Actual for You - Business

Business Strategies: How Does the Business Owner Increase the Value of His Company
Business owners often times get caught up in phenomenal early success and, as a result, fail to equip their organization with business strategies to accommodate the 3 stages of entrepreneurial growth: (1) Startup; (2) Growth; (3) Exit.START UPAside from the obvious… have adequate resources and good management, entrepreneurs from the very beginning should establish a business development plan. The foundation for your business. At this early stage of growth, the strategy should be somewhat informal, a vision, if you will. You can’t allow yourself to get stuck on a plan this early.As the company evolves, you’re looking for a pattern of decisions to develop to justify your strategic planning. You must learn to adjust to the feedback. BE FLEXIBLE IN YOUR PLANNING. Your company is taking shape.THE GROWTH PHASEAs the company grows, you can now see and feel “the business” and structure a more formalized business plan.Business strategy, however, can never be fixed. Your customer needs will change, your competitors both existing and new will introduce new products and services…meaning your going to have to continually rethink your strategy to compete in changing environments. There will always be external changes in the market, competition, technology, and economical and political changes.Managing the GrowthYou have to hire and continually train good people. Train them to acquire future skills. Establish organizational policies and controls to continually monitor cash positions. Accounts Receivable Inventory Systems Accounts Payable Policy’s performance, the problem may be an inability, rather than an unwillingness, to do the job. In that case, the boss needs to consider alternatives either to give the direct report additional help or move to him or her to an area that is better suited for that person’s talents and strengths.

Your Own Business: Getting the Word Out with Your Friends - Family and Acquaintances
Once you have decided on your business, legally established it, set it up and launched it…then the real work begins. Even though you have a well-developed marketing plan and have already consulted with your trusted professional advisors, you’re still not really sure just where to start. The good news is that there is a logical place to start; in fact, it is the place at which many successful businesses start. You will start getting the word out by utilizing your most valuable marketing resources: everybody you know.That’s right, these valuable resources are none other than those people who are already around you. Your friends, family, acquaintances, neighbors, and even your co-workers are a wonderfully productive place to start your marketing campaign. I’m always amazed at how many new businesses don’t take advantage of such valuable word-of-mouth assets because they are afraid of imposing on the people in their lives. These people like you, hopefully, and most likely want to help you succeed. But you have to tell them how they can help you.To get started, sit down and make a list of all your family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, business associates, and anybody else that you have ever crossed paths with. It is best to keep this list in your computer’s contact program or just a simple spreadsheet. On this list include their important contact information such as mailing addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Also include other useful information you may know such as birthdays, family, hobbies and anything that might help you relate to them. You won’t be using all of this information now, but it will all become handy at some point. Do this list now and add to it a

Criticism has the power to do good when there is something that must be destroyed, dissolved or reduced, but it is capable only of harm when there is something to be built. --Carl Jung

People won’t leave if they’re glad you’re their boss. They will want to stay with a boss that does what it takes to create a culture that capitalizes on each individual’s strength. However, bosses often don’t know what they should do to contribute to organizational culture, or even to their small part of the culture. For so long people have tried to diagnose diseases, flaws, and weaknesses, but most bosses have had precious little experience studying health. However, knowing more about healthy people enables us to understand resilience and hardiness, the cornerstones required for building something—something like a solid relationship with direct reports. Learning ways to more effectively interact with those that work for you and challenging yourself to discover their strengths are enormous steps toward realizing the goal of being a boss that no one wants to leave.

Develop a GLAD Culture

Without seeing the inherent flaws in their thinking, many bosses worry overmuch about what they say to their direct reports. Certainly sending effective messages is important, but developing relationships with others that are characterized by the GLAD Communication Method is more critical for creating positive working relationships with direct reports.

GLAD is an acronym for the four-step process that enables bosses and direct reports to have routine conversations, difficult discussions, and feedback sessions. Bosses who learn and practice this method learn that their modeling this behavior eventually causes others to adopt it too.

· Get to the core of the performance issues.

· Listen to the other first.

· Add your own ideas.

· Develop an action plan.

Get to the Core of the Issue

Getting to the core of the performance issue means focusing the discussion on actions or behaviors, things the person can control and change. If personality issues or decision making capacities are interfering with the person’s performance, the problem may be an inability, rather than an unwillingness, to do the job. In that case, the boss needs to consider alternatives either to give the direct report additional help or move to him or her to an area that is better suited for that person’s talents and strengths.

Traits of a Successful Franchisee
While there is no magic formula that every franchisor seeks, there are some key characteristics that are necessary for success. Many franchisors look for the following in franchisee candidates: People Skills- are you a people person? Can you manage and work with others? How do you interact with customers? Can you make connections and promote your business? Can you follow a system? This is key! Can you ask for and accept assistance? Will you let the franchisor help you get started and overcome hurdles to success? Success in franchising means following the proven system. Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get it done? There is no substitute for hard work, especially the first year. You may want to do a self-assessment to better understand your skills, goals and motivations. Why do you want to own a franchise? What is your financial health? What are your financial needs and goals? Do you have the support of your family? Can you give up benefits of employment? Are you healthy and equipped for the stress of business ownership? Do you need to be in charge of all decisions? What is your lifestyle? What hours are you willing to work? Do you prefer a home-based business or a retail or office setting? How do you feel about selling? What is your risk tolerance? A common myth is that franchisors require industry specific skills. Rest assured that franchises do not insist that you have specific industry experience (and some even prefer you do not!). In fact, more often than not, franchisees choose bus

d to diagnose diseases, flaws, and weaknesses, but most bosses have had precious little experience studying health. However, knowing more about healthy people enables us to understand resilience and hardiness, the cornerstones required for building something—something like a solid relationship with direct reports. Learning ways to more effectively interact with those that work for you and challenging yourself to discover their strengths are enormous steps toward realizing the goal of being a boss that no one wants to leave.

Develop a GLAD Culture

· Get to the core of the performance issues.

· Listen to the other first.

· Add your own ideas.

· Develop an action plan.

Get to the Core of the Issue

Propelling Your Business to the Next Level
One of the fastest ways to propel your business to the next level is to nurture and enhance your relationship with your existing customers. Satisfied customers are still the #1 best way of advertising. Studies show that it costs as much as five times more to win a new customer than to keep a current customer. Unfortunately, many business owners fail to promote repeat sales from their satisfied customers, and they fail to realize that without their satisfied customers, they have no business.Keep in mind, a satisfied customer who is a happy customer typically informs five people about your products and/or services; while an unsatisfied customer will naturally inform ten to fifteen people about your poor service and inferior products. Your unsatisfied customer will begin to shop with your competitors. You not only lose the unsatisfied customer to your competitor, but even worse the unsatisfied customer will probably take ten to fifteen others potential clients with him/her.Let’s talk about what you can do to keep your prime customers contented and long-term purchasers of your products and/or services. Always contact your prime customers after they have made a purchase to say “thank you” for choosing your business to do business. This should be done within twenty-four to forty-eight hours after their purchase.This is also a good time to ask the prime customer if he/she is pleased with your products and/or services and to ask him/her what else your company can do to keep him/her as a prime customer. The information acquired from your prime customers can be utilized to develop a customer satisfaction program and will aid you in developing future growth strategies. Whi

op a GLAD Culture

· Get to the core of the performance issues.

· Listen to the other first.

· Add your own ideas.

· Develop an action plan.

Get to the Core of the Issue

How to Stretch Your Business Without Working Harder
Being self-employed, you know from experience that much time and energy can be demanded of you. At times, having your own business can seem like a lot of hard work and no fun. Just reviewing all the tasks that may be waiting for you can, in itself, leave you feeling overwhelmed. The creativity and passion that had you start this business in the first place may be on the back burner, at least some of the time, as you become enmeshed in the day-to-day responsibilities of running it.So how do you stretch yourself and your business in a different way other than just working harder? What’s an alternative that will actually revitalize you instead of drain your energy?The following are three ideas which can make a significant difference for you.Firstly, do you have a vision that fuels your commitment to do what you do? Instead of a vision statement which is common for many businesses, make it a vision story. Write one that depicts your life and your business five years from now, then ten years from now and watch how it inspires you whenever you read it. It can include such information as your idea of an ideal day, the impact that you are making on others, the money that you want to make and how your life will be different if you’re actually living your vision. The key is that the vision needs to be big enough so that you feel compelled to stretch yourself into your dream.Another way to create ease is to closely examine what brings fulfillment to you. What are your work values, those that bring you much satisfaction when you honour them? Flexibility, creativity and independence are just some of the values that may or may not be important to you. When you discover YOUR

ons. Bosses who learn and practice this method learn that their modeling this behavior eventually causes others to adopt it too.

· Get to the core of the performance issues.

· Listen to the other first.

· Add your own ideas.

· Develop an action plan.

Get to the Core of the Issue

The Many Benefits of a Free Standing Smoking Shelter
A ban on smoking means that smokers all over the United Kingdom are being forced outside in order to smoke. This can cause a smoker to be quite unhappy when the weather decides to act badly. No longer can one sit inside, watching the snow fall outside, on a cold and windy day as they enjoy a satisfying cigarette. To make the ban more pleasurable for smokers it is a good idea to invest in a free standing smoking shelter. It will help protect you and your friends from the elements while you enjoy a couple smokes.These smoking shelters have been uniquely designed for easy smoking access and the dispersal of finished cigarettes. These structures are comprised of the highest-quality of raw materials on the market today. The use of these materials ensures that this smoking shelter will be able to withstand the wear and tear of many years of usage. A free standing smoking shelter is not only a cost-effective solution to the smoking ban, but it’s also quite convenient as well.A free standing smoking structure is constructed out of heavy duty rectangular steel. The steel is then topped with an exterior powder coat, AKZO Nobel that is guaranteed for fifteen years. The structures are rust and corrosion free causing them to be highly durable in many different types of weather. With these high quality durable materials, you won’t have to worry about constantly fixing your shelter. Instead, you can concentrate on just enjoying a cigarette.The sides of the smoking structure are smartly constructed of polycarbonate panels. Polycarbonate is a clear plastic that is UV resistant, which protects against the sun. This type of plastic is several times stronger then the use of glass and has

’s performance, the problem may be an inability, rather than an unwillingness, to do the job. In that case, the boss needs to consider alternatives either to give the direct report additional help or move to him or her to an area that is better suited for that person’s talents and strengths.

When giving feedback, focus on one concern that can be expressed in one sentence. If it won’t fit into one sentence, it is more than one discussion. If you try to lump too many things together, the direct report will leave confused and frustrated. Start the discussion with “The problem is….” Be sure to express the problem in concrete, observable, descriptive terms, then listen to what they have to say about it.

Listen to The Other First

If you’re like most bosses, when someone comes to you with a problem, you try to be a responsive boss and jump in to fix things for your direct report. Solving problems is what you’re all about, so it comes easily and naturally. Plus, it just feels like the right thing to do, and it saves times. However well intended you might be, you are inadvertently passing up a chance to develop rapport and abilities in the direct report.

Listening first has many advantages. First, you will show your concern and responsiveness by patiently allowing the other to explain the issue. Second, you will operate from a basis of factual knowledge, not guesswork or probability. Third, you will have more of a chance to understand the whole picture, not just a segment of it.

Listening is the skill that otherwise effective leaders most often need to develop. However, taking the time to listen patiently to others does not always have immediate payoffs. Therefore, in an attempt to move project ahead more efficiently, bosses overlook opportunities to hear what their direct reports have to say.

Listening is not the absence of talking; it is the presence of attention. It is not simply hearing; it is comprehension. The art of listening is one of total involvement. It requires participation, action, and effort. It is the glue that holds conversations together and the foundation of understanding. Effective listening skills can be learned; however, like all communication skills, listening requires practice and technique. Active listening techniques can be broken into the following steps:

· Listen to the other before giving your own ideas. Listen to understand, not judge.

· Don’t interrupt. When people are on a roll, just listen without saying a word.

· Next, summarize what you have heard. Paraphrase the content of what the other has said, and reflect your understanding of the emotion that was conveyed.

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20 Questions That Helped Me Take A Leap Of Faith And Change Careers

When I was working more than 45 hours a week in a job with a two hour commute each day, the challenge of a new husband, new step children, two beagle dogs and maintaining a home was more than a stretch! Something had to give, and unfortunately I was the one starting to not be able to hold it together!

Business Name and Tag Line - Do It Yourself

You could hire a marketing consultant and pay them the big bucks to tweak your business name and develop a tag line. On the other hand, you could tap into your own creativity and generate something fresh- maybe tomorrow's next famous entity- all on your own. Many people are responsible for their own success regarding company name and tag line. You can be too. If you're confused on how to begin, follow these flexible guidelines and see what you discover.

Changing Behaviour; Lessons from Safety Training

Changing people's behaviour with regard to safety is a time consuming, difficult business. General training does not have the immediate and emotional rewards of safety training. Changing people's behaviour without those rewards is even more difficult. The lessons that organisations have learnt in making safety training effective are, therefore, all the more instructional for general training.

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