Business Strategy, Does every employee in your Company know and use it?

Many businesses, even big companies don't really have a clear succinct business strategy.

This is why many businesses are not really successful.

When I was working at JCPenney, the strategy was on the board above the composite picture of all the management.  

Our purpose is to give good customer service and quality goods at a fair price, not what the market will bear. 

This was our guiding light for all the managers and the employees. Before starting to work in the company, each employee had to do a video training session and we learned this and the "JCPenney" way of customer service. 

Now of course, I don't work there, but it was successful in the 1980's.  

Does your business have a slogan that describes what you do?  Can you tell another person in 1 minute or less?  If not, then your  employees are probably confused as well as your customers. 

This will be a guide for you when you have a difficult situation.  Will you cut your price or lose the customer?  Maybe if you have a strategy, then this will help you to decide the best way to handle the situation. 

Finding a perfect strategy for your business might take time and you might also have to change it according to the customer's needs.  

Don't be afraid to try different strategies for different markets.  

Good Luck!

Rachael Alice Orbach 

Life Coach, Business Coach in Jerusalem 

Banks force customers to use the Automatic Teller as of May 1st 2016

Last week, right after Passover, I rushed to my bank to put a bunch of checks into my account.  The teller was very surprised to see me because she doesn't do that job anymore.  But she still had the machine at her desk, and she take care of my checks.  "Why is there a problem?"  I asked,  she pointed to a sign:   As of May 1st no more teller service at this branch. Everyone must use the automatic teller system.


Every customer of the banks is forced to stand outside to do their banking.  You have to get a bank card and do what you did last month standing outside.  Bank Polalim, Bank Leumi and even Bank Jerusalem are doing this.

Well, I see many problems with this, here are a few:

1. New Olim who don't know how to read Hebrew may not understand how to get to the English Menu.
2. Old people who don't know how to use a computer
3. People who are in a wheelchair can't read the screen or  reach the user interface.
4. You have to do something that is not on the menu.
5. People who are disabled won't understand the instructions on the user interface.
6. The machines are outside, making customers vulnerable to get robbed while they are doing their banking!!!


Yes, there are a few branches in each city that will still have a teller, but the lines will be so long that it will waste too much time for everyone.

Why is it that the Bank presidents make so much money, and cut corners everywhere can't see that customer service is still important?

I see that people will conform to the new rules, but we must make our voice heard that there is a place for traditional banking in Israel.

I'm not afraid to put my name:

Any comments, please write below,
I'm Rachael Alice in Jerusalem.

Anger management is necessary in the 21st Century

Anger at work in a thing of the past.  If you have the tendency to get upset and to scream and yell at work, you should know that you probably won't get that promotion or if you are in sales, your ability to close sales will decrease.

The business climate nowadays is geared toward calm, capable individuals who can take a bit of disappointment, ok, a lot of disappointment at work, but still be able to function without blowing your top!

Here is a link that can help you.
 http://www.kimscounselingcorner.com/2012/09/16/50-activities-and-games-dealing-with-anger/

Before you try to get a new job make sure that you can control your temper at all times.
A person who screams is likely not only to lose their job but also drive away people from their life.

No woman wants to be interrupted at work to get yelled at by the husband.  Why pay for a phone call that gets you upset?

Angry people might be able to bully someone for the short term, but in the long term, they will be the losers in life.  If the spouse has to stay, because of the kids or money issues, they will spend more and more time outside the angry environment in one way or another.

Keep your Temper, keep your job, keep your loved ones.

One way to help, is to wear a rubber band around your wrist, and each time you start to get angry ping yourself with the rubber band.  If your wrist starts to hurt, then you are angry too much!

Another way to regulate your anger is to put money into a box that you will give to the person that you are angry with.  Each time, put in a small value of money.  If you see that there is a lot of money in the box, you are angry too much.  Give the person the money and say that you are working on your anger problem.

The last way is to get professional help.  Go to a Cognitive Psychologist and ask for strategies to get over the anger.



Public service announcement from
Rachael Alice
lifecoachjerusalem@gmail.com 

How to Make a Kosher for Passover Blueberry Pie - Life on a Shoestring

Passover Blueberry Pie! 

I like to eat on Passover, but not only Matza and chocolate spread.  This is a recipe that doesn't need baking either for the pie crust or the filling.

Passover Blueberry Pie:

Use this pie crust: Pesach Pie Crust http://www.food.com/recipe/pesach-pie-crust-59199?soc=socialsharingtw via @fooddotcom


Then for the filling I used this recipe:  http://bangordailynews.com/2008/08/22/living/there-are-many-ways-to-make-a-blueberry-pie/  But with one important difference, I used Matza Flour instead of the cornstarch.  You might have to cook it longer to make the sauce thicker, but it is worth the amount of time.

Happy Passover!

Rachael Alice Orbach
http://lifecoachjerusalem.weebly.com/

Traditional Chinese Medicine - Life on a Shoestring

Until now, If you wanted to go to a Traditional Chinese Medicine, it cost a lot of money.  You then had to keep going back for treatments.  But I found a site that you can try out for yourself!

I just found it last night, so it is an experiment for me, too.  I have been using Reiki for a long time, and it helps when I am very tired, not having slept the night before for any number of reasons.  But it doesn't really solve the problems, just tones them down a bit.  That's good, and I do Reiki when I am in the elevator, (we live on the 7th floor) so the minute or so is just the ticket to close the eyes and take a Reiki Break!

I teach on-line to Chinese students on https://www.italki.com/teacher/1581946 and as I am teaching the kids, I am also learning from them.  So, I found this site last night.

One caveat, Don't do the Meridian Massage right before going to sleep!  It Revs you up and it makes it difficult to sleep!

This is the Main Page  http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/front/index.html,  I am working on Vision and Hearing.  You can work on what you need.


I wish you lots of Luck!

Rachael Alice Orbach

Jerusalem Marathon stops the city!

As I am writing now, safe at home, the Jerusalem marathon is running throughout the city.  This event stops almost all businesses, and not to mention inconvenience  to drivers trying to get home for the weekend.

Security measures are in place, but will it be enough? We will only know as the event plays out.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/High-security-mobilized-for-Fridays-Jerusalem-Marathon-448254


I don't mind the idea of a Marathon, but why does it have to disrupt all the city?  Why not have a Marathon through the hills outside the city?

 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/209577#.Vuuql_l97IU

If I were in the race, I would wear my bullet proof, stab proof vest, so as to take no chances.  I don't trust anyone anywhere!

Be careful and stay alert!


Not on the scene:  Rachael Alice

Government Workers accept to see the Public less hours per week

Now that Netanyahu is sailing along, he still needs to pay attention to the public service

Yes, there are many functions that you can do on-line, but as an English speaker, I'm not sure if I will fill out the right form, or get to the right department. So, I take the time to go to the Tax Authority and see the right person.  The day I had time this week was on Tuesday.  I take off the time from work, and go to the office and . . . they won't let me in on Tuesdays!  

The office in Jerusalem on Kanfei Nesharim 66 is open  Sunday Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, in the morning 8:30-13:30, on Monday and I think in Monday and Thursday from 16:00-18:00.  

This is the website, but good luck finding the information! https://taxes.gov.il/Pages/InfoTaxesGovIl/TaxesUnits.aspx 

Instead of reducing the hours of public service which is little enough, they should hire more people to work and get the work done and give better service to the tax paying public.  

Or they could translate the site into English, French, Russian and Arabic like many other institutions do.  For example Golan Telecom (https://www.golantelecom.co.il/web/ in lots of languages )and Bank Jerusalem (in English) https://www.bankjerusalem.co.il/pages/Default.aspxhave their sites in all the languages and you can do most of the functions even if you don't read Hebrew perfectly. 

Improve service -  Not take away Service!

Rachael Alice Orbach - your blogger on the scene!