BUSINESS CORNER
WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER!
results that you want, you may want to re-examine your business goals and practices. Just as individuals make New Year’s resolutions to exercise or to stop smoking, businesses should also resolve to make necessary changes in the way they operate and interact with employees and customers.
A
HERE ARE TEN IDEAS TO CONSIDER: 1.) Develop or revise your business plan. What are your goals
for the coming year? Devise a plan of action to achieve them. 2.) Encourage your employees by rewarding or recognizing
them for ideas that grow the business. A team spirit is fostered by weekly meetings to discuss issues, assess progress and assign projects. 3.) Set specific goals that are understood and agreed upon
by the team. These goals should be measurable, and most impor- tant, achievable within a reasonable time. 4.) Develop a project management plan. Assign specific tasks
to specific individuals, and establish a timeline for completion of each task or project. 5.) As an owner or manager, avoid the impulse to micro-
manage every aspect of the business. It will discourage employ- ee initiatives, and you run the risk of burnout. 6.) Review your online marketing plan. Is your website cur-
rent? Consider an intern or outsourcing maintenance. Is it gener- ating sales or sales leads? Search engine optimization (SEO) is important and often best accomplished by a professional.
7.) Reconnect with existing customers. Don't risk the loss of a
valued client because of inattention or failure to meet, if not exceed, their expectations. 8.) Don’t beat a dead horse. If several efforts to fix a problem
result in failure, move on and concentrate your energy on more productive projects that ultimately impact the bottom line. 9.) Give back to your community. Support charitable causes
and join civic groups. Strive to be recognized as a good corporate citizen. The professional contacts that you make will more than reward your efforts.
10.) Above all, make time for yourself. Even when work is
extrememly demanding, don't neglect your family, friends, or health. At least once a year, take a well-earned vacation and recharge your batteries. Time away will cleanse your mind, allow- ing you to return to work with a fresh perspective.
PULSE MAGAZINE ---------- 32
lbert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same things over and over and expecting a different result.” If you are not achieving the
In summary, if you are not achieving the results that you want,
revisit your business plan. It is not something that you develop once and then set aside. The plan is a living document that must change as conditions change.
www.Score.org has a business plan outline for both new and established businesses. Go to the Score website and click on "business tools". The site also offers other useful templates in excel format, including start-up expenses, 12-month cash flow, and profit & loss projections.
SCORE can assist you in developing a business model that works. Contact them at
www.ScoreNaples.org.
ABOUT THE WRITER: GRAY POEHLER is a volunteer counselor with the Naples
Chapter of SCORE®, a nonprofit organization that offers free counseling to America's small businesses. To learn more about management issues facing small businesses today and SCORE's workshops, call 239-430-0081 or visit them online at
www.scorenaples.org. Questions for the writer may be direct- ed to:
http://www.scorenaples.org/contact.phping.
The volunteer counselors at the Naples Chapter of
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76