Business Instrument

Archive for November, 2009

The Union Workforce
I used to work for a nonunion construction company. The pay was 12.00/ hour. Everyday I’d wake up at 4:00 in the morning drive 1 hour to the jobsite and begin work. As a laborer the work was grueling. Day in and day out I’d dig trenches cart plywood on my shoulder work a 100 pound jackhammer for hours on end. The best days were when I’d get a water break while my muscles and bones would try to recover from jack hammering all day.
And then I caught a break. I got a job as a Shipping Supervisor in a union workplace. I gift from god right? Or so it would seem. Quite literally from day one I was asked to do nothing. Sit in a chair and look professional. Sure I can do that no problem. A couple months into it however something started to eat at me. I mean really eat at my soul. It wasn’t the pay. The pay was great. I began to think to myself 6 months ago I was sweating like a hog breaking my back for half the money I’m making now. I began to look around at my coworkers and they were all miserable. Almost as if their job were sucking the very lifeblood right out of them.
Without a doubt I’ve searched high and low for the answer. How can getting paid more to do less be a problem. The answer I’ve found lies in two parts. The first part is simple and short. If a corporation is making money consistently why change things? The system works. No changes are needed. The second part however holds the problem.
IntrinsicValue. All of these workers feel disposable expendable. Their daily work has a purpose but they don’t see a result. Their pay is guaranteed so long as they show up.
Back to construction. I pick up a shovel and I dig a trench for a plumbing line. My efforts are rewarded based on the fact that I see a result in front of my face. I think I’m going to put in my two weeks notice……There must be a construction company that would gladly pay me 12.00/hour to feel fulfilled.

Written By: Peter Bezanson

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Arthur L Burton III CEO of www.paypalsoutlet.com Author of Three Published Novels Board of Directors Member of The Greater Zion Hill Community Action Network and Certified Emergency Medical Technician and ezine journalist.
www.arthurlburton.com
www.paypalsoutlet.com

The Real Secret To Success In Your Business Its Not What You Think!

The secret to success for entrepreneurs and small business owners is not another brilliant marketing idea. Theres a better place to start first. The real secret to success is tapping into and using your intuition in your business on a consistent basis.

You might be wondering Can this really be true? Yes. When you hone your ability to tap into your intuition then youll thrive in any economy because you have a strategy that is more powerful than a marketing flash. Marketing ideas are a dime a dozen. Great marketing ideas are rarer but your intuition will tell you which ones are right for you and your business in this moment. Without your intuition you are just flailing like a flag being whipped around by the wind.

This was the case in a recent Intuitive Business Consultation with a client who wanted clarity on her niche. She is a life coach who works with women in midlife. That narrows it down to about 40 million women. She knew it wasnt focused enough as she wasnt really gaining any momentum in her business. Its not a focused enough niche so she can use her marketing resources wisely and effectively. She came to the call frustrated. She said she had been in business for years and had studied a lot of marketing strategies. She felt she should know this stuff.

She was looking outside for marketing solutions first instead of looking on the inside for the clarity and alignment of her gifts and her passions.

In the process of getting clear we tapped into her energy flow and patterns. Where was she on fire and excited? What is her passion for these women about? What was she so passionate about that it flipped on her and caused her to shut down the possibilities? Where did she get angry and hold back? What is so unique and magical about my clients way of offering life coaching that she doesnt even see it? Much like a fish doesnt notice the water they swim in its often hard to see for yourself without practice. These are energetic clues to my clients path to growth and success in her business. These are not the typical marketing questions you ask yourself in a business planning class and yet they are the key to sustainable success. Start inside for alignment and then the inspired actions i.e.: marketing strategies packaging ideas and products will come easily.

Everyone has the ability to tap into their innate wisdom knowledge ideas and inspiration drawn from intuition. Its not reserved for a select few. However it does take practice to hone the skill so you can depend on it and use it on a consistent basis. Chances are you already using your intuition occasionally without being consciously aware of it.

What are your signs that you are in tune with your intuition? The experience is different for everyone. Here are some common experiences from my clients about when they know they are tapped in:

My inner voice sounds different than the usual chatter

• I feel a quiet sense of calm
• I feel an alignment of energy inside
• I had a dream
• It feels right
• I feel a surge of energy and elation
• I feel a tingling in my arms and shoulders
• I see a picture in my mind

I find many of my clients are naturally intuitive but something happens when it comes to their business and especially marketing. They shift from their inner wisdom to frantically chasing more marketing knowledge and ideas outside of themselves. Knowledge is good and we need information for the how tos of successful marketing but most entrepreneurs I know get stuck in collecting information.

The real goldmine is in listening to what you need to do next. This might be scary in fact it usually requires you to claim your brilliance in a new way and step into the spotlight. Even stepping in to the spotlight graciously and with integrity requires you to own your personal power. This is where getting support from a coach or mentor will help you shift your mindset trust your intuition and take the actions aligned with your vision.

In this rapidly changing world you need to have skills that go beyond great marketing. The economy changes demographics change lifestyle desires change and then your marketing needs to change. Relying on your intuition to tell you what your business is wanting from you next what your clients want and which decisions to make is where the power to your success is in any economy.

This week: Thank about one area of your business you want more clarity on or a decision that its time to make. When you think about this area notice the signals your body sends to you. Pay attention to the ideas that pop up to inspire you to take action. Notice what resources are right in front of you waiting to help.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Awardwinning entrepreneur Laura West is the President and Chief Creative Officer of the Center for Joyful Business. As a certified business coach author and speaker she specializes in supporting creative lifestyle entrepreneurs in crafting a successful business that is holistically joyful its meaningful makes money and allows entrepreneurs to enjoy lives they love!She is known for making marketing simple for passionbased business owners. She takes the confusion and fear out of promoting business and making money. Author and creator of Joyful Business Guide system which combines law of attraction principles with smart business strategies Laura is a contributing author to The Spirit of Women Entrepreneurs and Emerging Trends Every Entrepreneur Should Know an Association of Web Entrepreneurs Guide for 2009. Laura is also the Attraction Marketing Expert at www.IdeaMarketers.com as well as a member of the expert panels at www.soloe.com and Association of Web Entrepreneurs.Ms. West has been published in Motto Simply Home Choice Connections published by the Association of Image Consultants magazines and is frequently a guest expert speaker for teleclass programs Internet tv radio and blog programs. She has spoken at standingroomonly workshops for organizations such as the International Coach Federation Georgia Coach Association and the Association of Image Consultants.Website: www.JoyfulBusiness.comBlog: www.CafeEntrepreneur.comTwitter: JoyfulBizFacebook: LauraJoyfulBusiness.com

The Importance Of Recognition In Business

In business today companies that create environments where people are motivated and positive behavior is rewarded will attract the best talent maintain strong morale retain key employees and ultimately stay ahead of the competition.

Despite popular belief money isnt the best way to recognize superior performance. In fact research shows us that the number one reason people leave jobs is limited recognition and praise. Issues such as compensation were all deemed less important than recognition. Clearly people value respect appreciation and recognition just as much as and often more than monetary rewards.

Recognize individual achievement whenever you can. Or you may choose to implement a more formal recognition program. The program can be tailored to suit any goal from increasing points scored to improving corporate sales to bringing up the class grade point average. Its a fairly simple process and it doesnt have to involve spending a lot of money remember its the recognition itself thats so important.

Creating a recognition program
A recognition program is the best way for any company to provide employees with these “good vibrations.” How you design and implement a program however will determine how successful it is. It must be carefully planned consistent and meaningful to employees and managers alike. Remember the ultimate goal is to motivate those involved to reach higher levels of achievement as well as provide for recognition among peers. Follow these tips to get the most out of your recognition program.

Step 1: Determine the goals of your program. It may be sales cost reduction customer satisfaction or promoting a new product. Get input then make the goal simple but specific.

Step 2: It needs to be clear exactly whom the program will target warehouse personnel salespeople etc. and you may need overlapping programs for different groups. Make sure your objectives are realistic and quantifiable.

Step 3: Communicate the program clearly and completely. When the program has been formalized post it in a conspicuous place.

Step 4: Will you give the recognition and awards to just the top person or will there be second and third places? Keep in mind the power of personalization. Whether it’s a crystal obelisk a silver desk clock a plaque certificate or a small medal it’s important to have the person’s name inscribed. Every time the winner sees her personalized award her relationship and commitment to the organization herself and her peers is enhanced.

Step 5: Once the plan is in place promote it. Send reminders to participants being sure to rally them to the cause. Before the awards are distributed at the end of the promotion send congratulatory notes with messages from top management recognizing your employees efforts and contributions to the company.

Step 6: The distribution of awards should be done as lavishly as your means will allow. A bit of fanfare will make the awards all that more special. This positive feeling will extend from the actual award recipients to their peers and even to upper management.

Step 7: Evaluate the program’s results. Poll the participants to see if the program reached its goals met the participants’ expectations and resulted in any unexpected fringe benefits. Sit down and analyze the feedback carefully.

How to give a reward
Whether your organization presents awards in a blacktie ceremony or you do the lunch thing here are a few points to remember:

There are three elements common to every award presentation: the people getting the awards the people giving the awards and the awards themselves.

Determine who attends the awards ceremony who presents the award and who receives the award. This is especially important in larger events with multiple presenters and recipients.

Develop an agenda so things run smoothly. Limit your lunch fete to an hourandahalf and clear your calendar so there are no interruptions. Big or small every event runs better with a schedule.

Motivation and morale
People often need a reason to work their hardest and their smartest. They need motivation. And more often than not coaches managers teachers and even parents need help in learning how to motivate those around them.

Our basic physical needs are simple to meet in today’s world however once they are met mankind turns toward meeting higher less defined needs. On the ball field in the workplace in the classroom and at home we can ask ourselves “What makes us strive to work harder produce better and be satisfied with our accomplishments?”

By improving our individual attitudes overall morale improves. Not surprisingly low morale leads to plenty of moaning and complaining and poor or at the very best mediocre performance. High morale lends itself to superior performance greater effort and improved concern about the health of the group and how to make it stronger. Now which would you rather have on your team in your company in your classroom or at your home?

How motivation affects employee retention
Studies have demonstrated that the number one reason for people to leave a job is “limited recognition and praise.” Issues such as compensation limited authority and interpersonal conflicts were all deemed less important than appreciation. But just recognizing and praising employees is not enough. You must do it consistently sincerely and on a companywide basis.

Giving employees opportunities to perform learn and grow as a form of recognition is quite motivating. Beneath all this however is a basic premise of trust and respect. Your employees will feel it and acknowledge that you have their best interests at heart not your own. And who wants to leave that behind?

Motivation’s effect on performance and productivity
Too often we’re afraid to push for increased productivity. Perhaps we’ll set the bar too high and the goals won’t be met. We worry that this may lead to benching a player or letting go an employee. We also worry that an increase in resources may be required or that the player or employee may become resentful feeling that they are already working at their limit. Another fear is that their failure to achieve may be a reflection of our own performance.

To compensate we rely on incentives and sometimes threats to produce a desired result. In corporate America salary increases stock options even titles and promotions are offered. It is assumed that if the right “carrots” are dangled employees will produce the desired result. In sports we may threaten with an extra hard practice or the embarrassment of losing in order to “motivate” players to produce.

First of all select a goal. Make it an urgent problem. Ask for input and make sure everyone understands why this goal needs to be set. Now take the broad goal and narrow it down to one or two specific quantifiable ones. Not only does a broadbased target become overwhelming and intimidating but also people will have a better understanding what they are aiming for.

Now that you have “nominated” a goal you must communicate expectations clearly and concisely to those around you. The individuals responsible for achieving the goal must understand the timetable constraints determination and responsibility of the goal and that this is not a goal that should be met but one that must be met.

Creating a mission for people goes a long way in improving performance. The most effective goals are those people believe they can achieve if they plan and execute properly. Now you will see a marked increase in effort which will translate into an increase in performance.

Corporate logos and symbols as motivators
It’s your corporate logo. Employees love their company’s logo. They love it on tote bags and tshirts pens and paperweights. That logo that symbol reminds you that you are part of a community that you belong and have similar goals interests or experiences as others. So it goes for your company and corporate logo. It’s a wellknown fact that your logo may just be the most powerful marketing tool your company owns.

Here are some great places to use items imprinted with your company’s logo:

Any time you meet new clients or customers.

Any time you introduce new products or services.

As employee incentives and rewards.

Souvenirs of company events like parties picnics and awards ceremonies.

Upon graduation from an employee training program.

Any time your company appears at a trade show.

When you sponsor or take part in a fundraiser.

As a reward or thankyou gift to customers who purchase your products.

To celebrate new store or office openings.

And that’s just a start. Any time you can make others feel part of the team your company will reap the rewards. Need more proof? Walk through your local mall and see how many people pay to wear another company’s logo: from Ralph’s polo pony to the Hermes “H” to a big “GAP” across the front of a sweatshirt. You’re giving away your logo as thanks as appreciation for a job well done. Your employees are going to love you for it!

Never let an opportunity to create a sense of belonging and affiliation to your company pass you by both inside and outside your organization. Give people this point of strength and they will respond with a sincere effort improved morale and renewed vigor.

About the writer:  Able Trophies is a leader in online awards including crystal awards and employee recognition gifts. Visit us online for a large line of glass awards crystal awards and more choices to fit any occasion.