EFFECT ON CONCENTRATION

Indoor Air Quality has been shown to have a dramatic affect on concentration of people within an office setting. One such study of clerical workers, which appeared in Indoor Air 99: The Eighth International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, showed IAQ effecting typing speed by 6.5 percent, typing errors by 5 percent, basic math by 3.8 percent and scores on reasoning and logic tests by 3 to 4 percent.

"Scent is an important indicator of good air quality," said Mark Wincent, director of development for Sparks Technology, Inc. "Usually indoor air quality issues are first identified through complaints of a stale or stuffy odor."

Ambient odors can also have an effect on concentration and memory tasks. In fact, memory for odor is markedly resistant to time, easily accessed and tends to be characterized by a high degree of emotion, clarity and vividness. Memory recall tends to be better when subject is exposed to same odor at encoding and at recall than in a situation that had no odors.

"We understand power that scent has on cognitive ability," said Wincent, adding that, as a filter company, Sparks is concerned with removing smells, not adding them. "Scents can also be associated with negative memories. A building owner has no way of knowing what type of memories a buildings' occupants associate with specific smells."

EFFECT ON EMOTION

Professional: (adjective) 2: exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in workplace 2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs.

Looking at definition above (courtesy of Merriam Webster), I am at a loss to find words cold or impersonal.

So why do you think it is that so many online business professionals feels that those two words belong in "their" definition of professional?

I have been involved in Internet business for over 3 years now. I have a background in brick and mortar business world that spans back a few more years than I'm willing to admit.

There is no question in my mind why so many Internet businesses fail every day. Or why many Mom and Pop brick and mortar businesses keep going when people can find better prices and more convenience elsewhere.

Let's call it Personal Touch.

Just because we are doing business on Internet doesn't mean that it is necessary to reinvent wheel. Professionalism online doesn't mean cold detachment. It's courteous and conscientious treatment of your prospective customers. This can be more challenging, but should be your number one goal for your business.

There are certain principals of business that apply no matter whether you are doing business in cyberspace or you are doing business in your own community.

1. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

Oh, I guess that's it.

It all boils down to Golden Rule here, folks.

When I shop, either online or down street, I want courteous service. I want to be acknowledged when I walk in. I want to be smiled at. I want to feel that I am an important part of their day. If I have a question, I would like to have it answered quickly, accurately, and in a friendly manner.

I'm happiest when I'm given personal, and personable, interaction.