There’s one thing that we can all agree on is that the world moves incredible fast and if you blink, you’ll miss it. As the northern hemisphere moves into the summer season so does the heat and the anticipation to re-engage in the great outdoors and resume some semblance of normalcy. So where does this leave our business community?

As in life there are always winners and losers and those in between. The aftermath of this pandemic highlights this truism to the greatest extent, but human nature always finds a way even in defeat. We learn from our circumstances and our mistakes. As we found and always knew that diversification and market saturation was and is the key to survival along with my favorite, theme creativity.
So how do we move forward? Depends on the businesses that we are in and anticipated pent up demand as well as new and more efficient ways of conducting business. We now know and to some degree have gotten use to virtual meetings out of necessity, some technology impaired may disagree; however, we have been shown the future with mixed reviews.

Many professional businesses are reevaluating the need for large office space as well as the hustle and bustle not to mention the drive to work or not. But human interaction is a must and is needed at a basic level for survival and communication as well as efficiency in moving projects forward. So, hybrid models of smaller office spaces and flexible at work schedules will be more in vogue moving forward.
Retail stores particularly boutique stores will continue to be challenging; however, the ones that provide excellent customers service and are creative on their pricing models will continue to grow and, in some cases, thrive. Ordering off a website may be convenient but most of us still like to see the product before we purchase it, as long as the item is reasonably priced.

Manufacturing will continue to grow especially in light of bringing more products back to the U.S. with a cavoite, that the products are of high quality and technically advanced. Many parts of the world that were low cost suppliers are quickly becoming on par with the United States in price or should I say various States that are mindful of being business friendly (a completely new topic for a newsletter). The challenge will be in the manufacturing industry to train future employees and their willingness to work in factories.

Restaurants in most cases were adversely affected; however, they should reach all-time highs with the pent-up demands and the need for social events with family and friends finding the importance to commune with others. This is a lesson that was truly exemplified and have found even a higher value than ever before.
Short memories, unfortunately yes. We as a society are bombarded with so many daily distractions along with various news and information that’s questionable, we will in time brush off the past traumas and life changing events to a modified normalcy. And as I very much like to espouse in the success for business and in your personal life is creativity follow through and tenacity wins the day.

Allawos & Company has helped and continues to help countless individuals and companies alike reach their goals and discover new potential

Michael Allawos, Principal Consultant

To say we are in interesting times is an understatement to say the least. As I continually state creativity is the key to success as well as tenacity in moving forward. Business / Capitalism always finds a way and the economy is usually better for it.

Having a good CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is important to maintain your list of contacts and clients in order to nurture those relationships to insure that steady stream of work and project or simply to stay on their radar for when the time is right. Customer relationship management (CRM) is a technology for managing all your company’s relationships and interactions with customers and potential customers. The goal is simple: Improve business relationships. A CRM system helps companies stay connected to customers, streamline processes, and improve profitability.

Potential Clients

New projects are beneficial in many ways, they offer you the chance to work with new people and a wider exposure of your abilities and outreach. However, do not underestimate the value of current and past clients who might be willing to offer you regular projects that will keep your business ticking over time as well as valuable referrals.

Marketing yourself can take up a lot of time. It can also be frustrating if you do your best to write wonderful proposals but are not getting any work. In a world that is getting more complicated by the day it is important to experiment with various communication outlets to get your message out.

A Happy Customer Is Your Best Marketer

A lot of business owners make the mistake of focusing on potential clients so much that they neglect their current and past clients. This can be a big mistake. Past clients who are happy are your best resources for word-of-mouth marketing and recommendations. Don’t feel shy about asking them for a testimonial or reference in relation to your work. Develop a referral form (please see in our A&C educational section for a sample form) to ask for those valuable referrals, if you don’t ask you won’t receive.

Current Clients

In terms of current clients, you need to impress them with how professional and efficient you are. Producing your best work even under tight deadlines is what being a good product or service provider is all about. Communicate clearly, be friendly but respectful, and you could end up with regular clients who really appreciate what you do.

Past Clients

The Pareto principle says that 80% of your business will come from 20% of your customers. It is easier to convince someone of your value when they have already used your services (if you have done a good job), than to try to convince total strangers to give you a try.

Your Portfolio

When working with so many clients, it can be easy to forget to update your portfolio to show off your best work, but that will be exactly what prospective clients want to see. At your portfolio site, and tombstones, you should have all you contact information and links to your best examples of the work that you provide – such as articles, website design, problems solved, products delivered, and so forth. Each item should have a title, and a hyperlink to that item so they can see all you have to offer. Put this URL on all your marketing material.

Email Marketing

One of the easiest ways to keep in touch with past, present and future clients is to maintain email marketing lists. A service like AWeber.com Active Campaign, Autopilot, Hubspot, SendinBlue, ConvertKit, Omnisend, Rejoiner, allows you to create lists in your account, so you should have no trouble being able to create three separate lists to nurture these different relationships.

For past and current clients, you could send out a newsletter once a month with some valuable niche-related content and any new services you might have added to your business, link to your portfolio.

Treat them like they are special (which of course they are), and consider offering them discounts and coupons, or special service packages that bundle your offerings or even just an update with new and relevant information. Consider offering niche-related content for their site as well as your uploading and scheduling work.

For prospective customers, get them on your list first by offering them a useful free item related to your niche. It could be a checklist, cheat sheet or other item that shows you are something of an expert, and can help clients work smarter, not harder. Then send them more details about the services you provide.

By nurturing, your current and past clients as well as looking for new ones, you will get more business with less effort.

Creativity follow through and follow-up is the key to success!

Allawos & Company has helped and continues to help countless individuals and companies alike reach their goals and discover new potential.

Michael Allawos, Principal Consultant

To say we are in interesting times is an understatement to say the least. As I continually state creativity is the key to success as well as tenacity in moving forward. Business / Capitalism always finds a way and the economy is usually better for it.

Having a good CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is important to maintain your list of contacts and clients in order to nurture those relationships to insure that steady stream of work and project or simply to stay on their radar for when the time is right. Customer relationship management (CRM) is a technology for managing all your company’s relationships and interactions with customers and potential customers. The goal is simple: Improve business relationships. A CRM system helps companies stay connected to customers, streamline processes, and improve profitability.

Potential Clients

New projects are beneficial in many ways, they offer you the chance to work with new people and a wider exposure of your abilities and outreach. However, do not underestimate the value of current and past clients who might be willing to offer you regular projects that will keep your business ticking over time as well as valuable referrals.

Marketing yourself can take up a lot of time. It can also be frustrating if you do your best to write wonderful proposals but are not getting any work. In a world that is getting more complicated by the day it is important to experiment with various communication outlets to get your message out.

A Happy Customer Is Your Best Marketer

A lot of business owners make the mistake of focusing on potential clients so much that they neglect their current and past clients. This can be a big mistake. Past clients who are happy are your best resources for word-of-mouth marketing and recommendations. Don’t feel shy about asking them for a testimonial or reference in relation to your work. Develop a referral form (please see in our A&C educational section for a sample form) to ask for those valuable referrals, if you don’t ask you won’t receive.

Current Clients

In terms of current clients, you need to impress them with how professional and efficient you are. Producing your best work even under tight deadlines is what being a good product or service provider is all about. Communicate clearly, be friendly but respectful, and you could end up with regular clients who really appreciate what you do.

Past Clients

The Pareto principle says that 80% of your business will come from 20% of your customers. It is easier to convince someone of your value when they have already used your services (if you have done a good job), than to try to convince total strangers to give you a try.

Your Portfolio

When working with so many clients, it can be easy to forget to update your portfolio to show off your best work, but that will be exactly what prospective clients want to see. At your portfolio site, and tombstones, you should have all you contact information and links to your best examples of the work that you provide – such as articles, website design, problems solved, products delivered, and so forth. Each item should have a title, and a hyperlink to that item so they can see all you have to offer. Put this URL on all your marketing material.

Email Marketing

One of the easiest ways to keep in touch with past, present and future clients is to maintain email marketing lists. A service like AWeber.com Active Campaign, Autopilot, Hubspot, SendinBlue, ConvertKit, Omnisend, Rejoiner, allows you to create lists in your account, so you should have no trouble being able to create three separate lists to nurture these different relationships.

For past and current clients, you could send out a newsletter once a month with some valuable niche-related content and any new services you might have added to your business, link to your portfolio.

Treat them like they are special (which of course they are), and consider offering them discounts and coupons, or special service packages that bundle your offerings or even just an update with new and relevant information. Consider offering niche-related content for their site as well as your uploading and scheduling work.

For prospective customers, get them on your list first by offering them a useful free item related to your niche. It could be a checklist, cheat sheet or other item that shows you are something of an expert, and can help clients work smarter, not harder. Then send them more details about the services you provide.

By nurturing, your current and past clients as well as looking for new ones, you will get more business with less effort.

Creativity follow through and follow-up is the key to success!

Allawos & Company has helped and continues to help countless individuals and companies alike reach their goals and discover new potential.

For most folks, a change signifies a possible disorientation, consternation and moving away from their comfort zone. Since most of us seek stability and order, we hardly ever welcome a change. Many of us find ourselves in great stress, anxiety and immense chaos when the prospect of change looms around the corner.

As much as wish to avoid it, it’s prudent to realize that change is inevitable. Life is a collection of changes; with life we learn to deal with a change and mold ourselves to get along with it. Likewise, in an organization, when a change is implemented, people can get accustomed to the changed environment. Instead of being scared and running away from the change, it’s favorable to learn, how to cope with a change. I find that by embracing change and labeling it as an experience helps ease the discomfort and actually brings self-confidence.

Often times when we have those persisting issues that keep reappearing its life’s little way of reminding us that the path that we are on is not the right path and to choose another way.

Below are some personal strategy points that can help you overcome the stress of change:

• Take a different approach

Change is not always bad. Many times, in fact most of the times when there is a change, it happens for a good reason. Remember the way a child learns to walk from crawling? It’s a change which might seem excruciatingly painful because of all the falling which results in bruises, but once a child learns to walk, it proves to be the most beneficial change to have ever happen to him or her in life, a learning “experience”. Likewise, in an organization, when there is a change due to higher management policies, consumer demands etc., it is not always for worse. In fact, many times, due to modern principles of total quality management (TQM), it is beneficial for an organization to implement a change thus, helping the employees in return to excel. An employee should look at a change with positive, optimistic, and a challenging approach. Doing this, would ease the process of change for a person and lead to a better future for him or her in the new scenario.

• Realize your capacity to adapt

Everyone has a different capacity to adapt him/herself to a change. Some people, due to their quick learning abilities and higher IQ are able to adapt themselves to changes much quicker than others. Apart from genetic abilities, this capability to efficiently and quickly change is provided by proper planning and right attitude as well as communication when appropriate.

• Develop a managing strategy based on who you are

Self-realization is an important virtue. A person who is aware of his or her shortcomings and positive attributes are in a better position to evaluate their abilities in managing change. Making a list of the current skills, and skills that would need to be acquired and acting accordingly would help you to engage in an efficient transformation towards a change.

• Keep your expectations realistic

Many times, a change does not produce the results that it was intended to give. At other times one might experience severe discomfort while adapting to a change. Irrespective of such incidents, one should not get disheartened by a failure and be open towards future changes. With this, it is greatly advised to have a realistic approach towards a change and the ability to change. Proper guidance regarding the consequences of a change can be solicited from a senior member or mentor of the organization to get a realistic view of the change.

Putting off until tomorrow what you can do today only leads to a path of inefficiencies and disappointments for you and those around you. Make the most of your abilities and learn more so that you can do more.

Allawos & Company has helped and continues to help countless individuals and companies alike reach their goals and discover new potential.

Since time immemorial, leaders have guided humanity through its struggle for survival. A leader shows us a ray of light in darkness, makes our future brighter and life much simpler; he or she brings hope and happiness in our life. This is the optimistic view of a leader and this newsletter will focus on the positive influence of a leader keeping in mind that we all know that a charismatic leader can also be a dangerous one based on their belief systems and those of their followers.

What are the characteristics of leadership; people often wonder. Why is it that someone is a leader and someone else a follower? It has been observed that a leader possesses certain qualities which are markedly different from the common masses or those who do not want to lead. While the common man or woman gets entangled in their routine life, the leaders often overcome these difficulties and decide to bring radical changes in the environment in which they live.

There are two kinds of people in this world, proactive and reactive. Reactive people give vent to their anger whereas proactive people think for the future and try to find lasting solutions to any problem(s) and generally have a positive attitude. When Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of the train, he didn’t react at that moment but instead he devised a strategy, which threw the British out of India forever, indeed a lasting solution. Being proactive is considered one of the most important characteristics of leadership.

Having the capability of taking on tough decisions is considered an important characteristic of leadership. Being tough and or strong also means having the ability to withstand peoples’ ire. Sometimes some decisions are unpopular or have vision beyond the here and now, but one needs to take it for the overall benefit of the people, which might be essential for a better future. A leader should demonstrate tremendous courage and stamina during that challenging period as well as not caring who takes credit for a job well done as long as it gets done.
A leader is always focused towards their goal(s). They exhibit complete dedication towards their work and demonstrate tremendous self-confidence. A leader is not fickle minded. He or she is determined; their communication with people is very effective. A leader never gets carried away by emotions. Their emotional quotient is exemplary and they never make decisions based on their whims and fancies. They are the personification of enthusiasm. He or she creates positive energy around their surroundings, energizing everyone around them. In fact, people take great pleasure in working with such people.

The ability to motivate others is a vital characteristic of leadership. Anyone devoid of this characteristic should not even dream of becoming a leader. Vacillating or waiting for consciences is not part of the definition of a true leader. People stick to a leader because they find such a leader to be motivational. Once people get motivated, they stick to and work tirelessly for their leaders, helping them achieve their goals and objectives. If people are not motivated by a leader, then why will they follow?

In life there is an up and a down, a plus and a minus but nonetheless a constant struggle of nature; this will never change. Leaders struggle with this constantly and even to some degree have a bit of a dark side that must be overcome on a daily basis. Those that overcome to do good tend to be incredible, strong individuals and we all know what happens to leaders when they can’t overcome the struggles of life.

It is believed that certain characteristics of leadership are by birth, similar to the color of our eyes and hair passed down by our parents through the great gene pool. Someone is a born orator; someone is a born singer and someone is a born writer. True to a certain extent, but it is also true that there is nothing in this world which cannot be achieved by hard work. Mahatma Gandhi started exhibiting his leadership traits when he was a young man, and surprisingly Colonel Sanders founded Kentucky Fried Chicken and spread his franchise across the United States when he was in his sixties. Sam Walton, although he’d owned a small chain of discount stores, opened the first true Wal-Mart in 1962 when he was 44. So, there’s nothing that can’t be learned.

Apathy is a choice; don’t make it! What kind of LEADER will you be?

Allawos & Company has helped and continues to help countless individuals and companies alike reach their goals and discover new potential.