they can watch all of my courses (or any of the almost 5,000 courses) at no cost.  After 30 days, a monthly subscription is a low $29.  Bonus:  Every time yoiu watch a Jason Alba course, report back and well upgrade you on JibberJobber for  a few days. There is no limit to this bonus. Learn how here.

How to Use a Sales Associate Resume Sample

How to Use a Sales Associate Resume SampleWith today's busy and hectic lifestyles, and the multitude of tasks that surround us in a day, it is important to have a sales associate resume sample that suits your needs. Many businesses do not have the time or resources to create their own sales associate resume. Because of this, they choose to use sales associate resume samples, which are a perfect option if you want to have the sales representative resume sample that you need to land that job interview or take your next promotion.The first thing that you should know when searching for a sales associate resume sample is that there are hundreds of these available on the internet. Some companies may provide you with more than one resume while others may offer only one. You can choose the one that best fits your needs and, therefore, your resume.First impressions matter when applying for a sales associate resume. As such, you need to make sure that you are selecting a sample that will be ea sy to read, will highlight the items that you need highlighted, and will be appealing to the potential employer. To ensure that your resume is attractive, you want to look for high quality sales associate resume sample that have good color images, clean text, and concise, yet engaging, content.The next step in creating a sales associate resume sample is to begin by choosing an online site that offers such materials. There are many online sites that sell these types of materials and they include employment agencies, the major selling organizations (MOS), and other business agencies that provide these types of materials. Since these are non-governmental organizations, you will likely need to pay a fee to download your resume from the site. Before deciding on the site to download your resume from, you should research the company's reputation before making your final decision.Once you have selected a resume, you should begin looking at the samples provided. These samples should be easy to read, have good colors, and are free of grammatical and spelling errors. If your application asks for a salary or educational background, be sure that the resumes have them. When searching for a sales associate resume sample, be sure to make sure that the samples you are using are applicable to your job profile.After you have completed your search for a sales associate resume sample, you should review each resume thoroughly. For example, make sure that the resume includes a job description that is current and is also current for the location where the prospective employer resides. When creating a sales associate resume sample, be sure that it reflects the general makeup of the company. Be sure that the descriptions are concise, clear, and concise. Look at the samples for information on specific skills that are required for the job, as well as basic tips and tricks that can help your resume stand out from the rest.Next, go through each resume and make sure that the information pro vided is current and includes the specific requirements. Since a company that uses a sales associate resume sample may not always have the ability to develop the resume, it is possible that some of the information may not be up to date or accurate. Make sure that your sales associate resume sample includes all of the information that is necessary, and that your potential employer will be able to read your resume in less than five minutes.If you do your research and find that the sales associate resume sample is something that you may not be able to create, it is important to note that there are plenty of companies that offer this type of service. Just as with applying for jobs, your employer may be able to provide you with a resume writing service that can create a sales associate resume sample on the spot. As a bonus, most resume writing services offer a variety of custom solutions that will be useful to you when you are in the position of needing a sales associate resume sample.

Why Were You Fired - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Were You Fired - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Some of the most successful people in business were fired from a previous job. Vivian Giang does a nice rundown of the rich and once fired. Mark Cuban, Madonna, Michael Bloomberg, JK Rowling, and Walt Disney are just a sampling. So, if you’ve been “let go” for unsatisfactory performance: you’re in very good company. Unfortunately, when a recruiter or hiring manager asks you this question â€" it’s not to congratulate you on joining the ranks of these business stars. It’s to uncover an issue that might affect your performance in this new position. That’s the key issue: what did you do that might predict your future performance? If it’s something like stealing, lying, or perpetrating a verbal or physical attack on a colleague: Ricky Ricardo would say, “you’ve got a lot of ‘splaining to do, Lucy.” But, it’s not impossible to get a job, even after such antisocial behavior, especially if you’ve paid the price. Perhaps you served time in jail, did community service or otherwise made restitution. Penitence alone won’t be enough to clear the slate. You’ll need to prove that you’ve learned a great lesson, made major changes in your thinking and behavior, and remain accountable to someone who may be monitoring, mentoring or otherwise helping you stay on the straight and narrow. Daniel is a client of mine who threatened his boss with a gun, after an argument about an investor. In fact, Daniel didn’t have the gun at work, but he did have a gun at home. The threat was vague: “You know, I have a gun at home,” Daniel said. That was enough more than enough. Daniel was fired. While he didn’t go to jail, Daniel had to deal with a lawsuit. And, his reputation was severely damaged. It was a terrible time in his life, but it gave way to a much-needed personal reckoning. Daniel went into extensive therapy, both one-on-one with a therapist and additionally in group therapy that lasted several years. Among the best outcomes was Daniel changing careers, to one with much less interpersonal stress. He removed himself from managing people. He went to work in horticulture. Being in nature, nurturing plants and slowing the pace of his life are the keys to his successful self-reinvention. He remains in a weekly support group, and he mentors people struggling with the issues he overcame. Showing that level of self-knowledge, taking responsibility for his actions and sustaining his commitment to change got him his next job, a great one where he has responsibility for managing property. He actually looked forward to the “why were you fired,” question from the recruiter when he interviewed for the position. He didn’t just admit what happened: he was eager to share the turning point in his life. Note: I’ve changed the client’s name and a few details to protect his privacy. If you’ve been fired for any reason, recruiters are seeking to understand what happened, and the reasons for your action. They are equally interested in how the termination changed you: what did you do to remedy your thinking and behavior? How do you manage yourself today, that’s remarkably different than the way you were at the time you were fired? As a career and business coach, I’ve heard just about every difficult situation human beings can find themselves in. And, I have been part of helping clients make simple changes and achieving near miraculous redemption, as these good people got themselves back on the road to success at work and life. If you have been fired, you may need some help getting back on track, or simply with an accurate and uplifting way to tell your story. You can email me: Nance@NanceRosen.com. Subject line: Help.

Thank You Letter Templates for Your Job Search

Thank You Letter Templates for Your Job Search Every job seeker has to consider what to write a hiring manager or employer after a job interview to simply say, “Thank you”. Of course, knowing what to write and how to say it can be a bit awkward. So, today we give you five “Thank you” letter templates for your job search. See which one works for you.1. “Detailed and Personalized”This letter is a bit longer but what makes it great is that it shows that you really listened, paid attention, and remembered very well what happened in the interview. Also, you will show how the interview did more to boost your confidence that the job is a perfect fit.Subject Line: [Position Name] â€" Thank You, [Recipient Name]Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],I sincerely enjoyed meeting with you yesterday and learning more about the [Position] at [Employer].Our conversation confirmed my interest in becoming part of [Employer's] staff. I was particularly pleased at the prospect of being able to develop my own article ideas with the head of the bureau and develop my multi-media skills.I feel confident that my experiences both in the workplace and in the classroom would enable me to fill the job requirements effectively.Please feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any further information. I look forward eagerly to hearing from you, and thank you again for the courtesy you extended to me.Sincerely,[Your Name]Credit to:TheBalance.com2. “No Fluff, Strictly Business Detailed”Not every person is skilled at writing with the usage of adverbs that imply an emotional enthusiasm, as you see with #1. If you like to express interest without the fluff and keep it strictly business, this one is for you.Subject Line: [Position Name] â€" Thank You, [Recipient Name]Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:I enjoyed speaking with you today about the assistant account executive position at the Smith Agency.The job seems to be an excellent match for my skills and interests. The creative approach to account management that you described confirmed my des ire to work with you.In addition to my enthusiasm, I will bring to the position strong writing skills, assertiveness, and the ability to encourage others to work cooperatively with the department.I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you regarding this position.Sincerely,Your NameEmail AddressAddressPhone Number[LinkedIn URL][Website URL]3. “Fluffy Time-Saving”If you are aware that many people hate reading long emails or you are just the type to say a quick, sincere “Thank you” that has a sense of heart and confidence to it, you will like this thank you letter. You can see by its length that it does not spend much time on details and expresses interest in speaking again:Subject Line: [Position Name] â€" Thank You, [Recipient Name]Hi [Interviewer Name],Thank you so much for meeting with me today. It was such a pleasure to learn more about the team and position, and I’m very excited about the opportunity to join [company name] and help [bring in new clients/develop world-class content/anything else awesome you would be doing] with your team.I look forward to hearing from you about the next steps in the hiring process, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can provide additional information.Best regards,[Your Name]Credit to:Themuse.com4. “I Remember You”This is a great “Thank you” email for those looking to work with customers or community. Every person who has managed customers or community knows, “People love to be remembered for what they like and think”. When you feel like someone “knows you”, you feel a connection with a person. This letter goes the extra mile to show that you are thoughtfuland possessinterpersonal skills. It may seem a little less “business” for some, but all letters serve different purposes.Subject Line: [Position Name] â€" Thank You, [Recipient Name]Dear Lorelai,I wanted to thank you for taking the time to meet with me on Wednesday. I am very excited about the opportunity to work at the Dragonfly Inn!I was thinking about what Michel said regarding customer feedback on your social media channels. In my last role as Guest Relations Manager, I found that personally responding to comments on social media resulted in an overall increase in repeat customers. I hope that helps.I also wanted to say that you were right about the coffee at Luke's. I stopped by on my way home. Delicious!Please feel free to contact me if you find you need any more information. I look forward to our call next week as discussed. Thank you once again, Lorelai.Best regards,Ted ZeroCredit to: Uptowork.com5. “I’ve Got a Plan”A great way to show your interest in a thank you email is to let them know you have some plans on your mind if they hire you. You can say this thank you letter is an ambitious way of giving a company a teaser of what to expect from you. You know you will bring value but you want to be hired before you sta rt sharing all your secret plans!Subject Line: [Position Name] â€" Thank You, [Recipient Name]Hi [interviewer name],Thank you so much for meeting with me today. After learning more about the position, I’m very excited about the opportunity to join your team and help [create world-class marketing campaigns, inspire prospective clients, increase revenue, etc.] for [company name].Our discussion about (A, B and C) gave me an idea. Has your team considered trying [X, Y and Z]? I found it to be super effective in my last job.I feel like my past experience [creating mobile apps, working on catchy advertising taglines, bringing in new forms of revenue, etc.) would be great fit for your company.Please keep me posted on the status of the hiring process. I look forward to speaking with you soon.Warm regards,[your name]Credit to:ZipRecruiter.comThree Important Formatting NotesThe subject line for each thank you letter must help the email reader figure out the job you are discussing and your n ame. The greeting should either be formal or informal based onthe person you met and the company. Did they strike you as “business” (formal) or “casual” (informal)? There must be contact info to connect on LinkedIn or to contact you via phone. This is great to add for building your network, so they can find you, and for getting your information out there!

How to Write a Professional Resume

How to Write a Professional ResumeWriting a resume can be difficult because the objective of these documents is to sell yourself to a potential employer. The first page of your resume should be an opportunity for the reader to know about you and what you are looking for in a job. Since writing a resume is one of the most critical parts of a job search, it is vital that you learn how to write professional resumes.Your first goal in writing a professional resume is to put your best foot forward. Always make sure to make yourself as professional and impressive as possible. The name of your company and your title are two factors that you must keep in mind when creating a professional resume.When writing a resume, be sure to identify yourself as a member of the company. If you are an employee of the company, or if you work in a subsidiary of the company, put your name first in the company section. It is never appropriate to put the name of the business as the first part of your resume. Th is will only create confusion among the hiring managers and cause them to cut your applications short.Your main job when writing a resume is to have a strong foundation. Your resume should focus on your accomplishments and skills. You should highlight your strengths and use your strengths to justify why you are the best candidate for the position you are applying for. Provide the employer with a strong motivation and passion for the job you are applying for.Employers want to hire people who are creative, outgoing, and versatile. The most important skill to show when writing a resume is that you have great communication skills. You should be able to summarize what you have to offer in an interview in just a few words. This is an important skill because most employers will read your resume only once and they are looking for someone who can quickly and succinctly answer their questions. You must be able to convey your qualifications ina concise manner.Before writing your resume, make s ure to interview past and current employees, colleagues, and other associates that you have had the opportunity to speak with. They will be able to give you insights into how you do your job and how you would do yours. Since you want to portray yourself as the best candidate possible, you should take their opinions seriously.Write your resume so that it highlights the skills and attributes that you have for a specific position and the company you are interested in. Always remember that a professional resume focuses on the strengths of your abilities as a person rather than your weaknesses. Keep the focus on the specific job you are applying for. While this sounds simple, some job seekers forget to include the specific job they are seeking in their resume.Ask former and current employees and referrals for their feedback and input. These people will be able to give you honest feedback on what your strengths and weaknesses are and how you can improve your job skills. By gathering this information, you will be able to formulate a strong resume and present yourself professionally. Also, make sure to update your resume every time you change jobs, get promoted, or acquire new skills.

Which Came First, Your Brand or Your Reputation

Which Came First, Your Brand or Your Reputation You are familiar with these age-old questions, which came first, the chicken or the egg and if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?     Therefore, I ask the question, where does your brand come from? I am not talking about some cute or clever phrase.   I am talking about your genuine, authentic, unique brand.   Has it been there all along   and you just didnt know it? Have you asked your friends and trusted connections what they believe your talents are?   Are there re-occurring patterns? Hmmm, perhaps this is the beginning of your brand. Do you have a value proposition? How does that align with your brand? Have you asked yourself what makes you unique?   Have you tested that in the market place?   Is it as unique as you think? Is your brand on track?   Does it fit where you are headed next? When you present yourself, is the message consistent, clear, and constant? Your brand and your reputation belong to you.   You own them and are accountable for managing them, now and forever more.   The future of work demands this of you.

8 Clever Ways To Boost Your Profits

8 Clever Ways To Boost Your Profits If you thought being an entrepreneur would help you sleep better at night, think again. As an entrepreneur, business leader, small business owner or anything else that falls within this bell curve, your mind constantly whizzes and whirs. It spins like a top twenty-four hours a day, probably three-hundred and sixty days a year. It’s part of the game you’ve entered. It’s how you’re able to be on the lookout for new ideas and new opportunities to grow your business and boost your profits. But what if the solution to this cash-hungry mindset was staring you in the face and you just hadn’t spotted it yet? That’s right. What you might not have realized while you were thinking outside the box is that you can create a sort of mini-business inside your current business to really ramp up your profits. To prove this to you, we’ve pulled together a list of profit-enhancing moves you can make that don’t require you to invest any extra cash into your operation. We’ll repeat that: these actions don’t require any further investment on your part. Cool, huh? So, without further ado, here they are: Raise Your Markups We’re not going to stand here and claim this is some sort of revolutionary and innovative idea because it has long been used by businesses that need to boost their profits. Nonetheless, raising the markups on your products is a great way to boost your revenue almost instantaneously. It’s this idea of buying your products at the lowest price out there and selling them high a business model that has made so many success stories possible. The trick is finding that balance between increased profits and maintaining the steady flow of consumers that come through your door, whether online or in real life. Master this and you might well have found an untapped profit-well for your to enjoy. Collect Consultancy Fees When we find that something were good at that something we have a natural knack or passion for it is only natural to strive for excellence in it and become the expert in that field. By practicing this expertise you are able to forge a career or even a business. That said, don’t just limit yourself to practicing it. Instead, become a consultant and collect a fee for teaching others how to do what you do. That could mean you become a traveling consultant that flies around helping companies, it could mean hosting a weekly seminar or monthly webinar, or just performing speeches all about your forte. There are no extra costs for adding this weapon to your arsenal and yet you could start reaping in additional profits, while simultaneously cementing yourself as the thought leader in your area. The tricky thing to wrap your head around will be knowing what you should be charging. As such, have a look around, check what other consultants in your field are collecting and then base your pri cing strategy on what you see. For example, if you are more experienced, then you can try charging more. Find The Hidden Cash There could be very little point in boosting your workload in search of additional profits if you already have plenty of cash hidden in your business that you never knew about. We know this sounds crazy because, chances are, there are no hidden briefcases in your walls or an unlocked safe beneath a trap door hidden by carefully laid carpets. But that’s not what we are talking about. We’re talking about freeing up the equity that is tied up in your equipment. According to EquifyLLC.com, who specialize in asset-based lending and thus know how to help businesses use this equity and establish a healthy footing, a lot of businesses have millions and millions of equity tied up in this way. How you use this money is up to you. It could be to pay off debts, renovate your office space, boost your marketing or just to make you more cash-rich either way, this little-tapped trick can drastically improve your lot. Referrals Are Everything To attract new customers and clients to your business, you invariably have to spend money, which is why you need to refocus your attention on your existing customer base. Generating revenue from these people people that already know, like and trust your business is always going to be a far more cost-effective strategy to embrace. There are no two ways about it. The trick is making sure you supply a superior product or service, and an experience that will live long in their minds. Do this and they will want to do business with you in the future. They will also be far more likely to send referrals your way. Of course, you don’t have to sit back with your fingers crossed and hope this will happen. Oh no. Instead, what we recommend is you set up a referrals program. It could be a discount on their next order, free services, free products or anything else that will encourage your current customers to refer you to new ones. Trust us, referrals are by far the best ways to exponentially grow your business year over year. Pick Up A New Skill Another amazingly untapped approach when it comes to boosting profits is learning a new skill, or even just adding extra knowledge to what you have. You might have a blogging a service, in which case why not do an evening course on copywriting and expand into everything from white papers to Facebook Ads like those behind Copper Milk Creative. If you are already pretty efficient when it comes to computers and IT, why not learn some new skills like application virtualization, which can be done online in case you were wondering. Of course, it doesn’t need to be a new skill in that sense. You might just find your voice and start practicing as a public speaker, which could help your move into consultancy. There are so many ways you can improve on who you are and what you offer; it is just a matter of knowing how to. Share Your Clients Everyone dreams of having a calendar that looks full for the next four months. It’s that glorious notion of knowing you are slammed for work and have built your business to a point whereby you have an unmanageable abundance of clients. However, there is a problem with this nice to have and that’s turning down work or, worse yet, clients. That’s not what anyone wants to do. So, instead of doing this, why not find a way to partner up with another business and share your clients in exchange for a cut of the profits they make. Perhaps you build and market websites, and charge a $3500 fee to do so. Well, if you are too busy to take on another project at this moment in time, why not pay another website developer and marketer $2500 to do the project for you and keep $1000 for yourself. That’s a grand for doing nothing but passing on a project. Of course, in order to make this work for you, it’s imperative you find a partner that’s great at what they do, otherwise, you will sacri fice your own quality and reputation and you don’t want to do that. Add A New Profit Line When you are succeeding in the world of business, it is so important you do all you can to ride the crest in order to keep the profits rolling in, and one of the best ways of doing this is to add a new product to your business or a new service. By doing this, you will be able to create an entirely new profit center. If you are in the cosmetics game, that might mean bring out a new range of special soaps or, if you are in the shoe-making industry, a new line of shoes. But it doesn’t have to be such a linear line. Just look at Extra Space Storage. As a means of attracting more people to their self-storage facilities, they have added electric-car charging stations. Not only is this a great idea because it’s the way the future is heading, it promotes them as a more environmentally friendly business. Very clever. Whatever you decide on, make sure it is in line with your current operation in some way or another. Acquire Customers Creative Way Okay, so customer acquisition can be quite expensive, but it does yield a business income and that makes it an attractive proposition. “By acquiring customers more creativelyand more efficientlyyou can reduce your acquisition costs and therefore improve your ROI (return on investment)”. What this will do is help you benefit from a previously unexploited profit center. After all, enhancing your advertising and marketing is one of the most important things you can do for improved customer gain and retention. Like we said at the start: (most of) these actions don’t require any further investment on your part.