Delight employees and business partners alike with our custom Cane River Pecan gift tins. Packed with delicious pecans, our tailored tins are perfect for sending tokens of gratitude and keeping your brand top of mind. You can choose between a variety of sweet & salty flavors or all-naturals, including our hearty Mammoth Desirables and the highly sought-after Elliotts — all served in a handsomely embossed Cane River Pecan gift tin.
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The corporate world can be an intense, competitive space. It’s a complex business-scape of colleagues and contractors, clients and customers, vendors, bosses and employees. Often policies, promotions and profits rule, leaving corporate environments feeling synthetic, dehumanized and lonely.
In truth, our own success usually depends upon our ability to build and maintain genuine relationships with other people. A significant component of that skill is learning how to be thankful and letting that positive approach guide everything we do.
We may grow older and attach an MBA or other lofty title to our name, but relationship building remains the same at any age:
Sometimes, we may fail to see another’s potential immediately. However, being thankful is an active, inclusive process that builds not only on past successes, but also on shared disappointments and a continuing future. As trust and relationships grow, so do the people within them.
Thankfully, there are countless ways of incorporating the positive aspect of gratitude into your professional repertoire to build relationships with others:
On a personal level, being thankful builds one’s reputation. Even more important, however, it can be contagious, restoring humanization to a too-often dehumanizing work environment. It encourages willingness in others to pass it on and take a positive, thankful approach themselves. When trust becomes the norm, it can make your companies known for being a great place to work and do business.
Cane River Pecan Company believes in the strength of gratitude and its power to shape professional relationships. If you want to learn more about building professional connections, download our ebook, The Gift of Giving: A Cornerstone of Southern Community and Tradition.
Every day, work pressures force us to move faster, work harder and churn out better products. To meet the challenge, we begin pushing ourselves harder, demand more of our associates and coworkers, and more from those we value most—our families.
But what if we chose to take a breath and shift to a more positive mindset instead? What if we chose to be thankful as we moved forward? I’ve found that taking the extra step to show appreciation, whether in business or in my personal life, can go miles— especially when done right. After all, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
For me, “thank you” is one of the simplest things to say. Yet, for some reason, many people deem it unnecessary or worse — a sign of weakness. In truth, simple expressions of gratitude can be powerful:
Everyone wants to feel that their accomplishments and efforts are meaningful. Even the most simple expressions of gratitude can become priceless investments in trust and loyalty. But with such hectic schedules, how can we help ourselves recognize all the things that deserve thanks?
Actually see all the people who show up to work with you every day. From the front desk employee who cheerfully takes client calls and manages the day-to-day minutiae, to the coworker who tags in to ease your workload on the busiest days. The ones who answer your calls, talk through challenges and ultimately make your expectations become reality. Operate from true awareness of what you’re asking of yourself, and the people you and your company depend on. Take accurate stock of how much effort is required from everyone and what would happen if any one of them failed.
Overtime hours, deadline extensions or compressions, special events, new product rollouts, schedule shifts and even just business as usual come with difficulties for company owners and employees alike. Those affected may feel stressed, overexerted, under-appreciated or overwhelmed. These challenges ripple throughout a company and extend into associated networks — as well as personal lives.
Your family may take the brunt of any frustration you’ve experienced through the workday. They’re the sounding board you turn to when you can’t discuss an issue with a boss or coworkers, and they take on new stress from any issues you bring home. While your spouse may be supportive and happy to hear you out, their show of empathy to you may take a toll on their own emotions and feelings. It’s incredibly important to express how appreciative you are to have them by your side to share any worries or challenges you face, otherwise they can go through their own form of burnout.
Being mindful of the effort others put forth comes from a place of empathy — a recognition of the shared human condition. We all have goals, responsibilities, hopes and dreams that we’re trying to fulfill. As you practice empathy, you may discover just how important many previously unnoticed people really are to your success and all that you have to be thankful for.
When business is involved, most of us can detect, to a degree, when gratitude is inauthentic. Ingenuous offerings of thanks may fall flat due to a perceived connotation of why the recognition is taking place to begin with. People are, by nature, wary of gratitude that might come with a hidden ask or expectation.
Authenticity means taking interest in the person behind the uniform, or beyond their relation to you, and making consistent efforts to connect in an honest way. Take the time to learn about people, their goals and the events that are meaningful to them.
When you have the opportunity to help your coworkers, family or friends by thanking them or adding to their good fortune, you’ll be able to do it naturally, in simple ways that ring true to their preferences.
Owning a business that has always been a family affair brings with it a long history of enduring relationships. Cane River Pecan Company is rooted in the certainty that genuine acts of appreciation can strengthen — and even cement — meaningful professional and personal relationships.
Over the years, we’ve grown and flourished thanks to the trust and loyalty of our partners, associates, employees and customers. Every day, I remind myself that I owe all of these members of the Cane River Pecan Company family, and my own family, a debt that I can only hope to repay with acts of gratitude — simply and genuinely.
For more information on Cane River Pecan Company and tangible ways that you can express your gratitude, visit our website, or call 1.800.692.3109.
Is there anything more awkward than a networking event? You’re in a room full of strangers, being talked at as opposed to being talked to, while collecting business cards quicker than a ticket-taker at a theater on opening night. However, as uncomfortable as it may be — networking is a delicate yet vital business skill. When done right, it allows us to thrive and grow simply by engaging in a natural give and take of meaningful rapport and mutual interest. Too often, though, ambitious efforts to connect leave us feeling uneasy and straining for authenticity that just isn’t there.
Despite this, genuine business relationships can and do exist. Dedicated professionals — the people you want to meet and have on your team — constantly search for others in their industry who are equally committed to excellence. Here are a few ways you can create authentic business connections in your professional circle:
While building strong professional relationships takes time and consistent care, the returns offer longevity and understanding. Thoughtful actions now may yield a return on investment for years to come. Plus, as each of you succeeds, you have the bond of shared history and the ability to ask for advice or help.
Each genuine connection you nurture can starburst into another network of equally authentic professional relationships. It may yield the solution you’ve been seeking, the referral of the decade or the foothold for a whole new direction.
Here at Cane River Pecan Company, we help business professionals build meaningful relationships with colleagues, clients, employees and friends. We believe that the best gifts are equal parts simplicity and quality, with a healthy dash of Southern tradition.
If you’re looking for assistance in selecting that perfect corporate gift for a connection worth celebrating, contact us through our website, or call 1.800.692.3109. Our experienced corporate gifting specialists can help you send the perfect selection for every occasion.
Everyone wants to feel valued and know that their contributions are important. Knowing how to give workers that recognition in a way that’s meaningful to them is key to keeping them engaged and happy at your organization. But how can you be sure to get it right?
Here are a few of our favorite tips to help you find the right gift.
Some managers may avoid asking employees what they find meaningful because it feels invasive, but it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to determine what might be a good gift. “Simply asking an employee what they like to do outside of the office is a way to safely establish what an employee values,” says Todd Horton, founder and CEO of KangoGift.
Many employees don’t think their managers show appreciation enough, he adds. By taking the time to ask, you’ll ensure the gift or feedback you provide will be personalized and something they find meaningful.
You can also do a little bit of sleuthing to find out what employees might like. “Social media has made it possible to learn more about clients and employees beyond business interactions,” says Larry Oakner, senior partner at Tenet Partners. “Clients or employees who post on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook often reveal what’s important to them in their world. Do they believe in social causes? A favorite sports team or college? Are they connected to charitable organizations? You can find out how people treat others and be able to respond in kind — donating to their causes and supporting their efforts with innovative ideas.”
When you really get to know your employees, you learn what’s important to them as people. Encourage your managers to pay attention over the course of the workday and to really listen to what employees are telling them about their struggles, their triumphs and what matters to them. Not only does this help managers identify what might be a meaningful gift, it builds a more respectful and responsive work environment. In addition, it can also pay off for companies: Research suggests that reinforcing good work and rewarding great work leads an employee to have a greater commitment to the organization, Horton says.
For more tips on how to give gifts that make your employees feel loved, download our ebook, Growing Business Through Employee Recognition and Customer Appreciation.
Business is built on relationships, but keeping those relationships warm and engaging over time can be a challenge. Like any relationship, they take work to stay strong, and thoughtful notes and gifts can help — as long as you do it right. “Part of the reason for giving a gift occasionally is not just to say thanks,” says Larry Oakner, senior partner at Tenet Partners. “It’s to maintain a memorable contact with a client when you’re not working with them on an ongoing basis.”
Here’s how to make it work.
The Platinum Rule goes beyond the Golden Rule and recommends treating people the way they want to be treated. You might recognize the anniversary of when your client became your customer, says Paul Hebert, senior director of solutions architecture at Creative Group, but it would be much more effective to celebrate the day they went into business themselves. “Recognizing that says ‘I’m in business too, I know it’s hard,’ and all of a sudden, you’re not just an organization that sends a bill; you’ve personalized it,” he says.
Look for ways to give “just because” notes or gifts to clients. Hebert suggests celebrating client relationships in the same way you celebrate employee relationships. “We recognize that we’re glad employees are still here; why don’t we do that with customers?” he says. Clients don’t always expect gifts outside of holidays, so it can make a bigger impact when you celebrate the business journey you’re on together at other times of the year.
Don’t be afraid to be human when you send gifts to your clients or customers. Recipients value handwritten notes and warm sentiments. When you send a corporate gift, you’re acknowledging that your clients are people, and you’re interested in treating people well, Hebert says. “If you think about most relationships with clients, they’re very transactional — after a sale it becomes a matter of accounts payable and receivable. Gifting changes that relationship from transactional to emotional.”
For more tips on how to strengthen your relationships with your clients, download our ebook, Growing Business Through Employee Recognition and Customer Appreciation.
In the business world, it’s an old saw that raises eyebrows. But here, we say taking a timeout is occasion to raise a glass.
As Chief Nut Officer for Cane River Pecan Company, I’ve clocked some of the most consequential hours of my business’s history in solitude. Specifically, aboard my sailboat, the Gone Pecan, out at Cypremort Point.
Because for me, escaping from the office is as much a moment to take care of business as it is an opportunity to unwind. But the thing is, I’m convinced hitting pause and hitting the books on your business are two sides of the same coin.
If you spend your days in spreadsheets, working on numbers, odds are you’ll start to look at people that way. And when it comes to relationship-building—the true secret sauce of success—that’s more than a little counterproductive.
More often than not, we insufferable Type-A’s tend to consider “time out” to be “dollars lost.” But if you’re anything like me, and you genuinely love what you do, you’ll find that’s not quite the case.
It’s only when we shut down the typical tools of our trade that we can think beyond the noise. Because what better way to get out of the rut of “business as usual” than by escaping from just that?
So I say next time you find yourself in the dreaded “hurry up and wait” scenario, consider taking the time to explore the softer side of your business. Plot your escape. Stick to it. And while you’re out and about, ask yourself the following questions:
When you’ve got a payroll to make, self-reflection can feel like sacrilege. But more often than not, you’ll find yourself thinking in brand new ways.
Prove to yourself that you can hit pause. When you do, you’ll be amazed where your mind takes you.
No matter their industry, income or generational outlook, business leaders across the world have one thing in common—they’re human.
Isn’t it odd that we’re more tethered than ever to our communication devices, yet the company we keep can still feel… disconnected? We’ve all seen it with families at restaurants and in the hands of, shall we say, “distracted” parents at city parks.
Be honest: when someone uses the phrase “face time,” you probably think of the video chatting software first.
I suppose that’s because there’s a fine line between “staying in touch” and “being in touch.” And in my years of experience as a C-level something-or-another, I’ve learned it’s far more important to focus on the latter.
Frankly, it’s the reason Cane River Pecan Company is the business it is today. I tell people we’re not so much a pecan company as a business relationship company that happens to sell pecans. (The best pecans money can buy, by the way. But I digress.)
“It’s the thought that counts” is an ancient axiom, but its staying power is well deserved. No matter how many emails we have in our inbox, we all want to feel genuine connections. In touch. We want to be acknowledged by our colleagues, appreciated by our superiors and, basically, to be understood.
There’s something salient about even the most trivial of personal relationships — about your barista knowing your regular order or a client who cares enough to know more about you than what’s listed on LinkedIn—my family started this company to make those little moments of humanity a little more common.
I’m not asking you to be friends with all your clients, colleagues and employees. That would be ill-advised. But forging a personal connection isn’t about depth so much as it is about acknowledging what’s just below the surface.
Give us a call on your iPhone, Android or Blackberry if you’d like to learn more. (Or if you’d like to meet us face to face, let us know and we can make it happen!)
In the age of social media, online advertising campaigns and relentless notifications, small-business owners can often overlook the real-world connections that play an integral role in the long-term success of their company.
While they don’t offer the instant gratification of a social media reaction, real-world connections over the long run can help your company in a dramatic way. Public appearances, participation in community events and the cultivation of personal relationships can all give your company a competitive advantage.
There are plenty of tried-and-true methods to increase your company’s community outreach and visibility — and they don’t necessarily cost a lot of money.
For example, consider sponsoring or coaching a children’s sports team, teaming up with a nonprofit organization for a fundraiser or renting a popular venue for an evening and inviting all of your clients or neighbors to a private party.
Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, which provides executive leadership and business etiquette training, suggests hosting quarterly dinners with six to 12 clients or other business owners, where conversations don’t necessarily have to focus on business. Those connections can pay off down the road in unexpected ways. “Entrepreneurs and business owners are eager to meet and mastermind with smart, like-minded people who are also in search of reciprocal, long-lasting relationships,” she says.
Michelle Christie, an online visibility coach and social media expert who helps clients position their businesses to generate visibility, says volunteering is one of the easiest and most cost-effective community outreach techniques. It’s also a great way to make a meaningful positive impact on your community. “Getting all employees together once a month to do some Saturday morning cleaning in a community park will improve a company’s reputation and the look of the local greenery,” Christie says. “Make some company T-shirts for your employees to wear and you’re all set.”
For more tips on how to strengthen your businesses’ ties to your community, download our ebook, How Small-Town Values Can Transform Networking Skills.
If your small business is growing more slowly than you’d like, it might be time to jumpstart things with a healthy dose of old-fashioned small-town networking. While online connections are helpful for most businesses in the modern age, taking time to build real-world relationships is just as important for long-term success.
Two of the easiest ways to connect with potential clients in your community are to join a civic club or your local chamber of commerce.
Tom Egelhoff, an independent business consultant and author of “How To Market, Advertise and Promote Your Business Or Service In A Small Town,” is a big fan of the power of civic clubs to help business leaders to develop connections. Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Club offer the opportunity to have a positive impact on your community while simultaneously expanding your personal and professional network.
Egelhoff suggests exploring the various groups available in your community to see which ones match up best with your interests and values. “Once you get to know people, you can ask them for referrals because they know you in a non-business setting,” he says. “Once they know you and the kind of person you are they are a lot more receptive to recommending you to their friends and colleagues.”
Your local chamber of commerce is another opportunity to create connections. In addition to lobbying for business-friendly public policies, these organizations hold regular events that facilitate connections between companies — and they can help you develop powerful relationships that are often difficult to cultivate on your own.
When you join, make sure you get a copy of the Chamber Directory; take a moment to review it and identify those companies or people you feel are your highest-value targets. “This will help you focus your attention and efforts on the right members, accelerating your chances to maximize your attendance at chamber functions,” says Chassity McComack, executive director of the River Region Chamber of Commerce.
Terry Dugas, marketing and public relations manager for the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, says chamber membership can be a key component in an overall strategy to build stronger ties with the community, especially if it’s combined with a wider plan to connect with other business owners and residents. “The main thing is making yourself accessible to the people you want to patronize your business,” Dugas says. “That means getting involved in your community — not only when it benefits you financially — as a way to get your face out there. It always benefits you to just get out there and start shaking hands.”
For more tips on how to strengthen your businesses’ connections to your community, download our ebook, How Small-Town Values Can Transform Your Networking Skills.
