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Archive for the ‘Just a Thought’ Category

In a previous post, I talked about volunteering. It was heartening that many others feel the same way, giving time and skills to issues or organizations that move them. I purposely timed that post to coincide with no particular holiday, but I decided on the eve of Thanksgiving, it would be  appropriate to write this little reminder of sorts.

This is that time of year when we pause and give thanks. So what am I thankful for? It’s cliche′, but everything: the opportunity to work as I do at what I love, to enjoy my family and friends and live a life I’m proud of, to take in as much hockey as my legs allow, and spend my spare time engrossed in hobbies that feed my soul. I’m also very thankful that I can then turn around and help others, not just nonprofits, but businesses and individuals, for if things were not okay with other areas in my life, this would be difficult.

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How many ways can you say “Thank You” to someone in your business? With customers or other people you do business with, it could be a lost art form for you, but potentially a great way to reconnect or even solidify your relationships. I remember early in my sales career, my manager said I should keep notes all day in order that I be able to recall and then write a note of thanks to each of the people I encountered. It seemed like homework initially, as some days this list would be exceed 30 notecards, so my stationery and postage budget did get quite large at one point. Some how though, this simple gesture began to pay off: people would remember me when I’ve arrive at their office weeks later, or I’d make friends with people just because of a short, funny note I sent them. Over time, though, email got the better of me, and I have relied maybe too heavily on dropping an email note instead of the handwritten variety. Thanks doesn’t stop with notecards and can take on all kinds of forms, large and small. Here are some ideas that you can use online, to supplement your scribed-to-paper ones:   The rest of the story...

Reading Seth Godin’s post entitled, “Pay for Stuff”, triggered a peeve of mine I’ve put off writing about: people trying to get something for nothing. Don’t get me wrong, being frugal and seeking a good deal for your business is smart and I’m a proud supporter of the open-source school of thought and whole-heartedly believe in testing before I purchase. There are some, though, that think purely of what they can grab for free, with little if any thought on the cost, time and effort put into the making of such things.

So, here’s a thought: If you want people to continue to make the sweet apps you enjoy downloading for free, make a donation once in awhile. If you really love the way a free version of a web app is helping you invoice clients more easily, consider upgrading to the paid-version that suits your means. Two things happen when you do this: you encourage the developers to continue bringing these fun, useful tools into the game, and (2)you make a financial commitment in your business that says, “Yes, I’m worth it and I’m giving back.”   The rest of the story...

Ordinarily, this space is reserved for talking shop and sharing tips, business viewpoints and such. In light of my cat’s accident yesterday, it occurred to me that her plight could be encountered by any number of cats out there. Our surgeon assures us there are in fact many cases of this very thing happening to cats all over our area. It made me think it’s preventable and maybe this post will help another family from going through what we’re going through right now. UPDATE: Karma also has her own Page on this Blog, so you can follow her journey.   The rest of the story...

Perhaps you’re wondering just how much more of a bite the economy can take out of your small business, but take heart: you can fight back and even be profitable. Whether your a bootstrapping startup or a long time business owner, with a couple of changes in how you do things now, you won’t even miss the old way, plus you’ll make your office just a little more “green.”

Do Your Best, Hire the Rest
It’s a common misconception that you’ll save money trying to do it all yourself. Take it from someone who’s “been there, done that”, you have to place a value on your time. If you’re whittling your time away with menial tasks or working on activities that are not bringing in money, well, you’re wasting more than just your time. Do what you are able to do quickly and effectively and where possible (and affordable) hire the rest out. Filing, organizing, labeling,  whatever, these are things an eager high school student or intern can handle for you. For more complex work and professional needs, consider either a barter arrangement or hire a person from a source like Craig’s List for a short term project.   The rest of the story...