Thank you for the opportunity!

It’s not everyday someone gets an amazing opportunity to help others. I feel very fortunate to share with you that today I have that opportunity.

More than 18 months ago, I was searching on the Internet for projects to pursue as a business management consultant. As I perused several websites, I came across one in particular that was very interesting: Managers & Directors I was curious enough to send an email to inquire more about the opportunities that existed. An amazing thing happened – that email has opened up a door that I did not imagine was even there.

Soon after I sent the email, I was contacted by the founder of Managers & Directors, John Morrow, from Australia. We spoke on the phone at length and I shared my qualifications as a potential mentor & advisor for his clients, while he shared the needs of the company and its goals. I was very impressed by John and looked forward to re-connecting with him when the time was right.

A few months later, John emailed me to let me know that he would be coming to California for business meetings and asked if I could join him for lunch. As it happened, my business partner, Darcy, of Only2Degrees Radio Show and I were planning a trip to San Francisco for other meetings, so it tied in nicely. Once again, after meeting John face-to-face I was impressed with his professionalism, kindness and personality. We agreed to keep in touch. That was a little over a year ago.

We continued to email on occasion, until mid-February 2009 when I contacted John to discuss opportunities in the US. You see, John must sleep every once in awhile, so being “down under” made it difficult for him to thoroughly launch Managers & Directors (M&D) in the US. His firm was going strong in other parts of the world, including Australia, UK, and Asia, but the US was lagging behind. I saw so much potential for the unique value that M&D’s had to offer. However, when I contacted John to discuss with him that I would like to reach out more aggressively as a mentor with M&D (I really like the firm’s concept and philosophy), he responded differently than I expected.

John asked if I would like to consider overseeing the US operations… in other words, instead of acting as a mentor, I would gather up the mentors in the US and find the clients to utilize them. What a great opportunity! For starters, the most important thing was knowing that I could work with John. From our several conversations over the year and a half, I was not only confident that we could work well together, I was excited at the opportunity to work with him.

So, here we are – Managers & Directors of North America! What exactly do we do? We make a positive difference in the operations of corporations and their staff. Of course, I could go on and on about how impressive this firm is, but why don’t you just check out the website. If you, or someone you know, is a good fit as a mentor or advisor, send us your resume. And, of course, if your company is seeking the support it needs to grow in a positive direction, let us know! We likely have the most qualified candidate ready to assist you!

Check us out at Managers & Directors, N.A. or call me at 951.304.0488.

Why you MUST get your human resources in order!

According to MSNBC: “Discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission jumped 15 percent in fiscal 2008 to 95,402 — the highest level since the agency opened in 1965. That is up from 82,792 claims filed the year before by workers who believe they were discriminated against because of age, race, religion, gender or other reasons.”

For several years, I have strongly encouraged my clients to get their human resources in order, even if they aren’t planning to lay anyone off. Why? Because when employees go through tough personal times, such as a divorce or bankruptcy, they often turn to their employer – and their ‘supposed’ deep pockets – and find a reason to sue for money. Often times, they will win – if not in court, then in a settlement because the employer is just trying to get rid of the headache and save on attorney’s fees – even if they are innocent. And employees know this! Sad, very sad…

During tough economic times, discrimination claims tend to rise because more people are losing their jobs and searching for new ones. And the new ones are tough to find. So, it’s time to go after the employer!

What can you do to protect yourself from frivolous claims and lawsuits? Well, before I tell you, understand that there is no foolproof plan, but there are things you can do to discourage employees from filing claims and/or quickly squash them.

1. Make sure you have personnel files complete and labor posters posted in accordance with the Labor Board!
2. Educate and train all managers on the proper handling of employees with regard to daily contact, performance evaluations, and disciplinary action.
3. Contract with a reliable consultant who specializes in human resources to ensure that all legalities are being followed.
4. Obtain Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI).
5. Don’t take any chances!

This is a serious issue. Don’t kid yourself if you think that an employee won’t try to file a discrimination claim against you. Desperate times bring desperate actions. Be prepared. It is going to get much worse.

Yes, you will lose customers with poor phone & email manners!

Does this sound familiar: You phone a business, the receptionist or salesperson answers, and proceeds to treat you as though you are wasting her time. She is flippant, abrupt and cold. All you want to do is hang up and call someone who cares. You are irritated; it begins to show in your own voice. Before you know it, you are making a mental note that you will not do business with this company again. You know there are several other businesses that offer the same service or product. Times are tough and this company obviously does not need your money. You move on…

Been there, done that? Of course! There’s no love lost between you and the rude receptionist or salesperson. But what if that employee worked for you? What if you were losing customers and didn’t even know it? What if you actually took the time to train and monitor your company’s telephone manners? Sounds simple? It is! But, yet, too many ignore this main fact: The telephone is the gateway to your business!

So what can you do?

* Develop written procedures for exactly how the phones are to be answered and how customers are to be treated.
* Train every single staff member on the procedures.
* Perform periodic checks to be sure that the procedures are being followed.
* Immediately address poor telephone manners.
* If you don’t know what good telephone manners sound like, ask a consultant who specializes in this area.

And it is not just the telephone anymore – it’s also the email. We communicate so much through email that we often times forget that it can be so impersonal, which can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Here are few tips to improve your messages:

* Always begin your email by addressing the person by name (i.e. Dear Susan; Hi Jack; Good morning, Bill). When you send an email and leave out the salutation, it automatically appears to be impersonal.

* Use emoticons only as necessary. It can be fun to put a smiley face in your email, but place it strategically and don’t over use it. In some cases, too many emoticons may be perceived as unprofessional.

* Get to the point! Emails are not dissertations. Being too verbose in an email can give the appearance that you are lecturing, losing its vitality and importance. Many prefer email over the phone because it’s quick, so don’t lose your reader by going on and on and on…

* Spellcheck! Need I say more?

* If you have attached a document or picture to the email, be sure to note that in the body of your email. If you don’t, your reader may not notice it and miss an important part of your message.

* Always end your email with a proper closing. It can be formal, such as “Regards, Bill” or less formal for those you know well, such as “Take care, Linda.” Think about it: You wouldn’t just turn and walk away from someone after you finished a conversation, so don’t end an email without say “goodbye.”

One last tip: Be careful what you put in writing! Be sensible, factual, and professional. If you feel the need to vent in an email, go for it, and then put it in your draft email box until later. Too many people hit send before they really think it through, which has lost customers and even jobs!

These tips may sound basic and simple. That’s because they are. But before you dismiss them too quickly, ask yourself if you are really applying them!

Do you think you can trust your bookkeeper…?

…think again!

Now, I’m not saying that everyone has an untrustworthy bookkeeper or accounting clerk. Obviously that is not the case. But what I am saying is that you need to take steps to ensure that your accounting is protected – no matter what!

I’ve seen too many situations where business owners hand over their accounting books to a family member, a good friend, or an employee/consultant while assuming that that individual cares about the finances as much as they do, only to find out that they are not doing a good job or embezzling over a period of time. I have several stories of average business owners in my book, How to Get Poor Quick, to help you look out for the signs. In the meantime, I have identified some MUST DO’s for you to consider (well, actually, for you to follow!):

* Be sure the person writing and/or signing the checks is not the person who opens the bank statements.

* As the owner, open the bank statement and look at every single transactoin to ensure they were authorized.

* Set up a Purchase Order system so that all purchases must be authroized by the appropriate manager.

* Require 2 signatures for large purchases (i.e. over $500).

* Don’t us a signature stamp! All checks are to be signed by the authorized check signers.

* Compare your Profit & Loss statements monthly and annually to see if there has been any increase in one certain category. An increase in “office supplies” might indicate someone is stealing your inventory for personal use.

* Let you staff know that you are monitoring and managing your money! This will deter someone from stealing if they know you are watching.

In most of the cases that someone has “stolen” funds from their company, it was because:

1. They weren’t being watched and they were allowed to have too much freedom in managing the money.

2. They were having financial troubles – divorce, bankruptcy, etc.

3. They realized how easy it was and became “addicted” to stealing.

And, believe it not, probably half are “good, decent” people who really mean no harm. But, PLEASE, don’t be afraid to start now and put your policies and procedures in place. Hopefully, you don’t find something wacky, but if you do, better sooner than later!

Lastly, your bookkeeper will THANK YOU for taking the temptation away. If they are offended, find yourself some new help. This is your livelihood and you have every right to protect it!

Starting a new business? Please read…

Myth: I’ll invest in something that sounds fun!

“I’ve never worked in a restaurant but I’m going to open one because I love to cook!” says the naive business owner.
Do yourself a favor and don’t start a business unless you have worked or interned in that industry first. It’s hard enough to run a business when you know what you’re doing, but to run a business while learning what it’s all about is foolish. So what can you do if you plan to invest in a worthwhile business that you know nothing about?

* Take the time to work in the industry in which you desire to own a company. Even if you only try it out for 6 months, or take an unpaid internship, you will not be sorry. Until you’ve been there, done that, you won’t even know if you like it!

* Talk with other people in the industry. Find someone outside your area and talk to them about everything from obtaining capital to hiring employees to leasing space to marketing…and the list goes on. Find out what works and what doesn’t. Ask them about their successes and failures. Learn from their mistakes and benefit from their success.

* Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Are you good with accounting? Do you enjoy managing others? Are you comfortable negotiating a deal? Can you get tough if you need to collect money? Understand what you are good at so that you will know if you will need to outsource or delegate the other stuff. It’s easy to think of all the things you are good at, but more important that you identify what you are not good at so you don’t find yourself struggling unnecessarily.

* Enroll in training courses. Depending on your industry, you may want to find training courses such as human resource classes, accounting 101, etc. Check with your local Chamber for suggestions and SCORE, SBA, and other business networking groups in your area. You maybe surprised what you can learn for very little money… or free!

* Find a mentor. Even Donald Trump has mentors. Everyone needs at least one mentor to share ideas, vent concerns, or ask questions. Don’t be shy. If you don’t know anyone personally, find a business coach. There are plenty online to check out. Just be sure that you find one that is well suited for you. You want to be able communicate freely and honestly, so that you can get the same in return.

With the increase in unemployment, more and more people will reach out to start their own business. If you are one of them, do it right the first time.

Good luck in your success!