Saturday, April 28, 2007

Keeping Your Costs Down

There's a fine line between starting your business on a shoestring and letting it fail due to a lack of resources. You don't want to shell out big bucks just to get going, yet you want to look professional in the eyes of your customers.
The paradox and the challenge is to maintain the image of a solid, successful company without letting your expenses lead to uncompetitive pricing.
The trick is to determine the point at which your business runs both effectively and efficiently. This is a key issue for any startup that can determine whether you'll be able to survive. The good news is, if you master the art of trimming expenses early in the game, you'll develop good habits that'll serve you well as your company grows.
The first thing to do is cut your initial budget to the bare minimum. Chances are your business will start slow, so doing things for a dime that would otherwise cost a dollar is a great discipline. Here are some tips to keep early costs under control.
WorkspaceWhere you work often determines how well you work, but you can probably rough it a bit while still getting things done. For instance, you need a desk. Why not buy a good, secondhand desk from an office furniture rental company? Discount stores have great buys as well. Or get to know some of the bigger companies in your area that are upgrading their computers and are prepared to cut a deal to get rid of their older items.
Another suggestion is to negotiate with your landlord for free rent during your startup phase. Many office buildings are willing to reduce or even forego rent for as much as a year just to get tenants in the door.
Tools and ServicesEverything from paper clips to computers are your work tools, and everything from phone charges to business consultants count as business services. All these items are fair game for bootstrapping.
Buy office supplies in bulk whenever you can. Lease equipment and vehicles, rather than buying them. Keep your fixed costs down by turning as many tools and services into variable expenses as you can. That way your cost of doing business will grow only as your income grows.
People Controlling labor costs is probably the most formidable challenge you'll face. Don't learn the hard way, for example, that turnover wreaks havoc on your profits. When it's time to hire, do it carefully and intelligently. And if a person's performance isn't what you'd like, don't be quick to fire them. Work with them to improve.
While competitive compensation is essential to attracting good people, it doesn't have to all be in the form of salary. Remember the tip about turning your fixed costs into variable ones? It works in compensation as well. Supplement a small salary with the potential for healthy bonuses based on your company's earnings.
Give your employees perks, such as flexible work hours. Train them adequately for their responsibilities. And take the time to give them feedback and praise. Be passionate about your company and about them.
MarketingIt takes money to make money, but you'd be surprised how much marketing bang you can get without spending many bucks.
Word-of-mouth is the best and cheapest form of advertising, but that means a lot of networking. Attend business and community events to talk about your company, and don't forget to focus on your most desirable customers. Cultivate opportunities to be a featured speaker. Work the trade show circuit, even if you don't have the money for a booth or exhibit.
Don't forget the value of free media coverage. In the beginning, at least, you can make a reasonable go of PR by yourself. Call editors at publications important to your industry to let them know you exist. Write one or two short, newsy press releases and get them out to key newspapers and magazines. Request interviews on topics of interest to both you and reporters. Even one or two stories can generate a sizable amount of business.
Keeping startup costs to a minimum takes self-examination, resourcefulness and creativity. But as your business grows, you'll find the skills, when mastered early on, will be keys to your ongoing success--and the real enjoyment of your business.
By Brad Sugars April 16, 2007
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/startupbasicscolumnistbradsugars/article177116.html

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Zero Energy Homes

Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory

Fredrick Herzberg, a psychologist most renowned for his studies of job enrichment and the Motivator-Hygiene theory, was born in the post Ragtime era known as the Roaring Twenties.
The Motivator-Hygiene theory explores what a motivated person is and is not.
Herzberg's theory consists of two elements: Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction.
Happiness comes from within.

Satisfied----------------------------------------Not Satisfied =Motivating factors
Dissatisfied-------------------------------------Not Dissatisfied =Hygene factors


What are Satisfiers?
Satisfiers are motivating factors such as recognition, achievement, upward mobility, and the work itself.

What are Dissatisfiers?
Dissatisfiers are Hygene factors can erode long-term satisfaction but they are necessary and without them dissatisfaction will be experienced. Hygene factors include: wages, working condition, equipment, and many more. Is this saying that throwing money at people cheapens them?
So as employers we can learn how to help motivate and satisfy employees long-term by managing or leveraging the Motivator factors Herzberg outlines in his theory rather than the Hygene factors.
Do you see this same picture or am I off track?

Monday, April 23, 2007

Socrates on Ethics and Organizational Communication

In mid 400 BC Socrates recognized that each time the Greeks communicated verbally they were making ethical decisions. After his realization Socrates recommended the Greeks use a test each time before they opened their big mouths. This test helped the Greeks decide if they should or should not communicate- what a revelation? Socrates called this test the Three Filter Test. So, when involved in Organizational Communication, like the Greeks, could we use this test as a litmus for every workplace interaction?

The Three Filter Test

TGU

1.T= Truth- Is what I am about to say the absolute truth?

2.G= Goodness- Is what I am about to say good?

3.U= Usefulness- Is what I am about to say useful?

Socrates said, "if NO why tell me at all?"

Sunday, April 22, 2007

First Green Community College Campus

Jordan Rayboy, top worldwide producer, opens SearchPath International office - from an RV

This is a link to www.XtremeRecruiting.org. Bill Vick interviews Jordan Rayboy CEO and Founder of Insider Search a SearchPath International member firm.
http://www.xtremerecruiting.org/2007/04/09/jordan-rayboy-big-biller/

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Here are five considerations to be made when involved in a cross cultural negotiation

1. The players and the situation.
2. Decision making styles of the other party.
3. National character.
4. Cultural noise.(anything that could distract them)
5. Interpreters and translators- can be a positive because it gives us more time to think. Also, some things just don't translate- for example humor.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Some Things Not to do as a New Member of an Organization

1. Hold your supervisor responsible for your happiness.
2. Refuse the assistance from others within the organization.
3. Boast about your previous organization.
4. Expect rewards from the organization without putting in time and work.
5. Do your own thing- don't ignore the company culture.
6. Cause too much controversy over insignificant issues.
7. Become involved in the rumor-mill. IIA- Indirect Interpersonal Aggression
8. Don't recognize and respect tenured employees.
9. Talk openly negative about fellow employees and work.
10.Not use the proper communication channels.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Top 20 Jobs in America

I came across this article on CNNmoney.com. The author writes about the top 20 jobs in America.

Executive Recruiter was 18th overall

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0703/gallery.bestjobs_young.moneymag/18.html

A Recruiter was 1st for -Parents Returning to the Workforce

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0703/gallery.bestjobs_parents.moneymag/

Recruiting manager was 16 for Retired Military

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0703/gallery.bestjobs_military.moneymag/16.html

Green Building