The study guide for "Target Selling" with Pamela Rodgers of Rodgers Chevrolet, Woodhaven, Michigan as seen on Small Business School the series on PBS-member stations in the USA and the Voice of America around the world. The best little show on television about the American spirit.

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last update: May 2007

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Being nice takes practice

Pam's Mom thought Pam was probably too nice to survive and thrive as the owner of a car dealership. In fact, being nice is key to Pam's success.

Be Nice

Pamela Rodgers is very nice. She would fit right into Mr. Fred Rogers' Neighborhood. Some may think that being nice is being soft so they leave the nice part of their personality at the door when they walk into their place of business.

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Key Ideas of this episode

1.		Teach And Preach Service

2.		Cater To The Real Customer

3.		Counsel Don't Sell

4.		Prepare Yourself

5.		Do What Others Won't Do

6.		Target To Maximize Marketing

7.		Make Service Your Backbone

8.		Create Wealth For Employees

9.		Be Nice

10.		Keep Growing

There's a plaque we have seen now in several retail places and it says, "If you can't be nice, leave." This is a way for business owners to require customers to be nice. We like this. All of us should be nice to one another.

Topic for Discussion: How can being nice increase your profits?

Answer: You cannot build a business alone. You need an ecosystem of customers, employees, suppliers and vendors. If you are running a solid business and you pay people properly and you have in place your industry's best-practices, being nice will take you to the top. Everyone wants to do business with a nice person. Period.

You think about it: Would your employees describe you as a nice person? Would you customers say you are nice to them?

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