In the voice biz, we communicate lots of things….usually educating, persuading or selling. Commercial Valentine’s Day is a blatant attempt to commercialize how we show love.Boycott Valentine’s Day and be thoughtful, loving and giving every day of the year.

Valentine’s Day has become a confusing and stressful day for many people.

Love it’s its own gift and should be shared freely every day.

Cook a romantic dinner.Pack a sunset picnic.Pick wildflowers on the way home.Burn a CD with hand selected love songs.Snuggle together on a rainy day.Leave little love notes everywhere.Send a love email every day.Take a moonlit walk on the beach….or anywhere. Snuggle together while watching romantic movies.Bring home good coffee or tea.Take a walk down memory lane — visit some of the special places from your early days of dating. Make a scrapbook with photos, mementos, and little notes from you lives together.Kiss in the rain.Ride a ferris wheel.Sneak away from a party and make out.Bring home great take-out, and light some candles.Fix something in the house together.Slow dance to romantic music.Take a nap together.Kiss slowly, touching his or her back and neck and nape — slowly. Make a list of everything you love about him or her.Write a love letter.Clip or email things that make you think of him or her, every day.Go to a movie, ignore the movie, and make out like teen-agers.Take some quiet time and talk about your day.Write little notes, one for each way he or she drives you crazy.Feed each other.Recreate the first time.Sing a favorite song to him or her.Have dinner on the deck, with some candles.Say I love you in a different way, every day.Declare your love, very publicly.Do what comes naturally. Slowly.

This list was inspired by Creative Zen’s 50 Ways to Be Romantic on the Cheap

Have you ever been placed on hold calling a business?

Of course you have!

When it happens to me, it usually goes something like this…

Business: Please hold.

Me: UhhBusiness: ……click….music…..

Or, maybe they are more polite…

Business: Will you hold please?

Me: Uhh ….yes.

Business: ……click….music…..

Sometimes the “click” occurs prior to me stumbling through an answer. WOW!

It kind of makes me wonder what would have happened had I said NO.

Companies today are working harder than ever to “stand out” to their audience of potential clients. They do whatever they can to generate interest in their products and services: They create White Papers, have an online presence, advertise wherever they feel their audience is and ……then a prospect calls to do business.

Many businesses don’t practice good conversational skills and basic manners.

Here are basic rules everyone in business should practice
1. Always greet someone when they call or visit. Depending on your level of formality of your business and the client, you can adjust the greeting. But, you should always say, “hello” or “hi” when someone visits so that the client feels welcome visiting or calls.

2. Say, “Please” and “Thank you” generously! There is no such thing as saying it too much. Showing these manners shows the other person respect and appreciation.

3. If a person says thank you, you should acknowledge them with a “You’re welcome” or “Anytime!”. This tells the person that they are welcome to come to you again with a request. It is a kind way to say that you invite their correspondence.

“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” – Anonymous

4. Wait your Turn! Don’t interrupt other people when they are speaking. Never assume you know what the person is trying to say. Oftentimes the act of speaking and being heard is all a client wants. Be sure and give your full attention and really HEAR what they are saying without assumptions or prejudice. Oftentimes, conversational acknowledgments such as: “Uh-Huh”, “Yes”, “Oh”, “I see” tell the other person you really hear them.

“So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti

5. Clean up after yourself. No matter who is to blame in a conflict or complaint, be pleasant and gracious. If your client is found to be to blame, don’t gloat or show off, but be kind . If you or your business is to blame don’t sulk or get mad, but be gracious and sincerely apologize.

“If you want the last word, apologize.”

6. Take compliments courteously. If someone praises your business, be gracious and say, “thank you”, and invite further communication.