Diane Gottsman | Leading Etiquette Expert | Modern Manners Authority

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Five New Year’s Resolutions for Entrepreneurs

02 Jan 2023 By: Diane Gottsman

As an entrepreneur, the new year is often met with enthusiasm and possibility. You likely spent a portion of Q4 strategizing a successful 2023, making room for stretch goals while also ensuring daily operations run smoothly. A good entrepreneur is aware that it takes a team for them to be a success. There is no such thing as a one-person show, and being hired by a client does not necessarily mean they will stay with you without some hard work. You want to be seen as an indispensable ally and their right-hand person. Helping your client achieve success is the key to making yourself an essential partner and a strong supporter. What can you do to show your client you appreciate their business and are dedicated to their success? Make a strong start with these five new year’s resolutions for entrepreneurs.

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Five New Year’s Resolutions for Entrepreneurs

I Will Over-Deliver

The difference between average and great is effort. Office hours may be between eight and five, but responding to an urgent text or making a call after hours says a lot about someone who will put a client before their own daily routine. While it should not turn into a habit, showing your client that you go above and beyond sends the message that they are more than just a paycheck.

I Will Make My Client’s Life Easier

Taking the responsibility of doing research or looking for an answer they would have to spend time doing on their own is greatly appreciated by your client. Find the sweet spot between what they would prefer to take off their plate and what you can offer, then add value to the relationship by handling that duty.

I Will Pick Up the Phone

New Year's Resolutions For Entrepreneurs | Portrait of handsome young business man working on laptop computer at office desk.

Many questions can be answered efficiently through an email or a quick text, but occasionally picking up the phone to talk to your client reinforces the person-to-person connection. While technology makes our lives easier, people do business with those they trust, and occasionally checking in and hearing your voice is part of a good business plan.

I Will Ask for Feedback

Never assume your client is completely satisfied. The key to improving an already strong relationship is to ask your client if there are any challenges they are experiencing. Find out what is working and what part of your professional exchange can be improved. It may be as simple as training your front office on how to transfer a call. Yes, people still make phone calls. Software makes it easy to set up simple online surveys to create a database of feedback from your customers. Make sure the survey does not take a lot of time and is easy to use. It’s frustrating to try and fill out an online survey which puts extra stress on a client’s already over-scheduled day.

I Will Appreciate Loyal Clients

Developing and maintaining a loyal client takes work. You may be spending a great deal of time recruiting new clients, but don’t forget to let your longtime supporters know how much you appreciate their allegiance. Remember their birthday, send a handwritten note of gratitude, re-share their posts on social media, occasionally take them to lunch and come up with other small gestures that will let your customer know they are not forgotten.

For more information about working with Diane, America’s “Go to” social and professional (manners) skills authority, please visit The Protocol School of Texas. 

You may also like Mistakes Entrepreneurs Cannot Afford to Make. See what Diane is up to by following her on Instagram and Facebook. Find etiquette inspiration on her Pinterest account and keep up with her latest tweets. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, refer to her posts on Inc. and HuffPost. 

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Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.