Page 11 - Demo

Slippery Rock Gazette
February 2024 | 11
Lean on Me
Officials have secured the area around one of two 12th Century towers that have become symbolic of the northern city of Bologna, fearing its leaning could lead to collapse.
The city announced 4.3 million euros ($4.7 million) in works to shore up the Garisenda tower, one of the so-called Two Towers that look out over central Bologna, providing inspiration over the centuries to painters and poets and a lookout spot during conflicts. Work will proceed during January and February.
Italy’s civil protection agency has main- tained a yellow alert on the site, denoting caution but not imminent danger.
The Garisenda, the shorter of two tow- ers built between 1109 and 1119, currently stands 48 meters (157 feet) to the Asinelli’s 97 meters (320 feet). Mayor Matteo Lepore noted in a debate earlier this month that the Garisenda tower has leaned since it was built “and has been a concern ever since.” It sustained additional damage in the medi- eval era when ironwork and bakery ovens were built inside.
“We inherited a situation that over the centuries has caused this illness,’’ he said. The mayor has asked the government to petition to make the towers UNESCO world heritage sites.
Work to reinforce both towers has been ongoing since the 1990s. Preliminary work on the Garisenda tower will include cre- ating a containment area to prevent any damage to nearby structures or harm to passersby from a “possible collapse,’’ the city said in a statement. Video cameras will maintain surveillance of the site.
Customer Referrals
Continued from Page 10
Referrals don’t have to be backed by money, happy customers are always happy to spread the word. Sometimes, they do so to help their family and friends enjoy what they’re enjoying from you. Social media makes it super-easy for them to share these stories.
8. Express Gratitude
Show appreciation to customers who refer others to your business. Consider send- ing personalized thank-you notes, offering exclusive perks, or acknowledging them publicly. Expressing gratitude reinforces positive behavior and encourages further referrals.
9. Monitor and Optimize Your Program
Regularly evaluate the performance of your referral program. Gather feedback from participants, track results, and make adjustments as needed to optimize its effec- tiveness. Continuously improving your pro- gram ensures that it remains relevant and impactful.
Maximizing business growth through customer referrals for countertop shops is not just a strategic endeavor; it’s a commit- ment to building lasting relationships and creating a positive ripple effect within your community.
The journey involves providing excep- tional products and services, cultivating a referral-friendly culture within the com- pany, and seamlessly integrating referral programs into a comprehensive marketing strategy.
The true value of referrals extends beyond mere transactions; it’s about trust, authen- ticity, and shared satisfaction that trans- forms a one-time customer into a loyal supporter.
In the end, the success of your countertop shop is intricately woven into its relation- ships—with customers, team members, and the wider community.
Visit miliamarketing.com/discovery/ to learn more about how Milia Marketing helps countertop shops around the U.S. get better performance out of their mar- keting efforts and a measurable return on investment for their marketing dollars.
Training & Education
Getting from Point A to Point B
Continued from Page 9
The path to Point B is more likely depicted by the green line on Diagram 3 and 4:
Diagram 3
you need to propel you to the next level, simply doesn’t happen.
At this point you are one month into
Diagram 4
B
Going from Point A to Point B
A
C
At Point C we are the farthest away from our expectations, AND right at the cusp of rapid growth. At Point C you are exactly where you should be – halfway to Point B, from an effort perspective. It just doesn’t feel like it!
Research has shown people tend to greatly over-estimate what they can accomplish in the short-term, yet grossly under-estimate what can be accomplished in the long-term. This is why!
There are two damaging effects from quitting at Point C. The first is the obvi- ous one – you don’t get to Point B. The second damaging effect is more insidi- ous and more damaging in the long run. In trying, you “learned” that the initiative to get to Point B “doesn’t work.” Later, when seeking out ways to improve, you will hear the old hats state, “Oh yes, we tried that, it doesn’t work here.” And that very initiative that might be exactly what
your 2024 Goals and Objectives (and New Year’s resolutions!). If you feel like you are not making progress, stick with it because you may be on the path to Point B via a journey first to Point C.
Of course, perhaps more likely, you were insane in your goal setting (see January’s article), and you really are not making any progress toward Point B after all. In that case, get smart and make a course correction NOW, while you have ample time to make 2024 the smashing success it should be!
At Synchronous Solutions we combine Logic and Science to make a difference in the countertop fabricating world. If you learned something from this article, give us a call – we love helping businesses to stop fighting physics! Much easier to har- ness it for the betterment of all! Contact us at www.synchronoussolutions.com .
A
B
We tend to over-estimate what we can accomplish in the short-term.
We tend to under-estimate what we can accomplish in the long-term.
Going from Point A to Point B
© MARK ANDERSON. www.andertoons.com
“How goes the merger?”