Business Success Depends on What Happens Behind the Scenes
I’ve just come in from a lovely Friday night out with hubby. It was a long, but wonderful week, and I was ready to get away from the computer. Of course, always in the back of my mind, I’m thinking of the next story to write and I’m constantly on the watch for some seemingly mundane thing that is really full of meaning, just waiting for me to unearth it.I think I found just such a thing tonight. Let me set the stage…We drove a few miles south to beautiful Pawleys Island, SC, to our favorite sushi bar and restaurant. It’s set under a giant live oak tree dripping with Spanish moss. The weather was perfect for enjoying outside dining. But first, we went in to the bar to chat for a few minutes with the bartender and the sushi chef. While seated at the bar, I watched the young bartender polishing glasses, artfully uncorking wine bottles for patrons, chatting with the guys about the game on the overhead TV’s. Things were neat, in order and sparkling clean, which combined to create a very warm and inviting atmosphere. I felt like I could have been at the home of a trusted friend.My mind wandered back many years to the days when I was a waitress. I had two young children and I was in college full time. We would all go to school, come home about the same time and do our homework together. When dad arrived home to be with the kids, I would take off for the fine dining establishment that had become my second home. Work began instantly to get ready for the evening’s diners. Ice bins to fill, butter to be scooped, salt & pepper shakers checked and filled, wine inventory checked, linen napkins folded, flowers arranged on the tables, good Southern iced tea to be made, lemons to be cut just right (wedges, not slices!), sugar bowls to fill (NEVER any paper items on our tables), and it went on and on…By the time the first guests arrived, the candles were lit and we were standing by smiling and acting very nonchalant, as though we had freshly arrived on the scene, and put on our aprons just to open the door and welcome them. Who knew? We were actually close to exhaustion by this time. I would arrive home around midnight and be up early the next morning to start it all over again. I made extremely good money for those few hours each night, probably because it was such a classy place. Looking back, I don’t know where I found the energy. Ah, the benefits of youth!So, tonight, as I watched the bartender, the chef and the other staff, it occurred to me all the prep work they had done so that I could stroll in, sit down and enjoy great food, drinks, and good service, in a lovely setting.You know, our work is like that, too. Most of us reading this article have a business of some sort, many of us working online. We have LOTS of prep work to do that no one sees. Yet, when they look at our store, our place of business, or our websites, they see something that looks fairly effortless. But, we know better, don’t we?I dedicate this article to all the work done BEHIND THE SCENES to serve your clients and offer them the very best you have. I’ve visited many of your places of business, I’ve seen your websites and even purchased products from many of you. I appreciate ALL you do BEHIND THE SCENES to make it happen.
The 3 Important Factors to Be Looked at Before Booking Flights and Hotels
Technology is growing at a massive rate. We as a millennial are very lucky to have the best applications and software for inventing or destroying something. Online shopping, online banking, etc. are some of the few trending technologies which are seen in every family. Even a child knows how to book a cab. But have you ever taught him what the procedure for booking hotels and flights online is?There are so many airline websites and platforms that offer great discounts and coupons on first flight booking and booking a 5-star hotel. Typically, there are other ways also to do this. No matter which method you choose to book your flight or hotel, it is a must to check for a few factors, which are worthy to pay for, even if it is a bit expensive.FACTORS TO OBSERVE DURING HOTEL AND FLIGHT BOOKING Look for flights and hotels that give you the best offers:It is self-explanatory that search online for the brands and agencies that have plenty of sales concessions for your booking. You can additionally check for hints like:
Exclusive company offer
Lazy payment option (where sometimes hotels let you pay for the next time booking)
Budget-friendly booking services
Standard amenities
Paying directly at the hotel
These vary depending upon the agent and the medium through which you book.Secured flight booking is a must for all:There may be last-minute stresses and other travel hurdles which can make you anxious during the start of your journey. Typically, good companies will provide you the option to enjoy any cancellation protection for every domestic flight booked. Other security concerns are:
Protection from Fare drops
Cancellation procedures for the same day of booking
Sometimes International bookings on flights and hotels will let you hold now and pay later, and this also ensures that your tension reduces.
Choose a flight or hotel that suits every destination you plan:Are you planning for a weekend getaway to some nice resort? Or are you tripping for a honeymoon? Even the adventure activities are a must for a nice escape from your mechanical life. Whatever the purpose of the visit selecting and booking from various domestic and international destinations is essential. You should ensure that the booking is well-suited as per your spectrum of travelling.Be it an International flight or even a budget hotel, it is a must for you to have a checklist ready for:
Pre-planned itinerary
Transport upon arrival/departure or even for sightseeing
Well-researched travel plans beforehand
No matter which place you visit and how long you stay, irrespective of the flight and hotel, be sure to choose the best one and that one brand that suits your travel needs. The company that cares and takes concern for every moment of travel is the one that truly deserves its payment for the booking and positive reviews.
What to Look for in a Great Shopping Center Experience
If you want an excellent shopping center experience, you may do well to go off the beaten track. When you take yourself away from the crowds and into smaller local settings, you can find a lot of excitement and offerings that you would never see in a large generic shopping mall setting. Finding a local bazaar or market can be a very exciting event in anyone’s travel experience.Some shopping centers are open markets where local people offer their wares, culinary specialties and local art and fashions. Other shopping centers are large well-built and designed constructions offering well known and fashionable items from around the world, side by side with popular and luxurious dining opportunities. Of course, there are all kinds of shopping experiences in between these two extremes. The type of shopping center you choose or stumble upon will vary from one location to the next. The best thing you can do is be open to every experience that presents itself to you to make the most of your vacation.For travelers, shopping centers that are located out in the open are obviously the ones that will be visited the most. Convenience and easy access will surely bring a shopping center a lot more business, and as they say all over the world, success in business depends greatly on location. Nonetheless, small markets located within little towns can offer some truly unique finds, so don’t limit yourself to just visiting the big business shopping centers. Do a little asking around to find shopping centers that will give you a wealth of unique stories and purchases to share when you finish your travels.The best shopping centers offer a lot of variety. If you can find a large or small market that offers you grocery shopping, fashions, recreation items, artwork, dining and a little free entertainment, you have hit the jackpot! Couple this with a comfortable layout that gives you good opportunities for simply resting your feet and people watching, and you have found the perfect shopping center experience.When you’re shopping in a large shopping center, you would also expect to find clean, modern facilities. Of course this may not be the case in a small local market. Successful, big shopping malls are constructed in such a way that modern travelers can feel right at home and find everything they need. While the larger malls may tend to offer only slight variations on goods available around the world, they are a very nice choice for travelers who prefer to have a more familiar experience in a foreign land. All new, modern shopping centers have great appeal for some older travelers and for travelers who are easily thrown off by extremely unusual experiences.If you’re a traveler who enjoys people watching, you will surely enjoy a larger shopping mall or smaller local market equally. The types of people you’ll observe in either of these settings (or indeed in almost any setting worldwide) are sure to be fascinating and varied! When you look for shopping opportunities that also offer events such as concerts and games, you will surely have a chance to see a variety of interesting people engaged in lively activity.When you visit a large center, the type of entertainment you can choose from is almost endless. You can enjoy some local bands and activities as well as movies, arcade games, ice skating and any number of other activities that can be set up in a well-controlled and well-designed interior atmosphere. This is great fun! On the other hand, if you visit a small market you may see local musicians and dancers and enjoy actually talking with and getting to know minor local celebrities.No matter what type of shopping fun you choose to experience, be sure to take your camera! You’ll surely have lots of excellent photo ops that will give you plenty to talk about when you get back home.