Lorraine Ball
A 20-year veteran of corporate America, Lorraine Ball teaches business owners across the country how to find a starting point for growth and change.
Her books, “The Entrepreneur’s Notebook,”“Confessions of a Networking Junkie”and "Business Map" are popular resources for business owners across the country. They are available for purchase at http://www.roundpeg.biz
Her monthly networking newsletter Business Notes from Roundpeg is distributed to more than 4,000 local professionals.
Her books, “The Entrepreneur’s Notebook,”“Confessions of a Networking Junkie”and "Business Map" are popular resources for business owners across the country. They are available for purchase at http://www.roundpeg.biz
Her monthly networking newsletter Business Notes from Roundpeg is distributed to more than 4,000 local professionals.
Contact Information
Articles by Lorraine Ball
February 12, 2008
Sometimes our best lessons come from children.
I was about three years old when my dad and I walked into a bakery. As he placed his order, I stared into the glass display case with all the pastries. As he was finishing his order, he glanced down, and asked, "Lanie, do you want one?"
...
January 03, 2008
One of my favorite examples of marketing persistence is the story of the scientists at the 3M Company who found a use for an adhesive which didn’t stick. Originally developed in 1968, by Dr. Spencer Silver, no one saw any use for the product.
A few years later, another scientist, Art Fry develop...
December 04, 2007
As a confirmed networking junkie, I am always looking for my next fix. This month my new fix is LinkedIn. An on-line social network, Linkedin is often described as FaceBook for professionals. With an emphasis on career history, educational background and association membership, Linkedin has millio...
November 13, 2007
As the year is winding down it is time to begin planning your 2008 marketing programs. Good marketing plans begin with clearly defined goals.
These specific targets are the foundation of all your business activities. They outline what you want to accomplish, serve as a measuring stick for succes...
October 04, 2007
Habits are easy, and they help us get through the day. Do them too often, however, and you end up in a rut. Let the ruts get too deep and it is hard to find a new solution to a problem or challenge. Sometimes drastic measures are needed to break out of the rut.
Break the Habit - Try a New Approa...
September 04, 2007
You won't keep your customers happy if your organization is filled with people who are unhappy or unmotivated.
So how do you keep your employees motivated, engaged and happy? Make them feel connected to the results of the organization by showing them that their ideas count.
Cultivate Grass R...
August 27, 2007
Not too long ago, I met with a friend who had just started a new job as a salesman. In the course of the conversation, he told me his new boss wanted him to make 100 cold calls a week. I didn’t know what to say. I doubt I have made that many cold calls in my entire career!
He continued to talk ab...
August 02, 2007
A Women’s Place Network, Inc. announces the beta launch of its premier online community – http://awomensplace.org/.
A Women’s Place is an “out of the box” experience for women traveling through the 2nd half of life’s journey! Women, age 45 plus, who share common interests, challenges, demands, h...
August 01, 2007
You return home after a networking event and empty your pockets, putting the business cards you collected onto the desk.
What comes next? If you are one of those people who organize them in neat piles, tied with a rubber band and a promise to get to them someday, just toss them in the trash! ...
July 31, 2007
Fort Wayne native Diana Bush-Harris has been selected to appear in the play “Sonnets for my Sistahs” at the Walker Theatre in Indianapolis, July 14-15, 2007.
The production written by Indianapolis-area resident and Gary native playwright Vernon A. Williams--features the comedy and drama of relati...
July 09, 2007
Lorraine Ball announced today the release of her third book: “Business Map” a practical guide to business planning. The “Business Map” workbook and companion CD contain a simple outline and numerous examples to help small business owners create their own “Business Map.”
“Lorraine is extremely a...
July 09, 2007
Your customer, whether they are an individual or a business, has needs beyond what you can provide. Understanding those other needs may lead you to cross-promotion opportunities or new services.
As you clearly define your target customer, think about other products and services your customers pu...
June 18, 2007
What is the right price for your product or service? Most small business owners struggle with this question, because they confuse the cost of producing the product with the value it brings to the customer.
When it comes to establishing a price for your goods or services, the value of your product...
June 07, 2007
Every year, home service companies across the country attend consumer Home Show. If you are planning to be one of them, remember to do your homework before the event to make the event really pay off!
There is more involved than just standing on your feet for 2-3 days. As you plan your home show s...
June 04, 2007
Successful companies know change is a necessity. The challenge is continually encouraging, creating, and implementing worthwhile changes to make a difference for the business. Helping your team learn to accept and even embrace change is similar to learning to ride a bicycle.
Start with Excitement...
May 30, 2007
There is a story about an impatient young man who went to visit an old scholar. He demanded the the old man tell him everything he needed to know about the Bible standing on one foot.
The old man smiled, stood on one foot and said, "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you! All the rest...
May 17, 2007
If you want your company to change, begin by changing your planning events. It is hard to be motivated, when subjected to the same cookie-cutter events, over and over again. If you want to motivate, design off-site events that are exciting, energizing, and memorable -- meetings that make a differen...
April 24, 2007
I am a networking junkie! But unlike people with other addictions, I am not looking for a 12-step program to cure me of my habit, because I like the “BUZZ” my business gets from my referral addiction.
I network, not just because I think it is fun; I network because it drives my business. And, jus...
April 21, 2007
What wins at Wimbledon wins at your local chamber. Watch a tennis match; world class or amateur, the basics are the same. In each case the goal is to make contact with the ball and knock it back over the net!
In tennis if the ball remains on one side of the net too long, there is a greater c...
April 21, 2007
Accidents happen! But even minor mishaps can be major catastrophes for small business owners. Every year, thousands of companies are unprepared for the interruption caused by a minor fire, flood, and burglary or computer meltdown.
According to a recent NFIB National Small Business Poll, man-made ...