As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, we consider sharing gifts with customers and prospects. The Lord instructs us to give thanks many times in scripture. Our gifts are one way to show thanks. However, we should keep several principles in mind about gift giving.

1. Give gifts that aren’t questionable.

In other words, make sure the gift has no possibility of offending.  Gifts of wine or liquor are in this category.   Also make sure that a concert or theater ticket is for wholesome entertainment.   

Often we think little miscues don't matter, they will get buy noticed.  Check out the video on the link below to see the results of a "minor" error in judgement. I don't know if the forklift driver was injured.  Be careful when you cut corners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRDNF1trc1E   

Many cities and states offer bonuses as in incentive for folks to move who work from home. Some states offer excellent quality of life and lower cost housing. I would avoid the higher tax states, the increased taxes will eat up any bonus.   

Heck out the article from The Daily Bell: https://bit.ly/2BoGmaR

I worked with “Matt,” a client who had 65% of his business with one client who had a staff of eight serving the key client. Early in my consulting I asked Matt what he would do if his largest customer walked away. Matt replied that he really didn’t know. I explained to Matt that while it wasn’t pleasant to think about the possibility, he needed to make a plan just in case it happened.

Unfortunately within 18 months his largest customer departed. As unpleasant as this was Matt had listened to me and prepared for this possibility.  He didn't have to spend the month thinking about what to do; he simply started implementing his plan which unfortunately included releasing several contract employees. Also, in the 18 months leading up to the loss of this large account, Matt had followed some of my advice to work diligently to build other customers so that when the large account went away; it took only 40% of the business.  While it was a serious loss, it wasn’t catastrophic.

Reuters recently ran a news story that caught my eye about how banks are coming up with all kinds of gimmicks to entice customers to come into a branch. The article led with, “Free Wi-Fi, discounted cappuccinos, artwork, and a dancing robot are among the features banks across the United States are touting to convince customers that even in an era of smartphones it is still worth it to visit a bank branch.” My first thought was that banks are making a serious mistake embracing this marketing approach.