Elizabeth, Author at Yellow Dog Consulting

March Pop Culture Roundup!

03.31.2016 by Elizabeth // 2 Comments

colony_castkeyart_0-1 Well, March Madness is in full force and I’m not sure about your bracket, but I have 2 of the 4 teams in the Final 4 this weekend, and am not too happy with Syracuse for knocking Virginia out – since I had them winning the whole dang tournament. Let’s see how this weekend goes – come on Oklahoma! It’s also been a good month for pop culture – I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been enjoying!

Listening

I can’t stop listening to the Chris Stapleton Traveller album – it’s so fantastic! I’m not a big country music fan, but this is just too good to ignore. Jump on it.

I am loving the Channel 33 podcast network – The Watch is still my favorite and go to pod, but I’m also really enjoying Playing Politics with Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer (both formerly of the Obama Administration) – they talk weekly about what’s going on in the presidential campaign, and since they both worked on the Obama campaign, they give their insights to where they were at this point in 2008 – it’s pretty fantastic. The Top Chef finale podcast was also great – unlike the finale itself…And The Andy Greenwald Podcast with the creators of The Americans made me very happy the season is back!

Over at The Nerdist – this month I caught up on a few podcasts, but loved the JJ Abrams & Dan Trachtenberg episode, and the Sally Fields and Michael Showalter ep. I’m still holding onto an episode with Kelly Carlin from December (George’s daughter) that I really need to listen to.

I listened to the Iliza Schlesiger episode of WTF and it was fantastic. I love a woman who knows exactly what she wants, and takes her dog everywhere with her in the process.

I have to admit this season of Serial hasn’t grabbed me. I’m a couple episodes behind and I know the season finale episode drops today (3/31). We have a road trip planned to Bend next weekend so hopefully we’ll catch up!

What podcasts and music are you loving lately?

Reading

Yes folks, this month I finally did some reading. The 25 page a day rule really helped – and while I love March Madness, the screeching of Nike’s on the court when I’m not there is a lot, so I tend to watch most of the game on mute and READ, genius plan.

California – I had heard great things about this book a long time ago via the Colbert Report and picked it up a while back at Powell’s. I finally jumped in to read it. And I hated it. I love a good distant future where all hell has broken loose and people are dispersed around the country or world. But the ending that the author wanted to get to, wasn’t an ending I cared about given the story. I guess you can’t win them all.

I’m also catching up on comics – The Walking Dead continues to be WAY better than the TV show these days. And Outcast has continued to be really great, which makes me excited for the TV show this summer. Ms Marvel is always really fun, and Lazarus is still on a break. Time to add in another series or two – I’m thinking Clean Room which I’ve heard great things about.

What are you reading these days?

Watching

I was sick last week and may have watched 9 episodes of Gilmore Girls in a day. Oops. There’s some great stuff going on TV these days…

The Americans are back! Hooray! My favorite TV show is back, and this season I’m really hoping Pastor Tim doesn’t make it…terrible, I know. And based on last week’s episode (called Pastor Tim, but you never see him), I think I’m right. Man it’s such a great show!

The People Vs OJ Simpson – Alright, they can quit with the Clark/Darden hookup stuff – it’s stupid and not necessary. Watching the trial again through a biased and somewhat fictionalized lens is really interesting – my husband and I keep say “is that how that happened?” and trying to remember stuff from when we were in high school.

Billions – I wasn’t sure I’d like this show, but man it’s great drama. One rich white guy twist after another – we’re really enjoying it!

Colony – wow this ended up as a GREAT show and a really fun and interesting first season. I’m excited for Season 2 and hope it gains a larger audience in the mean time.

March Madness – obviously this is dominating the TV lately. I have Oklahoma and Virginia in the final game with Virginia winning, so there’s that. We’ll see how Saturday goes.

Broad City – Keep it up ladies. The Game Over episode with Vanessa Williams was fantastic and worth it for the FINAL musical number that I couldn’t stop watching. SO GREAT.

Alright – what’s on your DVR lately? I hope you’ve had a great month of pop culture and can’t wait for the return of Game of Thrones in April!

So You’ve Followed Up…

03.23.2016 by Elizabeth // Leave a Comment

don't drop the ball — Don’t drop the ball – unless you’re Norm, in which case “good puppy!”

I had lunch last week with a good friend of mine who I’ve known for years. She is incredibly loyal and never wants to feel like she’s “cheating” on a business owner with their competition. (She’s a way better person than I am) As we were talking, she mentioned that a mutual acquaintance in a direct marketing company had met with her, sold her some items and they even planned to have a party. The party got canceled because someone got sick, and should have been rescheduled. After the initial follow up, this person never asked to reschedule the party and didn’t do follow up from that point forward.

It’s easy to feel like you checked the box – I followed up! #winning #blessed – except, did you? One quick email is great when you know that your contact is in the middle of something else, but when you continue to see that person at networking events, it’s OK to follow up again, either at the event or afterwards by phone or email.

This mutual acquaintance is losing a lot of business from my friend – she would continue to buy products, and additional products and had wanted to share this info with her friends. What a huge lead source you’re losing!

I know I talk a lot about NOT nagging prospects – however if someone at one point was a good lead for you make sure that you’re not the one dropping the ball.

Keep Your Customers Happy

03.16.2016 by Elizabeth // Leave a Comment

Cancelled The yoga studio where I take pilates has recently changed owners. And the owner has decided to make the studio more zen and less core/workout focused. So the pilates classes are over ~~and so is my life~~ for now. I understand the new owner needs to make money and so changes come to streamline the studio so it works for her and stays afloat.

However, she’s just lost a good chunk of clients. I walked by this morning at our normal pilates time and the studio was closed. My friend and I took Norm for a walk because we wanted and needed exercise. Two of us (at least!) would have been there giving her studio money. Had there been any class this morning we would have been there.

I understand that the owner and my instructor needed to part ways – but it sure seems easier to keep your clients happy even if you aren’t as interested in the class. Upon hearing this new last week, one woman was asking how to get a refund on her 6 month membership since there weren’t enough morning classes for her now. I had pre-paid for chunk of classes and only have 3 left on my pass. I may use them if I see an instructor teaching something interesting, but they were a bonus (4 classes) when I bought a package, so I’m not really out any money.

I was talking to my chiropractor today (2 doors down from the yoga studio) and his first comment was “doesn’t every business owner know it’s easier to keep the clients you have then try to find new ones.” And my response was that I sure thought so…

I understand that a business can pivot and change. And that’s OK. I understand that not everyone works well together and sometimes people need to move on to the next adventure in their life. But I do have a hard time understanding how you can tell a group of customers that you don’t want to serve them any more without giving them an alternative or ever directly communicating to that group.

Maybe I’ll hear from the studio owner. Maybe she’ll add new classes that are of interest to me. But in the mean time? Our pilates instructor has all our info and can’t wait to tell us when she lands at a new studio. And I can’t wait to give that studio my money.