November 30, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
As a longtime business consultant, I talk to business owners each day. Key ideas for remaining vital come up all the time when I am conversing with clients and employees. Here are just five I would like to share as we prepare for falls traditional uptick in the marketplace.
Host an Event
Open your office for a networking opportunity, a business briefing or a breakfast. Get clients and prospects through the door. If your budget is lean, partner with a complementing business. For example, if you are a real estate broker hosting first-time home buyers, allow a mortgage company to provide catered food and coffee.
Meet with Advisors in Person
Ask your A-Team (think your lawyer, CPA, benefits consultant) to meet face-to-face. Discuss changes in your operations, ask for discounted fees or propose performance-based billing in exchange for a renewed commitment to do business together.
Conduct Informational Interviews
Some genuine stars, the best and brightest managers, salespeople, financial planners and artistic professionals are seeking work right now. So, too, are high-energy college graduates. Meet with themeven if you do not have a job opening. Fifteen minutes may inspire a job seeker to share industry insights. It also may inspire you to bring on a consultant until a full-time position is available.
Sharpen Your Sword
So you have sold widgets for 15 years by doing X, Y and Z for five hours a day. You are still doing X, Y and Z, but your sales are down by 50 percent. Stay sharp. Take classes online, listen to training experts and shake off old habits that no longer yield results. A new economy requires fresh tactics in every industry. Moreover, what worked during exponential growth in the Valley may not guarantee success in todays conditions.
Target International Clients
Our city is on the map, so think globally. Equip your office with web conferencing technology, attend seminars on international outreach and etiquette, discuss foreign currency billing with your aforementioned A-Team and track headlines. Create a customized approach for non-U.S. markets seeking a presence here. If you do not, your competitor down the street will.
November 26, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
As everyone is tightening their belts during the economic downturn, perhaps it’s wise to look at different ways to save money. When you really sit down to think, you quickly realize that there are many ways you can save money. You can save money on traveling, on clothes, on groceries, etc.
Make a list of all your expenses for each month. Which are the items that are necessary, and which are not? Obviously, those items that you don’t really need (well, you think you do, but you actually don’t) should be struck off your list first. Just stop spending on those items, and you will immediately see huge savings. Items like clothes, jewelry, accessories, electronic items, etc. Just put them in a separate list. You can always buy them later.
Then there are those items that you simply cannot do without. These are essential items that you need for daily living. For instance, even though it’s the economic crisis, you still need to eat. If you refer to your expense list again, you will most likely be surprised at the amount of money that you spend each month on food alone.
Imagine taking out your whole family for dinner. How much would that cost you? Well, that depends on where you dine right? If you dine at a fancy restaurant, you will most likely be out of several hundred bucks when the evening is over. Alternatively, you can eat at a small local dining restaurant. More down to earth and practical, but not as posh. But you do enjoy quite a bit of savings.
If you still want to save more money, how about cooking at home? Retailers are always conducting ongoing promotions to encourage sales. Just take a look at some of the freebies websites that have sprung up lately. Do you think they are really 100% freebies? My friend, there are no free lunches in this world.
Yes, you do get free vouchers for groceries, or even free dining vouchers. But that is just part of parcel of marketing. You will get the vouchers, but the restaurants and the retailers are hoping that you return and do more business with them. Sometimes, these free vouchers are sponsored by large corporations like banks or giant retailers. You get to receive sponsored items like free food vouchers for participating in a consumer survey or signing up for a trial offer. Of course, there is no obligation to buy anything. If it’s a trial offer, you can always cancel the order before the trial is over, and your credit card will not be charged again.
There are tons of similar offers on the Internet. They range from lobster gift cards to ordinary restaurant gift cards. Surely, the food freebies will help you save a huge chunk of money!
Grab more free offers like food samples
November 24, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Supervising friends and family has the potential to be one of the most productive work relationships that exists in the workplace. Sadly, this is not always the case. Whether supervising a long time friend, managing a family member, or being promoted to supervising your peers, it is critical that all new managers learn to overcome these four pitfalls.
Poor Performance.
One of the most amazing dynamics when supervising friends is that they often will take you for granted, assuming that you will accept their poor performance because of your relationship. In fact, it often occurs that when the new manager is a friend, the employee begins to lessen their own standards of performance. Whether this is done intentionally or not, you must address it.. The greater problem is in the response you receive when poor performance is addressed. Often, new managers feel that their requests are ignored by friends they supervise. If this is a new supervisory relationship it is absolutely critical that you have a meeting in which you clearly lay out the expectations in this relationship. They need to know that for their sake (so others wont gossip about them) and for your sake (so your team will not lose respect for you and your authority) that you must treat them the same as every other member of your team, and that the performance standards as well as the disciplinary standards will remain consistent. If youve already begun to experience this, you must confront the problem directly. You can have an informal discussion about it at first, but if that does not change the situation, then you must address this in a serious manner. Follow your companys procedure for handling performance issues. Make sure that you clearly communicate that these are not just requests, they are directions given by their supervisor. Remember, everyone else is watching you.
Voicing Your Own Negative Feelings About the Organization or Your Supervisor.
Whether you are at work, a company function or hanging out at friends house, when you become a supervisor, there is a part of you that is always on. This means that there are now subjects you dont get into, and boundaries you dont cross. Even though you may have a legitimate issue with the organization, or your supervisor, never express them to the people you manage. First, it can negatively affect them as employees, especially if they have similar concerns, and cause severe future consequences. Second, it puts them in a very uncomfortable position, if they dont agree with all of your concerns. Third, it creates an environment that causes employees to vent and voice negative feelings even when youre not around, and sometimes about you. Fourth, it could very easily get to the wrong person and now affect your reputation. The key to this is you must find a new sounding board, someone who is at arms distance away from your job. Ideally this is someone who doesnt work with you and doesnt have any type of relationship with any one from your job, like a neighbor or a relative. In some instances it can be a co-worker in another department or a mentor, but use caution when thats the case. The two of you need to agree that he or she should function as a dead end (some you can tell delicate information to and it ends with them). Thus when you voice your feelings, there is no chance of it getting to the wrong person or negatively affecting someone involved in the organization.
Manipulation.
Of all the pitfalls that must be overcome, manipulation is often the most challenging. Manipulation occurs when the other person leverages their friendship against you to get what they want. First, do not let this affect you emotionally. Do not be fooled. This is rarely just a normal conversation that leaves you feeling guilty. This is almost always being done to you intentionally. More importantly, it is also a sign of disrespect. This person believes that you are weak and will succumb to emotional terrorism. Second, address this as early as possible. The more it occurs, the more it becomes a pattern. This also keeps you from building resentment. Third, dont beat around the bush. Subtlety is not effective in this situation. If you feel someone is leveraging your friendship against you, address it head on. One of the most common phrases new managers hear as they are being manipulated is, I thought we were friends! a great response to this is, In reality, if we were the friends I thought we were, you wouldnt put me in this situation in the first place. This helps to express that true friendship is not one sided and should not be used for the purpose of manipulation.
Favoritism or Perceptions of Favoritism.
You should expect to be accused of favoritism when you manage a friend. Avoiding the previous four pitfalls, will help to minimize any legitimate complaints a worker could have regarding favoritism. But in reality, even when you do your absolute best to make certain that all associates are treated based on their work, you must realize that not every accusation of favoritism is accurate. Many people dont take responsibility for their own performance. When was the last time you heard someone say, I didnt get that promotion because I wasnt qualified? Most would rather find someone else to blame or misapply a statement like Its not what you know but who you know. Dont let it get to you. This is just a combination of blame shifting and manipulation. Address the issue by letting the other members of the team know that there is no favoritism here and that every one is being held to the same standard.
Although these techniques may seem simple it doesnt mean they are easy, but when you overcome the emotional challenge of the friend-supervisor dynamic, success is assured.
November 21, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Although no place can compare to the comfort offered by your own home, it can also hold certain bad memories for you and your family. If you and your family need a time to bond with each other, consider having a family beach vacation and letting the white sand, cool breeze, and roaring waves soothe away past hurt and rebuild the ties within your family.
Tips for Having a Perfect Family Beach Vacation
Where to have a family beach vacation Beaches The first thing you have to look for is the perfect beach for your family. While it doesnt have to be private, a beach that isnt too crowded is certainly better as kids arent really blessed with lots of patience and a high tolerance for discomfort. Make sure also that the beach youre intending to visit is one appropriate for kids; it would be pretty hard to explain to them after all when you accidentally take them to a nudists beach and they see all the naked people there.
Housing When youve found the right beach, the next thing to search for is the right accommodation. Do you wish to stay on a hotel or a resort? Perhaps you would wish to rent a cottage instead of a room? How much budget do you have for your accommodation? If your kids wish to bring your family pet with you, will your accommodation allow for pets?
Area Once youve determined where to live, the last thing to do is scout the area and try finding out what types of activities and events can you expect to engage in and which will provide lots of fun not only for you and your partner but your kids as well.
What to do before, during and after a family beach vacation Packing Make sure that you bring clothes that are appropriate for the weather in your destination. Pack as lightly as you can but dont skimp on necessities. Bring floating devices with you to reduce the chances of harm befalling on any of your kids. Skincare products are also important especially if you intend to hit the beach in the heat of summer. Make sure that you bring shades and lots of sun block.
Delegating Dont make any concrete plans until youve successfully obtained a vacation leave or anything similar to it from your boss. Ask favors from neighbors or friends to keep an eye on your mail and your house. This will take your mind off troubles at home and allow you to have more fun with your family.
Traveling Never allow your kids to hit the road with an empty stomach as this will only make them more irritable than usual. Make pit stops frequently to allow your kids to stretch their legs and visit the rest room regularly. Entertain your kids with toys, activities, games, and stories during the ride to keep them from noticing the amount of time theyre spending cooped inside a car.
You should also consider renting out a portable DVD player to allow your kids to watch their favorite programs or movies while youre on your way to your vacation destination.
Having Fun When you get there, have your kids freshen up and rest a bit before hitting the beach. Make sure that your kids are all properly attired and their skins properly protected from harmful UV rays. Warn them continuously about the dangers of swimming too far and without adult supervision. Nevertheless, dont allow your kids to leave unaccompanied and especially if the weather channel hints about an unfavorable climate.
Allow them to have snacks while swimming as this will make their vacations twice as better. To make things more interesting and pleasant for your kids, you can give them basic surfing and diving lessons and accompany them when trying out different water sports and activities.
Take lots of pictures because no moment is the same with another.
In the end, of course, no matter how much planning and preparation you make, you or anyone in your family are liable to commit mistake and make the vacation anything but perfect. Even circumstances and fate can certainly rain on your parade. Even so, the important thing to remember that its never the place but always the company that will make family beach vacations count.
November 20, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Parents patience is tested when the family is planning a vacation and their teenagers do not stop being cranky. You as a parent might be thinking of all the reasons for such an attitude. You may wonder that they are unhappy about missing their basketball shooting and basketball training lessons. However, it is not just that. Teenagers are often cranky at this age. They prefer being with their friends rather than families. To travel with parents, they have to say bid goodbye to their friends. Even though the separation is for only a short time, this is what makes them unhappy.
If you think that your teenagers will still be as excited happy about a family vacation as they were when they were ten, then you are daydreaming! Children as they grow up get a little distant from their family. Why is that? Well, there is no explanation for this behavior, but this is what happens. And, that is exactly how life was for you when you belonged to this age.
Now, you are planning a family vacation and you want your teenagers to be involved too. To avoid the grumpiness all along the trip, take their suggestions. They might like some adventurous things rather than just sitting around the campfire and talking. Take their suggestions for the activity they would like to do. Later, you can also put forward the activities you would prefer. If you accept their likings, they will accept yours. Deal!
Electronics, gadgets, gizmos, say hello to your new enemies! Your teenagers love them, and you hate them because they always keep them occupied. Have a set of rules applicable to you too, about the times when they can play video games, text their friends, watch TV or movies, etc. Other than those specific hours, do not let them use these things, and neither should you!
Keep in mind that it is a vacation so it makes no difference if your teenagers are sleeping late or not getting up with the rest of the members. A lot of traveling parents might suggest that you let them be flexible about their timings. After all, it is a vacation trip, not an army camp!
Next, it is about money. Before you board the plane, hand a reasonable sum of money to your teenagers. Let them decide what they want to buy because you made them authorized for themselves already, they will know how to manage their likings with the amount available to them. After all, they are old enough to know smart spending. Trust them.
A good idea is to include a close friend to the vacation. Not only this friend will keep the teenager smiling all along the trip, but it will also make him/her mannered during the journey. Similarly, if this friend gets along well with the rest of the family and other siblings, it is a win-win idea to include him/her in the trip!
Family vacations are a lot of fun if they are spent with good family bonding. With teenagers, things might get a little difficult to handle. However, you cannot deny that it is more fun to travel with grown up kids compared to younger ones. Make sure you know how to tackle this age. The vacation will surely turn out to be as exciting as you expected it to be!