Management, Coaching, Consulting, Project services

Last week I had to call to a medical center trying to find a doctor appointment with priority for that same day. I told the operator that this seems like a near-impossible attempt, but that I was willing to give her a five-star rating if she managed to find me an available slot. She did not comment on my promise, but she did do all her best to find me a slot – and so she did. Actually she was able to find more slots, and patiently waited for me to decide on the most appropriate one. One day later, when I got the survey invite, I felt obliged to respond and provide the promised 5-star. -- In today’s competitive landscape, businesses invest heavily in marketing, branding, and innovation to attract customers. But there’s one often-overlooked element that makes the difference between a one-time buyer and a lifelong customer—exceptional customer support. Loyalty isn’t built solely on product quality or pricing. Customers remember how they are treated, how quickly their problems are s...

As the Getting PMP certified article got so much positive feedback, I though I should also share some of the providers of free tests. I have also used them during my certification prep period as well, and I've found them really useful. You should simulate your exam at least 3 times before stating that you are ready for the BIG TEST, so the links below should help you a lot. Still, one word of caution: not all the questions seem to have the right response, and not all explanations are really in line with PMBoK - but if you have a good knowledge of the practice part of Project Management, and if you've read the books I've recommended, you can already discover them. Don't go for the real PMP exam if you don't score 80% in these simulations - they seemed to me a little bit easier than the real exam. http://www.pmhub.net/ PMSuccess offers via PMHub.net 400 questions to play with. Not an exam simulation per-se, but you can always try to do 200 questions in a row t...

This was the first lesson in my most recent management training, done under the umbrella of the Gustav Kaser Training International (GKTI): ask yourself every morning why are you enjoying yourself (WAIEM). It might sound like a dumb question, but... think a little bit: if you had at least one reason to be happy that day, wouldn't you feel better? It could be anything: your baby saying the first word, winning the lottery, one award that one of your employees received, or just because it's a late summer day, with some bright warm sun in the sky. And... if you can't find a reason to enjoy yourself... just make up one ! Think about the challenges of that day, and how you plan to attack them, and the results you expect - you might already feel better just because of that! So... WAIEM every day, every morning, and during the day. Be happy and smile - and the people around you will also feel the joy. Why? Because happy people are contagious (well, when they are not stepping...