Ever try to call a company for information or assistance, and have to fight your way through a seemingly unending maze of instructions from an automated robot. "For this press one; for that press two", and so on. Some companies take you several layers deep in options before you get choice of speaking with a live human being. I understand efficiency involved, but at what cost? Usually it is at expense of doing business with me.

Auto-responders are also great tools, and there are a number of ways to use them to your advantage. If they're set up to provide information about specific things, they can be a great time saver. But when they are used improperly, they can do more harm than good. If I request information and receive an auto-response, fine. But don't send me same information once a week for next seven weeks. All you are succeeding in doing is aggravating an otherwise potential customer.

While I'm pretty tolerant about receiving unsolicited e-mail, (spam) I do find it annoying to get same ad over and over, all sent to a different address at my domain, day after day. It is pretty obvious that sender has software to search web looking for e-mail addresses, and harvesting every one they could find. If you try to respond to their message, it is returned as undeliverable, and in my judgment is not an offer from a legitimate company - another customer lost.

Ever try to get a question answered at Microsoft's web site? They ask you to describe your problem, and then give you an automated answer, which may or may not solve your problem. Efficient - yes, helpful - possibly. Don't get caught up in this trap. Sometimes there is no substitute for interaction with other people.

Yes, Internet is a vast, impersonal place. But if you are hoping to do business on web, you have to inject personal touch. Personalized e-mail can be a great tool in your bag of tricks. If you get a question, take a few moments and try to answer it - if you do, you will most likely gain a long term supporter, and if they're a prospect, a customer.

1. It's peak of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder.

BE PREPARED: Review symptoms of SAD - http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm . Do what you can to bring more light into office. Attend to your own needs. Remind others of theirs.

2. Valentine's Day and spiking emotions.

BE PREPARED: As has been said, Valentine's Day (which lasts about a month) is hard for those who are alone...or wish they were. It's a time of churning emotions including love, lust, hate, anger, disappointment, envy and jealousy. How will you handle bouquets and balloons arriving at your office? And distraction and disequilibrium it brings?

3. Black History Month and Martin Luther King Day.

BE PREPARED: Designed to celebrate diversity, it also emphasizes diversity. Do you have a plan?

4. Distraction.

With Valentine's day approaching, expect more shopping online, more "visiting," more phone calls, more daydreaming, less focus.

5. In southern climes, expect stirrings of spring.

BE PREPARED: In some parts of US, first balmy weather comes in February and "In spring a young man's fancy turns to..." There's a general restlessness, desire to get out and about, less focus. Also playing hooky.

6. Allergy times.