Five Star Ratings and Why I Truly Hate Them

If you’re like me, you work hard for peoples’ happiness and satisfaction – not just in business, but also in life.  So what does that mean for you when you get any less than a full five stars?

Sheer Panic

Honestly, I’m a people-pleaser and when my efforts aren’t appropriately reflected in my star rating, whether it be Etsy, Facebook, or what-have-you, I panic.  A million questions fill my mind: What did I do wrong?  Was I not polite enough?  Should I lower my prices?  As I panic and ponder, my vision begins to fade and all I can see is the bright swirling of stars in my face.  Why did I lose a star!?!

This is an exact quote from my Etsy page.  Sounds like a five-star review, right?  Wrong.

SELLER was terrific…you can tell customer service is important to her! The personalized bags were nicely done and are just a unique and perfect way to ‘wrap’ jewelry/gift cards/and other ‘smaller’ gift items for gift giving!

I sold this very kind lady three 4×6″ organza bags with personalized, heat-pressed vinyl lettering for a total of $1.35 plus shipping.  I was very excited for her because she wanted to use them to hold Holiday gift cards.  I thought it was such a fabulous idea!  The whole transaction went smoothly.  She asked questions, I answered promptly, and she seemed so pleased.  When she received the product, she again contacted me with questions.  She wanted to know why this name, , appeared to have an “e” between the “r” and the “a.”  I understood where she was coming from and politely informed her it was the font.  Without argument or judgment, I offered to completely redo the one, sent her alternate font options, and told her it would be in the mail next day.  She seemed so pleased with my offer and politely declined.  She said she’d happily use the bag and now saw how the font added the little loop.  Yet, I got this:

I’m still cringing at the rating.  There was no reasonable explanation as to why I lost a whole star.  Especially because my Etsy account is fresh, this could make or break my start-out.  As silly as it sounds, it hurts all around and I will think about this for quite some time.

Does Anybody Really Care?

Well, do you care?  About the star rating, that is.  I want to say that I don’t care, but it means more than you or I think, and frankly, it’s stupid.

As you can see in this image, there is a vague understanding of the five-star rating system.  Pretty much if you have anything below four stars, you’re crap.  For online stores like Etsy, you only get full stars.  So right now I think I only have 4 reviews.  That’s how new I am at selling.  I do have an “average” rating of five stars, but if those that don’t understand what only four stars or three stars mean, I could lose my “Excellent” average and be royally screwed at selling on Etsy again.  Facebook is a little different because you have the option to hide your reviews.

So is the above correct or is the below correct?  Why is the star system so complicated!  Do you like it or not?!  Maybe the below is more likely.  At least at three stars the person “liked it.”  Also, why do you even have to give a star?  If you hate something, why does that review deserve any stars?

What Really Matters When You Shop

I only partly take Amazon star ratings into account when I’m shopping.  What I actually do when I’m deciding on Amazon purchases is to read the reviews.  Star ratings with no words mean nothing to me.  I start with the one-star reviews.  I read why they chose a one star.  Then I move on to two stars.  Why did they choose only two?  Then I move on to three stars and so on.

The things people have to say about a product is what makes the difference.  I will use the Kitchenaid Classic stand mixer on Amazon as an example.  The product has a 4.5-star rating.  So by the chart above, it is “Excellent.”  This does not mean there are no reviews at one single star.

In case you cannot see the words, it is titled “Don’t wast your money.”  It then reads:

“Mixer is 6 months old.  Used once weekly for light duty mixing (cake batter).  Mixer started making strange noises.  Kitchen Aid support said it sounded normal.  Then squeaking started.  Opened machine to find screw loose.  Apparently, this is a common problem.  I am unable to open the housing to get to the screw to tighten.  The product is junk.”

So when I read this, I like to take into account major points.  It’s six months old, it was used for light duty, called support before the squeaking started, found a loose screw, couldn’t tighten it.  Junk.

First of all, I have a Kitchenaid Mixer and I absolutely love it, so it probably wasn’t the best example.  So, in this case, I will be objective. Simply, I do not believe based on the issue it is immediately to be considered “junk.”  Therefore, I wouldn’t stop at this single review.  I would keep reading and reading and would basically end up deciding yes or no based on these types of key points.

Here’s another great example why the star rating is stupid.  This review had four stars and the author of the review had to start out and explain exactly why.

The reason my Kitchenaid did not get Five stars is not because it didn’t do a good job, but because of incomplete instructions. On my first usage so far, after washing the bowl and beaters. I proceeded to mix homemade yeast bread. Upon removing dough from bowl there was some gray streaks in the dough. At their web site after trouble shooting it stated that a polishing material is used on stainless steel and prevents no danger but to rub this material wash bowl with salt and lemon or scrub with baking soda. It would really have been nice if that had been stated in the instruction booklet.

Thank you to the author for clarifying, but, with such precious meaning to each level of star power, I would not take a star off for the included instructions being vague.  Thank goodness we are in the day and age with the internet and this shouldn’t be a real complaint anymore.  But it is.  And I do respect that.  I will, however, continue to love my espresso professional level Kitchenaid stand mixer and love it forever.  Becuase that thing will live forever.

Take Away the Stars!

I honestly would be happy not seeing stars.  I like when I go to take a survey and there’s the 1-10 and it tells you what each means.  It’s still not that great, but I like it.  In fact, I would give it four stars.  My point is, I want the stars to go away and to replace it with honesty.  Write reviews for days!  Make lazy people read for once to find out what others thought of a product.  Stop ruining good peoples’ days for stupid star averages.

I Think I Can, I Think I Can – The Little Business that Could

How many people jump right into something with full confidence and just succeed right away?  Probably not all that many, but it happens.

The worst thing you can ever tell yourself is “I can’t.”  “I can’t make that deadline.”  “I can’t impress my colleagues.”  “I can’t do it.”  But why can’t you?

Shoo Away the Negativity

Seriously, escort that crap right out the door!  There are so many driving factors in our lives that keep us up and going or that drag us right under.  For me lately, it’s the latter.  In yesterday’s post, “Time Management and Small Businesses: What’s that mean?,” I briefly discuss all the ways that I stay busy: my full-time job, my education, home life, small business, etc.  Each of these activities I “accomplish” every day come with a lot of “behind the scenes” struggles.  For example, at my full-time job, I’m due for a promotion.  Not because anybody sees the exceptional job I do or because I’ve studied the last five years with degree in hand to qualify for the position, but because I’m here and they know I am not going anywhere.  Even so, this should be exciting.  I’m getting a promotion!

It’s not that exciting, I promise.  See, at my place of work, there are driving forces that want to see me drown in my own misery.  There are hateful people that make sure I can never feel confident about the good things.  Therefore, this promotion remains “hush hush” because nobody wants to “step on toes.”  This happens because one person will be livid at the fact that I would get something that they will not.  This person is a snake, poisoning the minds of those that control my career and my position.  The point is, something like this can really cut deep and make you feel undervalued and not all that important.

Instead, stop feeling undervalued and know your worth!  You are getting the promotion, you are more than qualified, and you are good at what you do!  That person that dictates your feelings and the way others treat you, shoo them out the door.  Remove the poison from your life and move on to great things.

Build Your Confidence and Succeed

But how?  I’m asking for a friend.

Building confidence for success will, of course, start with the above discussion: remove the negative from your life and replace it with positivity.  Even if you don’t feel it, force a smile and make them believe it.  Staying in a pool of negative feelings will drown you.  Your motivation is reduced and it drags you down to lows you didn’t know you could get to.  Surround yourself with positive energy; surround yourself with positive people and let them be your positive influence and your push when you’re feeling sluggish.

This is an especially important concept when you’re running your own business.  Consider your customers.  How are they supposed to be confident in your business if you aren’t?  Like I said, force a smile, make them believe you have the confidence to make you unstoppable.

Educate Yourself

Learn until you can learn no more.

Whatever it is that you sell or whatever business you are running, become an expert.  Read books, attend seminars, ask questions; do what you have to do to succeed in your industry.  You can never know too much.

Establish Objectives

What are you trying to accomplish?

Establish objectives that you want for your business.  Create a clear and concise vision of what your business is to become and work toward it.  Make sure it’s a narrow scope.  Don’t make your objective so broad that your only goal is to “make tons of cash.”  Instead, narrow it and think more along the lines of “I’m going to make 10 extra sales next month.”  Don’t forget to reevaluate those objectives from time to time.  Make sure you’re always pushing yourself to new heights.  But be sure it’s more of a gradual climb and not a leap.

Risky Business

You dance in your underwear and socks, but I’m not talking Tom Cruise’s Risky Business.

When I say risky business, I don’t mean put your business at risk of failure, but rather take risks that will in turn benefit your business.  For example, doing the same old boring thing all the time gets, well, boring.  Spice it up and do something with your business you’ve never done.  Get out of your comfort zone and create a fresh environment for your business.  Run a contest, reach out to your followers, ask their advice, put your business out there!

No More Doubt

I think I can, I think I can – and I will.

I’m no little engine, but I have a little business that could.  And with the right steps, I just might have a little business that did and will.  The first thing I need to do, though, is stop saying “can’t.”  It’s a nasty word and just needs removed from my vocabulary.  Nobody likes to be told they can’t do something.  I’m willing to bet that you don’t like it much when other people tell you that you can’t do something.  Then why do you do it to yourself?  By believing in yourself and your work – by removing the incessant doubt, you can.  You can and you will.  Stick it to the doubt and just do it.

You Better Recognize

*Insert sass here.*

All those many little victories need to be recognized.  I can’t say it enough.  If you only focus on what went wrong or what you didn’t do well enough, you’re creating an opening for doubt and negativity to slip back into your life, and you don’t want that.  So what if you only made a $3 sale?  You made a $3 sale!  And for all you know, that customer will tell their friends and before you know it, you’ll be making ten $3 sales or twenty $3 sales and on and on it will go.  Despite what Green Day says in their song “Nice Guys Finish Last,” just give yourself a pat on the back once in a while.  I promise, it won’t break your spine.

 

As always, I’m not saying my advice means anything, but as I write this, I keep myself in mind.  In a way, I’m trying to give myself a pep talk.  My little store, Live Peculiar at http://www.livepeculiarshop.com, is my newest baby and I just want to see that baby grow into a big kid one day and take the world by storm.

Credit

https://www.inc.com/murray-newlands/6-tips-to-build-self-confidence-for-business-success.html

Time Management and Small Businesses: What’s that mean?

24 hours.  That’s all we get each day.  Therefore, we need to make the very most of our time and somehow accomplish day-to-day tasks efficiently. 

What is “Time Management?”

The standard definition is “the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively, especially at work.”  However, and more appropriately, time management can be described best as “the process of organizing and planning how to divide your time between specific activities” (Mindtools.com).  What it really comes down to is the process of organizing and planning the way that you manage each activity you do in a day.  You can learn more at this link: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_00.htm.

Why I Need Time Management Skills

I personally can say that I need to develop my time management skills.  I pile responsibilities on top of responsibilities.  While I prefer it that way, busy does not necessarily mean productive.  I’m a full-time student in an Accounting Master’s Program, I run a card program for a small credit union, I’m a wife, I’m a “dog mom,” and I’m trying to grow a business of hand-made items (that I make with my hands) at http://www.livepeculiarshop.com.  Oh, and I write this blog, as well.  Yet, I still only have 24 hours in a day, and I still love to sleep.  So how do I do it?  Simply put: just barely.  I’ve been surviving on a planner that I misplace four times a week, which is not efficient at all.  This is how I know developing time management skills is a must. 

How Should I Manage My Time?

We are all different in our daily habits and we all have fluctuating energy levels, so it won’t be the same for everybody.  But, the following are a few steps that I think would help myself, and therefore might help you, as well:

1. Build your schedule around your most productive times.  For example, on working days, my most productive seems to be as soon as I sit down at my desk for the day.  I have all of my daily work in a pile in front of me so I sort it and get to work.  The second I finish my daily work, I’m ready to go back to bed.  This seems to restart itself again after lunch.  This is when I like to dive into tougher, more time-consuming work.  By the time that’s done, I’m ready to go home and put my feet up.  Although, I have to be mindful of the fact that my day doesn’t end after 5pm.  I also have to make the most of the time I have between cooking dinner, eating, and quality time with my husband.
2. Limit Distractions.  Nobody is more distracted than I am.  Just ask my husband a.k.a. the greatest distraction.  I’ve found that when I sit down to get something done, I need complete focus.  I might open up a web browser to search something, leave it open, then next thing I find myself opening Facebook.com/livepeculiar to see if I have any new likes.  So if I don’t need a web browser open, I close it.  I’ve also found I like to watch TV shows while I work.  I had to stop that, too.  I shut the TV off and I’ll turn on some music.  It has to be instrumental, though, because I’ll lose myself in the lyrics and I’m back to square one.  There’s a really great study station on Pandora I like that plays popular songs covered by string instruments and it’s beautiful.
3. Limit Priorities.  What does this actually mean, though?  If they’re priorities, how can you limit them?  As Patrick M Lencioni, writer of books on business management, said: “If everything is important, then nothing is.”  That makes total sense.  So your best bet is to put the most important tasks at the top and give them priority.  Hone your focus.  Avoid “task paralysis.”  It might be wise once in a while to ask for help.  For example, I have some orders to accomplish tonight, and they are a priority.  Therefore, my husband is in charge of dinner.  Love you, Nathan!
4. Delegate.  This directly follows the new list of limited priorities.  Now that you have those defined, delegate when they’re done, who does them, etc.  For example, I work 9-5 so it’s hard for me to get to the post office.  Therefore, I complete my orders in the evening and then my dear husband ships them for me during the day.  We all need help, and while most of us in my position can’t afford an assistant, it’s okay to delegate some tasks if that helps keep you on track.
5. Be Positive.  This is something I’m all too familiar with: self-judgment.  I fixate on mistakes and things that I’m not doing well enough.  I am rarely looking “on the bright side of life.”  This is a huge problem.  So if you’re like me, turn that attitude around.  Stop looking at what you did not accomplish and start looking at what you did.  Small wins are still wins and they deserve to be celebrated or at least recognized.  Otherwise, you are likely to “damage your confidence and make [yourself] less productive” (Myers, 2017).  Seriously, if you’re in need of time management, then you’re most likely already awesome.  You just need a way to organize all the ways you do a great job.

I’m not saying the five steps above are the ultimate solution to all time management issues, but I am saying that identifying and studying ways that can help you personally is a solution.  These steps can simply be a starting point.

Credit :

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_00.htm

https://www.outboundengine.com/blog/time-management-tips-for-productive-small-business-owners/

Shop Small – Make the Biggest Difference

Whether you have heard this term or not, there’s truth in the saying “Small Businesses are the Backbone of the Economy.”  But have you ever wondered why?

Big Numbers

For statistic purposes, a small business is considered to be an enterprise of 500 or less employees.  In 2016, reportedly there were 28.8 million small businesses, accounting for 99.7% of US Businesses, whereas companies are around 18,500.  As of 2014, 52% of small businesses were home-based.  The most important of these numbers is the fact that small businesses are providing 55% of jobs, and that’s since the 1970’s.

Why Shop Small?

Other than the fact that small businesses create jobs (2 out of 3 jobs to be precise) small business contributes to our economy.  Shopping small brings growth and innovation to your community.  Small business can also lend a hand to economic growth by offering jobs to those unlikely to be employed elsewhere, and attract and inspire others who are likely to, as Mariah Brown from smallbusiness.chron.com puts it, “invent new products or implement new solutions for existing ideas” (2017).  This simply creates opportunities everywhere in the community.

Small businesses are also more adaptable than the medium and large-cap companies.  In case of economic change or even economic crisis, it’s likely you will see a loyal following of customers.  Small-businesses have a different focus for this reason: the customer.  Do you think Wal-Mart cares about you?  Sorry to say, they don’t.  They don’t need to make you happy to survive and grow.  But small businesses do and they want you to be happy with your transaction, from start to finish.

Diversity.  This is incredibly important and to show you, here’s some more statistics.  In 2012, 14.6% of business owners were minorities.  This is up from 11.5% in 2007.  That’s only an increase of 0.62% a year.  That’s not much, but America is getting somewhere.  And to add, only around 36% of businesses are owned by women and 9% by veterans (Hecht, 2017).  This is another way that you can support small business with your purchases.

Please, Support the Little Guys (and Gals)

I know it’s seems more economical in a short-term perspective, but stop buying your cutesy $4 signs from Wal-Mart (sorry mom) or your decorations from Party City or your Halloween Costumes from Spirit.  Instead, find a local craft fair.  Buy that hand-knit scarf from your neighbors daughter.  Support that fresh new business trying to put their product out there for the first time.  Put your money into something that makes a real difference in your community!

I know from a personal standpoint, and why this is such a passion of mine to talk about, is that I’ve watched so many try to make their small business work.  It’s too easy to blame it on the economy.  It’s too easy to say “nobody has the money to spend.”  That’s not true or these big box stores wouldn’t be around.    It’s not the economy or a lack of money for spending.  It’s our neighbors and our friends.  Our sons and daughters.  We are the support we need to grow and thrive.  Even the smallest of purchases to a small business can make the biggest difference.  So think about that next time you are shopping.

Help Live Peculiar and other small businesses grow in your community on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25th.  Visit http://www.livepeculiarshop.com to see what we can offer you.

Credit:

https://www.inc.com/jared-hecht/are-small-businesses-really-the-backbone-of-the-economy.html

https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonnazar/2013/09/09/16-surprising-statistics-about-small-businesses/&refURL=https://www.google.com/&referrer=https://www.google.com/

https://fitsmallbusiness.com/small-business-statistics/