I know all of us would like more surges and if you're like me, you tend to get a little discouraged at first when you start to feel effects of lulls. This is normal and although they say you get used to it as time goes on, I have to say I still get discouraged every year around this time, but I've since learned how to deal with it a little more positively.

Since my slow season hits with a bang, I would quickly forget how much I complained about having no time and being extremely stressed during surge. So now I try to think of it as "The Eye of Storm"... calm, quiet, but with promise of a surge to come.

Yes, it's true... there are those big gurus who claim to still surge no matter what time of year it is -- and I don't doubt them -- but for people like you and me, it just doesn't happen no matter how hard you try or how hard you work. I'll admit that my lull isn't as slow as it used to be since my name has gotten out there a bit, but it's STILL slower than any other time of year.

Really! I’m not kidding. Complaints are one of best forms of research you can perform. Complaints are also one of best sources for new product/service ideas. How so? Most people who complain are upset. When people get upset, they are more likely to speak their minds. Most people who complain also like to tell you exactly what you’ve done wrong AND tell you how they would do it better. While your customers’ attitudes may not be something to look forward to, their hidden suggestions are!

Let’s look at this complaint:

“I can’t believe you are sending these huge files through email! How ridiculous can a person be!? That clogs up emails of those of us who are on dial-up for at least 20 minutes. I don’t have time for this. You know, if you had a brain in your head, you’d know about XYZ.com. They burn CDs for about $0.30 each and will ship them to your customers for about $1.00 each. Anybody can afford that price. I’ve deleted your email. When you decide to operate like a real business and send me a CD, I’ll look at it.”