TIPS WHEN YOU FILL UP AT THE PETOL STATION! - Paul Johnstone

 

Petrol Prices UP and UP – This might help

This came from the States and I have anglicised it!

This is a departure from the usual contact but with the price of petrol still on the up, I thought this relitavly easy tip might be usefull.

 I don't know what you guys are paying for petrol.... but here in Suffolk we are paying between £1:32 & £1:45 a litre.

 The following are tips from a guy who works in the industry delivering petrol to fore courts, and these are his suggestions.  I am unable to correctly reference or acknowledge this person as there were no personal details on the email I received with this information.

 Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the denser the petrol, when it gets warmer petrol expands. So buying in the afternoon or in the evening, you are not exactly getting a full litre.. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.

A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps. And guess who pays for this?

The next part is specific to American petrol pumps but the advice is sound fill your tank slowly.  When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low mode, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapours return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL. The reason for this is the more petrol you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petrol storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every litre is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a petrol truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy petrol, DO NOT fill up.  The reason is, most likely the petrol is being stirred up as the petrol is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

I hope this tip may help you save just a little money at the pumps, please feel free to pass it on to colleagues .

Helping Real People do Real Business Through Real Networking

©Paul Johnstone

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The 10 Commandments of Networking - Paul Johnstone

Saw this on an American Chamber of Commerce e web site and thought this bit would be a good Blog

The 10 Commandments of Networking:

1) Thou shalt drop the “what is in it for me?” attitude.

2) Thou shalt listen.

3) Thou shalt build a relationship.

4) Thou shalt give the first referral.

5) Thou shalt not tell others of the referral you require; thou shalt “show them” with a story.

6) Thou shalt be specific of the type of referral.

7) Thou shalt reciprocate when appropriate.

8) Thou shalt participate in the network executive, functions, and network time.

9) Thou shalt thank the person who gave a referral.

10) Thou shalt follow up on the referral within 24 hours.

So now you have your own guiding principles when you next go networking..... Enjoy 

Helping Real People do Real Business Through Real Networking

©Paul Johnstone

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Know - Like And Trust!! Paul Johnstone

Today, let's talk about presenting yourself in an attractive, compelling way. Because people buy from people they like.  Well taken one step further they buy from people they know like and trust. 

Everyone, you, me your colleagues and friends need to 'buy you' before they buy what you're selling. People will always buy people before they buy products and services.

This is why one member one profession is such a bad idea in a network club.  If everything else is equal, people will buy from the people they like rather than people they don't like.

Now armed with that knowledge how do you ‘help’ people to like you? 

First up it will help if you remember you are selling yourself and that is a very powerful tool.  Once mastered, you can be sure it will drive business your way time after time. Learning how to use this powerful weapon is a fantastic way of growing your business.

OK how do I do that?  If it’s not the first question on your lips it’s probably your second.  Your objective is to present yourself in an attractive and compelling way. Sounds easy – well it is once you remember three key facts.  If you want to sell yourself and make it easy for people to buy from you , here are the three key steps:

1. Be likeable. The law of attraction and how to get people to like you. This, believe it or not, is straightforward are things you can do and say to make more people like you more quickly.  Non verbal communication: before you speak to someone smile.  Then ask interesting question but importantly LISTEN TO THE ANSWER.   Always dress for the event and that’s not the latest fashions.  Look professional and you will be associated with your profession. And the killer ‘The Follow up’ Oh so important when networking.  It’s a follow up and NOT A SELLING opportunity.
2. Be credible. Your professional appearance is a great help when your natural charm is not working.  You know sometimes we don’t get people. This is when people don't just like you, but they value you, rate you and However because of your credibility they trust and listen to what you say.
3. Being Profitable.  Here you reap what you sow. The relationships you have developed now start to deliver business, so don’t stop, keep at it.  So many people think that once they have made some connections that’s it, no more networking.  How wrong they are.  Your personal referral system tends to drop off sharply when you walk away.  The answer is clear use your skills to sell yourself and keep doing it.

We all have a network conveyor belt or sales hopper, that’s what drives business.  To make your hopper work to the max, people need to like you or see you as a credible supplier and alternative to the status quo.  Here are four simple ways to help keep you on track winning more and more business. When they:

• see you, they'll like you.
• like you, they'll trust you.
• trust you, they'll buy you.
• buy you, they'll refer you.

Tell me “What are you doing that will make you more likeable today?”

Helping Real People do Real Business Through Real Networking

©Paul Johnstone

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The 7 Deadly Sins of Publicity– Paul Johnstone

Let’s look at publicity through PR or a news release.  A news release is often your only chance to make a great first impression.  And in business, face to face, written or as an on-line presence you need to be on the mark from the start.  And I am indebted to several people I have met through networking over thje years for this advice.

Newspapers, magazines and trade publications receive shed loads of them. That means sloppy, inaccurate, pointless releases are the first to hit the newsroom wastebasket. To make sure yours isn't one of them, avoid these 7 Deadly Sins:


1.    Providing insufficient or wrong information on your news releases, particularly telephone numbers, and other contact details. Releases must be complete, accurate and specific. (Note: A news release is the same as a press release.)

2.    Writing too long. They should be no longer than a page, which is about 500 words give or take depending on images and layout.

3.    Sending it too late. Mail or fax it to local media at least two weeks before an event, preferably three or four. Major magazines are different again, many of them work four to six months ahead of time.

4.    Sending a release with no news value. We all watch the evening news or catch up with the news on out PC, Why?  Because it changes and it is current. News is what happens that is different. If it isn't different, it isn't news.

5.    Blatant commercialism. Avoid hackneyed words and phrases such as spectacular, incredible, the only one of its kind, breakthrough, cutting-edge, unique and state-of-the-art.  Also loose the Cliché.  Never stoop to using phrases like think outside the box, or blue sky thinking, they are often seen as lazy by writing professionals and get dispatched to the waste bin quickly.

6.    Forgetting a contact name and phone number. At the top of the first page in the left corner, let editors know who they can call if they have questions. Include day, evening and cell phone numbers.

7.    Calling after you send a release. Questions like "Did you get my news release?" or "Do you know when it will be printed?" will brand you as a pest. Don't follow up with a phone call to see if the media got your release, unless you are absolutely sure that someone will check for you. Most reporters and editors don't have time. If you do follow up, make sure you have a reason to call. Suggest a particular angle to your story, or ask the media people if they need any other information.

Hope these help you get more recognition and ultimately more business through being seen as an expert in the press. Go to it!

Helping Real People do Real Business Through Real Networking

©Paul Johnstone

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