I created a BLaST Creative account last week and started adding a few boards and pins, within 1 hour I had over 50 spam emails and continue to receive between 50 to 100 spam emails a day. It is absolutely ridiculous! Is Pinterest selling our email addresses?

We use Facebook and Twitter and don’t have anywhere near the spamming problem. Pinterest is a nightmare and yet it is a good marketing tool! So what do you do?

1. Don’t use Pinterest!
2. Set up a second email address that you use only for Pinterest so that the spam emails go there and you don’t have to deal with them.
3. Block the spam emails as they roll in-which is what I did.
4. Continue to complain to Pinterest, but that doesn’t seem to be doing much good.

Because of the popularity of the site, Pinterest seems to be attacked by spammers and doesn’t have the appropriate safeguards in place. So enter at your own risk, for the moment, spammers control Pinterest!

Amber Hills Properties  Z & R Ventures, Inc. Watford City, ND

For those who don’t live in and around the Bakken, it’s difficult to understand what it’s like here in the Williston Basin.  A few years ago, Watford City and Williston were like a lot of North Dakota towns:  quiet. 

There were a few stores on Main Street, a Walmart and a some family-friendly restaurants that you didn’t need reservations for. Some people were still oilfield workers, others farmed and ranched.  Back then, you could buy a house for less than $100,000.  If you wanted to rent an apartment in Williston, you could get it for $300-$500 a month.

Thanks to the exploration of the Bakken shale, fracking and the high-paying oilfield jobs that followed, however, those days are behind us.  Fast food businesses are paying employees $15/hour and Walmart is paying $17/hour and still having a tough time hiring. Rent an apartment in Watford City or Williston now and you’ll pay $2,000 or more.  Hotel rooms are non-existent.  Home prices are skyrocketing.  Oilfield workers are living in their cars despite earning six figures a year. 

Big money is being made in “man camps”, which offer full-service lodging for oifield workers. These man camps provide a room for sleeping and up to three meals a day for those staying there.  With laundry facilities, game rooms, televisions and other basic amenities, man camps are a popular option for these workers.  For the people who purchase land around the Bakken and put up these man camps, the money to be made is significant. Rooms rent for an average of $150 to $200 per night, and empty rooms are rare.  

 But that’s not the whole story. Somewhat more “traditional” rentals in Williston, Watford City and surrounding North Dakota towns are bringing huge returns on investment. Manufactured homes built to suit 8 people rent out for over $13,000 every month. Put a 2-bedroom trailer house on a property with utilities and you can receive tenant income of $4,000 a month or more from oilfield workers who value having a little more privacy than man camps offer.  People who invest their money in Bakken housing now can make it back quickly and then start earning straight profit within a few months. 

A case in point is Manti Te’O's Twitter hoax!He convinced the world that he had a girlfriend, unfortunately this bad press about Manti Te’O is true and he will have a lot to overcome and it won’t be easy. Once it’s on the net, it’s on there for good.

But unlike Manti Te’O there is bad press on Facebook for brands that is not true and uncalled for, some from misguided souls, enemies and bullies. Some bullies never grow up.

Bullies are mean and don’t think twice of ruining the reputation of a brand online. They don’t think and don’t care about consequences, they let their anger and hatred fuel them and drive them.

But what does this mean for the Brand? It means you need to stay on top of all information put on the web about you. You need to share so much positive information, truth about your brand on the web. When you respond to the negativity, never attack, always respond positively. Don’t get in a pissing match on the web with your bully or hater. It will only hurt you in the end.

To find out what is being said about your brand on the web, signup for Google Alerts! This will enable you to stay on top of things.

If someone comments or posts negativity about your brand, remember to only come back with positive comments.

These are all sayings we’ve heard, but it seems few people really embrace change. So how can we address this within a team or a group? People may resist it, ignore it, talk around it, but rarely want to address is directly, much less embrace it. If you’re facing any type of change, consider introducing it subtly and simply, using a team meeting.

Consider a change in the time, the place or the space. Small changes will more than likely throw people off who are resistant to change, but may help in introducing change. Just a simple change in time may generate discussion. If changing the time is not feasible, schedule to meet in a different space. Take the team to a coffee shop, another area in the building or outside. Be creative.

If introducing a new venue is not an option, change the area. Move the table out of the room. This removes the physical barrier between the team members and also addresses the blackberry bobs, the iphone inclines, and the droid drops that seem to permeate so many meetings. Eliminating the table can also naturally open up the team. If you cannot remove the table, change the seating in some way. Sit in a different seat. Encourage others to move to a different spot.

A simple change in the meeting can generate a discussion surrounding change. Be prepared though, as this small difference may in itself produce resistance. How your team members respond, may help you gauge their attitude toward change. If a person complains, they may have difficulty with change. If a person seems excited about the change, they may embrace and actually thrive on change. If a person seems non-ruffled yet accepting, they may be someone who adapts well to change, and who in turn can help others feel calm about it.

As the leader, use this simple tool to generate discussion about a change that may have already occurred or about a future change. Use it more than once. Making small changes on a regular basis may help your team make the necessary adjustments more seamlessly when facing larger changes. Equally important, be aware of your own attitude toward change, as this may greatly affect the team’s attitude toward change.

Finally, if the change seems too much for you to tackle on your own, enlist the assistance of outside support. Canvas Creek Team Building helps teams address difficult and challenging issues, including change. Free consultation and team evaluation available. www.canvascreekteambuilding.com

How does this apply to team building in general? Statistics would say that in any given team, similar issues exist. Look at the first number of lines of this article. Given these times, finances are tight. Jobs may be tenuous. Illness may not be visible. Stress of the season may be taking its toll. The people you come in contact with through team building, management or leadership may be dealing with difficult issues. Unless they let you in to their struggles, you may never know it. Being aware and reminding ourselves that we may be dealing with hurting people can help us be compassionate and understanding. Providing a venue for creativity and expression not only allows an outlet, but also brings a camaraderie and togetherness to a group. It can bind them together, giving them a place of belonging. It can help them find light and positivity where darkness may want to overtake. Look for the light, the color and brightness of members. If they can’t see it, help them find it. Encourage it. Set the tone. Being positive and upbeat, welcoming and warm will go a long way in keeping a group in that same positive aura. But don’t be surprised when they set the tone themselves or among themselves. If they are anything like the group of young people I met today, they will make your heart grow, cause hope to spring within and leave you grateful for the lessons learned. And then it’s your turn to pass it on.

Collaborative painting is an extraordinary experience, meeting people where they are and allowing them to express themselves in that moment. Visit our website to explore further on how to bring collaborate art to your team, your clients or your family. www.canvascreekteambuilding.com

Do you know how most leaks are found on oil and gas pipelines?

They get a shrill complaint over the phone from one of the landowners where the pipeline crosses.

It’s true, says Dr. David Shaw, one of the authors of a draft “Leak Detection Study” prepared for the U.S. Department of Transportation, for a report that will go to the US Congress early in 2013. Dr. Shaw is a project engineer with independent consulting firm Kiefner & Associates, Inc., a high-end, Ohio-based consulting firm that specializes in pipeline engineering.

It’s true, says Dr. David Shaw, one of the authors of a draft “Leak Detection Study” prepared for the U.S. Department of Transportation, for a report that will go to the US Congress early in 2013. Dr. Shaw is a project engineer with independent consulting firm Kiefner & Associates, Inc., a high-end, Ohio-based consulting firm that specializes in pipeline engineering.

The Study – commissioned and funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) – analyzed several leak detection systems. What the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to airlines, for example, PHMSA is to the pipeline industry.

“Very often pipeline operators haven’t known they have a leak until they get a phone call from somebody saying there’s oil in my field,” Dr. Shaw said in a recent interview with the Oil and Gas Investments Bulletin.

The PHMSA was first founded in 2001 as a result of several large pipeline spills, and their report only goes to Congress every few years. And now is a time when more pipelines are needed than ever before to transport the huge new supply of shale oil, and Canadian heavy oil, through the continent.

Of course, that has brought more public scrutiny to the industry than ever before—making it a high-stakes report for the industry. Surprisingly, the mainstream media has almost completely ignored the 269-page draft report, which was released in late September.

(And of course, the trade magazines don’t cover this issue because that would bite the hand the feeds them—you can’t annoy your advertisers!)

You can access the draft report here: Leak Detection Study. The public and industry had eight weeks to comment on it. Those comments will now be worked into the final PHMSA report that goes to Congress.

Shaw says there is relatively little market penetration of automated leak detection systems. It’s still being done semi-manually, through periodic monitoring of pressure and flow by operators.

“It’s not sensitive or modern, but that’s where the majority of pipeline leak detection is,” he says. “We rely on controllers to identify something big happening on their instruments. It’s not particularly high-tech. They’re (the pipeline industry) trying to avoid these technologies. The question is why?”

“We called them up and asked them. One primary reason is there’s no systematic guideline for leak detection system deployment. So one of our macro-recommendations (in the study) was to develop standards and certifications for leak detection systems.”

He added: “They (the industry) are particularly worried of regulations that will force them to have specific leak detection procedures.”

He says that pipeline leaks, ruptures, and spills are “systematically causing more and more property damage…in a bad year you can have up to $5 billion in property damages due to pipeline related accidents.”

Given the volume of public property damage, the report comments that pipeline companies would be “probably justified” in spending $490,000 a year for every 400 miles of pipeline.

He adds that the reality is that “right now companies might spend a tenth of that figure (per year for every 400 miles of pipelines). It just needs pushing along here. Somebody has got to move this technology into practise.”

Anthony Swift, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said that the report’s findings show that industry talk on leak detection systems doesn’t match the realities of the situation.

“These systems aren’t as effective as many pipeline operators suggest,” said Swift.

He is hopeful that the report will lead to better improvements in leak detection engineering and public transparency.

Industry groups such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) said that the report is flawed.

“The report includes an extensive recitation and largely academic description of LDS [leak detection systems], their technologies and potential applications,” said API and AOPL in a joint statement.

“However, this study presents relatively little in-depth data or analysis of the actual experiences of operators using these technologies, their operational experiences, or benefits and costs in practice. The study hints at many of these issues, but never explores them substantively or with any numerical analysis.

“A critical reader is left unable to make any accurate assessment on the technical, operational or economic feasibility of LDS (Leak Detection Systems-ed).”

Enbridge (ENB-NYSE;TSX) is a member of both API and AOPL. They are researching and testing leak detection technologies that are suitable for its pipelines, including Northern Gateway, said Enbridge Spokesperson Graham White.

“[This initiative] includes an evaluation of fibre optic and odour sensing cables to ensure the technology actually performs as vendors claim,” said White.

(Responses to these comments by the pipeline industry from Kiefner and Associates are also available at the public website:   https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/Mtg80.mtg

Shaw says the leak detection technology industry has been caught in a Catch-22 situation for years—they find it difficult to develop new products because there aren’t any major sales to pipeline operators.

Natural gas pipelines will also get discussed in the report to Congress, though most of it will be on liquids pipelines.

Since the last report, a natural gas pipeline exploded in San Bruno California, just south of San Francisco, killing 8 people. Operator PG&E (PCG-NYSE) was found negligent but regulators also came under scrutiny as being too trusting of the companies operating the pipeline.

In conclusion, leak detection technology around pipelines is not modern, scientific or technical. In today’s age, that will just not fly politically.

The challenge for the industry is to either take the lead, increase their leak detection budgets and adopt new technology, or allow government or regulate them into action. What great PR that would be for them!

Both the US and Canada need thousands of miles of new pipelines to get their fast growing supply of oil to market. This could be a big first step in winning over public opinion with billions of tax dollars and profits on the line.

- Keith

Kinross Gold Corporation runs the Fort Knox Gold Mine near Fairbanks, Alaska. The mine, located 26 miles North of Fairbanks is one of the best producing gold mines in Alaska. The company is run with four (4) core values. Those values are:

Ever heard the phrase “creative strategic planning”? Surely you have, though it may have simply been thrown around in a business meeting. Or maybe you’ve seen it scattered across the internet, a vague catch phrase get-rich-quick schemes use to lure people in. Either way, this is one thing you definitely need to pay more attention to.

Strategic planning refers to defining a specific goal and then laying out a necessary strategy to reach that goal. Basically, strategic planning makes sure your short-term decisions work in favor of your long-term goals. To begin, a strategic planner needs to answer these three questions:

1.) Where are we now?

2.) Where do we want to be?

3.) How can we move one step closer?

Sound simple enough? Almost. The first two questions should be answered with as much specifics as possible. Let’s say you own a business. Your goal is to raise profits by 10% by the end of next year. So you might say:

1.) Where are we now?

            – Our current profit margin is ___.

2.) Where do we want to be?

            – We want our profits to be raised by 10% by December 31, 2013. Therefore, we need our profit margin to be ___by December 31,             2013.

Now comes the creative part, which is question #3. There are a number of theories floating around that provide the best way to start the creative process, but we feel Wallas’s creative process makes for a great fit. There are four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination and verification.

Preparation is the stage of gathering all your possible information. After all, you won’t be able to give yourself options if you have no idea of what you’re working with, right? So look at all your sources, all the people you know and all the possible pathways to reach your goal.

Next is incubation. So take a break; set the problem aside for a bit to clear your head. A disorganized mind creates a disorganized reality.

Step 3: illumination. Identify potential solutions. This is when working as a team really comes in handy, as everyone will be looking at the problem through a different perspective. Have brainstorming sessions to present as many solutions as possible.

And finally: verification. Refine your ideas. There may be a number of ideas on how to increase profits by 10% within the given time frame, but each idea needs to be refined and clearly laid out before a decision is made.

It’s completely understandable if this still sounds a bit complicated, but that’s why we’re here! Schedule a meeting with Canvas Creek today and we’ll show you how to get on track in your creative strategic planning process. We’ll even be with you every step of the way.

1.) Your family. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean your biological family. There are many other people from various walks of life that can be considered family. Maybe you have a group of coworkers that make your job more pleasant than it really should be, or perhaps you have a close-knit group of friends that have been with you through thick and thin. Either way, there is surely at least one person that you are grateful to know.

2.) Your health. If you’re in generally good health, be thankful for it. There are countless afflictions you could have. If you’re ailing, be thankful for modern medicine and all the advances modern science has made in the medical field. And if you’re confused about your health, be thankful that   there are resources to help you get back on your feet. Counseling centers and   rehab facilities are right at your fingertips.

3.) Technology. Just think back to a few years ago and you should find yourself deeply impressed with what you have now. Even if you don’t have the newest television or the latest iPhone, there are still some amazing things happening in the technological world. Be thankful you can have a face to face conversation with someone completely across the planet or that your phone has an app that will let you find your car keys should you ever lose them again. Now c’mon…that’s pretty amazing.

4.) Opportunity. No matter what your situation is, you have the opportunity to make it better. Maybe you’re unhappy with the current political climate; be thankful that you have the ability to vote and to run for a government position. Even if you feel you’ve missed opportunities in the past, chances will still come along to allow you to better yourself. Be thankful you live in a place with abundant opportunities.

5.) Holidays. Think about it, what other days are you allowed to hang out with your best friends and family members, eat way too much food all while skipping out on work and (probably) still getting paid? Not a lot. Definitely be thankful for the holidays.

Networking tends to be one of those terms that is often thrown around in various business conversations. “We need to network more” or “How are doing on networking?” are just a few phrases you may hear. However, when you actually get down to brass tacks, what exactly is networking? And how do you do it?

Well, here you go. Listed below are some of the best networking tips successful business men and women have to offer.

1.) Know the purpose of networking. The entire point of networking is to have various contacts in other areas that might be of use to you later. Perhaps you are a journalist; knowing someone at your local news station might be a huge benefit to you because they may be able to give you specific leads or sources to various stories.

2.) Do as much as you can on your own. Contacting someone for information that you could easily get yourself is just plain lazy. Do your own homework and research before seeking out others to help you.

3.) Be courteous. That means you shouldn’t be calling them while they’re in the middle of dinner or tracking them down on their lunch break if they haven’t returned your calls. And if they decline your request, for whatever reason, don’t push it. Everyone has their reasons for not being able to help someone out once in a while.

4.) Be professional. Whining, groveling or being overly aggressive isn’t going to get you anywhere. As a matter of fact, it could be very damaging to your relationship. No one wants to work with someone else that can’t keep it together. In addition, if you’re going to approach a third party contact make sure your original source has given you permission to use their name.

5.) Listen. If you need information from this person then you have to be ready to receive it. Having a pen and a notepad handy, or even a recording device will let them know that you aren’t taking their services lightly.

6.) Understand it’s a two-way street. Continuing with our journalist example, if your “source” from the news station has provided you with vital information, it’s only common courtesy to return the favor when the time is needed. Otherwise, you’re just taking advantage of people to get information. Do this enough times and no one will want to work with you.

Editor’s Intro:  As I frantically grabbed for the television remote to switch the channel to programing  that doesn’t invade my viewing space with yet one more politician peddling more snake oil, I released that with only five more days to “E” Day, it was an exercise in futility.  All the marketing experts tell us that we all want to buy, we just don’t want to be sold.  So when I read one of Dr. Michel’s latest business blogs I was captured with the simplicity and logic as he states the obvious that seems to regularly elude us.  Enjoy !

Laura McRae

Having lunch the other day in a little cafe, one of our consultants heard this response that is our blog title today to a vendor having a business lunch with a prospective client.

The prospective client had asked for some video monitoring equipment for his business. As the vendor was beginning his presentation, the prospective client said, “I know that you are going to try and sell me everything that you have!” The vendor calmly replied, “No, I am only going to sell you what you need!”

Now, because the little cafe was real small, there was no way not to hear the conversation. Here is what was interesting. The prospective client was convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that he was going to be “taken to the cleaners” by the vendor. The vendor, possibly anticipating some client rejection, calmly pointed out that all he was going to sell was what the client needs really were.

As professional business consultants, we were impressed with the response of the vendor. “I am only going to sell you what you need!” How many times do you give that response when a prospective client seems to object to a presentation? We suspect not as many as you should!

Remember, no matter what business we are in, we are all in sales. In some form or fashion, we are all in sales. This vendor clearly recognized that the client thought that he was going to “get hooked” on some deal. Well, the vendor disarmed that position right away. Interestingly, as our consultant finished his lunch, the prospective client paid close attention to the vendor and how he proposed to solve the clients’ need.

Interestingly, how do you respond when a client appears to believe that you are going to “Sell me Everything that you have?” Our consultants are trained to respond as this vendor did– never allow the client to think that he/she is being taken advantage of in a sales situation. Often times, the client will end up buying more product than he normally anticipated. Not because he was “pressured” by the vendor, but because he/she understood the products that the vendor was selling. Think about this the next time you are in a tough sales environment. The response “I am only going to sell you what you need” are critical words!

Nonetheless, with so many essential business moves being made over the internet, one might think we were living in a world where human to human interaction was not the preferable option. However, relationships in business are more important than ever. And no matter how much work is done online, there are a few things you need to know:

1.) Nothing can replace excellent customer service. Ever get to a website and find that you can’t find a phone number? Anywhere? It’s frustrating to have to sit at a computer and try to decipher what someone else has already deemed the appropriate response to your problem. Maybe that solution isn’t working, maybe that’s not your problem, and maybe you just have no idea what the words in front of you mean.

Having a relationship with your clients means being there for them in a time of need, and refusing to have a help number on your website is not being there (neither is requiring them to go through 46 steps to reach a human being on the other end, contrary to the opinion of Verizon, but who’s counting).

2.) Do what you say you are going to do. When a customer has contacted you with an issue, it is up to you to resolve it. Relying on them to remind you of the problem or giving them a list of things they should try and then call you back is lazy. Sure you can teach a man to fish, but in the business world it’s appreciated if you give that same man a fish or two while he is still learning. Don’t leave your customers out on a limb; once they’ve contacted you take the problem off their hands.

Oh yeah, and fix it.

3.) Facilitate connections. I work with a local photographer here in town, and one day I asked her how much money she spends on advertising for her business. Her answer: $0.00. All of her clients are from colleague recommendations, word of mouth, and social media. Folks all these client sources are facilitated through favorable relationships. If no other photographers in town respect her, if her clients aren’t happy with her work or she ignores the growing trend of social media, her business dies. It’s as simple as that.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation to ask your roommate to move out, you know just how awkward it can be. Even in a good situation where both of you are on great terms and there’s a happy occasion for the change (say you and your significant other want to move in together, for example), it can still be a tough subject to bring up. So before you do, here are a few things you need to know first:

1.) Know what you can legally ask of them. If you and your roommate have signed a lease and that lease isn’t up for another three months, you and your hubby might just have to wait until then to call the place your own. Until that lease is up, your roommate has just as much right to be there as you do.

Having said that, there is often nothing wrong with just asking. Who knows, maybe your roomie has a friend that needs a place and this could be the perfect time for her to start apartment hunting with someone else. Communicate! 

2.) Be open about the situation. If there is a problem, and that’s why you feel your roommate needs to go, they deserve to have a chance to solve the problem first. They may be completely clueless to the issues you’re dealing with, so make sure you’re open with them from the beginning. Don’t ask them to move out and say it’s due to “allergies”, just ask them to stop burning incense all the freakin’ time and the problem could be solved right then and there.

3.) Do it at the right time. This is not a discussion that should be put off, of course, but it’s also not a discussion that can happen at any time. Make sure both of you don’t have to be somewhere right away and limit the distractions. And try to be sensitive to what is going on in their lives. Asking them to move out as soon as they get back from their grandma’s funeral isn’t a very good idea.

4.) Give them a realistic time to move out. Unless they’ve been absolutely unbearable (and by unbearable we mean they lit all your clothes on fire last night, or something of a similar significance), you need to give them a reasonable time to move out. They not only need to find another place, but possibly another roommate, as well as figure out how and when they are going to move all of their stuff. And don’t forget they probably have school and or a job or kids and other commitments they’re juggling too. A month is typically a respectable time period.

5.) Be compassionate. If they come to you saying they’ve found a place but they won’t be able to move in until five days after the 30 day period you’ve given them, let them stay for the extra five days. Finding a place to live can be a real pain in the neck and in the end five days is really nothing to get upset about.

We’ve all been there; that moment when things have gotten so bad that it becomes difficult to see how they could ever get better again. Maybe you’ve lost your job and bills are piling up, maybe you’ve just ended a long term relationship and thoughts of eternal loneliness are flooding your mind; either way, there has to be something you can do to get back on track. And as a matter of fact, there is.

1.) Take one day. When it feels like your world is ending it can be tough to think about anything else, so do what you need to do to clear your mind. However, you need to put a time limit on your groveling or you could end up wallowing forever. If that means sleeping in bed for an entire day, do it. Maybe it means going for a run or watching your favorite movie on repeat. Whatever it is that you need to do, take a day to completely absorb yourself in whatever situation you’re in, then wake up tomorrow, and begin to move on.

2.) Comprehend your new reality. Constantly saying “If only this hadn’t happened…” to yourself won’t get you anywhere. This did happen. If you lost your job, you need to stop and look at your current situation without your mind getting carried away. So sit down and take a look at your finances. What are your necessities and what will it take to pay for them (and no, cable television is not a “necessity”)? Exactly how much money do you need to make to keep a roof over your head and food in your belly? 

3.) Make a plan, in writing. And don’t generalize. Saying, “I’ll find another job,” isn’t going to help you right now. Of course you will, but how? Writing down a serious of steps leading to a job would be much more constructive. Something like: 1.) Talk to everyone I know to see if they know if their current job is hiring, 2.) Search the want ads, 3.) Update my resume, 4.) Go down to the job center to check current openings, etc.

4.) Find the reason (if there is one) and learn from it. Sometimes things happen for no reason, and there really is no lesson involved. Some things, however, do have a reason for occurring. Is there a reason you were laid off instead of your coworker? It may be that you were simply at the company for less time. Finding the reason allows you to either prevent this situation from happening again or absolve yourself from feeling guilty over something you had no control over in the first place.

5.) Appreciate the things you do have. No matter what, you still have some things to be grateful for. A divorce is rough, of course, but you still have you children, right? Try to focus on other aspects of your life that are going well. Maybe this whole situation has made you realize that you have some seriously amazing friends who would do anything for you.

It’s fairly common to be unsatisfied with your current situation in life. Maybe you are happy with your relationship but your job is making you miserable. Maybe you just keep going in circles and you can’t seem to break out of your rut. Either way, change often takes time. However, it all begins with that first step, and here are a few first steps that will show a little bit of improvement immediately. 

1.) Let go of the past. As wise Rafiki says in The Lion King, “Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the from way I see it, you can either run from it, or… learn from it.” And even though our lives are not lived through animation, the lesson holds up just the same. The past is the past, and dwelling on it isn’t going to solve anything. Learn what you can from it and then let it go.  

2.) Cut out people that hurt you. If you have a relationship that is causing you grief, end it. Just because someone was your best friend in 4th grade or is related to you by blood does not mean you have to keep them in your life. The only people you should have time for are the ones that treat you with respect and dignity and support you when you need it.  

3.) Stand up for yourself. If you don’t stand up for yourself, who will? If you feel you are being disrespected in some way, say something. Allowing yourself to be a doormat certainly doesn’t feel good, and the second you stop being one you’ll realize how amazing it feels to be treated with respect.

4.) De-clutter your mind. Have something that’s weighing on your mind? Take care of it! Maybe it’s a huge presentation you feel unprepared for; stop putting it off and prepare for it! Maybe you are avoiding talking to your child’s math teacher for whatever reason; get over it and stop by the school after work! All of those tiny little to-do tasks add up, and it can cause you some serious stress. Bear down and take care of as many of them as you can and you’d be surprised at how amazing you feel knowing all of those little tasks are completed.

5.) Appreciate how far you’ve come. Goals we set for ourselves often take a long time to achieve, so it’s completely understandable to feel frustrated about halfway through when you feel like you haven’t made any progress. Chances are though, you have made some progress, you just haven’t stopped to realize it yet. Do you have a goal to lose 20 pounds and you’ve lost 12 so far? Good for you, that’s a big deal! So take a second and think about what you’re trying to accomplish and how far you’ve come toward that particular goal.

Ah yes, our passion. At times it can be so elusive, and vague comments from others (“Well, just pick something you like and do that.”) are virtually useless. So here are a few inspirational points that might help you get on the right path.

1.) Often people attempt to live their lives backwards.  They try to acquire more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier.  The way it actually works is the reverse.  You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.

2.) Don’t be normal.  Sadly, normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you financed, in order to get to the job that you don’t really like, but that you need, to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.

3.) If you are passionate about it, pursue it, no matter what anyone else thinks.  That’s how dreams are achieved.

4.) Live by choice, not by chance.  Make changes, not excuses.  Be motivated, not manipulated.  Work to excel, not compete.  Choose to listen to your inner voice, not the jumbled opinions of everyone else.

5.) When faced with two choices, simply toss a coin.  It works not because it settles the question for you, but because in that brief moment when the coin is in the air, you suddenly know what you are hoping for.

6.) It’s not about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance.  You’ll rarely be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Sometimes you just have to go for it.  

7.) Nothing you have that much passion for is ever a waste of time, no matter how it turns out in the long-term.

8.) Life is short.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

9.) A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.  This concept can be universally applied.

10.) There are people who live in a dream world and there are people who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.

11.) If you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.

12.) When we focus on leading a passionate, meaningful life, we are also inadvertently creating a spectacular ripple effect of inspiration in the lives around us.  When one person follows a dream, tries something new, or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels their passionate energy; and before too long, they are making their own daring leaps while simultaneously inspiring others.

How many times during the day do you think something to yourself? Probably more than you think. The truth is, you (yes, that person in the mirror) are the biggest influence on howyour life turns out. And if we can’t change our thoughts, we very well can’t change our actions, now can we? So let’s make sure the following thoughts get shut down before they even start.

1.) I can’t/it’s too late/I’m not good enough/it doesn’t matter anyway/what’s the point. Yes, all of these excuses fall under the same category and all of them are collectively number one on this list for a reason. Don’t sell yourself shortbecause your mental guestimate of your abilities is inaccurate. You are just as capable and deserving as anyone else, and it does matter or you wouldn’t be having this conversation with yourself right now. Your body is an amazing thing; if you want it to stand up, walk across the street and talk to the cute guy in the coffee shop it will do it. The only thing stopping you is your mind.

2.) I don’t have time. Everyone thinks they don’t have time, but then something comes up and they end up making time. So make time now! Research has shown that the average person can find an extra six hours (six hours!!) in their day if they were to prioritize their tasks and work more efficiently.

3.) I’ll do it someday. Why someday? Putting it off until “someday” conveys the idea that you aren’t able to do it now, and why? Is there really something standing in your way? Right now, at this very moment, you are the oldest and wisest you have ever been, while at the same time being as young and able as you have ever been. Don’t waste time dedicating part of your life to “someday.” Do what makes you happy now.

4.) I could make a fool of myself. Yes, you could. You could also trip and fall walking through the grocery store, so do you stop going to the store? No! And the reason: because you’ve been to the store and not tripped and fell enough times that your mind doesn’t recognize it as a realistic threat. There are many opportunities to make a fool of yourself (many of them you are enormously overthinking), but if you avoided all of them you would be a hermit. Live a little bit and let yourself make mistakes. The fear of being a fool is not keeping you from being one; it’s keeping you from living, period.

5.) It didn’t work out the last time. Circumstances changeand people learn, including you. If you let your past determine your future, your future is going to be an exact replica of your past.

6.) Well if so-and-so thinks it’s a good idea… Honestly, it doesn’t matter what so-and-so thinks! It matters what you think! Granted, everyone needs a little advice from someone else once in a while, but constantly needing someone else’s opinion causes you to forget to have one of your own. After all, if so-and-so has a different opinion than you, and you always go with their opinion, what’s the point in even having your own?Do what you want to do, regardless of what others may think.

We’ve all been there. Whether it’s a bad relationship, a new venture or just a lifestyle, there are some things in life that just aren’t working anymore. Now it can be difficult to know when the time is right to walk away and try something new, so we’ve made it a bit easier on you. Here are five signs that it’s time to stop what you’re doing and move on.

1.) You’re going in circles. Have you ever heard Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity? Well here it is: “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If you’ve already tried everything you can think of to make it work and are now trying things you’ve already tried, you need to stop. You’re going in circles and it’s time to move on. 

2.) You’ve already learned the lesson. Let’s say you’ve been in a horrible relationship for 2 years. Now let’s say you break up and move on to date an amazing person and you’re happy. You’ve learned your lesson about the bad relationship, right? Now if you had been in that bad relationship for four years instead of two would you have gained anymore wisdom? Probably not. Once you’ve learned the lesson there’s no point in hanging on. Now you’re just wasting time.

3.) You’re crossing lines you originally set for yourself. Whenever you start a new endeavor, there are always lines that are set. Maybe you don’t necessarily write them down, but they’re definitely there. Something like, “Well as long as he doesn’t cheat on me we can still work on things,” or “I’m going to run this business for six years, and if it isn’t gaining a profit by then I’ll be done.” These are good boundaries to have, but as soon as they are crossed, you’re just kidding yourself. If he cheats on you or it’s been seven years and the business still isn’t turning a profit, it’s time to cut your losses.

4.) You’re missing out on other opportunities. Here’s an easy way to look at it. If a chance for something comes along and you consider it a missed opportunity, than it probably is! Let’s say you’re a chef running your own restaurant. It’s not exactly pulling in a huge profit, but you’ve only been in business for a year. A café down the street offers you a great job and you turn it down. You’re happy with your decision. Now let’s say you’ve been a chef for five years at a failing restaurant and you’re offered the same café job. You turn it down again, but this time you wonder if you made the right decision.

In the first scenario, taking the job at the café would have meant you missed out on the opportunity to own your own restaurant. So you turned it down and continued on your path. But in the second scenario, you seeturning down the job at the café was a missed opportunity to have a decent income, and you missed it. If you think you’re missing opportunities, it probably means you know longer see what you’re doing as the right choice.

5.) You’re unhappy. It’s as simple as that. If you’re unhappy in your situation (with your current job or a relationship) and you’ve tried everything to improve it (talked to your boss, been to relationship counseling) but nothing has worked and you’re still unhappy, you need to get out of that situation.

Slumps…we all have them. They’re those little sections of life when things just don’t seem to be going right. Maybe you haven’t been to the gym in a month and no matter what you do just don’t feel like going. Maybe you’ve been behind at work lately and you just can’t seem to catch up. Or maybe it’s your mood; maybe no matter what is going on in your life right now you just feel kind of…blah. These are slumps, people, and once you’re in one it can be hard to snap out of it, but it’s definitely not impossible. Here are some of the best ways to get yourself back on track.

1.) Stop. More specifically, stop thinking. Stop thinking about what you have to do tomorrow, what you forgot to do today, how your mother-in-law is driving you crazy, how you’ve gained 6 pounds since June when you promised yourself you’d lose 10: just stop. Whatever you’ve been doing lately hasn’t been working (you are in fact, in a slump), right? Right, so stop and take a deep breath; you are about to change gears.

2.) Focus. Find a place where you can sit, with pen and paper, undisturbed for a few minutes and think clearly. That means you step away from any electronic distractions (the television, the computer, your cell phone, etc.) and go somewhere comfortable. And don’t let yourself make excuses; the world is not going to explode if dinner is 30 minutes later than it usually is for the love of God. 

3.) Write it down. Our minds are constantly running (as you probably already know). Research has shown that when we write down what we are thinking about on paper (how upset we are with a loved one or what we need at the store, for example), our mind can relax a bit knowing it doesn’t need to keep thinking about that information. It’s the same thing that happens when someone gives you their phone number; you repeat it to yourself until you enter it in your phone or write it down. And as soon as you do, you stop thinking about it, right? Problems you are dwelling on work the same way. So take a second and write down what is bothering you.

4.) Refine. After you write down what is bothering you (don’t worry if it’s an insanely long list, chances are you’ve needed to get some things out), take a look at what you’ve written. Did you write “Dan won’t fix those shelves I’ve asked him to fix for 2 weeks” and “Dan didn’t pack the kids’ lunches” and “Dan made work plans on our anniversary night” the problem might not be all of those little things. Instead, the problem might be “Dan and I need to communicate better.”

5.) Determine a resolution. If the problem is that you and Dan need to communicate better. Write down a time that the two of you need to talk, undisturbed. Not while both of you are running to your cars in the morning, not the second he gets home from work. Pick a time when you can both talk. The same goes for other issues. If the problem is that you’re completely overwhelmed at work, think of a way you can take off some of your workload. Is there a fellow employee that can help you out for a bit (they could be in charge of the phone lines for the day while you work, for example)? Can you speak to your boss about getting caught up on your current assignments before taking on any more projects? If you’ve been feeling unmotivated, think of a way to get motivated. Haven’t gone to the gym in a while? Maybe you need a new pair of running shoes.

6.) Move on. Once you’ve addressed these issues and understand what you need to do, move on. Get up, make the dinner you’ve been postponing for 30 minutes, and stop thinking about it. Enjoy your dinner, watch some television with Dan, and get some sleep. Tomorrow your slump ends.

No matter what group of people you’re working with (your family, your coworkers, your intramural teammates, your church group), an open and effective line of communication is key. But that phrase, “effective communication”, tends to get thrown around a lot doesn’t it. As it turns out, there’s a whole lot to effective communication. There’s listening, using the appropriate tone and hand gestures, and various other things we do while talking. However, in most groups of people there are bound to be one or two shy folks, so how exactly do you get them talking? Well here you go; three ways to get someone engaged in a conversation:

1.) Say statements instead of questions. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it works. Asking someone a question demands a response. And not just any response, but one that is on subject and within a socially acceptable time frame. You’re putting pressure on someone without even knowing it. Statements, on the other hand, demand no response, allowing the other person to answer when and if they feel comfortable or not. A question also provides you the opportunity to judge them depending on their answer, while a statement simply says something about yourself.

For example, say you sit down next to a co-worker during lunch break and they are eating something that looks very spicy. The question, “Wow, whatis that? Is it really spicy?” can seem innocent, but it’s more difficult that you might think. The statement, “Wow, you must be pretty brave, that looks spicy!” is much easier to handle. The listener is required to do nothing, you were simply making a statement that their food looks spicy.

2.) Compliment them. Just as the above example indicates, the listener appeared to be “brave” when eating spicy food, not “crazy”. In addition, a compliment can open the door to letting them feel comfortable in their own skin. A simple, “Wow, you have beautiful handwriting!” can give someone that tiny boost of self-confidence they need to open up a bit more.

3.) Say something about yourself. People don’t, in general, willingly open up to strangers. Therefore, if you want someone to open up to you, you’ve got to make yourself seem a little less like a stranger, and a great way to do that is to say a little bit about yourself.

Take the above example in the break room. You can continue the conversation to say something like, “Wow, you must be pretty brave, that looks spicy! I never could eat spicy food, though I do keep trying!” In just one sentence, you have gone from “Stacy, the lady who sits at the west desk,” to “Stacy who wants to like spicy food.” It’s a small change, but a significant one.

Morale tends to be one of those tricky words thrown around meetings. Every company wants good morale around the office but very few companies actually go through the trouble of determining how to achieve it.

But really quick, before we get into how to destroy morale (and why this would be a horrible thing to happen), what exactly is morale?

Morale can be loosely defined as the level of confidence or optimism felt by an individual or a group. It’s the feeling a person gets that they can make a difference in their environment; that they matter, and that they are valued. A high morale gives you employees that are committed and motivated to their task. Low morale gives you apathetic, uncaring employees that are probably searching for other jobs during their breaks. Which would you rather have? Exactly.

So if you’re looking to have the most productive environment possible, here are the top five things you should avoid:

1.) Embracing ignorance. The old phrase, “What they don’t know won’t hurt them” has no place in a workplace environment. Essentially, it means you’re rewarding poor communication and giving them an excuse for a low level of motivation. Don’t just explain the project to your employees, explain the reason for the project, allowing them to become invested in it as well.

2.) Assuming. How’s it go? Oh that’s right; assuming just makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’. It all comes back to communication. How many movies have there been made based on a simple plot of miscommunication and assumption? Too many to count. Don’t let your workplace turn into a shenanigan-stuffed Hollywood comedy. 

3.) Fault-finding. There’s a difference between giving out constructive criticism and finding faults in every little thing. Believe it or not, sometimes someone just does a good job and they should be recognized and awarded appropriately. Everything does not need to be a learning experience.

4.) One-Upping. Everyone has been guilty of this at one point or another, and most of the time we probably don’t even realize we’re doing it. But when an employee comes to you describing a certain success they’ve had (maybe they finished that 12 page report in only three days), explaining how you once finished a 50 page report in only four days isn’t going to be an amusing story, it’s going to downplay their success.

5.) Not caring. As much as people want to keep work and personal life separate, the fact is the two tend to mix at least a little bit. Things are going to happen at home that affect a person’s performance at work (perhaps a loved one has just passed away) and things are going to happen at work that certainly affect a person’s home life. Plus, most people spend even more time at work than they do with their own families. Remembering little things, like birthdays, or asking how someone is doing after they have suffered a loss or tragedy can give a much needed boost to a low morale environment.

As much as we would all like it to, the concept of teamwork does not simply “happen.” Instead, it takes a great deal of time working through details to make sure a team works together effectively. But some businesses and families are one step ahead of the game; by creating a culture that facilitates teamwork, constantly, a groups’ members are already comfortable with the idea of working together. So how can you achieve this in your home or place of business? Read on!

1.) Reward and value efforts of teamwork. The lone employee has their place, but placing a large amount of reward on something an individual employee does on their own can often give the impression that an individual can be valued more than the group. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of personal recognition, of course, but try to keep larger rewards (bonuses, compensation, etc.) distributed to groups of people as a display of a team working together successfully.

2.) Build teams to solve issues. If you are constantly forming teams to resolve issues that arise, people are going to start doing it on their own. If you typically ask for a group of volunteers to solve a problem, the first time a problem comes up while you are out of town group members will follow the protocol; which is to form a team and work through the issue together.

3.) List a teamwork culture as an identifiable value. The concept of teamwork shouldn’t be inferred, it should be openly accepted. Make sure the idea of teamwork is added to employee handbooks or written agreements so group members understand that it is a priority.

4.) Bring up topics that were solved by teamwork. I used to work at Billings Clinic, and I remember when they were given a Magnet rating (the top rating for nursing in the country; very few hospitals have achieved this), credit was given to the committee that worked tirelessly to make sure the hospital met specific qualifications. No single individual was acknowledged; it was considered a group effort.

5.) Exemplify teamwork at the executive level as well. As parents, it’s tough to expect your family to run as a team if you and your spouse do not act as a team as well. The same goes with a business. If Mom is asked a question, saying “I’ll run that by your father” shows that teamwork happens at even the highest level. Make this a practice in your business as well.

After the old compressor was put on the truck, I visited with crew leader, Randy Farrar from RushCo Energy Specialists in Euless, Texas. Randy told me that the new compressor was hand built in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He told me that the old one would be sent back for rebuild, if the unit was in such condition that it could be rebuilt.

As we talked, Randy told me about a new business line his firm had developed regarding microprocessor controls for air conditioning systems. He said that there are major firms that make controls for air conditioning systems. Once you have one of those systems, you are normally beholden to the manufacturer for repair and service. In this particular case, his firm was able to design and engineer a new system, using common parts that were no more expensive than the company proprietary system that was initially installed when the air conditioning system was new.

Another point that Randy made was that the biggest source of energy usage in a building is lighting. Lighting–UMMM. This looks like an area where an analysis can be done by the power company to identify new types of lighting that will be less costly and much more efficient! With new microprocessor controls for air conditioning systems and more efficient lighting in your facility, there is money to be captured that you may not have previously considered.

Call Randy at RushCo Energy Specialists at 817-267-5155 to discuss how he can help you improve your air conditioning needs. His expertise and that of his team will help you save money and increase your corporate profitability in areas where you did not realize savings existed.

I was touring the new Hilton Garden Inn Fort Worth Medical Center property the other morning with manager Jim Rickards. A guest got on the elevator and told Mr. Rickards, “This is a really nice place! I’d Like to Stay Here!”  Thus the title of this blog! The guest mentioned  she’d had some medical procedures being performed at the nearby hospital and liked the new hotel. Mr. Rickards beamed like a new daddy with pride and joy!

How did this happen, you might wonder? Well, Mr. Rickards tells me that even though his hotel has only been open 3 months, it is ranked as the top Hilton Garden Inn in the franchise system. However, the pride, the enthusiasm and the excitement were evident in everyone of the staff members we encountered on our tour! All of the people were excited to be part of a winning operation– from the janitor to the chef, as well as everyone in between.

Engaged, excited employees who “make the brand POP” do so because they enjoy their job, enjoy their leadership and enjoy the place where they work.   Our team at Solomon Bruce has written previously about work force environment, culture and position.  The tour of the Fort Worth Hilton Garden Inn gave us the opportunity yet again to see it in action.  The staff was genuinely friendly, was empowered and wanted to insure that each guest has a positive guest experience. Obviously, from the lady on the elevator, the staff was achieving their objective.

Does this happen in your business? Are your staff excited about their organization and willing to have clients, customers or guests share that same enthusiasm with you? If not, perhaps there is a challenge that you may wish to investigate! Look hard to see what changes may be necessary so that your customers and clients tell you how they enjoy your business and the products or service which you provide. In most cases, the changes that are needed are minor, but the results of the changes turn out to be major! Check out your operation– you want to hear the same things that Mr. Rickards heard on the elevator!

When one of our consultants visited with a business owner the other day, he said that he had increased his business 33% in the past year, had to add additional staff and it appeared that adding additional staff was imminent. What business  is he in and what is he doing?

This business owner is in the printing business.  That’s right “is”….not “was”.  The printing business – a industry that been in decline over the past 5 years due to the advent of laser digital printers at home.  The printing industry has actually declined 45%…Okay, what was this printing business doing different to increase sales by 33% in the past 12 months?

He added “Value Added Services” to his list of goods and services.  In this particular case, the print shop prints the mailers, places address labels on the mailers, and then takes them to the post office!  A fee is charged for transporting the mailers to the postal service for bulk mail and a fee is charged to print the labels and attach them to the mailers.  And, the orders keep coming in !  The print shop has not only streamlined the process for the customer, he has made it more effiecient and cost effective for the cleint.

OK, what can you do in your business to add additional value for your client?   Who is doing something that your client needs that your company could do? How can you make the client experience “less painful”, or in other words, how can you increase your value to your client?  By providing these value added services you are providing solutions that address your customers’ needs.

By asking these basic questions you are on your way to uncovering the value added needs of your customers and increasing your own company’s over all profitability.  Look at what you do for your clients.  See how you can add increased value. It’s money in the bank….just ask the print shop owner with a 33% increase in annual revenue.

In a perfect world, all teams would work perfectly together; meetings would run smoothly, problems would be easily ironed out and everyone would be happy. However, as we all probably already know, we don’t live in a perfect world. And while one person may believe a team is functioning as well as it could be, another member may have a different opinion. The fact is, just as every other aspect of a business needs to be evaluated, and so does the collaboration process of the actual team.

So gather your team members together, provide a few snacks (a few cookies work wonders for cutting tension) and explain that a simple evaluation needs to be done. Make sure all evaluations are anonymous, and have each member rate the team against the following criteria:

1.) Clarity of team goals. Is it clear what the team is actually trying to accomplish? Is it clear who exactly is benefitting the most from the accomplishment of the team’s goals? If a member from one department feels accomplishing the stated goals only benefits members from another department, it could mean that some of the team’s goals are too narrow or that they aren’t being explained properly.

2.) Clarity of individual roles and responsibilities. A friend of mine works as a coach for a university softball team. When the university was hiring new athletic trainers, they informed her she had been nominated as the chair of the committee. However, no one explained her responsibilities. People would just call her office asking if she turned in “that review” or had completed her “recommendation rundown” and she had no idea what they were talking about. Encourage your team members to describe times they have felt like this.

3.) Efficiency of time and resources. Ever been to a meeting that was a complete waste of time? One that was simply a gathering of people so your supervisor could hear herself talk? Hopefully your team meetings aren’t like this, but if they are it’s an incredible waste of resources. Have team members list ideas to make meetings more efficient. Maybe a memo could be sent out before hand with a list of required paperwork or the itinerary could be emailed out letting people know exactly what part of the meeting will be relevant to them.

4.) Facilitation of ideas. Do your team members have a voice? If they suggest something, do you get defensive or hear their ideas? Are they constantly interrupted by other teammates? Is the environment conducive to a productive meeting or is it absolutely freezing and they can’t wait to get out of there (don’t scoff; a comfortable room temperature is actually very relevant to productivity)?

5.) Rewards and general concerns. While accomplishing a specific goal sounds like it should be enough, more often than not, it isn’t. Encourage team members to list possible incentives or ways productivity could be increased. In addition, have them list any general concerns they may have about how the meetings are run. This could be scheduling or even fairness. I worked nightshifts at a previous job, and until someone mentioned it all meetings were held at 3:00 in the afternoon. That’s great if you work day shift, but it’s an awful time for nightshift. Everyone was much happier when meetings were changed to 8:00 in the morning, right between shift changes.

Steve Wahrlick, principal of the Best Western Clocktower Inn, in Billings, Montana recently spoke to a group of college business students about the key successes he has learned in the hospitality. I have copied his list here:

• People are very complex
• Dollars are the common measurement
• Relationships rule, “communication” drools (communication isn’t what it’s cracked up to be)
• It is not about me (successful business people are not focused on themselves)
• Leaders lead (leading is not the same thing as managing)
• Follow your passion, don’t worry about the money
• Have fun
• Work for a large organization before a small organization
• Ask for the business
• Embrace change
• Don’t be afraid of “smarter” people
• Ask yourself, “how much better could can we do” (don’t settle for mediocrity)
  What is important here is that these traits apply to any business and any industry. If you are the owner of the business or General Manager, you really need to see how these traits apply to you. If you are not embracing these traits, then probably, you are doing something wrong!

While these traits may seem simple; the principles behind them are more complex.   Look beyond the simplicity of the words and discover how to apply them in your business.  In doing so, you’ll begin to see an increase in business as well as become a more fulfilled business leader amongst your peers and in your community.

One of the clerks asked me how the road closure impacted me. I told her that I had no impact because I was just visiting some relatives and did not live in the community where the grocery store is located. As I was going back to my relatives house, I began to think about the discussion in the store.

Obviously, as human beings, we are all creatures of habit. Most of the folks that shopped at the store appeared to be impacted by the road detour to some extent. If you were the owner of the store, what actions, if any, would you take to help alleviate the challenges of the customers?

There are no right answers to this question. However, as I reviewed this matter, here are some ideas that I came up with. Perhaps having some sales either later in the day or earlier in the day may be beneficial to your customers. Maybe rearranging some of the products in the store may be beneficial, allowing folks to get in and get out more rapidly, especially if the road detour impacted their way home. How do you know what to do? ASK the customers! Go out on the floor and ask the customers what may help them shop in your store but also get around the challenge of the road detour. Make some road detour specials– the ideas are unlimited, however, trying something that may be “Out of Box” is one way in which to help generate more traffic for the store while having to cope with the road construction. Give it a shot– you want the customers to have a buzz about your actions to address the road detour. Again, you may be surprised at the results of your actions.

For many people, art is considered just a hobby. Painting is something you do on a lazy Sunday afternoon while drinking a delicious cup of espresso and calmly looking back on your workweek (which is almost a myth in itself, as very few people have ever had the time to do this). The fact is though, art is so much more than previously thought, and here are just a few examples why:

1.) Art facilitates communication. Art is not a math problem, meaning there is no right or wrong answer. No one argues with you if you prefer one painting to another. Sure, they may ask why, and then voice their own opinion, but yours is not discounted in the process. Because of this, people are naturally more apt to openly communicate in an artistic forum.

What’s more, the act of communicating itself is like a flood gate, meaning open communication about one thing often leads to open communication about another.

2.) Art facilitates self-expression. Ever heard the phrase, “A picture is worth 1,000 words,”? Of course you have, and for good reason. Some things are just too difficult to explain, but a picture can make it all seem clear. Here’s a great example:

If you’ve ever seen the music video for Foo Fighter’s song “Best of You”, you can see there is an incredible mashup of emotion. The video shows pictures and words symbolizing such emotions and concepts as fear, anger, hopelessness, sorrow, innocence, regret and beauty. What you might not know, however, is that the director, Mark Pellington, was allowed complete creative freedom by the band as a way of coping with his wife’s death. The resulting video is basically a blueprint of his grief, set to the soundtrack of the band’s song “Best of You.” It’s riveting, and you can see it here.

3.) Art encourages tolerance. It is impossible to judge in a roomful of art. You may not like a particular sculpture, but you have no idea as to who made it. A beautiful painting can be made by anyone, whether they are black, white, gay, straight, developmentally impaired, old, young, republican, or democrat. In the world of art, we are all equals.

4.) Art facilitates team building. Working on a group project at work can often be deceptive. If each member of the group breaks off into individual jobs, they may not actually feel like they are part of a collaborative effort. A group painting, however, is instantly collaborative. Just by looking at it, you can see the individual brush strokes, and if the people in the group had been changed, the brush strokes (and the entire painting itself) would be a different final result. Collaborative art projects team members to work together in an environment where their contribution is noticeable and immediate.

5.) Art is fun. Not often enough are we able to do something that we actually enjoy, and especially something that is crucial to the development of specific skill sets. Add a little art in your life and see how it will most certainly change you for the better.

Are you a procrastinator? Go ahead, you can answer honestly…

That’s what I thought.

The truth is, procrastinating is an extremely common habit. The stress of something easily makes it seem like putting it off until later is a good idea, but we all know how that ends up. So let’s examine a few ways to get rid of that procrastinating bug. Not forever, mind you, we are realists, after all. But these tips should get you going in the right direction when you desperately need to focus.

1.) Really prioritize. Believe it or not, we all have a limited supply of willpower that gradually drains throughout the day. That’s why you see so many more fast food advertisements at the end of the day than the beginning; because that’s when they’ve been found to be the most effective at convincing people to call the number at the bottom of the screen. Focusing on tasks that need to be completed is no different. Therefore, it’s important to start with the toughest stuff first, while your willpower is at its maximum.

Plus, then you get to enjoy the wash of relief you often feel after your most stressful task is completed, making the weight on your shoulders feel just a tad bit lighter.

2.) Get rid of distractions. Distractions are everywhere (as a writer that works from home on a computer hooked up to the internet 24/7, I whole-heartedly understand), but that doesn’t mean you have to give into them. Instead of checking your email every 10 minutes, vow to check it once every 2 hours. Turn your phone on silent, keep the television off and for the love of God stay off the internet.

If you have to be on the internet or your phone has to be on, you can still screen what you’re looking at. Facebook is not essential, it can wait, just like that text from your friend wondering if she should wear the black or the red pumps tonight. Those issues aren’t important right now; you have work to do.

3.) Find what motivates you. It doesn’t have to be much. For example, when I am writing an article and feel myself draining, I’ll suddenly notice that I’m a bit thirsty. Instead of getting up and getting a glass of water, I’ll tell myself I can have one after I write one more paragraph. It’s a tiny thing, but it always works.

4.) Time yourself. Looking at your workload and thinking, “This will take hours!” will not help you reach your goals. Instead, set a timer for only 10 minutes, and vow to work feverishly straight through those 10 minutes. No excuses whatsoever. Anyone can handle 10 minutes of work, and you’ll often be surprised at how much you can get done.

5.) Break apart your work. Tackling one giant task all at once is sure to make anyone shy away, so instead think about what you could realistically do in the next 10, 30, or 60 minutes, then start there. Breaking larger tasks into smaller ones is a clever little way to tricking to the brain into thinking the workload just got a whole lot lighter.

While 97 percent of consumers go online to look for local products and services; a large majority of small businesses in Montana lack an online presence, according to Google. Free web hosting and a domain name could save a sole proprietor $84 or more a year. But the free is only for one year.

Montana businesses can go to http://www.montanagetonline.com get the free website as well as free tools, training and resources to help their business succeed online. But before you click through to Montana Get Online, please finish reading this article.

The belief that getting online is complex, costly and time-consuming has prevented many small businesses from taking the first step. This program makes it fast, easy and free for businesses to get online.

About 95 percent of the businesses in Montana are considered a small business, which can be up to 500 employees. Google is targeting business with 25 or fewer employees for the offer.

As part of the program, Google is providing free workshops to small businesses across the US.  Still, the free website is a basic, three-page model. It doesn’t give small businesses the ability to do transactions online.

To do transactions, businesses needed a more sophisticated website that can safely house data. Anything that helps small businesses leverage technology is a good thing. Free is beautiful, but what is the “free” and what does it really cost you in the end?

Is a free 3 page website for your business and will it cost you and your business in the end? I happen to agree that a website should be part of a small-business owner’s marketing, but lets face it, a three-page website isn’t going to provide the professional presentation most businesses want.

When was the last time you visited a website that had only three pages? That’s a project that kids do in grade school. Small business owners first need to consider whether they really need a website and whether they can generate business online. That’s nice of Google, but Google is in business of collecting data and doing things with that data, after all that’s how they make their money.

But what is the real cost you ask? Offering a high-perceived value freebie in exchange for visitor information, that’s right!  Then your free website is simply an upsell site for Google. What will Google upsell you may ask, Adwords and Adwords Express!

It also gives Google some good PR with the business community. If you have a Google website for free, wouldn’t you feel compelled to use their search engine just based on the law of reciprocity?

Again, searchers will click on an ad inevitably. Don’t get me wrong, Google provides the best Search Engine results… that’s why 2 out of every 3 people use Google for search. It also provides a platform for inclusion in the new Google Plus platform AND the Google Plus business profiles that were recently released.

The timing works well with their new (old) Adwords Express. Intuit and Google are going to take over a huge market share of web hosting. They will have all of the websites on their server and track who uses that small business and where. Then send more ads about that subject to that area.

If you chose to take Google up on their free website, there are some things you might want to think about down the road, if not much sooner, for improving your “free” Google website.

Unlike a brochure that’s printed and can’t change, one of the greatest things about a website is that it can. The plain truth is, that the majority of the people who set up their site through this Google program will never touch it again once it’s live. And just like having a brick and mortar store, no one will come back if things don’t change from time to time. Additional products and improvements incentivize people to return to your site.

You need a plan for your site and beyond. Your site needs to have a clear strategy so someone coming to your site knows exactly what to do when they get there.

Speaking of getting there, how will anyone know you exist on the web? Google is not promising to highly rank your site just for using their service.

Taking the free route

If you do decide to take the free route, even for now, here is some advice: Think about your audience, your client, your customer, your competition!

The typical business does not spend enough time thinking from the perspective of their customers. You start this process by asking who your customers are. How does your website (and other marketing materials while you’re at it) help turn members of those specific groups into leads and sales?

The program’s advice that “getting online is now easy, free, and fast” is great for now, but when you’re ready to step up your online presence with proven results, let the experts at Blast Creative help.

Unfortunately the sales staff at these traditional media marketing companies are now forced to sell social media and online marketing packages that they have no training in and know very little about! But sales people they are and they can sell anything, so they do and unsuspecting business owners shell out the bucks for substandard online marketing!

Here’s the 411, if you are a business owner you absolutely need online marketing and social media marketing in 2012 or you absolutely do risk extinction! But do your homework. If a television, radio or newspaper is offering you a great deal on social media check it out first. Is their form of marketing simply plugging an RSS feed into your social media pages? A twitter feed into your facebook page? If so they may be doing more harm than good for your business and actually turning people away.

Nobody wants to talk to an automated voice. You hate calling any business and getting a recording and that is basically what you are doing with an rss feed. You want interaction, you want engagement and a business should only use RSS feeds as the cherry on top or icing on the cake! RSS feeds are an enhancement, not your entire platform!

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! If someone is offering you something free or at a lower cost than everyone else or locks you into a long term contract, that should be a red flag to you! Shop around, ask questions and be careful!

Your website is still the front door of your business in 2012! Your online presence is necessary and your social media presence is the new word of mouth! Be careful how you let someone represent you!

When you are running a business, it’s perfectly natural to want to do everything on your own. You’re looking to cut as many costs as possible, so doing your own books, taxes, advertising and anything else seems like a reasonable decision.

Let’s read that again, this time with the correct emphasis.

Doing your own books, taxes, advertising and anything else seems like a reasonable decision. See where I’m going here? The fact is, you can’t do everything yourself, nor should you. Here is a list of people you should consider hiring if you want your business to have the best chance of success.

1.) Professional Accountant. Taxes are nothing to joke about. One slip-up could cost thousands of dollars in fees and wasted time, not to mention legal issues and a damaged company reputation. Get your taxes done right by someone how knows what they’re doing.

2.) Lawyer. And speaking of legal issues, a decent lawyer is essential. Your company may be held liable for a number of things, and in the unfortunate instance that a problem should arise, every contract or written agreement is going to be gone over with the most intense of scrutiny. It would be wise to do this while drafting up the contracts. You’ll want to make sure any potential issues are discussed long before you find yourself in hot water. And if you do find yourself in hot water, you’re going to want a good business lawyer on your side, especially one that already knows your business inside and out.

3.) Professional Web Designer. If you don’t have a website, you’re already behind, plain and simple. Did you know over 64% of adults under 25 years old don’t even own a phonebook? And why would they, they can find everything they need on the internet! You need a website, but a site that is messy and difficult to navigate won’t do you any good. A professional web designer will give your business the web presence it needs to be successful.

4.) Social Media Expert. The phrase, “adapt or die” hasn’t been around for nothing, and in this day and age social media is an essential part of business. Not only does it provide free marketing to a constantly growing and evolving audience (it costs nothing to have your own Facebook page or Twitter account), but it also gives your customers additional ways of interacting with you. Hiring someone who is proficient in the ways of social media helps give your business the identity and presence you want it to have.

Some forty business people from Billings and other areas of the state, from as far away as Whitefish, joined the Big Sky Economic Development Authority (EDA) tour of the Bakken. About a third of them said that they went to explore the possibility of launching some kind of business enterprise in what has become the hottest oil play in the nation, and perhaps the world.

Most returned undaunted by the challenges which they discovered exist for anyone trying to do business in the Sidney, Montana and Williston, North Dakota area. The two-day trip in early June was filled with site visits, speakers and panel discussions, conveying a wealth of information. Another tour of the Sidney-Glendive area is planned for July 10-11.

Housing remains the primary issue of concern for everyone living and working in the Bakken, but emerging as perhaps the second most critical issue is the need for day care. Quality day care could release a workforce of some 500 people to take jobs in the retail and service businesses, which are vital to support oil field activities.

Tour- goers were also told that the oil field development that is going on in western North Dakota and eastern Montana, really shouldn’t be called “the Bakken.” It more appropriately should be referred to as the Williston Basin, because the Bakken is but one of some 17 regions, deep within the earth, known to have oil reserves, all within the Williston Basin.

One can recognize when a well is tapping into the Bakken, and not one of the other geological layers, by the number of storage tanks located on the site. If there is but one tank, the well isn’t tapping into the Bakken. When drillers plan on drilling into the Bakken, they put up three or four tanks before they even start drilling, attendees were told.

Development in Phases

Development of the Williston Basin will happen in phases, it was explained. The first phase, acquiring and securing leases, is almost over. For that reason, landmen, those who specialize in securing leases, are already moving on to new locations. One business that has specialized in that service in Williston has packed up and moved to Billings – to be more centrally located to other potential development.

While Big Sky Economic Development Director Steve Arveschoug reiterated that Billings is strategic to energy development throughout the region, and the community is focused upon being an “energy hub,” one tour-goer worried that Billings might lose out to other communities in North Dakota.

There’s nothing to worry about in that regard, she was told by Williston’s Director of Economic Development, Tom Rolfstad. There is plenty of business to go around. Both Billings and Bismarck will continue to be centers of support, he said. Bismarck is the seat of North Dakota government and commerce. Bakken businesses seem to focus on Bismarck for the financial services, and Billings seems to be the choice for technical support and corporate headquarters, he said.

“Billings seems like a big hardware store, to me,” said Rolfstad, who hosted a bus tour of Williston, moderated a panel discussion and answered lots of questions.

Numerous times it was said that the Bakken is unique, and people who want to start a business, there, have to “think outside the box” to get things done. But, in doing so, they are challenging code enforcers and regulators, who never envisioned some of the things the innovative thinkers are devising. As a case in point, as the tour bus passed by, Rolfstad pointed out a large white tent in the corner of a parking lot, from which an enterprising entrepreneur is selling tools. It’s been there awhile in total violation of codes, and the city is mulling what to do about it, he said.

In dealing with the conflict between regulations and getting-things-done, officials are giving wide latitude, understanding that they are dealing with an extreme situation, and that they are often dealing with people and situations with few conventional options.

Sidney Mayor Bret Smelser said, “People are looking for jobs. If we have to turn a blind eye, that is what we are going to do.”

Living Where They Can

To this observer, it seemed the RVs and camper trailers aren’t as prevalent as they were a year ago. The building of numerous new motels, apartment buildings, more man camps and single family residences have helped. But, so have stricter laws regarding where such vehicles can park. Whereas, a year ago campers, RVs and makeshift tents could be seen tucked into every available space, in fields, empty lots, the corner of parking lots, alleys, etc., there aren’t as many evident, now. Instead one commonly sees signs that say, “No Camper Parking Here.”

Official population numbers incorporate an estimate of about 2000 people, who are believed to be living in their vehicles or other make-shift accommodations; but, one off- the- record comment came from a woman who deals with many newcomers to town. She said she believed the number is closer to 5000 to 6000 people, who are sleeping in their vehicles every night.

Does it have Legs?

Of course, there was the ubiquitous question, “How long will it last?”

No one who answered that question voiced much doubt that this is a play unlike any in the past, and most expect to see it continue for some time to come. The technology makes all the difference. In the past a vertical well tapped into a pocket of oil and when it was gone, it was gone. Hence, boom and bust.

The horizontal drilling and fracking of geological layers, which extend for hundreds of miles, is not only demonstrating a high rate of success, but once producing, wells are expected to continue to produce for up to 30 years or longer. Economic longevity will come from the fact that once in place, each well will require two to three people to maintain and monitor it. Russ Atkins, Bakken Manager for Continental Resources, projected as many as 48,000 wells in the region. Do the math to calculate the jobs and population potential, and remember, that does not include all the indirect service jobs that accompany any basic industry job.

“I got a grasp of it,” said one commentator, “when I realized that when they were extending horizontal wells out only 600 feet, they were usually getting enough oil to pay for the well, but now they are running lines out for 10,000 feet.”

Once in Lifetime

“This is a once in a life time opportunity to invest in what is the epicenter of the world,” said Kevin Heaney, a partner with Crowley Fleck, PLLP, Commercial Department, Billings, in speaking to the group. “If you look at its totality, this has some legs. There are no guarantees, in life, but this is a good place to invest, a good bet.”

The manager of the Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, Dale Haugen, Williston, said that when Goldman Sachs came to town to evaluate the possible investment in a proposed power plant, he gave them a tour of Williston. He said that while he thought they would be asking lots of questions about how they planned to pay for the plant, the dapper financiers, instead, gazed in amazement at the activity they saw and asked how they could get in on it.

That every major oil company in the nation has some kind of stake in the Bakken, also speaks volumes as to how they have assessed the staying power of this play.

The Bakken is “a world class oil field and future growth platform,” Russ Atkins, explained to the group during a stop in Sidney. “There is no comparison. You have to go overseas to find a comparison,” he said. Conservatively estimated to have 24 billion barrels of recoverable oil, the Bakken is bigger than Prudhoe Bay which had 14 billion, said Atkins. Iraq has 22 billion. Less conservative projections say it might even be bigger than Saudia Arabia with its 260 billion.

Ninety percent of the work to be done in the Bakken, has still to be done, said Atkins. And, of course, the Bakken is just one of the geological features. The Three Forks Sanish is also “substantial,” said Atkins, “Maybe not as big as the Bakken.” Atkins included the potential production from the Three Forks in his estimate of 48,000 wells eventually being developed, explaining that improving technology is allowing producers to tap into both formations from the same well site.

One Thing?Can Stop It

The only constraints on production in the Bakken, as far as Atkins is concerned, are those placed upon producers by EPA and OSHA (Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Act). Through new, stiffer regulations the federal government has the ability to stop production in the Bakken, he said. “They are doing everything they can to shut it down.” The new regulations are requiring that there be “zero” emissions. “That is impossible,” he said. No one does anything with zero emissions. The rules are not based on science, he said.

It’s been projected that Williston will become a major city of some 100,000 within a couple decades or so. Atkins reinforced that projection for the entire region. “There is going to be a population shift, folks,” he said. People from western Montana are already working and moving eastward, because that’s where the jobs are. “It is what it is,” quipped Atkins, who went on to say that he didn’t think “we should apologize” because other areas of the state are losing welders to the Bakken. “Did anyone worry about eastern Montana’s small towns when they were losing population?” he asked.

Where’s it Going Next?

Which way is the action moving?

Companies seem to be securing their lease positions in Montana in the Chinook, Cut Bank and Havre areas, came one answer. “The Browning area is ‘proving up.’” And, north central Wyoming.

Funding Infrastructure

A reoccurring theme for officials of both cities – Sidney and Williston – is that while they are having to deal with the impacts of oil development in a most intensive way – all the tax money that the oil companies pay – ostensibly meant in part for the building of needed infrastructure – goes to the state with little of it returned.

Both Sidney and Williston report getting only about .01 percent of the millions of dollar in tax monies paid by the oil companies. In Montana, the state gets 52 percent, the county 23 percent and the schools get 20 percent, and the feds get a share.(Oil companies in Montana pay about $450 million in taxes annually.)

“We need that money to build infrastructure,” said Atkins.

Several bills are being proposed for the next state legislature to deal with the issue of disbursement. “If we don’t find a way to support this development where it is happening, it will move across the state line and it will go away,” said Leslie Messer, Economic Development Director for Richland County and the City of Sidney.

Other issues should also be addressed by the Montana State Legislature, contended Messer and others, who see long, drawn out political processes encumbering not only development in Montana, but the ability of local governments’ attempts to deal with its impacts.

For the business people, in making the choice of doing business on the east side rather than the west of the state line, it’s a matter of “getting the best benefit for their investment,” said Messer. “A lot of time we win out because of Montana’s work ethic.

The Mayor of Sidney, Bret Smelser, lamented that the oil companies aren’t being overly generous in charitable contributions to help with situations and problems. But, others contradicted that notion, citing a number of different efforts on the part of specific companies. It was pointed out that the companies often take it upon themselves to build or repair county roads, out of necessity if for no other reason. And, companies dependent upon the electric cooperative, which serves Williston and the surrounding area, have offered to pay for half the cost of building a new power plant.

Another company provides each Sidney school child, each year, with a new backpack full of school supplies. And, several helped fund an emergency services department for the local hospital.

The Need for Electricity

The second day of the tour, started with a visit to the Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative. Nothing underscores the level of economic activity of the community more so than the intense demand for electric power.

The dynamics of the cooperative’s business is changing both in terms of demand and who their customers are. Started as a utility to serve a farm community, its membership was based upon the amount of power purchased. It was never anticipated, nor was the facility designed, to provide the electric supply which is now being demanded by a completely different industry.

“Supplying power to one oil well is the equivalent of supplying electricity to 240 farms,” said Tom Rolfstad, in quantifying the challenge that faces the Cooperative.

Demand for electricity in the basin long ago exceeded the cooperatives capacity. Each month they get an average of 80 requests for service, said Haugen. Mountrail-Williams has new customers going without power for up to 18 months.

If a new residence is going to need power, they have to make the appointment six months out. And, said Haugen, “when we come you better be ready, because we aren’t coming back.”

Generators for Backup

What about other kinds of businesses or commercial needs? They must use generators. Generator sales are strong in Williston.

Just stringing hundreds of miles of more line demands more crew – a trained crew – which, now, at 200 linemen is larger than anything the company ever imagined. And, they have to compete, just like everyone else for those workers – and to find them housing. As was pointed out by several speakers, the only businesses that are really successful in getting employees are those who resolve the housing problem for them.

To keep their employees from having to live in their vehicles, the electric cooperative brought in 14 trailer houses and placed them on their back lot. They quickly filled them up.

“Did you have trouble getting power to them?” someone asked, eliciting broad laughter.

The electric cooperate has to “grow at the equivalent of one coal power plant per county,” said Rolfstad.

Mountrail-Williams expects overall electrical demand to increase to 200 megawatts within five years due to oil activity.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Bismarck has started work on a natural gas-fueled plant. The 45 megawatt station will be built about 15 miles northwest of Williston. It will be near a natural gas processing plant that’s also under construction. It will help supply Mountrail-Williams.

Haugen said that there is a lot of low-priced electrical energy available, because of the slow economy; their problem is not having the transmission lines to get it.

Counting on Billings

The cooperative relies a great deal on Montana and Billings for technical support. Haugen noted that Montana has one of only two colleges in the country that “teach power.” They pull employees from Montana State University on a regular basis. “That is really a feather in your cap,” he told the tour group.

Ninety percent of their professional consultants come from Billings.

Haugen said their biggest problem is transportation to Billings. “I wish you had bigger and more frequent flights.”

During the course of the tour others commented also upon the need for improved air transportation and perhaps even buses. It was also suggested that Billings should regain its status as an international airport so oil company officials can make easier connections to Calgary Canada, where often they are also engaged in oil production and have company offices.

The difficulties in finding employees would actually be much worse, for Bakken-based businesses, if this wasn’t happening in the middle of a widespread economic downtown, and if unemployment wasn’t so high, noted Rolfstad. Workers are willing to come to the Bakken, and investors are willing to invest, in large part, because there are few options, elsewhere.

Workers often can’t qualify for low-income housing because the qualifications are written for other areas of the country where the cost of living isn’t so high, and neither are wages. Part of the reason for the high wages is to make it possible for workers to afford to live in high-priced housing, and everything else they need is more expensive.

A facility is in the process of being built in Williston, which will eventually provide housing for those who need special care. In order, to rapidly pay down the mortgage, however, the organization plans to rent apartments out to oil field workers, for a few years.

Building Technology

Rick Leuthold, Billings, whose engineering firm, Sanderson Stewart, has been doing business in Williston for several years now, explained the housing development that has been occurring. He distributed maps of new subdivisions and planned subdivisions – subdivisions providing hundreds of new single family homes.

In explaining the innovative ways builders are meeting the demand, it was apparent that the development of the Bakken is pushing new technology for the building industry, every bit as much as for oil development. For example, builders are bringing in foundations poured elsewhere and installing them on footings, to reduce the need for resources on site.

In some cases, planning has to accommodate fitting an oil well site, inconspicuously, into a neighborhood.

24,000 Trucks

With an estimated 24,000 trucks – many of which are big tractor trailers with pups — traffic on the roads around Williston is 40 percent trucks. According to the Highway Department 12 percent is usually considered high truck traffic, said Rolfstad, “You look like a wimp if you show up in your KIA.”

Mayor Smelser said that one the road between Glendive and Fairview there is a higher traffic count than on the interstate. The Department of Transportation is considering building a truck route to bypass the communities.

Turning Away Money

Banks have so many deposits coming in that they are getting penalized by having to pay for deposit insurance beyond what they can afford. So they are turning depositors away.

The small businesses that are providing all the support services needed in the community, are working long hard hours, but they are also making a lot of money. Their bottom lines are astounding, said one banker. The market currently gives service providers an advantage over the oil companies, and the oil companies know it, he said, but they only ask, “When can you get here?” Over time the market will balance out, and the oil companies will begin to reign in their costs.

A lot of investors are buying up property in downtown Williston, and Rolfstad predicted there would be a lot of changes coming to Main Street, in the near future.

Mailboxes Necessary

A unique sight to Williston are walls of mailboxes, which pop up, occasionally, in the downtown area, which are rented out by various business – and the post office. It seems that for those living in vehicles or RV’s it is still important to have an address to do business, to apply for jobs, to hire, or to keep in touch.

While it may seem strange to those not local to the area, there is a big demand for boats in Williston, and they are often seen parked in driveways. Nearby Sacajawea Lake provides one of the few recreational opportunities for local residents.

Among other highlights mentioned were:

Mini storages businesses are in huge demand. “It’s incredible how many of them there are,” said Rolfstad.

Flying J is cleaning up a former truck stop near Williston and plans to build a major rail hub.

The Haliburton site at Williston, which includes a nine-inch thick concrete pavement to accommodate a $500 million truck fleet, is the company’s largest base of operation.

Every new experience comes with a learning curve. The first time you bake an apple pie, you realize you needed a touch more cinnamon and make a mental note for next time. The first time you drive a new car you realize the brakes are a bit more sensitive, and adjust yourself accordingly. Basically, the first time you have ever taken on a new venture you have learned a few things for yourself.

But running your own business is different. It takes an immense amount of time and effort to open your business, and one mistake may cost you everything; your reputation, future clients and even your entire life savings. So to keep you a few steps ahead of the game, here is a list of the three most common regrets for first time business owners.

1.) Being unprepared for growth. Every owner hopes their business will be an immediate success, but very few are prepared for when it happens. Being prepared means you have the proper personnel needed to handle the increase in work (shipping and manufacturing, for example), the skills and equipment to keep everything organized and the ability to have effective communication and collaboration among your employees. Remember, getting new customers isn’t too tricky; keeping them is.

2.) Failing to keep a database from the start. Many people put the record keeping tasks to the back burner when they open a new business. After all, they only have six consistent customers, so why not just worry about the customers you have and deal with more as they come? No problem, right? Not quite. This might have been a fine business strategy when you were 12 and running a lemonade stand, but not anymore. You need to have an organized and up-to-date database from day one, including your list of customers, their contact information and purchase receipts.  

3.) Hiring friends and family. This tends to be one of the most common business mistakes of all time, so we’re going to reiterate its importance:don’t hire someone because you like them, hire someone because they are the best possible person for that job. When you hire someone based on their likeable personality alone, you are setting yourself up for two major issues: the job won’t be done with the quality you’re expecting and bridges could be burned in the process. Nothing ruins a friendship like having to fire your friend, and you don’t want to put yourself (or a loved one) in that situation.

It may seem like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but the fact is, the future is now. People are utilizing the internet more than ever, which means if you aren’t involved in the virtual world, you need to be…fast. Otherwise, your company just might be heading down the road to extinction.

However, I do understand the fear involved. The virtual world can be a scary place, and one that is requires different skills. So here are a few tips to ensure your group collaboration will be as successful online as it is in person:

1.) Make sure everyone understands what is going on before the meeting begins. This means if someone doesn’t know how to even turn their computer on, you need to be on the phone with them explaining it or have someone else in their area walk them through what to do. Don’t assume that everyone knows how to just type in a web address and follow instructions. For many people out there, they don’t even know what the term “web address” means, so they certainly aren’t going to understand any of your basic instructions for installing a web cam or unzipping a downloaded file.

2.) Have rules established to make sure everyone gets to speak.Sometimes, when you are dealing in a virtual setting, there can be a bit of a delay. Meaning one person may start answering before another has even heard the entire question. In a situation like this, having the person with the most delay being the first to answer will ensure everyone has heard the question, and everyone will have a chance to speak.

3.) Rotate meeting times. Chances are, you are all in different time zones, so you’re 7:00 a.m. meeting time might be convenient for you, but not so much for the guy getting up to meet at 4:00 in the morning. If you can find a time that works best for everyone, great, but if not, you need to make sure one person isn’t consistently stuck with the crappy time to meet.

Oh and happy Fourth of July, everyone!!
4.) Bring them to you. One way to do this is to begin each meeting asking the remote attendees what is going on in there neck of the woods. It may be sunny and gorgeous where you are, but it might be blizzarding where they are. Giving them a chance to explain what is going on there will help them feel more connected to everyone else in the meeting.

5.) Provide several different forms of communication. The meeting shouldn’t be the only way information is getting passed around. Someone should be in charge of sending all the bullet points of the meeting to each member through an email, for example. Having a variety of forms of communication will keep specific members from feeling left out if they aren’t yet comfortable with the virtual setup.

If you were to identify one of the biggest revolutions in the way we communicate, it would have to be this: email. Long before people were surfing the Net or texting, email was being used within organizations to share information, and it’s still being used today. There are few people over the age of 12 who don’t have some form of email account, and most people have more than one for business or personal use. (One guy in our office has a plethora of accounts addressed to “Bob”. No Bob, Robert or otherwise actually works here.)

The way you utilize email for your energy business can be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal. (And can be a thorn in your side if it’s not done right.)

Here are a few rules to remember:

• Have an email address that is professional. “ILoveHugs” or “KeggerDave” isn’t going to capture the attention (at least in a positive way) of most of the clients you’re hoping to connect with. Use an email address that speaks for and about you and your business.
• Start your email off right. Include a greeting to the person to whom you are sending the message. If you know them well, it can be “Hi Jim”; if you don’t, a more formal “Hello Jim” is likely more appropriate.
• Write, don’t text. Texting is a no-no in professional business and marketing communications. When you are writing to a client (or a potential one) you are marketing yourself to them, so let them know that you can spell “you are” instead of the including “U R” in your message.
• Use a professional signature line. You should always have an email signature line at the end of your correspondence so that people know who you are, what you do and how to reach you. Kat Neville’s article in SMASHING Magazine has a few good hints on what to include (and what not to.)
• Read before you send. Whether you’re shooting off a quick message before you run out the door or have just created the next great American novel in digital form (another no-no) you need to proof it. Read it out loud, as you’re not only likely to catch typos, but also pick up on any duplicate statements, negative tones, or other messaging you might not want to convey.
• Verify to whom you’re sending your email. Don’t send it to 50 people if 3 will do because, and this is just being honest, it looks like a major CYA when you do. And if you’re responding to an email, make sure you look at exactly who it’s addressed to. You may think that your hastily typed response calling your customer a nincompoop (or worse) is only going to a colleague when, in fact, it’s destined to land in that very customer’s inbox … and that can cost you more than a sale.

Have any questions? Feel free to email me.

If you just want a laugh, check out these stories of disastrous email mistakes.

The state of Montana is known for a lot of things, including its world-class fly fishing, exceptional beef and grain production and energy development. But in a state whose population just topped one million, you wouldn’t think that it would be a hot bed of politics.

Democrat Brian Schweitzer has been Montana’s governor for almost 8 years. Overall, I’d say that Montanans have liked him (although secretly I believe that we’re all tired of the bolo ties and blue shirts) but in a state in which most elected officials are term limited, his administration will soon come to an end. And boy, there were a lot of people who want to replace him—there were 15 republicans, democrats, independents and libertarians who entered the fray.

Some were able to raise some pretty substantial cash to back their run. Prior to the primary, I was far from making a decision as to who I would vote for, but there was one candidate who captured my attention and demonstrated how some planning, perseverance and creativity can, at the very least, get you noticed in a crowded field.

I saw my first Jim O’Hara sign on a drive from Billings to Bozeman last year. It was a hand-painted plywood cut out of a courthouse with a simple message beneath it. As my travels expanded across the state, so did my sightings of these unique billboards. Although perched on poles in fields, and lacking the traditional “slick” look of campaign boards, there was something about these homemade signs that intrigued me.

I started researching who Jim O’Hara was and learned that this Chouteau County commissioner had been planning a run for the governorship since the mid-2000s. I also learned that it was he who had painted, cut and constructed each of these signs—a total of 70 of them, one for each of the state’s 56 counties and some extras for those with the highest populations.

Energy marketers can learn some valuable lessons from O’Hara, whose fundraising has not been as great as other candidates, but who has garnered national attention for his efforts:

1. Think ahead. Although the energy development industry is fast-moving, you need to plan your efforts today, tomorrow and in the future.
2. Work with what you have. You may not have the deepest pockets in the Bakken, but you can make the most of your marketing budget by using those things that are available to you. The side of your vehicle, our business cards and your website are just a few of the things you can look at maximizing to promote your brand message.
3. Be authentic, and you’ll be unique. O’Hara happened to love the architecture of courthouses, particularly the historic ones across Montana . He used that appreciation as the basis of his brand in his campaign. Allowing your brand—and your corresponding marketing efforts—to authentically reflect who you are will set you apart from your competition.

As for O’Hara, he won’t be our next governor.  But I do know that he’s caught my attention and that of voters across the Treasure State.

UPDATE: See the CBS News story about Jim O’Hara here.

No one wants to end up in court on account of something someone overlooked, especially when that something could turn out to be illegal. No one is perfect though, and even the most innocent of owners will make a mistake now and then, so here are some guidelines to make sure whatever mistakes are made, none of them will land you in hot water with the judge.

1.) Have a No-Tolerance policy for illegal behavior. That means performing random drug tests and following all rules and regulations. Are you handling food? Get licensed. Are your workers working more than 40 hours a week? Pay them overtime. The law is the law for a reason, and you need to follow it.

2.) Have an employee handbook. However, certain rules can be a bit gray, so before you go off expecting your staff to be mind-readers, make sure they all have a copy of all the companies policies; what is or isn’t a violation, what happens should a violation take place, etc. It’s also important to have each employee sign a form acknowledging they’ve read and understood the handbook, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

3.) Pay your taxes and cooperate with government officials. If someone from the IRS stops by your place of business, don’t immediately become defensive. After all, they could just be here to clear up a few things, meaning you haven’t done anything wrong and you won’t be getting in trouble for anything. Just in case though…

4.) Keep records. Tax returns, receipts, signed forms and other paperwork is given to you for a reason; as a written record of your transactions and policies. If you need to prove your innocence, the easiest way to do that is having the paperwork backing it up.

5.) Do background checks. You need to know who you’re hiring, plain and simple. If you run a daycare, you need to be able to promise parents that their children won’t be coming into contact with any registered sexual offenders. If you run a delivery company, you’ll need to make sure your drivers have a clean driving record, which means 16 DUI’s is definitely going to be a deal-breaker. In order to trust your staff implicitly, you need to know who they are.

6.) Investigate complaints. There is no quicker way to find yourself in hot water than to have a list of complaints that you do nothing about. If you receive a complaint, whether it’s from an employee or a customer, it is absolutely essential that you look into the issue. And if it is a serious issue, like allegations of sexual harassment, you need to inform the correct authorities.

We cannot find good people to work for us, but we do have openings !  That comment is something that I hear continually when visiting with business owners.  Well, OK, let’s explore why this appears to be the case.

Do you have a good work environment?  Is it bright, well lit, airy, clean and fresh?  If not, then here is the first place to begin.  Today’s employee wants a good work environment.  Even though you may be satisfied with the environment, does not mean that the new employee will be.

Do you have modern technology?  Are your computers 6 or more years old, operating an operating system or having applications that are 3 or more generations old?  If so, nobody, absolutely nobody will want to come work for you.  Modern technology is the next step to fix if you are having employee attraction/retention issues.

Do you have clear, complete and comprehensive job descriptions?  Do the job descriptions identify, in some detail what the job entails, what the responsibilities are, who/what is responsible for each job and how the incumbent will discharge those duties?  Today’s employee wants to know what he/she is expected to do, how they are to do it and most importantly, why it is important to be done.  Now, this sounds onerous.  It is not.  Detail a good job description– the work you do here will be paid back several times over in having the task completed correctly the first time, without a lot of rework.

People are people.  It makes no difference what kind of job it is that you are trying to fill, people are people.  Respect them and they will do an awesome job for you.

To learn more about Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC, visit their listing in the Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

Particularly in light of the recent USA Today furloughs, there are some who have loudly cried that print is dead. Others have cried that with the advent of Pandora, iTunes and Spotify—not to mention Sirius—radio has bitten the proverbial dust. And nobody, according to these same folks, ever watches TV. It’s all, “they” say, about digital.

Hm.

Let’s talk some realities. Yes, digital is a huge, and ever-growing, part of marketing. I cannot fathom any company in any industry that should not have a functional, content-rich, well-developed website. But I’m here to tell you that there are very few companies out there who couldn’t benefit from some form of so-called “traditional” marketing.

Enter “tradigital”.

As marketers, part of our job is not only to come up with creative ads that catch the attention of your target audience, but also to have a strategy behind them to make sure that every one is maximized. And that means looking at all mediums available to determine which will work best and how they should work together.

That may mean running a series of newspaper ads that incorporate a QR code linking readers to a website. On that website, there may be a video to watch (perhaps the same spot you’re running on TV at the moment), a game to play or a white paper to read. You might also find a link to Facebook where, in turn, a special offer or promotion could be waiting to be found. And maybe that special offer means that you deliver a piece of direct mail right to their door as well as an email to their inbox. What’s on that mailer or in that email? Another online link—and perhaps this one links your customer to a webinar or invites them to a locally based event.

You may think that it sounds like one big circle…and you’d be absolutely correct. In today’s market there are so many options to choose from that using just one is rarely a good idea.

Multi-faceted, integrated marketing consisting of traditional and digital media will likely be far more powerful and extend your reach when compared to executing via a single media alone.

Ask yourself: are you doing tradigital integration in your marketing efforts? And more importantly, are you doing it right?

If the answer is no to either one of these questions, you need to rethink your strategy. Because traditional media isn’t dead, digital media isn’t going away and failing to take advantage of both of them could risk the lifeblood of your business.

A business owner and her husband told me the title to this blog the other day while in the grocery store.  I had asked how the business was doing and the owner said, “So-So.  We are keeping our heads above water.”  The husband said, “We will continue to work a few more years and then sell the business to fund our retirement.”

I asked the business owner how old she and her husband were.  Both were almost 70 years of age– with no thoughts of retirement anytime in the near future.

This is, sadly, quite common with many business owners that we work with today.  Nobody has given any thought to the exit strategy or succession planning they have with their business.  We have addressed this subject before in some detail, however, the reason we come back to it is that exit strategy and succession planning are one of the most important points of business operation.

This particular business owner thought that her son and daughter in law would come and operate the business after they retired from active military service.  Well, something happened and the son and daughter in law did not come operate the business.  Now, what happened is not my business.  However, as an active consultant, we want people to be successful with their business.  Succession planning is part of that program.

If you don’t have a succession plan/exit strategy, today is the day to begin that planning.  Any business or organization needs to have a succession plan for all owners and key individuals.  If this matter is not addressed, the day comes when either the business has failed, has done exceedingly well or is someplace in between and the leadership wants to retire/quit or change positions.  Knowing how change will occur prior to it happening precludes some nasty surprises that may be unforeseen.

If you need help on succession planning, please call our office.  We can help make this challenge less daunting.  Phone-406-672-6387.

To learn more about Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC, visit their listing in the Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

Are you in love with your business partner?  Not just for their love of numbers, the company you have created together, or their customer service skills, but their cute little nose, their manly smell or the way they make your knees go weak with a passionate kiss?

Whoa, back up.  Passionate kiss?  Can entrepreneurs do that sort of thing?

They can and they do!  Even though the U.S. Census Bureau does not provide exact data on the number of businesses own by couples, they do show that approximately 3 million businesses are owned equally by men and women, estimating that the vast majority of these are businesses owned by an “entrepreneurial couple”. It would wrong of us to assume that none of these couples are romantically involved. Out of 3 million…that sure is a lot of lovin’ in the office.

In addition, the phenomenon occurs even more regularly when applied to small businesses with less than 10 employees.  Apparently when people live together, laugh together and decide to build a life together, the imagined life of working side by side through the long hours required of business ownership is a logical next step.  And it is.  They trust each other, they enjoy being together and they are often passionate about the same things.  These couples jump into the business with all of the passion that got them into bed the first time and it is a beautiful, passionate journey; most of the time.

To ensure it is a passionate and wonderful journey all of the time, here are 5 things to consider:

1.  Take a break.  Not from the business, but from each other.  Go for a walk, go on vacation and go out with friends…alone.  You simply have to have moments apart so you have something to talk about when you come back together.  No one wants to be the boring folks ignoring each other over dinner and no one wants to be the bickering couple either.  Spending time in separate locations keeps you both interesting and able to be just a little bit nicer when you are together.

2.  Take care of the couple first.  Someday the kids will be gone, the business will be gone and you will be left staring at the person you decided to build a life with.  Don’t wake up and wonder how you ended up in bed with a stranger.  Be romantic.  Be spontaneous.  Be a flirt.  Step away from everything but each other once in a while.  You deserve it.

3. Set clear goals.  There is nothing worse than working side by side hour after hour only to realize you were both going in different directions.  Knowing where you are going, when you want to get there and who is doing which tasks is essential.  Deciding your direction now, when everyone is calm, is a better plan than waiting till you hit a fork in the road; because that fork could very well be used to stab someone in the leg.

4.  Hire help.  Someone out there likes to clean toilets and I bet it is neither of you.  Someone also knows how to fix a computer, balance the books, and run social media.  Let them.  Make a list of everything that needs to be done- and what has to be done by you – then farm out the rest.  The trick is to use the time you are not doing menial tasks to earn money to pay for the people doing those tasks or to take care of the couple as talked about in point two.

5.  Don’t be the boss.  You can kiss your entrepreneurial partner, but you probably don’t want to kiss the boss.  The boss is a Big Ol’ Stinking Slob.  They think they are always right, use volume and intimidation instead of effective communication and would rather watch others work than participate in work.  If you are acting like the boss and your partner doesn’t like it you can be fired.  That firing usually means the kids and the house are divided and happily ever after is not going to be the end of your story.  Be kind.  Be helpful.  Be a partner.  Don’t be a stinker: don’t be a boss.

Bonus Point: You need other people.  And you have to let them into this crazy project you are doing together.  Enlist the help of a coach, an accountant, a lawyer and probably a therapist (better early on than when it is too late!).  Well-meaning friends and family do not know what you are going through, and truth be told, you probably don’t either.  There are people out there who do, and people who can help you lay out a game plan that will keep you sane, prosperous and most importantly, together.  Let them.

Now go kiss your big ol bundle of entrepreneurial passion- and don’t stop till their knees go weak.  But, do it fast, you have work to do.

Three steps to take if your employees bash you online:

Think no one pays attention to your posts and tweets? Think again.

Irishman Leigh Van Bryan, a 26-year-old bar manager, was looking forward to a holiday in the States. He posted to his Twitter followers “Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America.”

In a BBC story, it was also noted that “In another tweet, Mr. Bryan made reference to comedy show Family Guy saying that he would be in LA in three weeks, annoying people ‘and diggin’ Marilyn Monroe up’.”

Friends may have taken it lightly. Homeland Security didn’t. In fact, when he landed at LAX they denied him entry into the country.

Whether you believe that Homeland Security was right or wrong in sending Mr. Bryan packing, I think we can all agree that it underscores the need to use caution in what you—or your employees—are posting on social networking sites. And before you think that it may not be an issue in the energy development industry or that it doesn’t affect your marketing efforts, I’d suggest you consider the following:

• An employee of supermarket chain Price Chopper saw a customer’s tweet which read “Every time I got into a @PriceChopperNY I realize why they are not @Wegmans. Tonight—bare produce areas.” The Price Chopper employee contacted the customer’s employer and requested that he be disciplined. The result? A blog detailing the incident went viral, causing a lot of bad press directed at Price Chopper.

• In March of 2011, @ChryslerAutos posted a tweet which read “I find it ironic that Detroit is known as the #motorcity and yet no one here knows how to f*****g drive.” Chrysler caught it within a few hours, and it was quickly learned that the tweet came from the car company’s social media agency. The employee, who said he meant to post it on his own account, was fired … as was the agency. A week later, Aflac came under scrutiny due to its “voice” Gilbert Gottfried.

• In 2009, Domino’s faced a huge backlash when two employees not only filmed a prank (think snot on sandwiches) but posted it on Youtube, generating over a million views in faster than you can say “Would you like to super size that?”

People didn’t ignore these tweets—and they don’t ignore the host of others that are hitting the digisphere every day. The fact is, employees are posting every day in virtually every industry—including energy development. They are lashing out at customers, other employees and maybe even you. So should do you do?

1. First, be prepared. Make sure that someone is monitoring your brand online to maximize the chance that you’ll find what’s being said.

2. Second, remember that the best offense is a good defense. Educate your staff about your expectations of social media usage, discuss the use of social media tools with them, talk about your company goals and take steps to encourage them to become advocates of your brand (including doing your best NOT to give them a reason to post something negative.)

3. Third, if something does happen, address it professionally and quickly. Be upfront and honest with the audience; let them know what happened and what you’re going to do about it.

Oh–and most importantly? Don’t tweet that you’re off on holiday to destroy the U.S. Homeland Security doesn’t have a sense of humor.

Let’s face it; everyone has a few personality traits that can be a bit of a…pain in the neck. But for the most part, they’re harmful. So you don’t like it when your green beans touch your pork-chop, or you tend to talk a little too long when you’re on the phone, it’s probably not going to be the downfall of your business or the unraveling of your family. The following personality traits, however, are going to cause some serious difficulties in your life, and it’s recommended that you do something to make some changes, stat.

1.) You focus on the negative. No one wants to be around a Debbie Downer, but have you ever tried working for one? Don’t defend yourself by saying, “Well there’s always room for improvement.” Sometimes a job well done is just a job well done, and it needs to be left at that. Could your employee have turned in that report a day sooner? Would you have done anything with it if it had been turned in a day sooner? No? Then let it go. No one will want to work for you if nothing they do is ever good enough.

2.) You misplace your frustrations. Everyone has a bad day once in a while, but that doesn’t mean you are allowed to scream at your employees when you are really still upset about your alarm not going off this morning. Or maybe you yell at your husband during your late night phone call when in reality you just haven’t seen him in a month and you miss him. If you’re upset about something, address it. Don’t let your receptionist or your spouse take the brunt of your bad mood.

3.) You’re apathetic. An individual who is apathetic appears to not care. You may care a great deal about the goings on in your daily life, but you have to act like it for others to get it. An example would be if a costly mistake occurs and you say, “Oh well, let’s not do it again.” A caring person would want to determine why the mistake was made and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. Remember, if you don’t care about the work being done, why would anyone else?

4.) You nag. A nagging personality is one of the most draining personalities to be around, and why? Because you are never fully alone when you are with a nagger. Everything you do is under constant scrutiny. Are you going to turn that in on time? Are you doing that right? Will they like it? Are you following all the directions? Exhausting, isn’t it? So stop. When you ask someone to do something, let them do it. Their process for completing a task is fully their own; you don’t have a say. Assign a task and then wait until either the task is complete or the deadline arrives before you make your critiques.

5.) You don’t listen. Knowing how to really listen (and I mean really listen, not just sit there quietly waiting for the other person to finish so you can say whatever it is you want to say), is one of the most invaluable traits there is. The fact is, you are not always right and you do not know everything. If you need to make a conscious effort to stop talking, then do it.

The problem with most of these personality traits is that the people that have them don’t realize they have them. Take a second to really examine yourself, every day, to make sure you’re not falling into one of these traps. The most successful teams are happy teams, and you want a happy, successful team!

A client gave our firm some gift cards to a prestigious golf resort several years ago.  The gift cards were put in the vault and stored.  We knew the cards were stored in the vault, however, nothing more was thought about it.

Last week, we were cleaning the vault and found the gift cards.  Thinking that we may wish to use them, I called the resort and asked about their validity.  Now, the receipt stated that the gift cards expired after 2 years– something that I did not realize when we received the cards.  I called the golf resort and asked about using the gift cards.  The clerk said that the golf professional would have to address this matter.  I was placed on hold and a minute or so later, the golf professional came on the phone.  I explained that I had 4 gift cards, worth several hundred dollars, however, I recognized that they had expired– was there anything that could be done to use them?

Well, the golf professional stated that all gift cards were valid for 2 years, after which they expired.  OK, we got that figured out– now what?  I pointed out that the resort had booked the revenue from the sale of the cards.  In fact, at this point, the resort, “made money.”  The golf professional again pointed out that the cards had expired.  Politely, I pointed out that I understood all of that, but because of some circumstances, we were unable to use the gift cards until now– was there anything that could be done?  The golf professional said he would call me back in 30 minutes, after which he would visit with his comptroller.

Thirty minutes transpired and the golf professional called me back.  He asked if I was going to buy clubs, food or just wanted to play golf.  I told him that my intent was to play golf– if we needed new clubs, clothes or food, we would pay for that separately.

UMMM– the professional said that “Yes, we can make this deal work!  We will honor the gift cards–even though the price of the card was less than the current price for a round of golf!”  He further stated that although green fees had increased, he wanted us to have the experience of the prestigious course!   Now, the truth of the matter is that prestigious golf courses have struggled in the past 3 to 5 years.  This course said that they had reduced their initiation fee from $5000 to $500–trying to gain more new members.  Interestingly, it has worked!  Less fees mean more members!

Now, that was my way of thinking!!  We got what Covey defines as a “Win–Win” situation.  We got to use the cards to play golf, the professional got 4 folks on the course that will more than likely buy lunch, some balls or maybe even a monogrammed shirt of the prestigious course!  Everyone was happy!

Recall in an earlier blog post I addressed the dirty glass at the watering hole and how that matter was handled.  Although this is different, there are some similarities as well.  In this case, the golf professional wanted recognized that there was business to be had, even with our expired gift cards.  He also recognized that the “bookkeeping” for 4 golf rounds would be less than for merchandise or food, a point that was not lost on me either.

The key point to this post is that the Win-Win situation works for everyone.  I was happy, the Golf Professional was happy and we are looking forward to a great round of golf!

To learn more about Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC, visit their listing in the Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

You’ve heard about marketing, right? I mean, people have told you that you need to market your business, market your products, market your services. They’ve told you it’s crucial—without it you’re sunk.

And technically, they’re right.

But have you every stopped to wonder “What exactly is marketing?”

Okay, let’s start out with a definition of sorts. According to the American Marketing Association, marketing is “the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.”

Let me guess. You just said “blah, blah, blah…” didn’t you? Don’t worry—I did, too. So let’s talk realities.

Marketing is essentially this: everything that makes your target audience want to buy your product or service, and ultimately makes them feel satisfied about what they purchased. Oh—and makes you money along the way.

The next question then is, what makes good marketing, and where do you start when you’re looking to start—or build—your business?

1. Know your audience. If you don’t know what your potential customers want, there’s no way to give it to them. You need to know their problems before you can give them a solution. Is budget a concern? Are time constraints an issue? What do they like (or not like)? Find out what they need and why. Need an example? Check out this article about why you have to think differently when marketing to women, or this one about the unique aspects of marketing to the Amish.

2. Evaluate what you offer. You might think that what you bring to the table is the best thing since sliced bread, but there are a lot of other businesses out there who are thinking exactly the same thing. Part of good marketing is knowing what makes you different, and what makes you better. If you can’t see a difference between you and your competitor, then your customer won’t either.

3. Have a plan. Good marketing requires a good strategy. Where is the right place to sell your product or service? Who is the right person to talk to? What’s the right story to tell? What’s your budget? Who in your company is going to execute which component of your marketing plan? These are all questions you need to be asking yourself. (What shouldn’t your marketing plan be? This article tells you.)

4. Execute well. If you’re asking someone to buy what you’re selling, then you’d better look like you’re worth investing in. Start with basic tools: a decent website with good content and functionality, proper sales materials and a professional email address. And unless you’re in IT, a haircut.

The fact is, marketing is always changing and always evolving, but starting with these four basics will help get you on the right track.

Targeting consumers? Check out this great Fast Company article: Marketing From The Other End of the Funnel.

A business owner told me the title to this post a few days ago when I was in his business.  He was in the sports equipment marketing business and was having a “fire sale” on a wide variety of used types of sporting equipment!  I asked why he had such a “blowout” special on all of his equipment.  He stated that the equipment was used, consignment equipment and the owners wanted their money out of it.  He also said that the store owner did not want to remain in the used equipment consignment business any longer.

When I asked what had happened, here is what he said.  Individuals who had consigned their equipment agreed to sign a consignment form.  Everyone did that.  However, when either the equipment was sold, or the owner can back to claim it, there was always an argument over whether the price was right, all of the guards, covers, etc were included, etc.  The bottom line was that the business owner had a challenge every time he took in a piece of consignment equipment– to the point where he recognized that it was more productive NOT to participate in that marketing line.

As I thought about the comments of the business owner, I realized that perhaps the “rules of engagement” were not clearly defined, some misunderstandings were developed or the folks who were consigning the equipment did not have a clear understanding of how the process worked.  In any case, it seemed like instead of a “Win-Win” situation, this particular matter turned out to a “Loose-Loose” situation for all involved.

No matter what kind of a deal you might think about, make sure that all involved parties clearly understand all of the nuances and circumstances of any particular program.  We recommend that everything be clearly in writing, with simple, but detailed examples, addressing any thing that could possibly be misunderstood.  Simple picture charts, with numbers are best for matters such as these.  Although you may think that this is 3rd grade stuff, it is amazing how much 3rd grade material is actually very real and valuable!

Always try to find the “Win-Win” situation in any business engagement.  It is there– sometimes, however, you have to search long and hard to find it!  However, in a “Win-Win” environment, both parties should leave feeling satisfied and happy with whatever business transaction they elect to engage in.

In case of our business owner here, he told me that everyone walked away unhappy and frustrated.  Not a good deal for anyone!

To learn more about Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC, visit their listing in the Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

Fact: you need teamwork. In order for any organization (a place of business, your family, a charity, etc.) to run successfully, its members need to understand the concept of effective teamwork.

And therein appears the essential word: effective. It’s one thing to say you are running a team, but it’s quite another to run that team effectively. Here are a few ways to make sure your team is truly living up to its potential.

1.) Have clearly defined goals. In order to get the most out of your team, you need to have a clearly defined goal that you are working toward as a group. In addition, it’s important to be specific. “Increase efficiency” sounds good, but it’s a horrible goal because it could mean anything. “Increase the amount work orders processed between 3:00 and 5:00 pm” on the other hand, lets everyone know exactly what they are working toward and what will be considered a success. If they found a way to increase the amount of work orders processed between 10:00 and 11:00 in the morning, for example, it would be increasing efficiency, but not in the specific way you might want it to be increased. 

2.) Break up the work. Delegating one specific task to one person and another specific task to another person lessons the burden of the problem. It takes a huge, intimidating obstacle and turns it into many small, manageable obstacles. Plus, it gives each person a part of the solution that they can be accountable for.

3.) Hold frequent meetings to review progress. If a specific person is unaware of the progress being made by other members of the group, they can start to feel like they are doing all the work, even though they are still in charge of a single component. Having meetings to discuss progress gives team members a chance to see the progress of the issue as a whole.

Furthermore, frequent meetings allows the team to see what is working and what is not, and provides a chance for people to offer valuable input.

4.) Do the little things. Like any job, working on one thing for a long period of time can be grueling, so try to lighten the mood occasionally. Think you aren’t there to bring your employees donuts and juice when they should be happy they simply have a job? Fair enough, but this isn’t an article about how to spoil your employees, it’s an article about how to get the most out of your team. Little things go a long way, so suck it up and bring in some muffins once in a while.

5.) Celebrate successes publicly. Did your team accomplish the goal? Let everyone know! Announce it in the company newsletter and list the team members that made it possible. Have a company celebratory pot luck and let participating team members wear matching T-shirts to stand out. When the team gets to take credit for the solution, it makes them more eager to solve other problems, and when team members are publicly praised for their work, it makes other members of the company eager to participate in solving the next company issue.

Google’s hint at an over-optimization penalty could swing the pendulum back to focus on great content.

Focus too much on gaming Google and you could get burned.

That’s what Google’s Matt Cutts appeared to hint recently when he said people who over-optimize their sites could be punished, sent to the principal’s office or have their Gmail privileges revoked.

OK, maybe not that extreme. But Cutts signaled during a panel discussion at SXSW that Google is preparing to release a bolder, smarter Googlebot with a third more cleaning power.

Even as it continues to dominate the search market, Google continues to try and improve its relevance. In this post on Search Engine Land, Barry Schwartz offers this transcription of the comments from Cutts:

“What about the people optimizing really hard and doing a lot of SEO. We don’t normally pre-announce changes but there is something we are working in the last few months and hope to release it in the next months or few weeks. We are trying to level the playing field a bit. All those people doing, for lack of a better word, over optimization or overly SEO – versus those making great content and great site. We are trying to make GoogleBot smarter, make our relevance better, and we are also looking for those who abuse it, like too many keywords on a page, or exchange way too many links or go well beyond what you normally expect. We have several engineers on my team working on this right now.”

Feeling a little uncomfortable, energy marketers? After all, you’ve attended webinars and done hours of Internet research, so you think you’ve figured out what you think are tricks to improve your rank on Google. You’ve bolded enough words to make your home page look like it has the measles, stuffed enough keywords on every post to choke your bandwidth and back-linked from every site imaginable.

And content? Oh yeah, that. Welcome to the casualty of SEO. We’re so good at writing for the spiders that we’re practically spinning silk out of our backends.

Maybe (gasp) we should remember the humans.

As Lisa Barone said here, start wooing the user instead of the bot. Her SEO philosophy sums it up perfectly for me:

“SEO isn’t about taking a crap page and making it rank. It’s about making a killer page more findable.”

In short, focus on content first and then carefully create a good SEO strategy to help bring the humans to your site.

The bots will understand.

It seems like a cheesy topic, I know, but the fact is many people today still struggle with feeling confident with their actions. Your personal opinion of yourself holds an incredible amount of weight. After all, if perception is reality, low self-confidence is equivalent to shooting yourself in the foot.

So instead of continuously rooting against yourself, apply a few of these tips and see what it would be like to feel unstoppable.

1.) Dress the part. Of course no one should judge a book by its cover, and clothes certainly do not make the man, but there is a definite shift that happens when you see yourself for the first time in a striking suit or gorgeous dress. The feeling of “Wow, I look really good” creates a sense of surprise in the mind, allowing room to think to yourself, “I wonder what else I’ve been holding back.” 

Plus, your reactions to how people treat you are a huge part of your identity. Changing your clothes changes these reactions. If you want to command respect, you first have to dress like you deserve it.

2.) Work out. Contrary to your probable initial snap judgement, this has nothing to do with looks (although it certainly doesn’t hurt). Pushing yourself physically is the easiest way to retrain your brain to combat negative self-talk. You’ve run 3 miles and think you can’t take another step? Take another step. There, you’ve already proven that you can do more than you think.

Furthermore, naturally puts you in a better mood. Did you know the feeling of finishing a difficult workout is often listed as better than the feeling provided by anti-depressants? It’s true. So get off the couch and go for a walk, that little boost in your mood will do wonders for your self-confidence.

3.) Do something for you. Since we just discussed a few benefits of exercise, I’ll list one more; it’s good for you. Doing things for you, like engaging in regular exercise, eating healthy or taking a bubble bath once in a while show that you value yourself enough to take care of yourself.

4.) Take risks. One definition of low self-confidence is always believing you’ll fail at everything you attempt, which can obviously make it pretty difficult to step out on a limb once in a while. However, this is exactly why it is critical to take risks; because you aren’t going to fail every time. Is there a position at your company you’ve been eyeing but are afraid you’d never get? Apply anyway! Who knows, you might just get the job, and it’s little moments like this that prove that no, in fact, you won’t always fail.

5.) Understand reality. Low self-confidence has a way of warping reality. If you aren’t getting along with one person, you may exaggerate it to feel that no one likes you. In addition, the idea that people are laughing at you or that someone else is able to do the job better than you are both examples of a warped reality.

Instead of letting yourself get carried away, stop, breathe and think. Are people really laughing at you? No! The reality is that they’ve got their own problems to deal with. There is no point in terrifying yourself over something that, realistically, won’t even happen!

The deal I got was great– in fact, it was better than a big Mega Dealer in Northern Idaho was able to provide.  What was most interesting was when I went to get the car, Mr. Dee told me that the price was lower than we had agreed upon.  Now, how could this be?  Well, the short story was that a computer glitch caused the price to be lower.  My question was to Mr. Dee was, “Why did you not keep the money and say no more?”

Here was his answer– He told me that his dad had started the dealership in 1946.  Integrity, trust and honesty were the hallmarks of the dealership.  His dad was willing to take a loss on a car as long as there was never a question about his integrity, trust or honesty.  Bill told me that was how he was raised and how he ran the dealership today.  WELL– that probably does not happen very much anymore.  At least that has been my experience.  Was I impressed?  Well, I wrote about it here– so the answer was Yes, I was and am impressed!!

Trust, honor and integrity are keys I used to hear in the military all of the time.  I don’t hear that as much “on the outside,” however, this was one experience where I heard it loud and clear.

Think about how you would handle this matter in your business.  There is a right way and another way– only you, the business owner can decide what is right for you and your business.  For me, I was impressed with Mr. Dee and how he handled it.  If you need a great deal on a car, go see Bill Dee in Anaconda, Montana.  I did and could not be more pleased.

To learn more about Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC, visit their listing in the Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

To connect with Dee Motors in Anaconda, Montana, visit their website where their moto is “We Always Treat You Right !”

Burnout can be difficult to spot if you’re already in it. After all, if you’re anything like me, running yourself into the ground because such a natural habit that you don’t even notice how long it’s been since you’ve last had a break. Go ahead and think about it for a second…when is the last time you’ve really taken some time for yourself?

If the answer is “I can’t remember” or “This morning as I was folding my kids’ laundry and talking my sister through her difficult divorce…” this article is for you.

So what exactly are a few symptoms of burnout? A constant feeling of exhaustion, a general feeling of just not caring anymore, a feeling of not being appreciated or the idea that every, single day is a bad day. Well here are a few traps that lead to burnout and how you can be ready to dig yourself out should you fall into one of them.

1.) Constantly comparing yourself to others. Let’s get this one out of the way right away. You have certain strengths and you have certain weaknesses. If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed and frazzled with the stresses of being a new mother, don’t compare yourself to the mother with 6 kids. She probably seems a little more put together because she’s figured out how to do this. She’s been doing it for 10 years while you’ve been doing it for 10 days. You can learn from her, but don’t compare yourself to her.

The same example can be used in the workplace. Your office buddy closed three sales this week and you haven’t made one all month? Calm down, and take a look at the situation. Your office buddy has been doing this for years and you just started last month. You will get there.

2.) Poor planning or time management. I have a friend who always complained that she had no time. She would start running errands at the beginning of the day, and would never be done by the end of the day. One day, before she started her errands, another friend of mine suggested she do them in a different order. Saved her 3 hours.

Now I’m sure this seems like a simple case of common sense, but the truth is many of us are going about our daily activities with this same sense of mindlessness. Prioritizing your day’s activities can go a long way towards being able to actually relax in the evening.

3.) Saying “Yes” to everything. It can be tough to say “no”, especially when the word is associated with someone who isn’t working hard. It’s generally thought that if your boss asks you to take on another assignment, you say “yes” no matter what. But if taking on a new assignment means your current projects are going to suffer, is the trade-off worth it?

In addition, saying “yes” to everyone, all the time, dramatically increases the chance that you’ll be taken advantage of. Eventually, people will just start assuming you’ll say “yes” before you’ve even answered them. Saying “no” once in a while reminds them that you do, in fact, have a choice in the matter. And yes, as much as you may sometimes think you don’t, you do always have a choice.

I’m sure we’ve all heard plenty of inspirational quotes, and we’ve probably got a short list of a few that we consider seriously significant. But every once in a while (read: now, while you’re reading this article for the first time), a collection of quotes comes along that is more than just quirky banter. These quotes are keepers; meaning they are actually much more useful when applied to your daily lives than when applied to paper.

1.) “It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin

As important as this quote is, its principal may be one of the most overlooked.Working together is essential for progress. Businesses aren’t run by a single individual; they’re run as a team, and the most successful businesses are due to successful collaboration within that team. The more ideas you have floating around, the more options you have to choose from.

2.) “Politeness is the poison of collaboration.” – Edwin Land

Collaboration require honesty, and politeness is often a nice way of being dishonest. If you don’t like an idea, speak up, and explain your reasoning. The more you hold things in, the more you are robbing the group of useful feedback.

3.) “The secret is to gang up on the problem, rather than each other.” – Thomas Stallkamp
It can be easy to move focus of a meeting to the individuals instead of a problem itself. It doesn’t matter who says what idea, or who has the biggest problem with a specific policy; if it’s one person’s problem it’s everyone’s problem.

4.) “We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some are bright, some have weird names, but we have to learn to live in the same box.” – Anonymous

You do not always get to choose the people you will be collaborating with, but you still must learn to work together as a team. But don’t look at it in a bad way; for all you know that annoyingly bright crayon that sits in the office across from you could have some fantastic ideas.

5.) “Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro

Think of this as a pointillism painting with each individual, uniquely different dot representing a part of the picture. The picture itself wouldn’t come together without all the individual dots. The reason there is a picture at all is because of a very specific combination of different point of color.

6.) “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

In addition to the previous quote, just think of all the things we can do better together! One person protesting on the street looks like a crazy person, but 50 or 100 or 1000 people protesting the exact same thing in the same place creates a sense of organization and purpose. It’s the reason petitions and boycotts so often see results. Working together gets a message across.

7.) “Few things in life are less efficient than a group of people trying to write a sentence. The advantage of this method is that you end up with something for which you will not be personally blamed.” – Scott Adams

People need ownership. They need to be able to tackle something with a sense of responsibility. Delegation is incredibly important when collaborating. Instead of assigning one large task to a group, consider breaking it up into smaller tasks that will be assigned to the individuals in the group.

8.) “Gettin’ good players is easy. Gettin’ ‘em to play together is the hard part.” – Casey Stengel

Sometimes a team’s chemistry is more important than the actual skills of the team members. Since this quote is in reference to baseball, I’m going to stay on that topic. The teams that make it to the post-season are not always the teams with the best players, they’re the teams that have figured out how to win with what they got. There is no room for egos in collaboration.

9.) “The purpose of life is to collaborate for a common cause; the problem is nobody seems to know what it is.” – Gerhard Gschwandtner

Before the task of collaborating can even begin, it’s important to have a common goal in mind. Without it, everyone is going to be running around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off! Identify the task everyone needs to be working towards, delegate, and begin problem solving.

What is even more interesting is in the past 3 weeks, I have had several business owners call and ask whom I knew that was seeking a job opportunity.  Both of the positions that were requested were for office manager positions, one in the construction industry and one in the hospitality industry.  I gave referrals to both business owners to call the local college and talk with the business Dean to see what students were not yet employed.  In each instance, a graduating senior would work fine in the job.  The graduating student did not need to have a business degree, however, each would be required to help manage the business.

If you are seeking new employees, calling the local college and talking with the job placement center or business college dean is a great start to finding out if any students are available for your position.  There are plenty of recent graduates that must not have found a solid job opportunity.  Now is the time to pursue those candidates if you are seeking to add to your team.

To learn more about Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC, visit their listing in the Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

We all want to live up to our full potential, but as the saying goes, “The path to success is often under construction.” And it’s true; our path to reach our goals is most definitely going to be strewn with obstacles that we are going to have to overcome. We know this. We’re ready for this. But what happens when the obstacles begin multiplying? And we are the cause of it?

Believe it or not, many of your hindrances may be due to your own behavior or habits. So before we start stressing over how we are going to solve the problems that are already there, let’s take a look at three things that might be creating new ones right under your nose.

1.) You don’t plan. Not everyone is a planner, and often what we do plan tends to be what we enjoy. Personally, I love to cook, so planning meals for the week is a way of relaxing. Planning my workouts for the week, however, is a different story altogether.

The fact is you have to plan. Planning gives you a chance to see what obstacles might come your way, giving you time to think of possible solutions now, while you’re calm and clear-headed. It also gives you the opportunity to break a larger goal into smaller goals, lessening the weight of the overall task at hand. And if you don’t even know where to start, consider Canvas Creek. Strategic planning is one of the things we specialize in!

2.) You don’t make decisions. Making a decision sounds easy enough, but the truth is it can be downright paralyzing. The error many people make is seeing the two options in terms of “right and wrong” or “good and bad”. This creates difficulty because, most likely, there isn’t a bad decision, the two are just different.Instead, think of it as two positives. One option may be better than the other, but they are both possible solutions, and neither one is going to be perfect.

For example, if two roads lead to the same place, and one road has a pothole, does it really matter which road you take? Sure if you take the pothole road you might take a little longer, but is the difference in time really going to matter in the end? Probably not. Make a decision, stick to it and move on.

3.) You don’t delegate. Being able to delegate is essential. You can’t possible doeverything (okay maybe you can, but you’re going to run yourself ragged), so you have learn how to lighten the load a little bit.

Take this as an example: one of the best rules in business is to surround yourself with people whose strengths are your weaknesses. Let’s take a look at a baseball coach. Maybe he is extremely skilled at teaching hitting mechanics but has a weak spot when it comes to teaching pitching mechanics; that’s why he would hire a pitching coach. It’s not because he isn’t knowledgeable about pitching, there is just someone else out there that is more knowledgeable, and delegating the pitching workouts to someone else frees up more time for him to work with the hitters. In the end, everyone benefits from having a pitching coach as part of the staff.

Who really needs a will? According to the A.B.A , most lawyers and all the financial advisors I have talked to say the same thing! You do! Everyone over 18 needs a will, a living will and a health power of attorney. Oh and you may have noticed I didn’t have the federal and state governments in that list of recommendations and that is for good reason, they would rather you don’t have a will or trust because they can then steal a very large share of what you intended  for  your family to have!

Your will, living will, powers of attorney or doctor authorizations are the last part of your life you can have control over. Without these articles in force you turn over control to the state and possibly costly decisions to the probate court!

I would like for you to take a minute right now, just  stop and think about your children! The Love of your life, you would die for them, kill for them, { yes I know some times lock them up},  work your tail off for them!  Now that we have established their importance, you need to establish a guardian. Without this document in force the state and courts will make those decisions for you. Everyone I talk to tell me the same thing.  Oh no problem my mother, sister, brother, grandmother or whomever is going to raise and provide for my children. This is a wonderful wish but in the real world that is what it amounts to! Without a will your children may even end up in a foster home temporarily while your family tries to convince the state and the court that they are physically, mentally and financially able to provide for those children. I don’t know about you but the government can’t decide where to put a stop sign much less where my child should live!

Do your family the Last Best thing you will ever do for them!! Get your will done! I know your saying lawyers are expensive well contact me I can show you how to get yours and your spouses will done without spending $400 or more. 

Feel free to email me at  rjohnson111@legalshield.com or visit my listing in the Synergy Station Business Directory or my Legal Shield website.

As she was talking to the truck driver, he said that he had travelled 130 miles that morning, went to another city where “he thought” the business was located.  After he arrived at the city, he figured out that he had gone “the wrong way” and had to hurry to make up time and get the order delivered.  The business owner called the company and asked where the truck was– thus starting a search process that resulted in “Don’t Call Bill.”

Here is the crux of the issue– the truck driver is new, is personable and has a commercial drivers license (CDL) with dual trailer endorsements.  These type of individuals are hard to find today–especially those that have clean driving records and have a CDL license.  OK, was there a process for truck dispatch that was not followed–someone failed to pay attention to detail.  How did the truck driver leave the shop without a clear idea of where the client was located?  Did anyone call to verify the address and location of the client?  These are all process steps that we address each day.  What was so interesting here is that nobody wanted to “Call Bill”, because everyone knew that he would not tolerate such buffoonery.

The staff did not want to “Tell Bill” because they knew that he would not tolerate such inattention to detail– as well has having wasted 4 hours of productive time that was non revenue generating time.

Good people are hard to find– good people are difficult to keep.  We all make errors, however, in this case, the real error was failing to followed processes and procedures–resulting in loss of productive time as well as having an unhappy customer.

In the end, the client received her product, the truck driver returned back to his dispatch location and Bill was none the wiser for the error.  We are all human and we all make mistakes–however, the ability to follow standard procedures saves time, money, frustration and most importantly, increases profitability.

To learn more about Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC, visit their listing in the Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

Starting a business is tough, and keeping a business going can be tougher still. Not only are you in charge of everything, but you are also responsible for everything, which can feel like quite a burden. Don’t worry though; it’s all going to be all right. All you have to do is make yourself into the best businessperson you can, preparing yourself for dealing with the trials and tribulations that come with being your own boss. Here are three Essentials:

1.) Have a clear set of goals and values. Knowing what you want is essential of any business plan, but understand what you are willing to do to get there is an entirely different story. The area of business ethics seems to be quite an unspoken “guideline” to many companies, but the truth is it’s a component of doing business that’s extremely paramount.

Take my friend, for example, who runs an ice cream truck. All of her ice cream product comes from Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream, a locally owned and managed business. If she were to buy her product from Costco or Walmart, she could absolutely get it for a lower price (thereby increasing her profit ratio), but the quality just wouldn’t be the same. It’s worth it to her to serve only the best ice cream available, which has kept her customers coming back year after year.

Before you go into business, make sure you know where your values lie. That way, when a decision comes up that needs an immediate answer; you won’t have to waste valuable time deciding between the right option and the option that doesn’t mold with your business values.

2.) Communicate often and clearly. Any group of people, whether it’s a business, a family or just a close-knit group of friends cannot function properly without effective communication. That means make sure your clients and employees have a clear understanding of everything that is going on and everything that is required of them. Give customers frequent updates (when their product is set to arrive, how that architectural drawing they hired you to do is coming along), and give employees clear-cut instructions.

And don’t forget the most important part of effective communication: listening. It’s vital that you are listening to your customer’s wants and needs and your employee’s concerns and ideas. A successful business is an evolving business, and the best way to make sure you’re an evolving business is to have an open line of communication.

3.) Nip problems in the bud. It’s incredibly important to catch problems as they arise. Have there been some issues with your product arriving on time? Sit down and figure out if a different shipping schedule needs to be put into place. Is there an employee with a bad attitude? Bring them into your office and take care of it. Maybe they are going through a difficult time at home, or maybe there has just been a misunderstanding that needs to be straightened out. Either way, it’s important to make sure small problems don’t turn into larger, more significant (and more damaging) problems.

What tips do you have for running a successful business?

1.) Listen. Yes, this means you are going to have to stop interrupting. By far the most important part of effective communication is listening to the other person. So many people are already forming ideas in their heads of what they want to say in return before the first person is done talking that they are missing out on important information. Give the speaker your undivided attention; it will be easier to make an informed decision when you have all the information anyway.

2.) Have some perspective. This tip could also be called, “Know your audience.” Understand that it can be particularly difficult for an employee to communicate with their boss. Regardless of how warm or welcoming you attempt to be, you are still going to be at least slightly intimidating to your subordinates. Understanding where they are coming from will help you understand what they are trying to say, even if they are having a hard time getting it out.

3.) Be clear. One of the most important parts of effective communication is the communication part. Nothing is going to be resolved if you can’t actually articulate the information. Rambling for 20 minutes is only going to waste everyone’s time, so before you get started it might help to write down some bullet points, the main concept and a couple examples to help you illustrate your point (keep in mind you don’t need to use every example). Keep the information as short and simple as possible.

4.) Be open to ideas. Communication is a two-way street. If you ask for feedback and then become defensive with each critique, no one is going to want to voice their opinion. Likewise, if you need ideas for a project but laugh at the first idea to come your way, you’re going end up with very few ideas to look over. More so, understand that you don’t know everything. There are going to be ideas and concepts that you aren’t going to come up with. Someone else is going to have abrilliant idea once in a while, and don’t you want that person to be able to come to you when the genius strikes?

5.) Be genuine. No one wants to talk to a robot. Showing that you have a sense of humor and a warm heart will go a long way in making others feel comfortable around you. I’m not advocating an inappropriate amount of self-disclosure here, I’m just saying that it’s important for others to understand that yes, in fact, youare a fellow human being.

What are your tips for effective communication?

Ah, the age old battle between productivity and procrastination. I have to admit, I’m quite skilled in creating a clever way to avoid boring tasks that need to be done, but at some point even I have to just bear down and do it. There are a few things that tend to help though, so here are my top 10.

1.) Be healthy. This means you need to eat well, get enough sleep and make sure to make time to exercise regularly. Feeling unproductive can be a vicious cycle; you feel exhausted so you don’t exercise, so you feel even moreexhausted. Go for a run in the morning or a swim after work, eat an apple with peanut butter for your midmorning snack and get to bed at a reasonable time. All of this pays off dividends in the end.
2.) Make a list, prioritize it and stick to it! Making a list of everything you need to get done is a great way to jumpstart your productivity. Often, just seeing everything written down and organized (instead of jumbled up in your head) will help you calm down. Put your most urgent and important tasks at the top, and get started. And feel free to use a little secret of mine; write down a few things that you have already done and cross them off. Look; you’ve already made some progress!

3.) Make a schedule. That means setting 2 or 3 constant times to check your email. Checking it constantly throughout the day is a huge productivity killer.

4.) Time each task. Setting a goal for how long you’ll work often makes a task less overwhelming. Think about it; instead of telling yourself, “Okay, I’m going to work for 10 hours today,” say, “I’m going to spend the next 30 minutes working on this spreadsheet.” At the end of the 30 minutes, re-evaluate, and set another timed goal.

5.) Remove distractions. While you may think you work better with the television on, basic psychological principles beg to differ. Your brain has to use energy to focus on each individual thing going on around it, so that background noise is actually taking up valuable energy. It’s the same reason it’s recommended to focus on one specific job rather than multi-tasking.

6.) Think, “Would I miss this?” This is a simple trick to be able to tell if you’re procrastinating or not. If you think about everything you’re trying to do in a day, would you miss the current task you’re working on? If you didn’t get a chance to play that game of solitaire, would your day really suffer for it? Probably not.

7.) Stay positive. As stressful as you may be, remember, you’re making progress. You have more done now than you did this morning, and you’ll have more done in a few hours than you do right now.

8.) Do what you love. You really should love what you’re doing, even if it’s not particularly enjoyable at the moment. Make sure you’re thinking big picture; writing that report may be daunting, but it’s going to be putting you one step closer to your dream job, right? And spending hours analyzing statistics may sound dreadful, but if the results could help make a positive difference, isn’t it all worth it? And if you can’t find any enjoyment out of what you are doing, it might be time for a different list of priorities.

9.) Reward Yourself. If you’ve been good at sticking to your to-do list, make sure you reward yourself at the end of the day. Personally, I might choose to watch one of my favorite television programs with a glass of wine, completely undisturbed, meaning no email.

10.) Just DO it already. Yes, you have to take the first step! Turn off the television, put your cell phone to the side, get a glass of water, make a list and get going!

What are some tips you have for being productive?

Running a household can be tough. From keeping track of everyone’s schedule to making sure everyone is keeping track of their own schedule, things can get a little tricky. Here’s where a little teamwork and planning becomes very, very,useful.

1.) Have clearly defined roles and values, and stick to them. If you’d like to pass on the value that it’s best to offer help before someone has to ask for it, then demonstrate it. Things can get very confusing when the “Do as I say, not as I do” mantra is practiced. If you want your kids to stand up for themselves, laugh off the little things, or put something away when they’re done using it, than you should try your best to do those things too.

2.) Delegate. One of the reasons many families have an unnecessary amount of stress is that one person is doing all the work. Maybe the mother is working full time as well as keeping the house clean, dropping off and picking up the kids from school activities, making dinner, doing the grocery shopping, and much, much more. In this case, it can be hard for anyone else to even begin to help. They don’t know what to do.

So define the roles. Maybe it’s the 12 year-old’s job to make sure the dishes are done and the table is set, the 15 year-old’s job to make sure the animals are fed and the living room is vacuumed. When one parent comes to home to make dinner, it’s the other parent’s job to pick up the kids from soccer practice. When everyone pitches in, everything gets a little easier.

3.) Communicate. As advanced as modern science and technology is, it still hasn’t cracked the code that would allow us all to be mind-readers. If you or another member of your family is unhappy with the status-quo, something needs to be said, and in order for that to happen, a welcoming and non-judgmental environment needs to be set in place.

But since it’s tough to just outright say something (we all still struggle with it), help each other out. Just a simple, “How was your day?”is enough to get the ball rolling. Showing that you’re interesting and concerned with each other’s lives will help each other feel connected and valued.

4.) Point out the good. It’s such a small gesture, but it goes so far in keeping your family a close-knit group. “I saw you got an ‘A’ on that last test, great job,” or “Awesome job with dinner tonight, that was delicious,” is a simple way to show you care.

5.) Be polite and respectful. Everyone is going to get testy at one point or another. It’s a simple fact that families are chaotic and not everyone is happy all the time, but as long as you agree to be respectful (that means no namecalling,under any circumstance), things are much likely to smooth over.

Oh and “please” and “thank-you” never hurt anyone.

How do you help your family function?

 To create a new vision or sharpen and update an existing one, allow yourself a month.  See yourself as the Chief Listening Officer during this early phase.  You cannot build a vision or business on your own.  For buy-in later, seek the input of others now.  Include your employees, customers, suppliers, distributors and business advisers in the process.  Spend a week or two gathering input from these stakeholders about your company’s direction, strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities.  If they do not participate in this creation phase, they will not want to participate in the vision implementation phase.  Also, study your industry trends and your current and emerging competitors.  On all fronts, do your homework. 

After listening to and studying others, be certain to listen to your inner voice and gut.  While other’s input is critical, know that the buck stops with you.  You are ultimately responsible for the vision of your business.  Your vision ultimately becomes your company’s direction, objectives, priorities, strategies, and tactics.  It is that magical and that important. 

Therefore, get away from the daily interruptions and go into your CEO Cave.  This could be your home office, at a coffee shop, at a park, library or beach.  Spend two to three days forming or crystallizing a picture of what you want the business to look like in one year, three years, and five years.  See things the way they can be.  Dream the big dream; unleash your spirit.  See the business in your heart that you truly want to create.  A bold, daring, super-sized vision, even if only partially achieved, yields greater rewards than a small, wimpy vision fully achieved.  

Remember, there are no rules while you create a desired future state.  However, don’t deal in pure fantasy.  There is a difference between a vision and a delusion.  Stay somewhat grounded.  You must see things the way they are now in order to visualize the way they can be.  You must build from a foundation of realism, acknowledging your company’s current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  However, once you gather the facts, let go and let her rip.  

Grab hold of the future, bring it into the present, and then go about creating it.  Give yourself and your employees something to be proud of.  Find a voice to express the common dreams, emotions, potential and needs of your team.  Let your vision inspire, motivate, and galvanize your team.  Small visions do not stir the soul.  Give people a reason to follow, something to shoot for.  Make the vision intoxicating — something that captures their imagination.  Show them the finish line in bright, Technicolor detail.  Sell more to their hearts than to their heads.  People change when their feelings change, not when merely their thoughts change.  Powerful visions unite groups and take them to new heights and places. 

Keep in mind, employees want purpose and passion to lift them and propel them.  Find a larger purpose for your company than merely making money.  Don’t settle for being a random collection of people and assets trying to make a buck.  A purely financial focus will not sustain the troops over the long term.  Make coming to work a meaningful and fulfilling event for your employees.  People want to work in a challenging and rewarding environment.  They want to learn, grow and reach their potential – the full expression of their talent.  People are drawn to great leaders, great visions and great causes. 

Having trouble thinking big?  Ask yourself bigger questions! 

• Why does our enterprise exist?
• If our business were shut down, what would be missing in this world?
• What is our crusade?   What could be our crusade?
• How do we engage the hearts, minds and souls of our employees?
• How can we make our company great, meaningful and different?
• How can we change our industry, community, and even the world? 
• How can we measurably improve the lives of customers? 
• How can we make our employees and their families’ lives better and more fulfilling? 
• What higher calling or spiritual dimension can we embrace? 

After listening to others for two weeks and thinking deeply yourself for two weeks, a vision for your company should be coming into focus.  Bottom line, this vision should help your employees and yourself re-acquire the fire and passion for your company’s direction and purpose.

To connect with Lisa Mason, The Growth Coach of Montana, click to her website or her Synergy Station Directory Listing.

]]> http://synergystation.com/business/vision-getting-the-employee-buy-in/feed/ 0 http://synergystation.com/business/what-type-of-business-owner-are-you/ http://synergystation.com/business/what-type-of-business-owner-are-you/#comments Sat, 19 May 2012 00:23:34 +0000 LisaMason http://synergystation.com/?p=5613 I am on a crusade to re-educate and re-focus business owners/managers to lead more, work less, and enjoy greater freedom, financial success and happiness.  In short, trying to get owners and managers to think and act strategically and effectively.  Too many owners/managers are gifted technicians but not very effective as strategic leaders.  If you are not leading in your business, who is?  If you are not being strategic, who is?  If you are not proactive, who is?  To find out if you are a strategic business owner, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I see the big picture and have a long-term view? 
• Do I think more like a CEO than an employee?
• Do I create a yearly business plan? 
• Is my leadership purposeful, proactive, and planning-based?
• Do I constantly think about the direction and objectives of the business?
• Do I focus on the entire business and not just the technical work of my business?
• Have I created plans, procedures and policies to help operate my company? 
• Have I developed and documented all our key business processes? 
• Do I utilize the leverage of marketing to grow my business?
• Do I spend more time on important matters rather than trivial/urgent matters?
• Have I created a systems-dependent business instead of an owner-dependent business?
• Do I conduct one-on-one monthly coaching sessions with my managers and/or key employees?
• Do I avoid getting buried in the day-to-day details and headaches of the business? 
• Have I shaped my business more by design than by default?

If you answered “no” to most of these questions, you are operating as a tactical, reactive business owner.  You could benefit greatly from becoming a strategic business owner (SBO).  In short, a strategic business owner gets the highest and best return possible for his/her time, money and effort.  He/she focuses on working smarter, not harder.  Interested in transforming your mindset and behavior to be more strategic? 

To connect with Lisa Mason, The Growth Coach of Montana, click to her website or her Synergy Station Directory Listing.

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

To begin, let me ask you some revealing questions.  As a business owner, can you walk away from your business today for one or two months and come back to find it operating smoothly and profitably?  Can you even escape for two weeks?  Have you ever had a work-free vacation?  If your answers are “no”, you don’t have a successful business, you have a glorified job in which you are trapped!  You don’t have an effective business system; you are the business system!   In a large sense, you are a prisoner of your own success.  

Do not be offended by this very direct and frank communication.  Please note, I admire, respect and serve business owners and their managers.  However, I get paid to help my clients “face reality” and then hold them accountable for the changes and goals they desire.

No matter what industry you are in, you should not be a prisoner to your business!  If you are, you have it backwards.  Your business should serve you and your dreams.  It should give you greater freedom, not less.  In fact, your business, properly designed, should function practically without you, not because of you.  It should run predictably and automatically whether you are in the office or not, in the store or not, out in the field or not, on vacation or not. Your business should not depend upon your presence, personality, problem solving and perspiration for its daily survival.  If so, your business does not work, you do! 

Bottom line, you should run your business; it should not run you, your family or your life.  Your business should work harder so you don’t have to.  It should be systems-dependent and not owner-dependent or expert-dependent for its success.  It should have its own heart, mind, and soul – it should not steal your vital organs and spirit! 

Stop for a moment and think of the consequences.  If everything in your business flows through you and is dependent upon you, then you are restricting dramatically the growth and profits of your company.  As a single human being, there are natural limits to the amount of work, transactions, problems, and decisions that can flow effectively through you in a given day.  Stop being a bottleneck or clog.  Otherwise, you will continue to restrict the potential of your employees and business and ensure your persistent exhaustion.  Stop missing out on greater personal freedom, money and happiness.

Let me be very clear, you are the expert in your business and industry.  I am not and will never claim to be.  My expertise is guiding business owners to unlock greater potential in themselves and their businesses.  I coach and mentor owners/managers, like you, to define clearly and then reach their business and personal goals.  To implement the changes they desire.  I guide owners to become more effective, focused, productive and strategic.  To face reality, identify solutions, and help them stay on track.  I help overwhelmed owners/managers to work “on” themselves, “on” their businesses, and “on” their specific issues, opportunities and goals.

If you would like to achieve greater freedom, fulfillment and financial returns from your business, connect with me via my website or my Synergy Station Directory Listing.  Let’s get started !

Outsourcing to Billings has become the solution for the Bakken boom. It’s a solution that has been at least three years in the making, and holds the prospect to become even greater as the boom continues and moves westward, towards Billings.

One of the earliest participants in that trend was guest speaker at the Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting, last week.

Like many businesses in Billings, when the economic recession hit in 2008, Sanderson Stewart Engineers looked around for new opportunities. “We looked to the east,” said Rick Leuthold, an engineer and one of the firm’s principals.

Leuthold’s company found enough business in Williston ND, to establish an office, a year and a half ago, and their business continues to grow, as does one of the largest oil and gas plays in the US – perhaps the largest in the country’s history.

To understand what is happening there – and here — “Go spend a day in Williston,” Leuthold urged his audience.

Leuthold said that he now spends two to three days a week in Williston.

Their problem – like everyone else in the Bakken, is finding a place for staff to live. They have five people in their Williston office. Two live in mobile homes.

“You can’t get a motel room for three months out,” said Leuthold.

With space at a premium – for everything – outsourcing to surrounding cities has become the solution for the Williston Basin.

“Lot’s of people are coming to Billings,” said Leuthold. Not only are they coming to shop and purchase equipment and supplies (much of which can’t get delivered to Williston), but companies are locating their headquarters and maintenance facilities here because it is simply impractical to locate them in the communities of the Bakken. “It’s a great opportunity for us,” said Leuthold.

The outsourcing is for more than just the direct support of oil well development. It includes outsourcing for the building of houses, motels, man-camps, restaurants – and for building power plants.

Leuthold rattled off the several counties in North Dakota whose accumulative immediate need for power is some 1.2 gigawatts, that’s enough demand that each county will have to build their own power plant. All such development adds, of course, to the need to outsource for supplies, equipment, and manpower.

Large subdivisions are being built trying to meet a minimum goal of 500 new homes a year, some 3000 one-bedroom rental units are planned, and motels are going up as rapidly as possible. Five motels were built this past year, and four more are “on line.”

A future opportunity for entrepreneurs, said Leuthold, will be to figure out what to do with empty motels, when they are no longer in demand.

That raises the question of how long can this last? Over and over, one hears projections which conservatively speaking, say it will last 20-30 years. This is a boom unlike any other, because of the resource and the technology.

Leuthold said that the companies he talks to say that production is profitable down to a price of $45 to $55 per barrel.

Elm Cooley on the “Montana side” “is a huge producer,” and production continues to migrate from North Dakota “to the south and west.”

It’s projected that 50,000 wells will be drilled over the next 20 years. They are putting in 2000 wells per year.

Leuthold said that every well is considered on average to have a life span of 20 years. Each well requires at least one person to maintain it. “Do the math,” said Leuthold, “That’s 50,000 guys, long-term.” Each one of those workers will have “a spouse and kids and need all the same services and retail stores as any other community.” That means that long-term the Williston Basin area will likely see its population burgeon to about 100,000 people. “And, that is a conservative estimate,” said Leuthold.

It is estimated that over the next two to three years, Williston with a population of some 24,000 will double in size. It has already doubled since 2008.

Projections for the ultimate production from the Bakken, range from a conservative 3.65 billion barrels, to 11 billion, to an extreme, upward of 500 billion.

A looming question is how to get it to market?

The most technically reasonable and efficient means is by pipeline, said Leuthold. Without pipelines production in the Bakken will reach “take away capacity by 2015,” he said.

Alternatives to pipelines are trucking and rail which will demand a huge increase in the available infrastructure, roads, tracks, transfer facilities, as well as increased production of diesel fuel – all of which means more need to outsource.

Oil was first discovered in the Bakken formation of the Williston Basin in 1951, near Tioga, ND, but it was considered “submarginal.” It has taken the intervening years of innovation and new technologies to develop it into the “significant economic center,” it is today, said Leuthold.

Leuthold described the Bakken as “a big bowl of organics,” covering some 200,000 square miles, extending into Canada and into South Dakota, across much of North Dakota, and to some point in the middle of Montana – no one knows for sure yet how far westward the Bakken will continue to produce. The thickest part of the bowl is at the center, near Williston, where the geographical layer is about 120 to 150 feet thick.

There are actually three layers to the Bakken, the “upper,” a mid-”sandstone” layer, and a lower shale level. And, beneath that is the Three Forks Sanish, a formation that is only just beginning to be tapped, which some believe will be as significant as the Bakken. “Once it [the Bakken] is done,” said Leuthold, “they will come back and develop the Three Forks.”

As an indication of how much activity is actually going on in the Bakken, Leuthold explained that they used to place one well per platform spaced about every two miles. They are now placing as many as eight and the “hit rate” is almost 100 percent. “The hit rate has become so high, it’s just a matter of systematically gridding,” he said. It takes 35-40 days to develop a well, and costs between $8 million and $10 million.

This kind of certainty and success rate is why the play is unlike any other in history and bears no comparison.

The numbers change quickly, as knowledge and technology advances, noted Leuthold, saying that probably some of his information is already “outdated.”

Developing a well takes a million gallons of potable water and a million pounds of sand. The well can extend downward by as much as two miles. And, the technology and operators have such accuracy in running the line where they want to go, that even at that distance, two miles below the surface of the earth, they could hit the center of a basketball hoop, said Leuthold.

He recognized the controversy brewing regarding “fracing”—the process of setting off explosives that fracture the surrounding rock and then forces sand into the fissures to prop them open enough to allow the oil to drain from the surrounding rock. There are those who are very concerned about what is in the materials used.

Leuthold explained that 98 to 99 percent of it is potable water. The additives are lubricants which are used to make the water “slick” and thick enough that it will suspend the sand particles and propel them into the fissures. The additives are, for the most part, things “in your kitchen, under your sink,” said Leuthold. He also noted that the furthest down an aquifer extends is about 1500 feet, while the fracing is occurring at depths of 5,000 feet.

Getting all those materials, the sand and water, to the well site takes a thousand truckloads – a thousand going and a thousand coming. Hence the reason for all the truck traffic, the demand for drivers, and the impact on roads and infrastructure.

There are 205 rigs in operation in North Dakota, at present, and 17 in Montana.

In an effort to meet the need for workers in Williston, Leuthold said one sees signs such as that at Taco Bell which offered prospective employees $15 an hour plus a $500 signing bonus. Or another at Applebees, which said they had to temporarily close because their cook took a job as a truck driver.

The biggest problem is finding a place to live. Hundreds of people are indeed living out of their vehicles. One report said a couple hundred people are living in the Walmart parking lot.

The City of Williston is being forced into purchasing an apartment building so that they can hire the employees they need. Garages and basements are being subdivided and rented out at exorbitant rates.

And, the problem of meeting all that demand is a, sort of, “which came first the chicken or the egg” dilemma, said Leuthold.

Click to Follow:  Big Sky Business Journal, Evelyn Pyburn

The Bakken spells “opportunity” unlike anything in recent memory, as far as Montana is concerned. All of us, no matter what kind of business we are involved in, will benefit from the billions and billions of dollars being invested, right now – not ten years from now—but right now in 2012, just a few hundred miles down the road.

This is huge. It is epic. And, the only thing that stands in the way is us.

Billions and billions of dollars (not millions but billions) are being invested, which require no matching funds, no applications, no lobbying, no new taxes, and no complicated public programs. This is private investment on private property creating energy, jobs, wealth and opportunity for future generations, and all we have to do for it to happen is to get out of the way — and stay out of the way.

We have the resource. We have the technology. We have the manpower. We have the capital needed to develop the most efficient and cleanest fuel, economically available for human beings, at this point in time – gas and oil.

And, it is right here, quite literally, in our own back yard, in potential supplies that surpass any other in the world. It is energy independence — some say for as much as 100 years, others say 200 years. What more could we ask for?

It is economic development, national security and, yes, it is environmentally friendly, if we but look at the full picture.

Every other kind of energy costs more. That means it is less efficient. By the very definition of “efficient” that means it generates a greater “carbon footprint.” If one understands that from a utilitarian stand point, the cost of something reflects the amount of total energy required for its production, then one has to understand that all alternative “green” energies, by the very fact that they are more expensive, says that they are less “green” than gas and oil. The green alternatives – every one of them – generate a larger “carbon footprint” to produce and use, than gas and oil. It’s as simple as that.

Maybe someday – undoubtedly, someday – we will have better options, but those options or innovations will not come unless they are built upon a realistic and sound economic base. We cannot short circuit the process or pretend them into reality, with subsidies or political mandates. For those future innovations to be practical and, hence, enduring, they must emerge from a sound market.

So goes the development of the infrastructure needed to advance the Bakken development. Building pipelines is the most cost-effective means – hence the most economically and environmentally sound way of getting this energy to market. It’s absolutely insane to block the development of such tried-and-true technology as pipelines. Without pipelines the transport of this fuel is pushed onto the highways, roadways and railroads, across our lands, over our rivers, and through our communities, at far, far greater risks and costs.

The calculations of abandoning pipelines should include the additional costs, fuel usage and environmental hazards of the alternatives. It takes but the most cursory look, at what happens without pipelines, to know the folly of interfering with this market-driven solution of getting oil and gas to consumers.

And, the spinoff of what’s happening in the Bakken!!!

Not only does it bolster the prospects for our retail and service sector businesses, but it poses the potential of redeveloping and recreating much of the manufacturing base we have lost over the past few decades to foreign shores.

What’s happening in the Bakken demands the production of equipment, materials, parts, gidgets and gadgets of things most people don’t even know about. Some are new things, being invented and produced for the first time, others are things that are simply needed immediately, and to custom specifications, most easily met locally. This means more opportunity. It means more private sector entrepreneurial activity in manufacturing, another basic industry that fuels the growth of secondary businesses, service industries and professions. More basic industries, which also mean more tax revenues for education and government.

It means more billions of dollars of investment with nothing required except for a political environment that doesn’t block it, and allows it to happen.

None of this is pie-in-the-sky visionary thinking. It is happening at this very moment. The investors and entrepreneurs are banging at our doors, right now. Many have already opened shop in Billings and other surrounding communities. The only question is, are we going to open the doors or continue to attempt to bar them shut?

Look around folks, the market is trying to overcome the recession, if we but let it happen. Our future is emerging before our very eyes, if we but open them to see.

Click to follow:  Big Sky Business Journal, Evelyn Pyburn

While Montana has big trout, big mountains, big skies, and some memorable local watering holes; owing a bar in Montana can offer some unique opportunities when it comes to ownership and operation of a business in light of recent economic conditions and why it may be a investment choice worthy of consideration in 2012 as you seek ROI (return on investment).

Although there are a number of types of licenses in Montana, the two most frequently used are the All Beverage with Gaming and the Beer & Wine with Gaming.  Since the mid 80’s Montana has allowed holders of both types of licenses to operate a combination of up to 20 video poker & keno machines (starting in 2012, Video Line Games – “Las Vegas style Slots”) per license.  The two major differences in the licenses are:

1. All Beverage can serve full liquor as well as beer & wine whereas the Beer & Wine is limited to just beer & wine.
2. A person can hold only one All Beverage in their name, but can own multiple Beer & Wine licenses. 

In the mid 80’s when video gaming started, All Beverage Licenses in Billings were selling for around $100,000.  In the larger communities in Montana (Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Missoula and Kalispell) license values began climbing to a point before the recession in 2008 when All Beverage Licenses were selling as high as $1,000,000.  This increase was due primarily to gaming and the fact that each community is set up on a quota based on population which meant the market and availability dictated the value.  

Why the increase?  Gambling revenues for the state peaked in 2008 at $423 million gross income on 18,350 machines ($23,042/machine) which the State of Montana received 15% tax on amounting to over $63 million.  Revenues had dropped to $349 million by 2010 and license values in Billings are currently running between $500,000 and $600,000. 

Here’s how the numbers work.  The key number on a 20 machine operation is the weekly Drop (the total amount of money going through the machines every 7 days).  What is left at the end of each night is the Hold (the money left after all payouts have been made).  This is the number that the State of Montana Taxes 15% of on a quarterly basis.  The Hold fluctuates but for this example we will use 25%.  Example: 20 machine drop @ $50,000 per week = $2,600,000/yr x 25% Hold = $650,000 Gross Revenue Less 15% State Tax ($97,500) = $552,000 Gross Profit for the license holder.  If the license holder owns the machines, they keep it all.  But, if the license holder uses a vendor, the vendor owns the machines and splits the Gross Profit with the license holder 80-20 to 60-40 (negotiable) with the larger % going to the license holder. 

Drops around the state for 20 machine operations vary greatly from $25,000-$30,000 per week to a few at $75,000-$95,000 per week.  To utilize the full potential of a license, successful operators serve beverages, food and operate a casino.  In the case of a All Beverage License, you can operate a full bar, serve food and operate a 20 machine casino with each area providing it’s own income stream and profit center.  Good operators can make a very good living by maximizing the potential of their license, keeping their costs in line and providing quality food, beverages and service.

To learn more about this subject and look at options to diversify your Bakken royalty dollars connect with Chuck directly through either his website or his listing in the Synergy Station Directory.

I personally don’t know what the gaming hype is about, but these words came to mind when starting a new office job. Unfortunately it started at the management level and just rolled down hill from there, affecting all that had the unfortunate experience of stepping in front of the avalanche!

The first month was spent in utter shock as I watched two new employees get fired as they obviously could not get on the angry bird train. Had a very hard time at the micro managing of every breathing second in that office. At times looking at me and saying, hmm thought I was an adult here. The spankings came in never ending waves! Me holding my tongue because I really needed the job (like most).

The cussing and childish behavior from management was never ending, seemingly holding the market on how to treat employees in a demeaning manner. Screaming across the office, you just duck as they flew over and when they walked in the room, you as well as all the other employees seemed to duck, eyes straight to the computer screen or down to paper, trying to not make eye contact, as you didn’t want to be the next recipient of whatever they wanted to throw.

For employers: Did you know that you can yell without raising your voice? It’s all in your approach. You may be an angry bird, but where does that anger come from? Did that employee really do something so terrible, or are you just frustrated with an out some that you simply don’t like?

Instead of approaching an employee with “How many times do I have to tell you!? How about a simple question like “why”? Wouldn’t it be better to give an employee a chance for an explanation (maybe they hadn’t done the dastardly deed!) Without giving them an opportunity to explain, all your doing is adding to an already tense situation without giving them a voice. Of course if you have an Angry Bird Hitler syndrome, all your really wanting to hear is your voice, so it doesn’t matter what a reasonable person would think. Just maybe all the frustration and anger that you portray in your own voice will result in a viable employee leaving or even worse, staying and being miserable and adopting the Angry Bird Syndrome.

Questions for the Angry Bird Employer

Have you notices that conversations stop when you walk into the room?

Have you noticed a lack of smiles and giggles? (Oh that’s right, employees are here to be productive, not happy!) Heaven forbid that they have the multi-tasking ability of typing and smiling at the same time

Do you watch employees arrive, seemingly tired, everything in black and white like the first few frames of Joe vs. the Volcano (great movie)

Can you see employees waiting by the time clock waiting to punch speaking in low voices (usually about the interview they have at lunch)

All I’m saying is maybe it’s time to look at yourself, instead of placing blame on others. You hired them, there must have been some attribute for them to be there. Maybe you don’t care about employee retention, of course that is saying you don’t care about the money spent on training these people. And of course if you don’t care about the money, then why are you in business?

As for me…I don’t like to duck and avalanches are not my friend….I’m no longer there…

Here’s the story:  my parents bought the original modular home- a trailer house- and the sales person said “no problem, we can deliver it to your site!”  Dad insisted there might be a problem since the ‘site’ was in a scenic valley, down a country road with many curves, and the house was the largest made at that time.

As these stories often go, the sales person neglected to schedule a site visit, one corner was particularly treacherous, and the delivery crew was left with a problem.  They had a long rectangle wedged between a rock and a brick building…for eight hours.  My future husband was the lead crew person that day and when I met him, in the dark, with rain falling and a temp just over 32*, he was smiling and carrying on, keeping everyone’s spirits up, including the people who were impatiently waiting to get around the corner and home to their dinner.

The upside of this story is that I saw this man in a terrible situation and knew his spirit was exactly what I wanted in a spouse.  The downside is that relations between the sales and service departments never improved.  Sales ‘forgot’ to schedule site visits, service ‘forgot’ to appreciate the effort it took to sell a product and tension ruled the business which eventually failed.

That story happened several presidents ago, but today, as I coached a team, I was reminded of it once again.  The team told me “Salespeople are jerks.”   “Technicians are grumps.” (Although they used  different words…)  As a result of these sentiments, the boss is in a tither because her idyllic workplace would have laughter, not yelling which is the current reality.  There are also a lot of excuses not to hit company goals.

Here are three pieces of advice I gave her before we set up a long term plan for team building, bottom up goal setting and individual growth: 

1. Without sales, there is no work for a technician to accomplish.  Sales people deserve good pay, they deserve a bit of indulgence for promises made during the sale and if I ruled the world, they’d be given a pat on the back about ten times a day.  Appreciation and applause will take your company past today’s bottom line and into rocketing sales.  Salespeople also need to go on a couple of service calls and see what happens to a customer’s face when things don’t go as promised.  It is not easy playing cleanup and the more communication provided by the sales team the better chance you have of hitting customer expectations.

2.  Without after the sale service, technical, mechanical or verbal, there is no referral.  Your technicians deserve a voice in the delivery promises and while they generally do not require too much praise, they need a bit of trust and freedom.   Let them know what they can ‘give away’ how they can profit from finding your next customer, and make sure they clearly understand what the customer is expecting.  They do not want to let them down, and they surely don’t want to be the ones to break the news that the salesperson over-promised.  Service can, however, save the face of the company in that unfortunate situation and they should know how to do it with grace.

3.  Your departments must work as a team.  Your sales staff and your service staff should do some job sharing, they should each have a stake in the sale and they should fully understand what it takes to sell the product and what it takes to service it.  The more empathy you can establish between the two departments, the more positive results you will see.  Frequent team building events are a must, and team challenges, where both departments contribute and compete together, are worth the effort.

When I was in the car business the sales manager, or other representative, met every potential customer and they were part of every new car delivery.  It set the tone for service work by building rapport, it also ensured any sales promises were clearly defined.  Customer satisfaction sky rocketed, and so did our referral business.   It was worth the effort for both sides to collaborate on the sale, and you will find the same in your business.

Karen Grosz has managed a sales field that generated 50 million in annual sales and now helps teams reach their goals.  Contact Karen at karen@canvascreekteams.com

1. Merge your business and professional life, but find an oasis where business never enters daily.
2. Build a business that navigates your “Passion to Pain.” Be able to describe in one sentence what pain your business solves and who has the money to solve that pain.
3. Build a method to systematically stay in touch with your clients, prospects, influencers and connectors on a weekly basis.
4. Each day, pick one critical success factor that you must get done to move your business forward.
5. Filter constant inbound Information like email, voice mails and social media alerts to avoid interruption.
6. Practice 80/20: Cut one non-profitable thing out of your business today.
7. Find the leverage points in your company that will allow you to be even more profitable.
8. Choose one company process to rebuild for its greatest impact.
9. Change one work habit.
10. Identify your mentor.
11. Practice the rapid release: Let go of the prospects that have said maybe. Put them back in the general marketing funnel.
12. Survey your customers and prospects to find out their pain.
13. Be slow to hire and quick to fire.
14. When hiring, ask their references for another reference.
15. When hiring, always ask for specific examples that demonstrate a skill.
16. Use the “cringe factor.” Fire someone today that is a liability to your company.
17. Keep all your company resources available and variable.
18. Let go of the myth that the customer is always right. They aren’t (but neither are you). Just listen.
19. Define what great customer service means to your organization and its economic value.
20. Set customer expectations by declaring a customer service manifesto.
21. Get customer feedback from every source at many stages of the customer service experience including social media.
22. Set specific social media goals for your company and measure its return.
23. Get good at one social media tool.
24. It’s cash flow stupid! Remember business is about cash flow not making a profit.
25. Be able to explain every number on your financial statements.

Source: www.score.org

Published Mar. 20, 2012

Barry Moltz of BarryMoltz.com

“I loved making a decision by myself!” is the first thing I heard when Susan stepped away from the completed canvas.   The second thing I heard was from Todd; a loud, unmistakable, “ugh.”  Todd rolled his eyes and then smiled because it was just ‘so Susan.’  Apparently, she had to ask everyone’s opinion before she could settle down and get some work done, get dressed for a party, or decide what to order for supplies.  Todd, on the other hand, didn’t need opinions; he just wanted to get some work done and often went his own way and avoided Susan with her endless neediness.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?   There is an art to collaboration and few people are artists, which is why Canvas Creek Team Building actually uses art for their premier event.  When people step to the canvas, 95% of them have no interest in painting, no idea what they are going to do, and no reason to become engaged in the process other than the directive “you will be there at 9am” from their boss.  They come with reluctance, much like Todd when entering a conversation with Susan.

It’s what happens in the next few minutes that is important.  After beginning the task, participants act in a completely singular fashion until they realize, often with baffling surprise that others could help them complete the task.  They wrestle with this idea for a while then they begin to work together, leaning on each other, supporting each other and finally presenting a completed piece of art they are truly proud of.

This is exactly what is needed in the development of an energy frontier: the act of recognizing others are available with expertise, complimentary abilities and an eye on collaboration.  Collaboration is not the act of indecision or ram rodding an idea, it is the display of ideas, the collective wisdom of those gathered together and the delightful moment when everything comes together for a win that each person has a stake in and can be proud of.  So, how can collaboration be accomplished?

1. Look at the possibilities-what could be accomplished if you had a bigger team, more players or a different skill set.  

2. Know what you do, and what you offer.

3. Listen to what others do, what they offer.

4. Give up ‘ownership’.  When collaborating, it does not matter who came up with the idea or who will get the credit.  You must know that when everyone participating in the process wins, you also win.  There are few things in this world that are so specific that only you can do them.  Embrace that.  Help others and they will help you.

5. Move; get out of the way.  Collaboration moves fast and it gets things done.  Don’t stand in the way with “it’s not how we do things” or “oh gosh, I don’t know.” Jump in and see what can happen and trust the collective knowledge…or don’t play the game.

6. Appreciate others.  Share applause.  Know that together you are accomplishing what you could not have done alone, whether a multi- billion dollar company or a start -up, say “Thank you for your help,” and mean it.  You are collaborating and it feels good.

If you and the people you are collaborating with would like a dose of creative juices (a jump start to your collective success), try jumping into Canvas Creek.  Like a splash of cold water it will refresh you, energize you and teach you the art of collaboration.

As an energy marketer with limited resources and time, it’s tempting to lessen the priority placed on customer relations.  Eric McKirdy will tell you otherwise.

Once you’ve met the brand ambassador for Ask.com, you suddenly get a better idea of how to treat people as an energy marketer. You understand even more how to value customer relations, how to make them feel important and special.

Because, during these difficult times, refocusing your efforts to promote and protect your brand could help to extending your longevity as an energy marketer.

As a recently named brand ambassador for Ask.com, Eric McKirdy says companies can’t afford to let go of intensely personal customer service.

Correct me if I’m wrong. But as far as search engines go, I don’t see anything like that from the Big G.

Sure, Google is huge. It encompasses a Texas-sized portion of the Internet, giving you every opportunity to find what your friends had for breakfast in 1992.

But as Eric will tell you, bigger isn’t necessarily better.  Sure, much like other top-tier search engines, Ask.com uses algorithms and all the usual search mumbo jumbo to find your answers. And if that’s not enough, it relies on an army of qualified experts to help find the answer you need.

But Eric is intent on taking the customer service to even deeper, more personal level.

“Everyone who takes the time to write deserves to be made to feel like an insider by the time they’re done,” he says.

Take this excerpt from an impassioned comment by an Ask.com user, unhappy about not finding the traditional Jeeves icon, forever tied to the company formerly known as Ask Jeeves:

How dare you, how DARE you remove the Jeeves motif from the site! No words can express the acid and venom I feel for this decision. EVER HEAR THE PHRASE IF IT AINT BROKE, DON’T FIX IT?!?    The parties who changed this Jeeves motif out of the site, I feel bad for them. Your eternal souls are in dire jeopardy. I’ve never seen such a travesty in all history. The Geneva Convention is calling.    IMMEDIATELY bring lovely Jeeves back on the site. IMMEDIATELY.

And here is Eric’s response (which I found to be brilliant):

Dear Burt,

Our customer support team forwarded your message to me, and as we are all slightly concerned about your blood pressure, I thought I’d better interrupt my dinner and answer right away. I’ll come right to the point, Burt: Jeeves is alive! He’s alive, and he is just waiting for you to pay him a visit.

Yes, although he was removed from active duty many years ago, there are still a couple of ways you can find him. First, on our homepage (www.ask.com), you can click “Themes” in the upper right corner and select the Jeeves theme, which will put our favorite butler right back where you and I know he should be. Second, you can visit him in London without leaving your living room by going to http://uk.ask.com. Either way, Jeeves is, I’m sure, eager to see you again.

If I can be of any further assistance, I do hope you’ll let me know.

Best regards,

Eric

Ask.com Brand Ambassador

When you break apart Eric’s response, notice how it accomplishes some key objectives.

1.     “Thought I better interrupt my dinner and answer right away.” The customer immediately knows how important they are.

2.     It’s personal and funny.

3.     Most of all, his response emphasizes the unique selling positions of Ask.com

As an energy marketer with limited resources and time, it’s tempting to lessen the priority placed on customer relations. But as more than 100 million unique visitors using Ask.com every month will tell you, emphasizing customer service won’t necessarily deplete your resources and will help you thrive into the future.

And one more thing about Burt, the Ask.Com customer, incensed about the loss of his beloved Jeeves.

He just wrote back. He opened up about himself, much happier than before and closed with this statement.

“In all seriousness, I hope you and your site well, and will use it more

often. But if you bring Jeeves back to his rightful throne of glory, I

think you will be bringing more “luck” and fortune to your site Toodles!

Winning one customer at a time. If “Burt” means that much to a multi-gazillion dollar company, how much do your customers mean to you?

“Are we there yet?”
“Where are we going?”
“I need to go to the bathroom.”

If you think your children or spouse are the ones speaking, good for you, you can stop reading. If you have recently heard those things from your team…hang on… you are a wandering leader and your team probably needs you to hear the following 5 things:
stop for a moment, get focused, tell them where you are headed, don’t change directions every other day and celebrate arrivals.

When you are the leader your team needs certain things from you. They need vision. They need direction. They need confirmation. They need celebration. Then they need you to shampoo, rinse and repeat the process. It does not matter if you are leading rough necks, lawyers or burger flippers, people need and respond to good leadership, they begin to feel woozy and jump ship if the leader simply wanders around and teams take over and do it their way if the leader is a hand wringer. So, let’s talk about those 5 things briefly and if you would like more in-depth info contact me; Canvas Creek is here to help.

1.Stop for a moment.  It is important to take a deep breath, look around and evaluate exactly who you are as a leader and as a company. What can you do? What can’t you do? Who is working with you and what are you going to accomplish? Are you a team, or do you need to become one?

2. Get focused. Once you know what you can and can’t do, who is with you and what you need, you need clear and specific goals. And as a matter of fact, don’t just set them, use the Canvas Creek 5 step goal setting method and develop those goals until they are clearly in focus and truly yours. The last thing you want is to lose sight of them and you won’t if you take the right steps.

3. Tell your team where you are headed. I believe in bottom up goal setting, but in order for it to be effective your team needs to know your focus. Bring them into the process, and then use your focus to remind them again and again of where you are going- together. If they feel like they are in the backseat, unable to see out a window they are not going to be comfortable with the ride.

4. Don’t change directions.  Wandering leaders like this idea, then they like the next idea. They have no idea what they should do today, because they have no idea if what they did yesterday worked. Stick to the course and keep moving forward. This does not mean remain stuck in a rut, just know before you take a corner that it is in your best interest to turn. What is your strategic plan and why?

5. Celebrate arrivals- there are a lot of arrivals on the way to success and a good leader points each of them out to the team, the press, their customers. They know who contributed to the success, they know how to get to the next arrival point and they know saying “good job” is more effective than saying “get to work.”

There you have it. 5 steps to being a forward moving leader, not a wandering leader. Canvas Creek will help you and your team move through each of these stages with effective team building and reinforcement activities

canvascreekteambuilding.com

Professional writers are here to speak up for words, often undervalued, kicked to the curb by executives and often scorned in favor of eloquently designed logos and graphics.

“We’ll handle the writing ourselves,” you’ll say, because you think it can be done better and save money in the process.

Better think again.

Words matter, and if not done by a professional, could end up costing your company even more money.

Nothing against a well-designed graphic that accurately represents your energy company. But don’t overlook the importance of words and why you should trust a writing professional.

The top 8 reasons to leave your copywriting in the hands of the experts:

1. Professional writers know Google: Getting your message to the right audience means knowing how to get search engines to notice you. It’s one thing to read one or two website articles on SEO and it’s another to be trained on how to blend your message with the right words needed to make you stand out on Google.

2. They know how to get the right tone for your company. If they’ve done their homework, the payoff will come in your copy, where every word reflects who you are.

3. They get the big picture. They know that the words in a FAQ are just as important as a brochure or website for your energy company.

4. They offer a different perspective. Professional writers are on the outside, looking in. They notice things and we’re not afraid to question when necessary.

5. Professional writers are under oath to spell words correctly. With many words, a simple typo or omission of one letter changes a common word to something unsavory.

6. Professional writers know how to edit themselves.

7. And just to make sure, most agencies have a multi-tier editing process to catch what could be embarrassing mistakes.

8. And most of all, they always remember that you are the boss, the last word on what are the best words for your energy marketing message.

In just 60-seconds, we’ll show you how to identify and attract the best people to your small business.

0:60 Define the Duties…

To find promising employees, you must first determine what you want them to do. Carefully consider all direct and associated responsibilities and incorporate them into a written job description. Be careful with general titles such as typist or sales clerk, as they have different meanings to different people.

0:49 …and What it Takes to do Them

Fulfilling these responsibilities will require some level of skill and experience, even if it is an entry-level position. Be reasonable about your expectations. Setting the bar too high may limit your available talent pool; setting it too low risks a flood of applications from those unqualified for the job.

0:37 Make it Worth their While

Likewise, you don’t want to be overly generous or restrictive about compensation. State and local chambers of commerce, employment bureaus and professional associations can help you determine appropriate wages and benefits. Scanning descriptions of comparable jobs in the classified ads and other employment publications will also provide clues about prevailing wage rates.

0:30 Spread the Word

How you advertise your job opening depends on who you want to attract. Some positions are as easy to promote as posting a “help wanted” sign in your store window or placing an ad in your local newspaper. For jobs requiring more specialized skills, consider targeted channels such as trade magazines, on-line job banks and employment agencies (though these may require a fee). And don’t overlook sources such as friends, neighbors, suppliers customers and present employees.

0:25 Talk it Over

Because you have clearly defined the role and requirements, you should have little difficulty identifying candidates for interviews. Make sure you schedule them when you have ample time to review the resume, prepare your questions and give the candidate your undivided attention. After the interview, jot down any impressions or key points while they’re still fresh in your mind. This will be a valuable reference when it’s time to make a decision.

0:12 Follow-up on Interviews

You want to believe your candidates are being honest, but never assume. Contact references to make sure you’re getting the facts or to clear up any uncertainties. Professional background checks are a wise investment for highly sensitive positions, or those that involve handling substantial amounts of money and valuables.

0:03 You’ve Found Them; Now Keep Them

Now that you’ve hired ideal employees, make sure they stay with you by providing training and professional development opportunities. The small business experts at SCORE can help you craft human resource policies and incentive plans that will ensure your company remains the small business employer of choice.

Brought to you by SCORE, America’s small business mentors, at www.score.org.

Be sure to connect with the local Billings Montana SCORE Chapter for face to face or online business mentoring.

Two of the greatest challenges for any business are hiring the right people and keeping them. Employees, and more importantly their contributions, are a business’ most important assets. A vibrant economy and low unemployment makes the competition for top performers an imposing challenge. So how do you go about finding, selecting and retaining the best people?

# 1 – Decide What You Want

Before beginning your hiring efforts, know what you want. One way to list the skills, experience, and other attributes you are looking for is in categories of:

• Must Have - skills you do not have the time, money or desire to teach but which are absolutely necessary to the job.
• Should Have - sets of skills in which the candidate should have some degree of knowledge or skill
• Nice to Have - what you’d love to have but can live without

# 2 – Search in the Right Places

Basically, the harder it is for you to find the skills you need, the wider the net you must cast. You may choose from local media, the District’s employment center, and using the Internet. View any employment ad as a marketing tool for your company, making it as appealing as possible. Put a headline on your ad that describes the absolutely best benefit you can offer. Be sure to add your must-have list of skills, experience, and education. To get qualified people without having to weed through a pile of applications, be specific about what you say and very selective about where you place the ad.

Don’t underestimate the value of networking. You may choose to ask your best employees if they know someone who would fit into your organization and might be interested in joining or use your network in the community to find employees.

# 3 – Conduct a Thorough Interview

Give the applicant a complete and accurate picture of your business. In today’s tight job market, you have to sell both yourself and your company. Through your questions, cover the job’s must-haves, should-haves, and nice-to-haves and be sure to obtain a clear picture of where the candidate is in relation to these attributes. Remember, good questions lead to good answers – the more you learn about each applicant’s experience and skills, the better prepared you are to make your decision. If you find yourself talking as much or more than the candidate, stop – you only learn about the candidate when you are listening. Don’t be afraid to press a candidate for more information – it is then that you may learn important information.

# 4 – Hire the Right Person

Some tips for choosing who to hire are:

• Go with your gut !
• Accomplishments are what really matter.
• Attitude counts.
• Be objective.

The three critical elements in hiring the right people for the job are skills match, company fit, and job match. Be objective in determining which candidates have the best overall fit.

# 5 – Hang on to Good Employees

Retention of employees is as important as the initial hire. An individual’s suitability to a particular job is the single most important factor in job performance and retention. Be sure to provide people jobs that fit with their personality and then take the time for a proper orientation. Listen to them and continue to provide training and skills development opportunities. Set clear expectations, show concern for employees, and treat them fairly.

Your business’ reputation is a key element in retaining employees and attracting new ones. Make sure that you know how your business is perceived in the community and do whatever it takes to make that perception a positive one.

*One final caveat:  In terms of wages, try to be a leader in your market – think about the cost of paying a little more versus the cost of turnover (roughly 25% of salary and benefits).

Source:  www.score.org

Connect with the local SCORE Chapter in Billings, Montana.

Whether you are already in business, or just thinking about it; one of your key resources should SCORE.org

But what is the SCORE Association?

SCORE, America’s premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs and small businesses, is a nonprofit association with 354 SCORE offices across the country offering free business mentoring and low-cost workshops. For 47 years, SCORE’s more than 13,000 working and retired business professionals have volunteered to support the success of small business nationwide. SCORE business mentoring is free and confidential. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

What kind of mentoring does SCORE provide?

SCORE’s experienced business mentors provide general business advice on every aspect of business planning, start-up, management and growth. SCORE provides both in-person and online mentoring to entrepreneurs just getting started or in need of a seasoned pro as a sounding board for their existing businesses.

Does SCORE offer services other than business mentoring?

Yes. SCORE chapters provide business workshops and seminars on topics customized to the needs of the local business community. In all communities, SCORE offices advocate the need for business planning and offer an introduction to the fundamentals of a business plan. Workshop and seminar fees generally range from $20 to $75, depending on the type of materials included and program length.  For established businesses, SCORE offers in-depth training on topics such as customer service, hiring practices, using the Internet for business, marketing, home-based business operations and many other issues.

What qualifies SCORE volunteers to give business advice?

The key qualification SCORE mentors bring is real-world business experience. They are working and retired business owners, executives and managers who have been through the same challenges and decisions that many entrepreneurs are facing today. In addition, SCORE business mentors offer valuable expertise in specific industries. All SCORE volunteers receive specialized training offered by the association.

Are business secrets safe with SCORE?

Yes. All SCORE mentors honor the client’s right to proprietary and confidential information. All discussions and documents remain confidential. Each year, SCORE mentors reaffirm their commitment to protecting the privacy of client information by signing the association’s code of ethics.

What is the SCORE Small Business Web Site?

Since 1997, SCORE has offered a leading online business resource for entrepreneurs: www.score.org.

This site is a comprehensive small business resource, including Ask SCORE─SCORE’s 24/7 email mentoring service.  Entrepreneurs can use Ask SCORE to search a database of more than 1,200 SCORE online counselors with a combined knowledge of more than 600 business backgrounds. SCORE’s Web site also offers “how-to” guides, small business quizzes and a business toolbox with information and practical solutions for overcoming business obstacles.

How can I contact SCORE for business assistance?

1. Call 1-800/634-0245 and ask for the phone number of your nearest SCORE office.

2. Visit www.score.org to search for a mentor by specialty that can provide online advice.

3. Visit www.score.org and click “Find Your Local Chapter” to enter your ZIP code in the search field for the nearest SCORE offices.

4. Email contact.score@score.org with your location or ZIP code, and SCORE will reply with local contact information.

5.  Or connect with the Billings Montana chapter via their Synergy Station business directory listing.

That represents a major shift from what’s been happening. In 2011, for example, about 22 percent of business owners surveyed reported cutting jobs, while only 13 percent said they had added jobs, full-time, part-time or temporary.

When they do hire, small businesses have a strong desire to get the best people possible in the most cost-effective fashion. When asked what type of workers they’d hire if they could, 72 percent said they’d prefer to add temps, independent contractors or part-time workers, while only 26 percent said they’d bring on full-time employees.

If hiring does pick up, finding qualified employees could become a bigger issue. Even now, 53 percent of small businesses say they have trouble finding employees who fit their needs. While that’s down from 65 percent in 2005, it could become a bigger problem in the months ahead as competition for talented employees gains steam.

When you do hire, either for new or existing positions, it’s more important than ever to make the right choice. Hiring a bad employee can end up costing your business a bundle. Not only is it difficult and expensive to fire and replace an employee, it means that others have to pick up the slack along the way.

The key to cost control is to hire people who are the best overall “fit” for your business. Most companies hire based on skill, but end up firing for bad fit. That’s the wrong way to approach it. Start by creating a detailed “definition” of the job. Most employers write job descriptions that are just laundry lists of tasks and duties. A true job definition includes detailed information such as:

• What it takes to be successful in this particular job.
• How success will be defined and how it will be measured.
• Goals for the position, including different time frames.
• How the position is linked to other parts of the business.

Also realize that the traditional job interview is a poor predictor of future employee success. That’s why many employers are moving to performance-based interviews that use a standard list of questions and may involve skill or psychological testing. The goal is to get at the things that don’t usually come out in an interview, such as how someone will approach their work, how they cope with high demands and what types of activities motivate them.

Compensation – another key cost component – should include financial and non-financial incentives. Here are some to consider:

• Pay-for Performance: Set clear and reasonable goals that promise to put more cash in an employee’s pocket for reaching them.
• Flexible Schedules: Many employees today prefer flexible schedules and more time off over higher pay. Some small companies even offer every second Friday off as an incentive for everyone to work harder on the other days. Flexibility also translates into greater loyalty, which saves money on turnover.
• Alternative Rewards: These include small, informal spot bonuses for a job well done, gift certificates, luncheons, golf outings and parties or happy hours to celebrate work-related successes.

Avoid the Independent Contractor Trap

As business owners think about hiring, however, there’s a strong desire to keep costs down. Many have been optimistic about hiring before, only to scrap those plans when the economy failed to improve. When they do hire, small businesses have a strong desire to get the best people possible in the most cost-effective fashion.

One of the biggest money-saving moves you can make is to avoid the legal pitfalls of hiring independent contractors. Many business owners get burned each year thinking they’ll save money by paying people as 1099-based independent contractors when both the state and the IRS consider them employees.

The risks are high. Not only can you be slapped with back payroll taxes plus penalties, but if a worker is injured and files a workers’ comp claim, you could be forced to pay out of your own pocket, plus fines.

Copyright © 2000-2012 BizBest® Media Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Daniel Kehrer is Founder of BizBest (www.bizbest.com), an independent information service for small business and startups. © 2012 BizBest Media

Published February 10, 2012, www.score.org – “How To Articles”

Connect with the Billings Montana Chapter of SCORE for either local, face to face business mentoring or online counseling.            

]]> http://synergystation.com/business/score/how-to-keep-hiring-costs-in-check/feed/ 0 http://synergystation.com/business/youll-always-miss-100-of-the-shots-you-dont-take-wayne-gretzky/ http://synergystation.com/business/youll-always-miss-100-of-the-shots-you-dont-take-wayne-gretzky/#comments Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:44:25 +0000 Laura McRae http://synergystation.com/?p=4682 With the tsunami of oil development in the Bakken oil field, many Montanans and North Dakotans are taking their shot at entrepreneurship.  While it’s true that there are over 18,000 unfilled, well paying positions in the oil patch; opportunities abound for individuals to launch their own businesses, and supply the ever increasing marketplace needs being fueled by the energy wave from Billings to Bismarck to the Bakken.

But where do you start?  How do you evaluate the quality of your business idea?  Who’s there to help you get through the start up bumps and bruises?  How do you cash flow your business? How do I obtain financing?  Where do I find the most profitable customers?

These are just a few of the many questions existing and aspiring entrepreneurs ask.  What complicates the issue are the unique obstacles and challenges business owners face in the Bakken.

Fortunately, there exists an organization to not only help you “take the shot”, but to help you SCORE !

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.   They have been doing this for nearly fifty years.  Because their work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and thanks to a network of 13,000+ volunteers, SCORE is able to deliver their services at no charge or at very low cost.

They can provide:

• Volunteer mentors who share their expertise across 62 industries.
• Free, confidential business counseling in person or via online.
• Free business tools, templates, and tips – online and on DEMAND
• Inexpensive or free business workshops locally or online webinars (24/7)

Start with SCORE.org

Recently I was reminded of a quote attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci:  “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

When it comes to marketing, however, a startling number of companies continue to live by the code “More is better.”  From the monster truck “Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!” yell to the “But wait, there’s more!” exclamation on an infomercial, companies are cramming every product, benefit, testimonial and color ever associated with them is crammed into a :30 spot, a single print ad or webpage.  The result is visual chaos and mental fatigue.

Compare those ads (you know you’ve seen them…and maybe even created a few) with the Volkswagen ads of the 1960′s, widely regarded as some of the most compelling–and unforgettable–ever created. Created by DDB, they were simple in the extreme, usually incorporating a single photo and a message you couldn’t help but read. Headlines like “Live below your means,” “It makes your house look bigger” and “Think small.” One of the most brilliant was titled “Lemon”, and then went on to underscore the company’s commitment to detail by using a single “blemished” strip on the glove compartment as an example.

The simplicity of the VW ads did something that over-produced, overwrought spots will never do:  engage the audience by making the communication personal. And, 50 years after they were first created, they are still just as intriguing.

When you evaluate your own marketing, you need to ask yourself whether or not the “more” is getting in the way of the story you’re trying to tell. Are the graphics on your print ad so overwrought that the benefit of your product or service is completely missed by the reader? Is your site loaded with gimmicks, but lacking in depth? If you’re seeing more flash than feature, more chaos than communication, it’s time to simplify.  Here’s how:

1. Center on your audience. The way that you will approach consumers is likely to differ greatly from how you will target trade professionals. Trying to capture the attention of both will result in an overwhelming-and unsuccessful-mishmash of information and ideas.
2. Choose a single message. Decide what specific message you want to share in an ad, then stick to it. It may be helpful to make a list of the products, features or benefits that you want to promote to your target market, then rate them in order of importance based on the current season or market conditions. An ad that has been stuffed with every possible factoid about your business is an ad that will be ignored.
3. Cut, then cut again. When preparing the writing for your ad-whether in print, radio or television-you need to get to the point. A helpful hint is to write everything you’d love the ad to say. Then cut it by half. Then cut it by half again (and again, if needed) until you get to the heart of the matter. This doesn’t mean you can’t use some creativity; it just eliminates the unnecessary information that gets in the way of speaking to your customers.
4. Clear the clutter. Just as the writing can be superfluous, so can graphics be in print copy and sound and/or visuals in audio/video pieces. If your eye doesn’t know where to land, or if you are more focused on the music in the background than the message being shared, start deleting. As Volkswagen proved half a century ago, a single photo and clear writing can serve you better than all of the cool graphics in the world.

I am a firm believer in looking at the positives and moving forward and I would recommend that you do that as well. Don’t waste your time and energy complaining about something that you can’t change anyway.

The new Facebook Timeline for brands is here to stay at least until they decide to do their next big makeover! So lets start by making the most of it, shall we?

I want to take a few minutes and walk you through some of the basics! The change is going to take place March 30, 2012, so start planning now or even convert your page ahead of schedule so you are a bit more prepared.

Now that you’ve converted your page, you need a cover image/photo. You can create a few so that you are able to change them out, just make sure that you stay within FB’s guidelines, which I will outline for you. The size of your cover image/photo should be 851 pixels wide by 315 pixels wide. Note to all you do it yourselfers out there, you can’t take a small photo and stretch it-your picture will look distorted. Spend a few bucks and get a quality image to put on there.

Here is what you CAN DO with your timeline cover:

• Use logos, photos, brand images and any other visual trademarks!
• Use appealing graphics, colors and images.
• Use any text that will inspire or engage your followers

Here is what you CANNOT DO:

• You cannot include any pricing information, coupon or instructions to go to your website and download coupon or pricing etc.
• No contact info, web addresses, email, mailing information or other information included in your Page’s About section.
• No asking people to “Like” or “Share” your page
• Absolutely no call to action

The FB cover is about inspiring and connecting with your fans, no self promotion or hard sales allowed!

There are no more default landing pages. But take advantage of the space of your cover image, you can set unique urls for your apps/tabs now-which I am a big fan of already. Take advantage of your top apps/tabs shown underneath your cover photo. Use your apps for call to actions and engaging your fans.

And apps-these are your tabs, but now they are called apps! You have 4 apps that are typically displayed just beneath your FB cover image! You have up to 14 custom apps on your timeline. And you can create a custom thumbnail for your app as well! Each app can have a distinct url that can be used to drive traffic to a specific app. You can change the order of the apps by clicking on the pencil to the right of each app and then choose the app that you want to trade or change out with.

So lets talk about unique urls and how you can use these. You can’t set a default landing tab anymore, but you can create or purchase a unique url of your choosing to drive traffic to your Facebook app of choice.

Now lets move on to custom thumbnails for your apps! It is really one of the easiest changes that FB has made. Your custom image should be 111 pixels wide x 74 pixels. Click on the arrow to the right of your timeline-just below your cover image. It should have a number displayed indicating the number of apps that you are using. Click on the arrow next to the image of app you want to change, click on edit settings, click on change (for the image) and upload the new image!

I think that my favorite change of all is that my fans can now send me a private message. All followers can now message the brands.

Milestones-You can now set milestones for your business for current or past dates. A great way to highlight key events, new products, announcements, etc. These images should be 843 pixels wide by 403 pixels. To add a milestone, click Milestone in the sharing bar at the top of your page, add a headline, date, location and details, add your photo/image and click save.

Highlighted Posts-Any post can now be a highlighted post and will take up both sides of the page. It isn’t actually highlighted in a traditional sense-it just allows you to bring special attention to a specific post within your timeline!

Pinned Posts-This new feature allows you to pin a post to the top of your page for up to 7 days. Unless it’s something really important that you have to say, I can’t see many people using this, it defeats the purpose of adding new and fresh posts to engage your following!

Like button and interest lists-The like button will now show “Liked” if you’ve liked the page already. There is now a new interest lists that can be viewed by hovering over the “Like/Liked” button. You can even create your own list as well as subscribe to lists the page owner has previously created.

Recap of Image Sizes-lets get the exact sizes for you on the various image sizes for the new Facebook Timeline.

• Cover photo: 851 x 315
• Profile picture: 180 x 180
• Thumbnail image for apps: 111 x 74
• Highlighted & milestone images: 843 x 403
• Images within wall posts display as 404 x 404

Engage your audience-that is still what it’s all about. Don’t panic, don’t give up, just keep working toward engaging your audience and gaining that new customer, client, etc. Remember you are just using Facebook as a platform-it’s rent free, but you don’t own it and Facebook can make any changes that they choose. The point is that you have a rent free platform-take advantage of it and use it to it’s full potential!

Want to live and invest in the Bakken Region? Want to place yourself above the competition? Should I be looking outside the region? Who best represents my interests?

“These are serious questions that you need to ask yourself as an investor new to the region,” Larsen began. “Finding a qualified real estate agent who not only understands the region but goes beyond a single transaction to understand the clients long term investment strategy! One great starting point is to look for a commercial agent with a CCIM designation, CCIM.com. This designation places that realtor in a class of true professionals in commercial real estate. This realtor is proficient in decision analysis, marketing analyais, financial analysis, negotiations and investment analysis. We understand marketing curves, exit strategy and long term investment strategy.”

“So in saying this, the first question to ask yourself, what is my long term investment goals? If you are looking at an area with a 5 to 20 year growth curve, then maybe you should be looking at a balanced market such as Billings. Billings is a diversified market with regional medical, energy, retail and warehouse those areas may be a better long term strategy.”

Good advice for anyone looking to invest in the Bakken Region or in Billings Montana!

Billings has 6 CCIM designated realtors and Larsen is working on his designate. If you would like to discuss Larry’s analysis on the region, give him a cal, 406-672-7884l. There is great opportunity outside the Bakken Region, including the Billings area!

If you employ people who are “millennials” (our youngest working generation), you might want to sit down for this. 

You should let them text.  As a matter of fact, you should let them tweet, Facebook and use their cell phone while at work.  Furthermore, when talking about the work ethic of the younger generation, you might be the problem. 

Are you fuming yet?  Before you hit delete, let me pacify you just a bit. 

It is difficult to work with kids of the “now” generation if you are from Generation X or “boomer” generations; really difficult, in fact. The current generation seems distracted.  They often appear sloppy or arrive late for work and are surprised when we are upset and not simply happy to see them.  But here is the deal; our parents and our employers felt the same way.  Admit it; more than once you heard someone say something along the lines of, “You kids these days! You don’t work like we worked.”  And now, you are saying it!  I know, you didn’t want to turn into your dad, but you did.   Now we have to work around that.

It is the cross to bear of employers that a new generation of employees must be raised.  We don’t like it and we would obviously appreciate it if schools and parents turned out minions who could run a till, answer a phone, drive a truck or just, please, do whatever it is they were hired to do.  And they will, we just have to talk to them in a different way.  It does not work to slam your fist on the table, yell and say, “I am the boss!” Nor does it work to ignore the problem.

Today’s young people want to move quickly, stay connected, make independent decisions, and be appreciated for the smallest act.  It’s kind of our fault as parents; we praised them to the nth degree for stacking a couple of blocks and continued to give them heaps of praise paired with freedom of choice.  They chose what to eat at meal times, their own extracurricular activities and even which parent to spend the holidays with.  Talk about power; they know they have it and they know how to use it. 

Don’t forget though, you have the power too.  You have the power to pay them.  You have the power to challenge them, to reward them and to develop them into an employee that would make your dad proud.  Here are a couple of easy ways to do just that.

1.  Listen.  Kendall McRae of Synergy Station says, “Fifty somethings know what to say, but it’s the kids who know how to get the message out.”  He’s right.  A life of work has made you wise, yet you probably had to ask a kid how to program your smart phone so you could tweet.  What?  You don’t tweet?  You should.  You have things to say that are worth listening to.  So instead of fighting with the people on your staff who want to use too much technology, partner with them and use their skills to get your message out.  Have them set up your Twitter feed; you give the words, they provide the output.  Listen to where they are gathering information and determine if you can use it to expand your business.  They are not only employees, they are buyers too!   Just listen, it’s a new way of doing business and they are glad to show it to you.

2. Reward.   I know, pay should be enough reward, but it simply is not.  Back pats, applause and believe it or not, cheesy certificates of accomplishment go a long way with this generation.  They want to please you, you just have to tell them what to do, when it needs to be done and then get out of the way and let them figure out how to do it.  When the job is done (the truck parked, the customer happy), let them update your Facebook page or send a Tweet noting the accomplishment.  They will not only feel rewarded (yes, for what should just have been done), but they will also help improve your SEO, your customer engagement and your employee satisfaction index.  As the saying goes, “Reward what you want to see repeated,” so choose carefully, but just think how impactful it could be to reward them with something that will build your business too.

3.  Engage.  Today’s generation is used to being stimulated from the first moment their feet hit the floor.  They watch TV, play video games like addicts, converse with people, and probably have relationships with people they have never met who live in completely different countries.  This knowledge and level of cerebral activity means they want you to ask their opinion, engage them in conversation and allow them to be part of the solution.  “Because I said so,” or “Because I am the boss and I can fire your happy ass,” is not going to fly.  “How would you do this?” on the other hand, will. 

In addition, they do not want to stand around bored, so again, let them use the technology they seem to require as much as air to fully understand to build your brand.  And when the job is done, let the job be done.   “Millenials” want to leave when there is nothing to do, so, either have a demanding job with a clear description that keeps them busy, or let them leave when they have completed the expected task.  The need for clearly defined roles and expectations cannot be overstated.   

4. Create. Our parent’s generation designed and refined the coffee break, much to the chagrin of their predecessors.  It’s probably time to design the social media break for our youngest employees.  We can be brave enough to create space for their wants; we just have to set parameters we can both live with.  Basically: do your work, but take the break you enjoy.  You deserve it.  Let them create ideas, products, and systems that work for them.  You can guide the discussion, but giving them rein is not a bad idea.  They are truly a remarkable generation.

5.  Mentor.  Many in the “millennial” generation are lonely; they are from latch key situations, broken homes, and often spent hours alone as a child. They will commit to working hard for you, they will be loyal to you and your brand and your identity, as long as you are forthright and committed to them.  They can smell BS from a mile away as YouTube and Facebook have made them wise beyond their years.  That means you have to be honest; you have to walk the talk like you have never had to walk the talk before.  You have to do what you say, say what you mean and be a person invested in their growth.  Better yet, let them mentor you too.  Nothing cements a relationship like mutual learning and respect. 

Yes, it’s a new generation, but like all generations it challenges the ones before to adapt and change.  We did it, our parents did it and their parents before them did it too.  It’s okay.  We just have to breathe deep, and let them tweet about us… just as soon as they get their work done.

Following these 4 simple steps to add YouTube videos to your marketing efforts can make a big difference in your bottom line.

Do you ever think that what you’re doing is boring?  That day after day you’re doing the same thing, over and over?  Or that the job you thought might be so interesting when you were in school isn’t that much different than anyone else’s?

Well, with all due respect, you’re wrong.  At least, from another person’s perspective.  What you do, how you do it, what you think about it, what you’ve learned from it—these are all things that other people wonder about.  Whether your company drills for oil, welds pipe, mines coal, builds power plants or anything else, there are a lot of folks (and potential customers) out there who want to know more about it.

That’s where video can play a huge part in your marketing efforts.  Through them, you can tell your story, share your insights and promote what sets you apart from other companies within the energy development industry and its many related fields.

According to YouTube marketing expert Greg Jarboe, YouTube.com gets 800 million unique visitors a month worldwide.   Many of those viewers are watching content produced by amateurs on topics ranging from gaming hints and how to use various online tools to tax information, investing in the stock market or why you should attend specific conferences or tradeshows.

From a marketing perspective, these videos don’t just entertain or share information; they provide insight into the person featured and underscore why someone might want to do business with them.   So what steps do you need to take to use YouTube to market your energy-related company?

1. Start with what you’ve got.  You don’t need a film crew or a thousand dollar camera.  If you have an iPhone and a laptop, you have the tools you need to begin.  Basic video editing software like iMovie can help you create, edit and title your videos.
2. Decide what you want to say.  To have content watched and shared, it needs to inform, educate or entertain.  Want to use your video as an HR tool?  Tell (and show) why they’d want to work for you.  Offering a new service?  Talk about it—and make sure to underscore WHY it makes a difference to your target customers.
3. Optimize your video when you post it.  YouTube has free tools you can use to search for keywords that will help your video be found.  Putting those keywords in your title, description and tags will boost optimization.   Here’s a video of Jarboe talking about how to do just that.
4. Share it.  Get it out through your website, blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts and pretty much any other way you can think of.  The more eyes you get on it, the more changes you have to share your message.

Following these 4 simple steps to add YouTube videos to your marketing efforts can make a big difference in your bottom line.  So…are you ready for your close up?

Check out “4 Tips to Improve Your Business Videos” from the team at Billings, Montana-based Align Video.

It’s Karen’s passion for her process and her dedication to your group that turns them into a highly functioning, completely cohesive team; tapping into new levels of productivity. Canvas Creeks’ team building process boost morale, reduces complaining, improves communication, increase trust and helps form any group; no matter how new or how stressed, into a team that works.

One of the techniques used at Canvas Creek is called collaborative painting. While it may sound a bit phoofy; it a unique team building experience packed full of twists and turns taking the participants through a process; evolving them into a team. It’s an amazingly powerful team building concept. Teams form fast. They form with power and pride; and if you are in the room when the group evolves from individuals to a team, you will never forget the feeling…. and neither will they.

Additionally, Canvas Creek Team Building is a full service coaching company. Their goal is to fully understand your staff challenges and successes and design a team building program (20 minutes to a full day) that will drive productivity, collaboration and team cohesion. Canvas Creek uses certified coaches, guarantees their premier event and offers both on site and off site events. These facts mean you can be confident in a positive ROI when you step into the creek.

There are at least four times you should consider working with Canvas Creek Team Building:

1. When your company is changing direction, leadership, or systems. You need your team to adapt quickly, get on the same page and move to productivity quickly. In order to accomplish that, they need to be challenged and rewarded in a team building setting.

2. When you are ready for strategic direction. Canvas Creek uses a unique approach to goal setting. First they bond the team, and then they ask them what they can do- together. This approach of bottom up goal setting, and result oriented plans gets you and your company what you want – a productive effort.

3. When you have just had a big win. Celebration is an excellent time to remind the team they did it together and they can’t simply stay the course. The next challenge is waiting…and they can go after it- together.

4. When complacency is the rule of the day. In today’s business environment there is no time to waste and an effective team building event will give your team the opportunity to adjust the sails and set a new course to success.

Canvas Creek Team Building is boutique enough to listen to your needs, to engage in the process of developing your team, and your business. They are also flexible enough to offer several approaches to team building, there is no one way to build a team, so by listening to your unique situation and goals Canvas Creek will develop a program that meets your needs. If your needs include their collaborative painting experience, know that it is so effective they actually guarantee it!

To learn more about Canvas Creek Team Building visit them @ their Synergy Station Directory or the company website.

Contact Canvas Creek Team Building today & have a stronger team tomorrow!

That is a great problem to have!  There are lots of options and just as many people trying to help you spend it.  I am a proponent of diversity (not only in asset but in location); and subscribe to the adage: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”.  One basket that you always want to look at and to be a part of any investment strategy is Real Estate. 

According to a Professor G. William Domhoff, UC Santa Cruz in his publication, Wealth, Income, and Power 2005 revised in 2012, in the Wealth Distribution by Asset Type in 2007, 77% of the non-home real estate is owned by 10% of the people.  People with money invest heavily in real estate.  

The US economy since 2007 has taken a real pounding.  Any time this happens, pockets of opportunity develop.  In the case of real estate, values have adjusted dramatically downward in most parts of the country.  In Williston and the Bakken region, values have gone up significant.  It is said that with real estate, you make your money on the “buy.”  In other words, buying at a good price going in gives you your best chance of making a good investment.  Your best chance of making a good “buy” is not where values are going up, but where values have adjusted down.

Look 283 miles south west to Billings, Montana, referred to as “Montana’s  Trailhead” and as the “Magic City.”  At 104,000 people, it is the largest city in Montana.  Billings  has a diverse economic base including agriculture, energy, transportation,  tourism and recreation.  It is a major  hub for retail and wholesale outlets, education and medical facilities for Montana, the Northern Rockies and the Northern Great Plains.  The city’s primary trade and service area is one of the largest in the U.S., 125 miles serving 250,000 people with a secondary trade area serving over 385,000 people.

Billings has not suffered nearly as much as the rest of Montana or the country from the recession.  Real estate values have adjusted to the market which means there are good deals to choose from.  It is said that once a city hits 100,000 population, 200,000 comes quickly which means Billings is in the “Path of Progress.”   Getting an 8% or 9% rate of return on a quality income producing piece of real estate in Billings is happening right now.  Buying raw land in areas where the city will
grow is well priced and available.  Billings, Montana is a great place to invest your money, be able to come see it working and enjoy the hospitality and the wonders of the city and the area.

Be sure to follow Chuck via his Synergy Station Directory listing or his Diamond Real Estate website.

Change is happening all around us.  Consider the “Bakken Boom” we are all experiencing in the Dakotas and Montana.  There is so much to do.  So much to remember.  So much left undone.  We need the people around us to do their part.  When they don’t, it frustrates us and we have a limited set of options; do it ourselves, yell, yell more, or leave it undone.  It doesn’t matter if you are drilling, driving, cooking, or selling – you need to get through the massive amount of change and get others to do their part to make the change happen. What if you could get people to make the changes you envision with minimal pushback?  What if they looked forward to the change? Sound impossible?  Implausible?

Perhaps not.  People change for two reasons – because they want to or because they have to.

We all know that we need to use the stairs more than the elevator or escalator (things that what we have to do).  We all know we should eat more salads and less hamburgers.  Why don’t we?  There are many reasons.  Instead of trying to identify all of the potential reasons for not changing (and then trying to fix them all) we can do one sure thing.  Engage your creativity and create interest for the people who you need to change – help them move from “have to change” to “want to change”.  Change can come quickly and much easier than you think if you help your people into, through, and past the event with a little fun!

Volkswagen, the people’s car, has a great project to show just how easy it can be to change behavior.  Look at the dramatic numbers showing the change!  Instead of the default option, 66% of the participants made a different/better decision because it was fun.  That’s AWESOME!

Enjoy, this short (two minute) video on changing our behavior.

Best wishes in your challenge to change!

Be sure to connect with Russ via his Dream Big Consulting Synergy Station Directory listing or his website for other content.

POSSIBLE ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS TO KEEP TRACK OF THROUGH THE YEAR…

Items that can really add up and you usually don’t get a tax form in January to remind you about them:

Medical Expenses

Dental Expenses

Contacts, Glasses, Etc

Chiropractor Expenses

Real Estate Taxes Paid

Vehicle Registrations Paid

Snowmobile, 4-wheeler, camper, etc Registrations Paid

Real Estate Purchase Documents

Real Estate Sale Documents

Real Estate Re-finance Documents

Cash Donations Made to Charity – get a receipt!

Check Donations Made to Charity – get a receipt!

Non-cash Donations Made to Charity – get a receipt!

Unreimbursed Employee Expenses  – stuff that you need for job but employer doesn’t pay for (list of examples below)

Scrubs

Fire Retardant Work Shirts

Fire Retardant Work Pants

Steel Toe Work Boots

Non-skid or specially treated sanitized work shoes

Lineman Gloves, Mechanics Gloves, etc

Safety Gear – Harnesses, Hard Hats, Etc

Any Other Special Purpose Work Attire not suitable for “normal attire”

Union Dues

Mechanic Tools

Use of Personal Vehicle – keep a mileage log… does not include commuting to work

Training

Special Licenses

Odds & Ends

Investment Fees Paid

Safe Deposit Box

Legal Fees Paid

Please contact your tax advisor to discuss your specific situation and if it is beneficial for you to keep track of these items.

Knowing that everyone’s life is fraught with a longer “To Do” list than there is time to do it, I’ve developed a quick list of ways to approach tax time this year and the next with a little less fear and anxiety:

1. Get organized.  My recommendation is that you segregate how you spend your money.  Have separate bank and credit card accounts that only are used for business expenses.  This is a great first step in keeping business income and expenses separated and easier to accumulate into tax numbers.
2. Develop a place to accumulate receipts.  This could be an envelope you keep in your truck that you put all your receipts in.  It could also be a plastic container with a tight snap on lid.  If you don’t have your bank and credit card statements mailed to you, print them off the Internet and throw in with the receipts.  It is much easier to get the information together as you go than all at the end of the year.
3. Get help.  Find someone who knows how to put financial information together and hire them.  This could be a bookkeeper, accounting firm or your Aunt Georgia.  This is money well spent because the problems of unfiled or incorrectly filed tax returns can dog you for years.
4. Send the information in every month.  If you wait until the end of the year to get your information together, it will be much harder on you and whoever you have helping you with the bookkeeping and taxes.  A little each month is much better than a lot at the end of the year.  Even quarterly is better than once a year.  Empty that information into a FedEx package and ship it to your helper.

Finally, if you are totally unsure what to do, go to step 3, right now !  A financial professional can help you begin to put everything into order.  Now is the time to get it done!

Have you been recording your income and expenses and getting it ready for he tax preparer?  Or do you have a shoebox full of receipts in no particular order and need help putting it together for tax preparation?  The problem with the shoebox method  is that all the work of preparing for the income tax man is put off until it is almost too late to get it ready in time.  With that in mind, we’ve developed a new method to make sense out of the madness of tax preparation.  Online Bookkeeping, Inc. has created a new process for small businesses and individuals who need a better way of approaching their taxes.  We call it “Shoebox Accounting” and here’s how it works:

1. We collect your transaction information on a monthly or quarterly basis.  We expect that you will dump the shoebox of receipts and bank/credit card statements into an envelope and ship it to us or scan/email it to us.  (We have a system for either one !)
2. We enter the information based on a Chart of Accounts created especially for you or your business (or we ‘ll use the one you like).
3. We return originals along with access to summaries of expenses and income.

Simple.  But, what about payroll ? We can do that too.  Want to have access to your information online ?  No problem.  We even provide an accountant you can work with to track your information and make sense of the numbers.  We even have a CPA tax preparer in house if you want us to whip up those state and federal income tax returns.  To learn more about our capabilities and our capacity to provide solutions for your unique situation visit us at our Synergy Station Directory listing or click to our website; so when the Tax Man Cometh, you’re ready for him.

]]> http://synergystation.com/business/4-ways-to-prepare-for-the-inevitable-tax-man-who-will-cometh-whether-you-are-in-the-bakken-or-billings/feed/ 0 http://synergystation.com/community/pmes-the-negative-side-effects-of-ignoring-change/ http://synergystation.com/community/pmes-the-negative-side-effects-of-ignoring-change/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:34:38 +0000 RussCherry http://synergystation.com/?p=3649 Last week I wrote about Significant Emotional Events and the five stages of change we go through as a result of them. Here’s my first money back guarantee: If we do not learn how to manage our response to change we will end up with a Physical, Mental, or Emotional illness – GUARANTEED! All of us have that lower back that flares up when under stress. How about that sports injury or cramped neck. Are you a stress eater or do you forget to eat? How about this one, do you “take it out” on the ones around you – even when they had nothing to do with the change?

There are a few things to be aware of as we face our change events. They all have to do with pace.

Your Living Pace:

Do you get home after a long day and find yourself unable to sit down? Does your significant other comment on your inability to stop moving? Have you asked yourself why you can’t stop? Or do you come home and plant yourself on the couch never to move until everyone else has gone to bed? Are you lethargic? Are you late when you could have been on time?

All of these are signs that you have stored or ignored your feelings about the ongoing change and can be measured in other “pace” categories as well. For example, your eating pace, your speaking pace, your “take on a new challenge” pace; all of these are affected by your response to the change. And now that I have your are aware — you can do something about it. Take some time this week and make some personal observations on the pace of your life. Pay attention to how much Tylenol or Advil you take in a day or week. Watch for that chronic pain that seems to kick in at the same time every day (or worse, every time you see “that guy”). It will tell you a lot about where you are and create some urgency for you to make some adjustments in your life!

Be sure to connect with Russ via his Dream Big Consulting Synergy Station Directory listing or his website for other content.

No I’m afraid not, I have learned that there are thorns among the roses. As the world wide web grows, privacy vanishes and it seems I am propelled into the path of some people who have no ethics and no integrity. I want to state that over 98% of the people that I have come in contact with have been honest, hardworking people. But it is the 2% of people with no ethics and no integrity that bother me.

What is it about the internet that causes otherwise honest people to chuck their ethics and integrity? I don’t know, but it baffles me and at times stuns me. And while they are chucking these down home values, they are also destroying themselves and their business. It has never been more easy to trace people and their actions online.

And speaking about tracking people’s actions, last week on 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley did a piece called “Trapped In Unemployment,” where Joe Carbone has been assisting unemployed Americans return to the workforce, one job at a time. According to Carbone the resume is on it’s way out. He stated that within the next 10 years, employers will just do an internet search to see what they can find about the applicant.

That means a Facebook search, a Twitter search, a background search, etc., so your behavior, good or bad online and offline will determine whether or not you get an interview. If a potential employer finds nothing on you, then he may pass you up because you are not relevant enough for his/her business. Which means any or all of an applicant’s bad behavior that has been documented on the web will be accessible to potential employers.

All it takes is one negative comment about you online to destroy any chance of that dream job. So before you poach that video, or post those drunken party pictures or get involved in any online piracy, college prank photos, etc, remember, your actions today may affect you tomorrow. The best that any of us can do, is to take a good hard look at our ethics and integrity, get it in check and help propel the good content that is online about us.

Ethics and Integrity are still here, I am thankful for that, most people haven’t forgotten them online or off. It is a choice we all make and in the 21st Century it could be one of the most crucial choices any of us make!

We live in a time where there is a lot of change.  In fact, there is more change going on right now than there has been in the last several thousand years combined.  We also need to recognize the speed of change.  Things are moving fast.  If your phone is like mine, you can’t go one day without some of your apps updating and let’s not talk about the massive volume of changing information that comes to us in wave after wave after wave – not just in one day but many times throughout the day.  We have a lot on our plate.

A Significant Emotional Event (S.E.E.) is a change event that was unplanned or that we didn’t ask for.  They come in two categories – personal and professional.  They can be positive or negative and they can impact us before we are even aware.  Moving offices, changing jobs, promotions, extra duties, and new responsibilities are examples of professional S.E.E.s.  The birth of a child, death of a loved one, divorce, marriage, kids leaving home (and coming back) are examples of personal S.E.E.s.

Here is some mixed news for you to consider.  It takes at least 18 months to work through a S.E.E.  No Exceptions.  You might be thinking that you don’t have time for that and you are right.  However, if you try to rush through a S.E.E. and finish it off in 3 weeks – don’t worry – it will be waiting for you when you least expect it.  Also, you might be thinking that you may have a lot of S.E.E.s going on at this moment.  You are correct!  Most adults have between 6 and 8 S.E.E.s going on at any one time.  When you finish one another will be waiting for your attention.  It’s kind of like a broken wrist.  Let’s say you break your arm, your good arm, and you have a tennis tournament tomorrow.  You tell the doctor to hurry it up – make it better so you can play in the tournament.  She will laugh you right out of her office!  The doctor will put a cast on your arm and tell you that the purpose is to protect your bones and give them the best chance to heal properly over the next several weeks.

The techniques we discuss in this and following articles are like the doctor and the cast.  They are designed to protect you as you work through change and transition and give you the best opportunity to move forward as the S.E.E. ends.

There are five predictable stages that a person will move through when dealing with a major change event.

1. Shock

2. Anger

3. Bargain

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

Psychologists used to think that you would move through the five stages in an orderly and predictable manner over the 18 month timeframe.  That is not true today.  Just try driving home from work.  You can experience all five stages in a few short moments!

I look forward to visiting with you in the coming days, weeks, and months.  We have a lot to work through.  Check back regularly as we form the “cast” around your Significant Emotional Events.  We can help them heal and be as strong as possible to face future challenges and strains.

Be sure to connect with Russ via his Dream Big Consulting Synergy Station Directory listing or his website for other content.

You may think that websites are for tech companies or folks who don’t really work for a living.  But for companies like yours, where people actually get their hands dirty, a website isn’t that necessary.  Or at least, a decent looking, properly optimized one isn’t necessary.

Well, I’m here to tell you otherwise.

A website isn’t about being cool.  It’s about being found.  Found by companies that you would consider giving up your first-born child to do business with.

You see, your cell phone, business card and truck decal can only go so far so fast.  A website, on the other hand, is working when you’re on vacation, out to dinner or snoozing in bed.  It’s talking to people that you’d normally never have a chance to, telling them all about you, your products and services and your experience. It’s your sales team, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As I’ve worked with folks in the energy industry, I’ve seen countless websites that appear to have been built the day the internet was created and not updated since.  Sites that are poorly written, have low-quality pictures and links that don’t work.

I want you to open a new window on your browser right now and see what happens when you do the following:

1. Type in your service/product/industry and city.  (For instance, “Field Machining, Casper, Wyoming”.)  Do you see your company listed?  If so, where are you?  (The first listing?  The first page?  The second page?  Fifth page?)   If you’re not on the first page, you’re in trouble.
2. Now to go your site and look at it as though you’d never seen it before.  Does it look dated?  How recently was it changed or updated?  Do you have any form of cartoon icon?  If it’s old, has an unprofessional font or if there’s any waving cartoon flag, there’s something horribly wrong.
3. Finally, go to the site of your number one competitor.  Do they look better?  Do they look worse?  How much better or how much worse?  If there’s even a question, you need to do something about it.

Want to see a great site?  Visit ContRes.com—the site of Continental Resources.  You may be thinking, “Well, they have billions of dollars!”  And you’re right.  But the fact is, their site is a pretty straightforward one.  And your website can look and function just as well with a price that might surprise you.

For more great information about things to think about when you’re designing a website, read Seven Practical Tips for Planning a Website.

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Energy development companies should always remember there’s always a new approach to an old idea. 

In the day-to-day operations of your company, when you’re looking for new business and saving the customers you have, it may seem that your marketing efforts are lacking. That there’s no new way to tell your story or capture the attention of the people you’re trying to reach.

In those times, I want you to think of the quote attributed to the 1899 Commissioner of the U.S patent office, “everything that can be invented has been invented.”  Because when it comes to marketing (and pretty much everything else) he was wrong.

There are constantly new ways to bring new energy to your marketing efforts, whether you want to reach out to a new customer, recruit employees or make your brand, product or service more visible.  One of the most unique that I’ve seen in awhile was highlighted by Mashable’s business and marketing editor, Todd Wasserman.

Here’s a circuitous route to free advertising on Google: An Austin, Texas, firm will install QR codes on rooftops in an attempt to sneak into Google Maps. Phillips & Co.’s new proposition, called Blue Marble, offers a “space-accessible profile” for businesses, cities, schools — anyone who wants to raise their profile.

People have been adding QR codes to billboards, in-store signage and print ads for quite some time.  This company has just found a way to take it to a different level.  If you have a roof, they can help you advertise on it.

Now, whether or not this effort will ultimately be successful is yet to be proven.  As noted in Wasserman’s article, it will take about a year for the code to show up on Google Earth.  But the point is, there is always a new approach to any idea.

Click on the following link to read the full Mashable article:  Rooftop QR Codes Aim to Infiltrate Google Maps. Also, learn more about how QR codes are being used in marketing:  13 Creative Ways to Use QR Codes for Marketing

Every week I have at least one business owner come to me because they are having issues with a previous designer who refuses to give them access to their own website! Well here is the 411 on hosting, what you should know and what you should do! Let’s start with what hosting is, it’s how a website become accessible on the internet.

So it’s a necessary evil that we all must have if we want our website to be seen by our customers. Some web design companies offer hosting and that is the pitfall. Most business owners don’t understand what hosting is or how to obtain it and so when a web design company comes to them and says, don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything, I can host your website for you. The truth is, you should worry! You are giving complete control of your website to this web design company. Your website is the front door of your business and you are turning it over to another company!

And the problem with that company comes in, when you choose to use another designer!  The company who is hosting your site now takes it hostage. You can’t have access to your web site, your new designer struggles to get access and in some cases it takes a court of law to get your website back.

When you pay a company to design your website-you own your website, it’s yours! But what you should do is purchase your own hosting package, your own url, then have a company design your website. You take complete ownership and don’t let someone else take control of you and your business! The company that has taken your site hostage can take down your website at any time if they so choose. Actually had that happen to a client this week as well. The previous designer took down the website and disabled emails without any notice.

So here is a notice for you,  if someone is hosting your site now and you’re reading this article and want to get your own hosting, call your designer and tell them that you’ve decided to get your own hosting package. Go and purchase your hosting package from a site like GoDaddy.com and then have your designer transfer your site. I am betting that you will like the money that you save as well!

So that is the 411 on hosting! If you don’t have your own hosting, purchase it today and start working on gaining control of the front door of your business, your website, today!

NIKE "Swoosh"

Most of us are familiar with the Nike “Swoosh” and the slogan, “Just Do It”; however do you remember when the slogan originally came out it launched as “There is no finish line, just do it !”  I guess tht JUST DO IT sums it up – short & sweet.

Therefore in the spirit of Nike – short & sweet - here’s the IRS tax deadlines !  JUST FILE IT !!

Return Deadlines for returns with a year-end of December 31, 2011:

Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1096.pdf) – February 29, 2012

Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw3.pdf) – February 29, 2012

Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf) – April 17, 2012

Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1120.pdf) – March 15, 2012

Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1120s.pdf) – March 15, 2012

Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1065.pdf) – April 17, 2012

Form 990-N, e-Postcard (www.epostcard.form990.org) – May 15, 2012

Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990ez.pdf) – May 15, 2012

Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990.pdf) – May 15, 2012

Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990pf.pdf) – May 15, 2012

Please contact your tax advisor if you will need to request an extension of time to prepare any of these forms! No extension is available for Form 990-N.  If you need guidance or help with your tax return preparation and planning feel free to connect Rachel via her Synergy Station Directory listing.

Can you imagine if we had last names that reflected who we are today?  Always Blogging, Texter, or perhaps Foodie would be your moniker.  The possibilities are as endless as the skills it takes to survive in the modern world; we no longer simply bake, hunt or take after our parents.  And neither do our corporations.   Corporations must be nimble, fast moving and multifunctional.  Yet one thing remains the same for us as it did our ancestors, without collaboration we would fail.

Just as there was the Neolithic need for hunters and gatherers, we have a need for people with diverse talents, and we must respect, seek out and nurture diversity.   As a new energy frontier is developed I see constant evidence of collaboration.  One company drills the hole, another ships the casing material and yet another feeds and houses the workers.  Sometimes the name clearly reflects the role, but more often than not, when you need a job done, you turn to those you know will deliver, regardless of their name.  You turn to a skill set, a promise and the power of collaboration. 

When it works – it’s a beautiful thing,  The right materials arrive on time, the task is completed and the bills are paid in full.  When it doesn’t work people are stressed, systems fail and bottom lines suffer. 

Here are three things key to collaboration:

1. Understand exactly what you need.  You can’t say “just help us out” and be satisfied with the outcome.  You must say “I need you to do this, on this date, in this manner.”  Anything less spells trouble.

2. Understand exactly what you can deliver.   When you are contracted to provide a service or a material, don’t over promise.  The result, stress for your team, the potential of under delivering, and a failed business relationship is not worth the risk.

3. Use your manners.   I know, this seems so mom like, but it works.  When you are collaborating you get the best results when you say “Please.”  “Thank you.”  “Well done.”  You avoid terms like S.O.B.  No-one wants to be ‘named’ because of failed communication.  People, and corporations want to be named for the quality results they deliver.  With manners those quality results you both desire are more likely to be delivered. 

In life, in business, a name is important and it is a reflection of who you are as an individual or a corporation.  Collaborating is a great way to make a powerful name for yourself.    

Canvas Creek Team Building provides on and off site events designed to increase communication, collaboration and simple appreciation of one another’s unique skill sets.  Be sure to connect Karen via her Canvas Creek Team Building Synergy Station Directory listing.

Enough what? 

Well, enough of everything.  I don’t care what you sell, what you deliver, or what you know, there are plenty of people to go around, people who want what you have to offer.  You, your company, or your organization can simply not service everyone.  You just can’t. 

I maintain, however, that if you embrace the idea that if you share your knowledge, your insights and your skills with others, your market share will increase.  You do not have to share trade secrets, secret recipes or prospect lists.  I appreciate that you like to play some things close to the chest; I am simply asking you to embrace what is possible when you give freely of your skills and knowledge.

What you will find, in helping others to be their best, whether a business or an individual, you will become your best.  You will more deeply understand what you believe in and why.  You will delve into the depth of your skills and knowledge, deepening your understanding of who you are and in return, as if by magic, you will begin to receive. 

Knowledge will flow back to you.  Ideas will come your way and revolutionize what you already do so well; making what you do more robust, more effective.  You will meet the right people, be there when opportunity knocks and feel a deeper sense of satisfaction. 

All you have to do is offer your wisdom, help others solve a problem, know that if you lose one customer you will probably gain ten, and do, over and over again, the right thing.  There is simply an abundance of right things to do and the rewards are too great to ignore.  

Abundance, it is what you get when you forget to compete and you begin to cooperate. 

Be sure to follow Karen via her Canvas Creek Team Building listing in the Synergy Station Directory.