Clear & Simple Guide to Grow Your Business
Lately I heard a statistic that the majority of businesses operate at 60% of their potential. While I was unable to obtain the source of that statistic it seemed rather accurate or maybe even high. The Small Business Association reports that “2/3 of new employer firms survive at least 2 years, and about 1/2 survive at least 4 years.” The language they use is almost as scary as the statistics themselves. This article provides tips to help you develop and grow a strong, solid business foundation.
- Solid Plan with a Clear Simple Vision- Think of the impact you would like your business to have in the world. Think big! You may never reach your vision but the vision itself is so grand that your team gets excited about it. Then back up and look at what would have to happen to get there. Create a solid plan with realistic short and long term goals.
- Focus on Profitability vs. Revenue - While revenue is important, high revenue doesn’t add value if your expenses are just as high. What can you do to create more profit? Possibly develop various streams of income. What expenses could be reduced or eliminated? How can you operate more efficiently? Think profit.
- Work “in” and “on” your business - Sometimes we get so caught up in daily tasks “in” our business we forget to step back to take a wider look from the outside. Seeing it through a customer’s eyes. Noticing how it fits into the community. Preparing the future of the company. On the other hand, we can get so comfortable working “on” our business we forget to step in to talk with customers and experience what the employees face on a daily basis.
- Automate and Create Systems - What do you need to automate? What system can you put in place that would free up your time or make you more money? What tasks need to be eliminated, systematized, or delegated. What system would help your employees be more effective and provide the best service? Finally, is there a system that needs to be upgraded? Automation and systems help your business be consistent and efficient. Read more
Assembling Business Support Team
Building a network of people who can give you advice is like having a “virtual team” to back you up.
Building a network using current contacts - If your new business is in the industry in which you were previously employed, you probably already know key players and customers whose opinions you respect. Talk to them, and then ask whether you can call periodically to get their reactions to your progress.
Building a network from scratch - If you are entering a sector that’s new to you, try to talk to people who can provide you with market intelligence, contacts and ongoing feedback, including: People in similar businesses and Potential clients. Join industry associations, and attend conferences and events, that provide networking opportunities.
Professional advisers - Getting advice from professionals early in your business start-up process can help you avoid common pitfalls and get up and running that much faster. It doesn’t have to be expensive; a small business adviser will give advice for free, and first consultations are often free for other professionals as well.
If you don’t have a banker, lawyer, accountant or management consultant, ask friends and business colleagues for referrals. Look for the right “fit” with the professionals you speak with to ensure they are knowledgeable about your industry and small business.
How to Handle Stress at Work
Stress has always been part of work. With all the workloads given, meeting the deadlines, quotas and so on, can add up to it. Unfortunately, work stress has significant health consequences that range from the relatively benign, more colds and flu, to the more serious, heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Shifting to a low-stress job may be difficult or impossible for many people. But, there is always a way to deal with stress.
Managing stress is all about taking charge of your thoughts, emotions, environment, and handling problems. The ultimate goal is to balance life, work, relaxation, fun and relationships.
One of the key to reduce stress is by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you will be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.
Here is a lists of ways you can relax without having to spend a lot. Read more
impact goes beyond individuals involve
With the shift to less physical task in the workplace, the growing problem of obesity is also increasing. The impact of this goes beyond the individuals involve. And this could have a major future medical plan design and cost of the business.
Overweight should is not only the concern of most companies. Many companies could care less for their employees so long as they are getting maximum benefits from them.
We all know that being overweight can have serious health consequences. It is also associated to damage career. Most often, heavy people are stereotyped as lazy, sloppy, less self-control and has more health problems. Of course, they are also human being with feelings and they could feel really bad towards the bias they encounter.
But, overweight people struggling to keep off their weight should face the issue. They should start looking at their options to lose weight fast through gastric bypass surgery or weight loss pills and exercise. It is for their own good to lose some excess pounds. Co-workers and businesses should provide critical emotional support. They can only do this if they have the awareness and understanding of overweight people.
employers should encourage physical fitness
Obesity is one of the major health issues of our time. The rising level of overweight people gives most employers huge problem over the next few years. The impact goes beyond the individuals involved and may be a major factor in future medical plan design and cost.
Employers need to understand the issue in-depth. The law requires them to assess any possible risks to their staff and take reasonable steps to reduce them. There are also take steps to encourage all employees to become more active or eat healthy at work. Some even build exercise facilities or give gym membership to encourage healthy lifestyle. Of course, it is not good to introduce weight loss pills like alli weight loss because that is within personal matter.
Employers should understand that helping their employees lose weight, is also helping themselves from absenteeism, low productivity and huge medical bills in the future.