Getting Ready for 2011 & Lame Ducks

Getting Ready for 2011.
Let's make the assumption that your business plan is in place ready to go! Now what to do to make sure it happens?

With a business plan, especially a one page plan that all business owners really need to have, it should NEVER be put away in a drawer with your tax return.

A good plan, is one that is reviewed, edited, changed and celebrated.

Here is a monthly checklist I use for my businesses:

1. Sales Made $_____________ month_____________ (Gross revenue)

2. Money Spent $_____________ month_____________ (Costs and Expenses)

3. Compare to plan. Are we off track or on track and WHY?

4. Any new ideas this month? Get a strategy on paper to determine profitability.

5. New contacts made? Have they been added to my lists? Do I need to connect with them?

6. What are we celebrating at the end of this month?

7. What needs to Grow; End; Start; next month?

I use Outlook and have this set as a reoccurring appointment with myself on the last day of the each month. A reminder is triggered 2 days prior and the questions are in the body of the appointment. Pretty simple and hard to ignore.

If you would like to learn more about using Outlook to track your business tasks, join me on December 29 4PM for a 30 minute free webinar. Email for details: Monthly Check

Staying on task is challenging, and with a plan, sometimes, the results can be phenomenal.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA

http://www.changinglanes.biz/

419-897-0528

linda@changinglanes.biz

Consider working with a coach or a MasterMind Team to make 2011 the year of your dreams!

Lame Duck Congress Results

The Tax Bill Act is now law and is surprisingly direct and straightforward, given its $850 billion cost. Most tax bills have so many pages they can be confused with the New York City Yellow pages, but this one is just 30 pages - in fact, the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation's "Technical Explanation," is five times longer than the law itself. Let's take a quick look at some of the specific tax provisions:

• Extend Tax Cuts. The core of the bill, of course, extends the Bush tax cuts for two more years. This means the top rate stays at 35% (rather than 39.6%) and the rate on capital gains and qualified corporate dividends stays capped at 15% (rather than 20%). But the new law keeps taxes down for everyone, not just the highest earners. If those Bush cuts hadn't been extended, the 10% rate would have disappeared, and tax brackets would have increased faster for everyone.
• Payroll Tax Relief. The act reduces the employee portion of Social Security and self-employment taxes by 2% for 2011 only. This replaces the $400/person "Making Work Pay" credit in effect for 2010 - and ironically means higher taxes for individuals making under $20,000 and families making under $40,000.
• Estate Tax Relief. This is actually the most controversial part of the legislation. Under current law, the estate tax was scheduled to kick back in at 55%, on estates topping $1 million. Most observers expected Congress to restore the tax at the 2009 level, with a 45% tax applying on estates over $3.5 million. But the new law is even more generous, with a tax of just 35% on estates over $5.0 million. Again, this rule applies for 2 years.
• Other Provisions. Finally, the act extends a laundry list of popular tax breaks that otherwise would have expired:
• It "patches" the Alternative Minimum Tax system for two more years, thus protecting millions of Americans from the AMT,
• It extends the Child Tax Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit for college tuition,
• It expands the Earned Income Tax credit for low-income working families,
• It extends bonus depreciation and first-year expensing deductions for businesses, and
• It extends miscellaneous tax deductions like educator expenses, state and local sales taxes, and tax-free IRA distributions given directly to charity.

--By Keith VandeStadt http://www.taxcoachsoftware.com/

Hopefully, this short explanation of the changes to the Tax law will help you get a handle on your 2010 taxes and planning for 2011. If you are still confused or have questions, give us a call, we can help.

Tim Pinkelman, CPA

Accounting Center & Tax Services, Inc.

"Our Value is Measured by Your Success"

419.882.9255

734.847.0400 Ext.201

http://www.accounting-centers.com/

Did You Back Up??

"I never met a hard drive that didn't want to crash."  --Linda Fayerweather  

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Sometimes, practical tips are just what is needed in this busy season. I talk about Lean Office, Lean Management and two big "take-aways" of lean are:
• The customer IS why you are in business
• Waste is the ultimate profit stealer


So, two of the biggest times wasters that don't add to the customer experience are Looking for Something and Fixing Something that should have been Done Correctly the First Time.


This leads to two tasks we really need do before the New Year if we are not already and making sure we have a system in place going forward.
1. Back up our computers.
2. Create an Internet Password Journal that doesn't rely on our memories.


These two jobs can save countless hours. I actually create a clone of my hard drive so that when a crash occurs, I will be able to plug in a drive that is ready to go with all my data and programs.


Although most of my passwords are stored in a database, I also keep an old fashioned written record. I use a simple spiral journal that was actually designed for this to make sure I capture everything. I can't tell you how many times I refer to it in a week. Here is a link to one: Internet Journal.


Create a schedule so you are backing up regularly and do try to restore a file occasionally to make sure the backups are working .


Happy Holidays and time spent now will save in the future as I've never met a hard drive that didn't want to crash. . .eventually.


Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Consider working with a coach or a MasterMind Team to make 2011 the year of your dreams!




Put Your Plan in Action!
Who said, "If you want to eat an elephant, do it one bite at a time"? Whoever it was is a genius! I've recently discovered a piece of software that takes your marketing initiatives and delivers them into bite-sized chunks which you can do daily. The product is called Marketing Mentor ToolBox. Although it's designed for small marketing firms like mine, the product is so good that I'm recommending it to you. It works with your Calendar and keeps your marketing projects top-of-mind. What's better yet, the "to dos" should take you 5-15 minutes a day. Here is a smattering of the bite-sized pieces:


Daily:      Social Media Break
                 Prospecting - Research/Calling/Doing
Weekly:  Attend a Networking Event
                 Proposal Follow-Ups
Monthly: Monthly Recap


By actively working your calendar, you should be able to create a banner year for yourself. Let's toast to new year that's filled with unlimited possibilities! Enjoy!!


Copyright 2010 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
www.marketinginabox.biz

Getting Ready for 2011 -- Part 2
Last week we talked about SWOT analysis specifically related to your business (see webinar below) . This week, I want you to think about what you can do to make your personal life what you dream it should be.

Options:
1. Work really really hard and never make it.
2. Work really really hard and squeeze out a living.
3. Work really really hard and make lots of money but at the expense of not having a life.
4. Maximize your work so you have a life you can live.

Being an entrepreneur means many of us have or will live in all four options at some time. Being in and living number four means we need to KNOW and LIVE what our values are for ourselves and our business. Then make a vision and plan to get there . . . oh yes, then work the plan. Sometimes we only bang our head against the same wall over and over again when we could go around it OR make and implement a new plan.

Our own personal core values should be consistent with our business core values and will guide us in our business decisions. Defining our core values gives us purpose and will guide us to the correct decision. They just make life simpler.

This time of year on most any given night you can see some version of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol on TV. As old as it is, it is a seasonal reminder that core values do percolate through our entire being and business.

What three core values will you live by in 2011 to magnify your business vision?

1.__________________________________________
2.__________________________________________
3.__________________________________________
Here are some sample business core values:
Zappos
Whole Foods Market
National Park Service

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Consider working with a coach or a MasterMind Team to make 2011 the year of your dreams!


New Year's Resolutions and Networking
By TR Garland

In less than 30 days, we're all going to be faced with the same thing we're faced with every single year.

No, I'm not talking about keeping a smile on your face while spending the Holidays with your in-laws (wink-wink). I'm talking about setting your New Year's Resolutions.

Every year, one of the top resolutions is to "get in shape". The truth of the matter is that most of us already know how to "get in shape".
1. Design a nutritional plan
2. Stick to that plan
3. Design a workout schedule
4. Stick to that schedule
5. Track your actions and results daily
6. Re-calibrate if needed

The problem is that a large percentage of people don't reach their goals because:
1. They don't write out a formal nutritional plan or workout schedule
2. They don't hold themselves accountable

In other words, life gets in their way. There's something about human psychology that pushes us to not let someone else down. So...people who have invested in a personal trainer to help keep them accountable find results much more consistently than they ever could achieve had they simply attempted to get in shape ON THEIR OWN.

Well, the same holds true for Business Networking and Referral Marketing.

Many people are spending a lot of time networking by just chatting away with others and maybe grabbing their business cards. And, they expect results from this! They expect people whom they've met and handed their card out to eventually pass a referral to them.

This mindset is called being REACTIVE...and hoping for the best.

Being REACTIVE is an employee mindset or mentality that, in my opinion, gets placed into the same category as punch cards, guaranteed smoke breaks, assembly lines, benefits entitlement, and cubicles. In other words, concepts that aren't really that viable anymore in today's economic environment.

What? Don't believe me. Please look around and see which businesses are hiring and thriving. Yep. You guessed it....entrepreneurial minded businesses.

An entrepreneurial mindset is one that takes ownership and focuses on being PROACTIVE versus REACTIVE.

Just like the "getting in shape" example above, being PROACTIVE in your Business Networking and Referral Marketing efforts is a sure fire way to get results - plain and simple.

So, when you are out attending Holiday Parties this holiday season with your spouse, significant other, and friends please keep in mind to be PROACTIVE with your networking efforts. Go to each event with a purpose (in addition to having fun).

Do you want to leave these events with everybody's business cards? No, that's not what I'm talking about. Set relevant and realistic "networking goals" and ask the person you went with to hold you accountable to them.

And, of course, there is a time and place for everything. If the environment doesn't warrant you achieving your "networking goals"...then grab a cup of eggnog, a handful of homemade cookies, and be prepared to laugh and smile with the rest of the party-goers. There's always next year!

Paula Frazier
Executive Director
BNI
(540) 793-0622
paula@bniswva.com
http://www.bniswva.com/

Get Ready for 2011

Let's go on a trip. . .a trip to 2011! As a business owner, think of this as taking a vacation WITH your business. If I am going on vacation, I would first look in my past and answer some specific questions about that vacation. What was fun? What didn't exceed my expectations? Was the airline great? Was the hotel chain one I'd use again? Getting ready for 2011 with your business means looking back at 2010 and asking some thoughtful questions.

1. What worked great in 2010? What did you learn new about your business? What big WOW did you have? What inspired you about your business? Was there a book or author that really made you think about the future of your business?

2. What didn't work well in 2010? Were you less profitable because expenses were up? Or sales were down? or a combination of both? What customers were NOT profitable?

3. What is changing in your industry? What are your colleagues doing or not doing differently? What is new in your industry or on the horizon? Jack Welch noted that at GE, 50% of all product and service sales come from business that did not exist five years before -- how current are your offerings?

4. What is changing in your business? Are there opportunities in your local market, in your business? Are you maximizing all your internal potential?

If this sounds a lot like SWOT analysis, it is and should be done at least once a year - Make 2011 awesome by planning to NOT repeat what didn't work in 2010.

"Getting ready" is something that athletes understand because if you are not ready, life just rushes past you. To help business owners "get ready" and stay on track, Changing Lanes LLC is starting TODAY and on the First Monday of each month a business Chat on Facebook for those that choose to "Like" Changing Lanes LLC.

Noon to 1PM EST - First Monday - Join me today! Just go to http://www.facebook.com/Changinglanesllc  and "Like"

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
Consider working with a coach or a MasterMind Team to make 2011 the year of your dreams!

Dream Big, Take Small Steps
December is the perfect time to consider your goals for the next year. In between servicing your clients/customers, closing your books, and enjoying the holiday, take some time to contemplate the upcoming year.
• What do you want to accomplish?
• What do you want your business to look like next December?
• What one thing that you have control over could change or shift and make a huge impact on your business?

Once you've spent some time with these questions, begin to formulate your goals and intentions for 2011. Dream big! That reminds me of Les Brown's quote: "Reach for the moon; even if you miss, you'll be among the stars."

Many of us are afraid to dream big. Here's why and what to do about it:
1. Those big dreams bring up our doubts and insecurities. Many of our limiting thoughts, such as, "who am I?", "why would I think that's going to happen to me?" show up. That's just fear talking! Big dreams always us the opportunity to push through our fears and expand what we believe is possible.
2. We wonder HOW we could pull it off! Don't worry about the how. Instead create a plan. Take Linda's One Page Plan for Success workshop and you'll learn how to create projects with small action steps. Those small steps are all you need to focus on. As you complete those small steps, with the big dream in mind, you might be inspired with new actions to take. Repeat! Before you know it, the path to the big dream will begin to take shape.
3. We aren't totally committed to our goals. Sure, we've all heard that the truly successful people write out their goals and review them throughout the year, but that's not how some of us operate. Instead, we write out our goals and never think about them again. Or worse yet, we keep changing what we are dreaming about, so nothing ever gets accomplished! Are you passionate about your big dream? Are you excited when you think about accomplishing that this year? If so, then find a way to hold yourself accountable, all throughout the year, to take the necessary action steps, so you don't fall into bad habits like procrastination, analysis/paralysis or distraction (chasing after another dream). Some ways to stay accountable are to find some accountability partners, perhaps join a mastermind group or hire a coach, or create a way of holding yourself accountable using a tracking system.

Enjoy dreaming!

Pat Altvater
Transforming Bodies and Minds
http://www.outsmartweight.com/
http://www.ignitethepowerwithinbook.com/
419-344-6613



Business Planning for the Growing Business
Business Planning is not Just for Startups. In fact, most major corporations have a plan and it is written! It has Goals that are used to keep shareholders informed.

Join, Linda Fayerweather on December 15, 4-5PM on a live webinar for tips and tricks to get a plan in place for 2011. You will Learn:
• How to use a SWOT analysis to build a plan;
• What a plan must have - any plan - personal, business, marketing, strategic;
• Keys to a successful goal.

If you are interested - Like http://www.facebook.com/Changinglanesllc and check out the events for details - This is a free event.

Got Mobile & Social Media

Got Mobile?
Shopping is changing. The market place is changing. What was new 2 years ago gets old very fast!

All this has to do with mobile devices. About a month ago, I was in a bookstore on a mission to get several copies of "Strength Finder 2.0" by Tom Rath. I use this with new clients and groups - great book. While wandering the store as all old librarians are destined to do, I spied an interesting fiction title, started reading and was hooked. Since I was given a Kindle a year ago, I've made it a habit to purchase fiction on the Kindle. So, I grabbed my mobile device, did a quick internet search at Amazon found the book was indeed Kindle available, purchased it and within seconds not only was it waiting on my Kindle when I got home, it was also on my mobile device if I wanted to start reading after making my business purchases.

Mobile devices are becoming the ubiquitous tool for customers. It took 100 years for telephones to reach 80% of the countries in the world - wireless has just taken 16 years! The phone in your pocket is 10 times more powerful than the desk top commuter that was on your desk in 1999. Many of us have our devices with us 24/7 - I've been using mine as an alarm clock since 2006.

How are your customers using their mobile device to work with your business? And I don't have the answer, yet, but it sure it is fun to think about it! Look for QR Codes (sample below) as the next wave for mobile devices to learn about your business or get a coupon. Maybe you should do a SWOT analysis to get thinking about the future - that is where you will be directed with your mobile and the below QR code.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

Scan with Your Mobile Device

Social Media and Your Business
So how does the social media space look for business as it stands at the end of 2010? If you are looking to really drive new prospects and lead generation you may be disappointed. Some of the larger multinationals who already have a strong established brand throughout world markets have been able to extend their share of wallet with Social Media campaigns, BUT, for small to medium business, at this stage Social Media really kicks the biggest goals in terms of building brand recognition, brand loyalty and extending customer service avenues to new and existing customers through additional 2 way communication channels.

That being said, Social Media is here to stay for all size business and in the near future will represent a channel for driving additional revenue. In the interim, plan your entry into the social media waters and take a well executed dive but before you do remember some final points.

• Social Media is exactly that. Don't look to automate your involvement where possible. Be a real person and communicate directly with your customers and prospects. Automated responses are like Voice Response systems, --Press 1 if we have just lost your business:-)

• Marketing in this space is the same as all other forms of Marketing. Don't just hire someone to manage your campaigns because they are 'good at using Twitter & Facebook' and or 'has a lot of followers'. Make sure whatever resource you hire or allocate to your campaigns understands your products and business and that you are confident can represent your brand in the best light possible.

See you out there in Social Media Space:-)

Brent Lupton
Internet Marketing Manager
Essential Brands Group

Holiday Season - Ready, Set, Go

Even though the traditional holiday season starts this week with Thanksgiving, the stores are ready and the commercials on TV have already started.

As a business owner, one of my important business holiday jobs is to refine my business plan for 2011. Even though I regularly update my plan during the year (I analyze it monthly, tweak it quarterly), I like to start the new year with a fresh plan. So November and December are the months that I identify what worked; what didn't work; and what can I finish by year end. In these economically challenging times, here are some end of the year tips to get your plan in order and make the most of this holiday season:

1. Review expenses including inventory and supply levels. If your business is retail and holiday sensitive, make sure you have the right inventory levels so that you finish the year with "just enough".

2. Monitor your Receivables. During the holiday season, other businesses can be distracted by their own vacations, staffing and holiday parties. Don't let them think you can wait for your cash so they can have a more lavish holiday.

3. Remember Your Staff has holiday plans, too. Proactive planning and scheduling for all will make the work load better for everyone.

4. Manage Cash. Cash is king and during the holiday season even if your business is NOT typically affected by the holidays, banks are. Having an emergency fund will always bode well during the holidays and throughout the year.

5. Holiday giving. Know your employees and give what they will value. In economic hard times, scaled back parties have been the norm. Tips are available at Biz Know How - Parties. Whatever you give, be clear if it is tied to merit or a thank you for just being an employee. There is a big difference.

6. Say Thanks. If you don't like to do holiday cards, saying thanks to your customers, vendors and others that have made a difference in your business could be just that - a thank you. Thank you notes are never out of season or out of fashion.

And don't forget to get that plan for 2011 in order before it happens!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

Saying Thanks to your Staff
Unexpected recognition for a job well done is very, very validating for your people. Whilst you are busy, you are also developing habits that, well, just creep up on you. This means that you do things; behave in a certain way - and now is the time to redress that. If you find there are some of your people you have instant, deep rapport with, it's just human nature to hang out with them more. Respect them and treat them well. Yet you could be missing a trick. And a trick that takes but a little focus to make the most of, this is about specifically targeting those who you don't have an instant relationship.

Make time for those you avoid and engage both in conversation as well as 'catching them doing something right and thanking them. Spending time with these folks might, to start at least, not be your favorite way to spend your time - but you may be surprised. You will also up the stakes in motivating a bunch of people who you've missed out on in the past. So, today, make a very special effort to say 'Thank you' to people you wouldn't normally. It will make a difference, both to them, you and your business.

Copyright 2005-6 Martin Haworth
http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com/

Thrive and Freakeconomics

Making Better Choices in a Still SLOW Economy

Most small business owners have done what they can to squeeze expenses, tighten receivables and manage growth of new expenditures. This recession will end as all rececessions do, yet in some pockets of the United States it still may languish for many more months.

Here are some simple ideas for your business to try during the final months of this recession which may enhance survival leading to thriving in the future.
1. Prune your customers that are not profitable to your future. These are of two varieties.
     a. Low NET revenue - these are the customers that have a low price point and often the staff time is the same or more than your other customers
     b. NO referrals - your current customers should be your best sales people.
2. Check your credit card statement carefully because many of those automatic payments can be eliminated and when you need them again, you just re-join or use them on an as needed basis.
3. Say "bye bye now" to underperformers. This is a hard decision but you and the underperformer will feel better after the fact.
4. Review your marketing and KNOW what is working, what brings in customers. All marketing should be an investment in your business and an investment means it needs to have a return which is MORE than you spent.

Staying vigilant now will lead to more success in the future. Strive to Thrive!

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

Taxes and Lame Ducks
Back in 2005, professor Steven Levitt and reporter Stephen Dubner published Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side of Everything. The book became an instant bestseller, spawning a 2009 sequel, SuperFreakonomics, and the popular Freakonomics Blog hosted on the New York Times website. On October 15 -- the final deadline for filing this year's Form 1040 -- the blog asked four smart tax people a simple question: "What's the biggest potential tax policy mistake that might be made this year?" Their answers are especially relevant now, as Congress prepares to convene a lame-duck session to address lingering uncertainty over:
1) this year's tax rules, and
2) the imminent expiration of the Bush tax cuts -- issues they failed to resolve before breaking for the upcoming election.

Joel Slemrod, professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan, says the biggest mistake would be to lose sight of the long-term issues that surround public policy -- particularly considering the depth of the recent recession and fragility of the current expansion.

William G. Gale, co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Center, says that policymakers have already made the biggest mistake they could by ignoring the imminent expiration of the Bush tax cuts.

Clint Stretch, managing principal for tax policy at Deloitte Tax LLP, echoes Slemrod and Gale in citing "inaction" as the biggest mistake.

Donald Marron, also co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Center, says policymakers will be hard-pressed to top the tax policy blunders they've already made this year -- specifically, failing to decide what this year's tax law should be.

Those are certainly interesting philosophical responses. The problem is, the debate isn't just theoretical. The answers literally mean billions for individuals and businesses across the country.

Perhaps Donald Marron put it best:
"Will our leaders really allow the alternative minimum tax to hit 27 million taxpayers this year, a whopping 23 million more than in 2009?
Did the estate tax really expire back in January, making 2010 the year without an estate tax?
Will companies really receive no tax credits for their investments in research and development? Under existing law, the answer to each of these questions is yes."

Remember those old black-and-white movies where the villain ties up the damsel on the train tracks and cackles cruelly before the hero swoops in to rescue her? Well, those were just movies. Not real life. And in today's bitterly partisan Congress, too many members seem content to just watch the train barrel down the tracks towards the damsel. We can't afford to wait for a hero -- and that's why proactive tax planning, difficult as it may be, is even more important than usual. So call us with your questions. We'll give you your best shot at getting off the track before the train cuts you in two!

Copyright 2010 Tim Pinkelman, CPA
Accounting Center & Tax Services, Inc.
419-882-9255 or 734-847-0400
http://www.accounting-centers.com/

Focus Now and Thanksgiving

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly." -Buddha
Focus on Now
My intern, Val, told me about "the game" where if you think about "the game" you've lost the game. You are always playing the game and you will play until you die. That's it - I'll let you google it to learn more as I've lost the game right now.

This game, I realized is much like what I've learned in many programs that strive to help participants work in the present as yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. This is not a fatalist view of the world, but a reminder that the more we work and live in the present, the more productive we will be and being productive usually gives a person energy!

So, here is the game as I see it for business:
- Got to have a plan - a big doable dream with BHAGs - Big Hairy Audacious Goals.
- These goals will have a series of projects that have tasks and due dates.
- Tasks lead to your strategic next actions and during an average day, this is where you will be working with your business - on strategic next actions.

Being present often means making some mindful decisions so you can stay in the business game. Tips that help you be present:
1. Smile more - really, it makes a difference for you and others.
2. Appreciate the moments when something comes together.
3. Forgive past resentments towards others even if they were wrong, get over it!
4. Love what you do - okay, if you don't, that should be a clue to what your business is NOT doing for you.
5. Acknowledge your dreams AND work hard on the Strategic Next Action to reach that dream today.
6. Don't dwell on the past - the good or the bad.
7. Identify worry and address it with action.
8. And as MOM would say "eat right, be kind to others, and get a good night's sleep" will give you the physical energy to be present.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

Have you read "Think and Grow Rich"? If not or you want to share a copy with a friend, here is an opportunity for a free copy - just pay the shipping and handling of $4.59. This book is currently selling for $12.95 on Amazon. Just go to: http://www.FreeTGRbook.com/ChangingLanes  and follow the directions.

Awakened Entrepreneurs Are Thankful . . . for Everything!
Thanksgiving is this month! It's easy to be thankful for the blessings in our life, but what if we also took the time to be thankful for the things that we perceive as problematic.

You see, it's all good! According to the Law of Polarity, everything contains its opposite. For example, black and white, good and bad, Yin/Yang, up and down. We can't define something without having its opposite also present. So for everything that you perceive as negative in your life, the positive side of that event and all the shades of gray in between are also available to you if you take the time to perceive it.

This Thanksgiving find something you aren't happy about and be grateful for the good that is going to come out of it, even if you don't understand what that is right now.

Copyright 2010 Pat Altvater
http://pattiperfectsperfectionismblog.com/
www.facebook.com/pattieperfectsays

Now What & Halloween Lessons

Root Cause Found - Now What?Once the root cause of a problem is found, correcting is often more than a quick fix. In case studies of problems, the Tylenol Crisis of 1982 is one that shows many good choices. One of Johnson & Johnson's core values was "protect people first, property second" and when it was discovered that cyanide was placed in capsules AFTER the product was delivered and Johnson & Johnson was not to blame, they still assumed complete responsibility, recalled all capsules, and later re-entered the product with the "safety cap" we all know.

Contrast this with the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill where Exxon NEVER took responsibility for what happened and dragged the cases through the courts for over 20 years. Exxon was found at fault with insufficient supply of trained crew and inadequate equipment on the ship.

Taking responsibility for a root cause is not the same as taking blame although the reaction is often similar.

When the root cause is found and you are ready to act, take a couple deep breaths and look at the opportunity to really make a difference. Simple steps to get started will include:
1. Document the cause
2. Come up with possible solutions
3. Test to find the best solutions
4. Create a procedure to follow
5. Test the procedure
6. Roll out the solution - make a fanfare!
7. Evaluate after the solution is implemented.

Solutions are often easier than we think and Johnson & Johnson shows that by taking responsibility, you can come out with new "social capital".

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

Have you read "Think and Grow Rich"? If not or you want to share a copy with a friend, here is an opportunity for a free copy - just pay the shipping and handling of $4.59. This book is currently selling for $12.95 on Amazon. Just go to: http://www.FreeTGRbook.com/ChangingLanes and follow the directions.

Halloween Business Lessons from my Two Year Old
My daughter and I just got back from Trick-or-treating and I'm not sure who got more out of it. First, she handled herself better than some of the adults. And second, I'm absolutely amazed by the maturity of children when they have no fear. I couldn't help but compare how she acted with how some people approach their business.
We've been practicing saying "Trick or Treat" for about a month. She has a pretty good "Thank you" when she stands still long enough. While we were out tonight she showed patience, perseverance, and tenacity. Some would notice that these are things that her elders sometimes take for granted.
So here are the invaluable lessons that she taught me:
1. Dress for success. 2-year old Lady Bugs are adorable. She played the part with enthusiasm.
2. Practice. She knew what to say the moment the door was opened.
3. No Fear. Just Action.
4. Tenacity. She didn't get upset when a door didn't open. She just shrugged like she couldn't fathom why the door wouldn't open to someone as cute as her AND she moved on to the next door.
5. Salesmanship. She looked the person straight in the eye and waited while candy was put in her bag. THIS IS IMPORTANT: She never closed the bag until the other person was done putting candy in it!
6. She said "Thank you" clearly and sincerely.
She raked in the candy and that taught me my final lesson for the night. A Kit Kat and a 3 Musketeers, even of the mini variety, can keep a 2-year old up WAY past her bedtime.

Copyright 2010 Todd Pillars teaches business owners and sales professionals how to create a network of endless referrals, easier and faster than they ever thought possible. Contact him today at 419-855-2273 or todd@toddpillars.com. You can also find out more information about his Endless Referrals Workshops and FREE Mastermind Groups at http://www.toddpillars.com/

Root Cause & Burning Down the House

Root Cause
In health issues, the difference between treating symptoms and curing a medical problemseems obvious. We know that taking painkillers for a broken toe, will not cure the toe but will dull the pain.

Moving into the world of business, finding the root cause is like finding the medial problem. When a problem arises at work, how you approach it will either fix the surface issues with the problem likely happening again or you can find and treat the root cause by developing a process to eliminate the problem.

Using Root Cause Analysis helps answer questions of why the problem incurred in the first place:
Determine what happened
Determine why it happened
Figure out what to do to reduce the likelihood that it wil happen again

Most root causes will fit into these three areas
1. Physical causes - Something broke or didn't perform. The brakes were faulty; the door won't latch properly; the faucet is leaking.

2. Human causes - Someone did something wrong or just didn't do something that was needed. Human failures have their own causes including "I forgot", "I thought so-and-so was doing that", "That's not in my job description", "Sue did it that way" and . . . a myriad of other excuses when things go wrong.

3. Organizational causes - A system, process or policy that staff use to make decisions is faulty or no longer is applicable but still being used. This often has "but we've always done it that way" in the excuses.

Root Cause Analysis can be applied to almost any situation. Asking questions is essential to getting to the bottom of a problem. Questions are essetial and be wary of finding blame. Blame will often help mask a root cause.

Copyright 2010 Linda Lucas Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

Burning Down The House
Election Day is almost here, and that means it's time for candidates to start flinging you-know-what at each other like monkeys at the zoo. Taxes are a key issue this election, so it's no surprise that candidates are scouring each others' tax returns for anything they can use for political ammunition.

Former Portland Trailblazer center Chris Dudley is running for Governor of Oregon. He's a Republican, so you would expect him to oppose higher taxes. But he's come under fire, almost literally, for some personal tax planning that may have saved him as much as $140,000.

In 2002, Dudley paid $1.12 million for a 4,927 square foot house on nearly two acres overlooking Oswego Lake Country Club. Most of his prospective constituents would have been perfectly happy with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, three fireplaces, and a four-car garage. But Dudley wanted something bigger. He could have renovated the existing house. He could have bulldozed it and started new. But neither of those would have been tax-deductible. So instead, Dudley donated the house to the Lake Oswego Fire Department. Firefighters used the house for a series of drills in June, 2004, and Dudley took a charitable deduction for the house's $350,000 appraised value.

Back in 1973, the Tax Court issued a decision specifically approving this strategy (Scharf v. Commissioner, TC Memo 1973-265). But since that decision, Congress has changed the law on losses related to demolition of property, and the IRS has cracked down on similar gifts. Earlier this year, the IRS won a high-profile cases against former Ohio State quarterback and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstriet, who claimed a $330,000 deduction for donating his Columbus-area home to the Upper Arlington Fire Department. However, the Tax Court's decision in Herbstriet's case turned on the validity of the appraisal that Herbstriet used to establish the value of the donation, and noton the validity of the strategy itself.

The Dudley controversy is actually a great example of what goes into proactive tax planning. Charitable gifts are typically allowed only for gifts of "complete interests" in property. Does burning down a house qualify as a gift of a "complete interest"? And gifts of property are generally valued at "fair market value." How much was Dudley's house really worth? Would anyone pay $350,000 for the house without the land underneath it? Would the fire department actually pay that much just for live fire training?

Clients sometimes mistakenly believe that taxes are just about "the numbers." But tax law and tax planning are really about far more.
What sort of expenses are deductible from your income?
How can you justify them to an increasingly skeptical IRS?
And how can you document them to protect your deductions?

Copyright 2010 Tim Pinkelman, CPA
Accounting Center & Tax Services, Inc.
419-882-9255 or 734-847-0400
http://www.accounting-centers.com/

Waste and Wasting

The Seven Deadly Wasters - Lean Waste Identification

When someone asks me "what is Lean Office or Lean Service" I will go to the short answer and say "Lean is a continuous improvement process that helps businesses put systems in place leading to sane employees, happy customers and increased profits."

The true key to Lean is a identification and elimination of waste! Muda is the Japanese word for waste and the seven deadly wastes identified by Taiichi Ohno (1912-90) of Toyota are:

1. Overproduction: Anything that is more than customer demands. Overproduction can hide other defects.
2. Waiting or Delay: Waiting for anything - people, materials, machines or information are all wastes. Often in a service business waiting can lead to taking the "low hanging fruit" or business that is easy to get but often not matching your perfect customer.
3. Unclear communication: Communication needs to be clear and understandable to staff, customers and vendors. The time spent re-communicating is better spent building strong relationships.
4. Over processing: This can be anything from re-entry of data to duplication of a task by different department.
5. Inventory: Having too much or not enough of supplies. Running out of toilet paper or having toner for the "old" copy machine still on the shelf are great examples of inventory tracking.
6. Unnecessary Movement - waste of motion: This can be from bad ergonomics to poor layout of business machines.
7. Defects or Errors: The cost of redoing or correcting anything! As my dad would say, "Linda, if you don't have time to do it right the first time, when will you find time to correct it?"

Start small this week and see what errors you can detect in your company. Identification is the first step to correction. Before you "start correcting" look around and make sure you find the ROOT cause! We will talk about that next week.

Copyright 2010 Linda Lucas Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

Waste Management
In a 2007 study on municipal solid waste (MSW), Americans generated roughly 254 million tons of solid waste. Further, 169 tons were discarded into the municipal waste stream to be disposed of for energy recovery efforts like recycling or becoming contents in our landfills. Many people assume that "junk" mail makes up the bulkof the MSW. Here's the real deal about what's going into our landfills and recycling efforts:Making the most of marketing has become a opportunity of looking where the discards end up.

2.1% Standard Mail
2.2% Disposable Diapers
2.3% Plastic Bags, Sacks & Wraps
2.3% Magazines and Newspapers
3.0% Glass beer and soft drink bottles
4.9% Corrugated Boxes
5.5% Furniture & Furnishings
6.9% Yard Trimmings
18.2% Food Scraps

Copyright 2010 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 13 years of delivering results for our clients.
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
Source: 2007 MSW Characterization Report. Source Note: "The items show here do not represent all items in MSW, and therefore do not total 100%.



Muda QuotesWasteful Quotes! Who would have thought this was such a popular topic. Enjoy.

"A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life."  Charles Darwin

"All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk."  Ronald Reagan

"Architecture is the art of how to waste space."   Philip Johnson

"Be in the habit of getting up bright and early on the weekends. Why waste such precious time in bed?"   Marilyn vos Savant

"Boredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; serenity, that nothing is."   Thomas Szasz

"Don't waste your time away thinkin' 'bout yesterday's blues."   Jon Bon Jovi

"Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste."  Benjamin Franklin

"I wasted time, and now doth time waste me."  William Shakespeare

"Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have." Dale Carnegie

Gary went for a ride!

That is my office window upper left!

What beautiful day in the garden today and before winter, the sludge that settles to the bottom in a small garden pond needs to be removed.  Well, my front pond - better known as my office entertainment center - has three wading pools for birds and a holding pond that is deep enough for a couple fish to live through the winter. 

This front pond started with 3 gold fish which are considered lucky and 3 is an auspicious number.  Several years later, I added some minnows after fishing and two of those minnows were really very small blue gills, a variety of sun fish.  After eight years, they've never produced young, have eaten the goldfish, and do a great job of keeping the mosquitoes at bay.  My daughter named them Barry and Gary Bluegill.  Barry will actually get 80% of his body out of the water for a worm. Not as cute as a dolphin, but he is really cute to me. 

So while scooping out the sludge, I look carefully to make sure that I don't accidentally catch a fish.  By the way, sludge is smelly, really smelly but also it is very rich in nutrients which is why it needs to be removed from the pond to save the oxygen in the pond.  With each scoop, I'd look carefully for movement and then dump it in the wheel barrow.  With a full load, I headed to the garden to dump this free fertilizer.  You guessed it, Gary, the small blue gill had been in the wheel barrow for who knows how long, swimming and breathing in the muck and now he was flopping around in my garden.  I carefully scooped him up and returned him to the pond.

So what does this have to do with business?  I think it is just as simple as don't throw out the baby with the bath water or if you dig enough in a pile of smelly stuff you might just find a prize.  Have a great weekend.

Problem Solving

Solve the Problem . . . Systematically

A hose is a delivery system and even as a wonderful garden tool, it does have its problems. Hoses kink, twist and become knotted and if like me, you actually purchased a new fangled "non-kinking" hose, alas, it too will kink when you least expect it. In the end if it has no leaks, it delivers the water. When you find solving a problem is a twisted knotted mess, take a deep breath and try this 7-Step Problem-Solving Model for serious problems.
-------------------------copy, print & keep--------
1. Describe the Problem
2. Describe the Current Process
3. Identify Root Causes
4. Develop a Solution and Action Plan
5. Implement the Solution
6. Review and Evaluate the Results
7. Reflect and Act on Learnings
-------------------------------------------------------------

When faced with a problem from a unique employee or a failed process, often we miss steps 1, 2, 3 and go directly to number 4 and forget that implementing the solution must be followed by evaluation and reflection to maximize success. At least I have the winter to contemplate the root cause of my garden hose dilemma.

Copyright 2010 Linda Lucas Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!

How You Treat People in Public . . .
How you treat people in public will ultimately determine your referral success. My business partner, Bob Burg, has taught me an important rule; "All things being equal people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like, and trust." So what's that have to do with the way you treat people in public? Everything! I've heard many clients tell me "We've got customer service down pat!" or "We put "U" in customer service." only to fall flat on their face when it comes to simple etiquette.

• How do you interact with others around you when you're serving a customer?
• How do you communicate to your employees while clients are within hearing?
• How do you treat unexpected visitors - or salespeople - when you're busy?
Don't be too quick to dismiss any of those questions because your clients aren't!

One of the rule's qualifiers, trust, actually has a double meaning. Of course your clients and customers have to trust what you say and what you provide otherwise they wouldn't be doing business with you. But here's the real meaning. If you want people to refer business to you they have to be able to trust that you'll treat their referrals as well - or better - than you do them. Perception is reality. Treat your employees, your family, or even the unannounced salesperson, with same respect you'd give your best customer and they all will keep coming back. And they'll bring their friends and peers.

Copyright 2010 Todd Pillars. Todd teaches business owners and sales professionals how to generate virtually endless referrals, easier and faster than they ever thought possible. Contact him today at 419-855-2273 or toddpillars@burgintl.com. You can also find out more information about his Endless Referrals Workshops at http://www.burgintl.com/toddpillars.

Capture and Taxes

Capture That Thought
What is your capture tool? Is it your PDA, your notebook, your laptop or maybe a little of each? The purpose of a capture tool is to catch and retain all that comes in each day. This takes those thoughts out of your mind and puts them all in the same place to retrieve later. This capture tool should be designed to help you be more productive by staying with the "do-nows" and not being dragged into the "not-doing-now" or "never-doing-now" world of work.

Step 1 - Capture: Deciding on how you want to capture information may require redesigning some of the things you are doing. Oh, yes, what works for me may not work for you. The key to a good capture tool according the Brian Stuhlmuller from "Mission Control" is having it with you at all times. So unless you sit in an office all day, the three most popular for those that roam around are a PDA, a microcassette recorder or a 3 "X 5" spiral notebook.

Step 2 - Save for retrieval: Now, when you return to your office, you need to decide what will you do with this information. A PDA should nicely sync with your personal information manager system (like Outlook). If it doesn't, find out how to make it. This is important if anyone other than you needs to see your calendar. With any handwritten notes you will either file them or scan and digitally file. Think of the final resting place for information as a process that you always will follow.

If all this sounds like too much work, think about the last time you lost that piece of paper . . . how much time did you spend tearing your office apart trying to find it?? A capture tool and process will mean Ben Franklin was right when he said "A place for everything, everything in its place". He was Lean before it was cool!

Copyright 2010 Linda Lucas Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
Business Plans Make Profit!
Investments and Taxes
If you buy mutual funds in your taxable portfolio (meaning outside your IRAs or retirement plan), here's a timely warning for avoiding an ugly year-end tax trap.

Mutual funds -- especially stock funds -- generally pay two types of dividends at the end of the year:

• "Income" dividends consist of income earned by the fund's portfolio - bond interest, stock dividends, etc. These are generally taxed as ordinary income whether you take them in cash or reinvest them in new shares. (However, income from "qualified corporate dividends" is taxed at special lower rates and capped at 15%; Treasury income is free from state income tax; and municipal bond income is free from federal and most state tax.)

• "Capital gain" dividends are profits from sales of fund assets. These are generally taxed as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you own the shares. They're taxed when distributed whether you take them in cash or reinvest them.

Paying tax on income you earn is bad enough. But paying tax on income you don't really get is worse!


How can that happen?
In today's market, you may be thinking of taking cash off the sideline and putting it back in the market. If you do that before the fund you buy pays its dividends, you'll get stuck paying the tax on that dividend -- even though you haven't really "earned" the income or capital gain that you're paying tax on!

If you're looking to invest now, find out whether the fund you like is anticipating substantial dividends. A little homework here can save a lot of tax down the road.

You might also consider index funds or exchange-traded funds, which passively track indices like the S&P 500. These funds avoid the frequent sales that rack up taxable gains. That's because they generally sell only when they need to redeem shares, or when the underlying index itself changes.

What's the bottom line? If you're looking to shuffle your portfolio, pay attention to taxes. You don't control whether markets go up or down. But you do enjoy a surprising amount of control over the taxes you pay. Take advantage of that control whenever you can to turbocharge your investment performance.

Remember, it's what you keep that counts!

Tim Pinkelman, CPA
Accounting Center & Tax Services, Inc.
419-882-9255 or 734-847-0400
http://www.accounting-centers.com/

Acknowledge Distractions

Drive Your Goals
Get in the driver's seat with your goals and pick what you will achieve by year end. Usually distraction is not one of the "must do" goals listed, but it certainly appears like the new fangled digital billboards where brightness and movement distract our eyes from the road.

The distraction of a new task surfacing during the day just needs to be "checked-in" with these questions: 

• Does it help you achieved your goals?
• Will it keep you aligned with your vision and mission?
• Does it represent a survival, safety or health issue?

If you answer "no" to the above, think of this project as an unpaved side-road you might want to avoid. If it is a great idea, set up a parking lot for great ideas, a method to capture the concept. I've seen folders, voice memos, emails to self and one person actually had a corner on their white board that said "parking lot" with post-its.

If you answer "yes" to all of the above - get busy, make a plan, or maybe delegate the plan, then target to celebrate when it is completed.

If you only said "yes" to the survival, safety or health issue, this is critical and needs immediate attention. Remember, the vast majority of disasters are controllable and preventable. Think of this plan as purchasing "insurance".

Acknowledging distractions sometimes leads to better plans and more powerful commitments to achieve them.

Copyright 2010 Linda Lucas Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
What are you doing right now to reach your goals?
Call Linda for getting your plan aligned with your dreams. 419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz

Focus Creates Consciousness in Business
Pay attention! How many times did you hear that when you were growing up? As adults, we still hear it as we are bombarded throughout our day with many messages, projects, people and frankly, our own mind and emotions that are vying for our attention. Instead of being overwhelmed by these distractions, we can use them to help develop and focus our power of attention.

 To be successful in our lives and businesses, we need to become conscious in order to embrace our unconscious and focus our mind. That means we choose to be mindful of what we are doing and consciously notice when our mind is drifting off from the present moment. When we do this, everything will be done better, more efficiently and even faster. As our power of focus gets stronger, thoughts begin to lose their ability to distract and we find that we can experience more joy in the moment.

Here are some things we can do daily to develop our skills:

1.While working, focus your mind on what you are doing and if something else enters your mind, just acknowledge it and then bring yourself immediately back to the task.

2.If you notice that you are having a difficult time focusing, just spend a few moments doing deep breathing.
3.When eating, focus your mind on your food, savor it, chew it slowly and enjoy the experience.

Enjoy practicing, even a few minutes throughout the day, will do wonders for your power of attention.

Pat Altvater

Transforming Bodies and Minds
http://www.outsmartweight.com/
http://www.momsoutsmartingobesity.com/
http://www.choosesuccessbook.com/
419-344-6613

Price Check

Price Check
Before you cut your price or offer a substantial coupon, take some time to do a little research. You might want to start with some history -- of the airlines. SouthWest built their business model on being the lowest priced airline and actually changed air travel. Most people now shop airline tickets on price. When your customer shops price, your business becomes a commodity - just like a bushel of corn.

Prior to a implementing a strategic pricing decision, make sure you can answer these questions:
1. Do you know how much money you make on each sale? If you sale a widget for $100 and it costs $50 to make it, you will have $50 left to cover other expenses and profit.

2. Do you have other costs that are always there? These fixed costs are the rent, people, advertising and day to day operating expenses. You will want to know this "contribution margin" or percentage (on average) of overhead needed to support each sale. If your contribution margin is 34%, then in the above example $34 will be your additional cost. Potential profit is now $16 (on average).

3. Do you need to pay to get business in the door? If you are a convenience store, you usually don't have to pay someone to bring you business, but many businesses both offline and online pay commissions and referral fees for leads and referrals that produce sales. So, if a 8% commission or finder's fee is paid in our example that would reduce potential profit to $8.

Let's say your business wants to cut prices or offer a coupon for 10%!
Your price would become $90;
Cost would remain $50;
Overhead would remain $34; and the
Commission would become $6.30.

Your potential profit is now $90 - $50 - $34 - $6.30 = ($.30). Just like that we went from a profit to a loss of $.30 on each sale.

Cutting prices and offering coupons needs to be carefully studied to make sure it fits your business's long term health.

Copyright 2010 Linda Lucas Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
What are you doing right now to reach your goals?
Call Linda for getting your plan aligned with your dreams. 419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
One Page Business Planning Classes are forming - available from your desk! Check out the coupon below. Oh, yes - coaching is included!


Great Referrals are NO Accident - Part 3
Network With a Net

Referral networking is a lot like catching fish by casting a net. Each fish comes to the net by a different path--each has a unique "story" that is not repeated. You don't focus on a particular fish and then try to get it to come to the net--in fact, you probably don't even see the fish until you pull in the net. Instead, you focus on the action of setting the net. You know that if you set your net correctly and consistently, fish will eventually come, no matter what path they take to get there.

The same is true for getting referrals. You don't have to worry about how a specific referral got to you because you understand the process of setting your net.

And the best part is your net can be working for you all the time. You don't have to be there whenever someone you know runs into someone else who could use your services--this means you can be "fishing" in many different ponds simultaneously and reaping tons of new business. This is especially true when you've become a referral gatekeeper and begin to get referrals not only from your own network of contacts but from the networks of others as well.

When it comes to networking, there is no coincidence about referrals. They are the inevitable cumulative result of the day-to-day activities of relationship-building. And even though those efforts can't be measured as easily as cold calls, the results are far more powerful.

Paula Frazier
Referral Marketing Expert & Master Trainer
Referral Institute
540-793-0622
http://referralinstitute-va.com/
"Helping people create Referrals For Life®"

It is YOUR Business

It IS Your Business "My business is my business" and there are many levels to think about your business - personal business, others' business and of course what I want to talk about is your business or your career because it is yours.

One of the beauties of owning a business is it is a reflection of your personality and what you value. If it isn't feeding your soul, then a makeover may be needed. Now, don't confuse a makeover with just changing your marketing materials - that is like "putting lipstick on a pig" as Charles Lummis said in 1926 - "it is still a pig!" A makeover is stripping your business down to its bare-bones, identifying your key markets, setting timely, results oriented goals and then making it happen.

Actually, this really sounds like a PLAN - Vision---Mission---Core Values---Goals---Projects - Your dream for Your business.

Many small businesses stay in the reactive world and end up living the life identified in the E-Myth as "they've created a job for themselves, not a business". You will hear them ask for help and follow it up with "I've tried that", "That will never work with my employees", "I can't do that", "I can't afford that", "That won't work." Well, guess what - they are right.

At any moment in time you can change the plot line of your business. Yes, it does take some work, maybe even some hard work, but you will be rewarded with the business of your dreams. Start with a plan and hold yourself accountable to meet those goals. If accountability is an issue, hire a coach or consultant - remember, even the best sports stars rely on coaches - it is a sign of growth!

Copyright 2010 Linda Lucas Fayerweather MBA EA
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
What are you doing right now to reach your goals?
Call Linda for getting your plan aligned with your dreams. 419-897-0528
linda@changinglanes.biz
One Page Business Planning Classes are forming - available from your desk! Oh, yes - coaching is included!


Want Stratospheric Succes? Learn the Five Laws.
Reading "The Go-Giver" over the weekend has solidified my belief that business as we’ve known it for the last two decades (or more, your mileage may vary) is so antiquated that to continue “as it’s always been” is maybe the most deadly thing you can do to your business. If your business has stagnated, if it’s slowed down to “just getting by”, or if you have serious concerns if you’ll be in business a year from now you can cheer up! Follow these “Five Laws of Stratospheric Success”.


The first Law, The Law of Value states; “Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value that you take in payment”.

You may have heard the phrase giving value misused by the Internet Marketing Gurus telling you to give away your secrets to entice your prospects. This misses the mark in two ways. 1) As used here, giving does not mean giving away - as in free. It simply means to present something, in this case value. 2) value in this context means the relative worth or desirability of a thing to the end user. More to the point it's about asking yourself the question; “What can I offer that will set me apart – and I mean WAAAAY apart – from my competition and will allow people to want me as the person they choose to do business with?

Near and dear to my heart is appreciation. This is one of the things that cost little or nothing and leaves a lasting impression. Say please and thank you (and mean it). Send Nice to meet you notes - not emails - in a greeting card in your own handwriting. Remember birthdays and, you guessed, it send a card that says Happy Birthday! (If you don’t have a system for sending notes and greeting cards head over to my site and discover a great way to do it right from your computer)

Here’s a good place to mention one of the most important keys to making this law work, and it may be a deal breaker if you can’t commit to it, it’s that you have to give without any emotional attachment to the outcome. Now I know that’s going to sound really wacky to you but that’s how it works… because there is an outcome every time.

Visit Amazon.com and get the book. Take this journey with me and let me know how you give value to your product or service.

Copyright 2010 Todd Pillars helps business owners and sales professionals generate endless referrals easier and faster than they ever thought possible. Please contact him today at 419-855-2273 or email him at todd@toddpillars.com . You can also find out more information about his Endless Referrals workshops at http://www.burgintl.com/toddpillars .

Proactive vs Reactive

Being Proactive in a Reactive World

Before we go any further - let me just say that reactive behavior is needed in life and it is a critical component to being a caring community. Responses to a natural disasters or a personal tragedies are part of society that makes us human. That being said, business pro-activity needs to be ever-present.

Back to Business. A common lament of business owners is:

"HOW do I move forward with a ___________ (new idea, plan, target market or just implementing a new customer service process)
WHEN I have ____________ (incomplete projects, uncooperative staff, no capital reserves, needy customers)".

After you fill in the blanks, I want you to take a few minutes to visualize change.

Imagine you are driving on a road that cuts through a mountain pass as you view the open-exposed rock layers of the mountains you know that these took eons to create - first was the layering of the different rocks - some volcanic and some sedimentary - then the metamorphosing with pressure that caused the waving and uplifting.

Now, come back from your travels and take a look at where your business has been. Look at the layering and metamorphosing that has happened over time. The slow steady progress of business is a key to business success. If you don't like where you are, have been, or are going, plan the steps to change. A great starting place is having a conversation with yourself about WHAT brings you energy and joy. This will give you a clue as to WHO you should be working with - in other words, your target market.

Changing the way we do business to bring us energy requires us to make regular proactive steps that change the face of our businesses. Yes, we will still have to be reactive, but working proactively on a regular basis will in itself lead to a change in our attitude. WHEN will you do it? Schedule some time daily right now! Really, right now.

Simple steps will make a difference.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather
Is what you are doing right now helping you achieve your goals? If not. . . stop doing that!
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
Understanding Your Target Market
You already know how important your target market is to you business. Yet some of you may not be delving deeply enough into the research of your ideal customer. Case in point: Mommy Greenest*. You probably can assume that three-quarters of green moms are Gen Xers or Millennials and that 60% of them look for products and services that come from socially responsible companies.
HOWEVER, there are more details to this market that you should consider, like:
· 3 in 4 green moms have pets
· 1 in 4 is a homemaker
· 6 in 10 green moms are married
· They like new products - here's a breakdown of what they're looking for:
o 37.4% will try new products
o 58% buy store brands
o 47.2% buy name brands
o 50.7% use coupons.

· Their annual income is important too:
o 16.8% live on less than $25,000/year
o 41.6% from $25,000-$74,999
o 35.3% have an income of $75,000+
· Here's where they live:
o 34.6% in New England and Atlantic states
o 42.8% North and South Central US
o 8.8% Mountain states
o 13.8% Pacific states

So why is the depth of this information so important? Admit it; you were a little surprised that Green moms aren't living in the assumed "hot spots" of green activism like California and Colorado. I was surprised by this too. But isn't it nice to know that that the majority of these women are living in the central US, where things are a less hyped? This is good news for local businesses here in the Midwest. That means if you have a great idea of creating "green" products for pets, the idea should serve you well as 3 in 4 moms have pets.

A question does arrive on how to communicate with these green moms. Won't they be turned off by direct mail? Au contraire! If the direct mail is done right - been printed using environmentally friendly papers and inks - it'll be ok. Go the extra step by matching your message to your website where these moms can find more information about you. Don't deliver the thick huge brochure, instead direct them to the web where they can discern what needs to be printed themselves.

Delve deeply into your target market and you'll find all sorts of interesting facts that can help you with new product development or on how to better communicate with them. Remember your success starts with understanding your perfect consumer!

*Source: July 2010 Deliver Magazine.

Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 13 years of delivering results for our clients.
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/

Accountability

What Works - What Doesn't

When it comes to getting more work done, sometimes I hear these questions and I'm embarrassed to say that occassionally I even think some of these questions.

--Who dropped the ball?
--When will I be appreciated?
--Why is this happening to me?
--Why do we have to go through all this change?
--Who left the peanut butter out?

According to John Miller, author of QBQ: Question behind the Question, practicing Personal Accountability these are all questions that indicate the organization in question is not using personal accountability as a core value in their culture.

Let's just talk about the dropped ball. This is part of the blame game and as a manager, the first response is to make sure the job was clearly assigned.

--If I'm asking "who dropped the ball", I'm going to review if I did a good job of delegating. Why? Because, if I had, I'd know who dropped the ball, dealt with that individual and gotten the project back on track. (Note: sometimes a ball dropper is in the wrong position or maybe even on wrong team - that is the job of a manager to assess and correct.)

--If I am part of a team and I dropped the ball - let's hope I have a team member that values the project and intercedes and asks the question "How can I help?" or "What can I do to help get this back on track?"

--If I am on a team that someone has dropped the ball, my personal accountably should do two things.
1. Asking the responsible person "How or What can I do to get this back on track?" or
2. If it is critical or urgent - doing what needs to be done and then seeking to correct the problem.

When Japanese manufacturers in the 1950s started allowing any assembly worker to stop the assembly line for a correction, the process was corrected and the team members were seen as being personally accountable ultimately to the customer. This was not a negative but a positive response to quality.

Making personal accountability part of your culture is a way to maximize the possibilities of your business. Staying out of the "Blame Game" will be key.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather
Is what you are doing right now helping you achieve your goals? If not. . . stop doing that!
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528



Conscious Entrepreneurs are Accountable
Many people cringe at the mere mention of the word accountability. They conjure up images of being judged, coming up short, and then having to bear the consequences of failing to perform as expected. However, that's not the purpose of accountability when thought of in the context of conscious entrepreneurship.

Instead, accountability can be a cornerstone for improving overall personal and business performance by developing and promoting change within a culture that embraces continuous growth. For conscious entrepreneurs, accountability is a value that is more about awareness of what needs to change or what is working or not working, than it is about judgment.

Stephen Covey had it right when he said "Accountability breeds response-ability." When you hold yourself accountable to take certain actions, for example to make 5 appointments a day, you can review your activity, at the end of the day, as part of your accountability process and with this knowledge, you can respond. If you didn't make the 5 appointments, you can analyze your activity to see how to improve, you might decide that a goal of 5 a day is too many or perhaps there's something you could tweak in your approach, etc. If you don't hold yourself accountable, you will miss the insights that you gather through your daily accountability analysis and also miss opportunities to grow and change.

Incorporate accountability into your life by choosing two or three small new behaviors that will enhance your life or business and at the end of the day, face the truth. Did you take the new actions? If not, why? If yes, celebrate! What can you learn from the process?

"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable."- Moliere

Copyright 2010 Pat Altvater
Transforming Bodies and Minds
http://www.outsmartweight.com/
http://www.momsoutsmartingobesity.com/
http://www.choosesuccessbook.com/
419-344-6613

Question: What Does Every Business Need to Succeed?

Answer: Customers!
When I've taught undergrad business courses, at one session, upon arrival the students would see CUSTOMERS in huge letters with the question "What Does Every Business Need to Succeed?" in normal print at the top of the board. The entire class would be a discussion about all the aspects of customer acquisition, satisfaction and retention. On the final exam, there would be the above question and being the annoying person I can be, I'd leave a good two inch space for the answer.

The efficient student would just put "customers" in the space and move to the next question.
The creative student might write the one word answer in large letters to fill the space.
The clueless student would write on and on about business processes - if the word customer was in the essay, I'd circle it and give them full credit - no customers - no credit.

If you were thinking other things like great leadership, lots of capital, super employees, a fabulous idea or product you are not alone. There are so many things that need to be in place for a business to succeed in this world, but without customers, there will not be a business. Getting to know your customers' needs and expectations are key to business survival.

Keeping your customers and having your existing customers bring you more customers is key to business growth and longevity. How you communicate with your customers WILL depend on leadership, capital, employees and of course the perceived value of what you sell. This is where I say "Do you have a plan?" If you don't have a plan. . . get one.

Everyone in your business needs to know where they fit into the customer satisfaction cycle. This will make your job and theirs easier and help each person to be engaged with the customer even if you never actually see or talk to a customer.

Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather
Is what you are doing right now helping you achieve your goals? If not. . . stop doing that!
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528


Keeping Your Regular Customers Happy
Entrepreneur Magazine Entire article at: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/203726
By Suzanne Driscoll October 16, 2009

Some small business owners are so focused on attracting new customers they forget to take care of the ones they already have. And neglected customers will certainly be ripe for the picking by the competition. Bob Green, president of The Verdi Group, an advertising agency in Rochester, N.Y., offers some easy and inexpensive ways to make sure your regulars keep coming back--and get some more along the way:

1. Trade-ins for a good cause. Ask customers to bring in food, clothing or school supplies for the needy, and in return give them a discount off any of your products. People love to support a good cause as well as get a good deal. Cooks' World in Brighton, N.Y., asked customers to bring in old pots and pans to donate to soup kitchens, and in return offered a 20 percent discount for a new item.

2. Loyalty cards. A study by research firm Colloquy, found the average American household belongs to 14 different loyalty programs. Jerry Lewis, owner of Sports Clips barber shops has seen a high percentage of customers use their "get five haircuts and the sixth is free" card and believes his business has increased at least 20 percent because of this.

3. Keep in Touch. Green believes it's very important to consistently keep in touch with your regulars to ensure your business stays on their "radar screen." One of the best ways is to send out an e-newsletter at least once a month. Here you can announce new products, offer money-saving tips, advertise upcoming sales or talk up recent accomplishments.

4. Follow up. The best sales people keep track of the customers who buy from them, and then frequently follow up. Jim Greene, sales manager of Closet Maid, reports his dealers always call the customer after three days to make sure they are satisfied with the work and ask for referrals.

5. Get their opinion. Make the effort to invest customers in your business.. Ask their opinion about the quality of your product or service and how they can be improved. And make sure you actually implement some of the suggestions; don't just conduct a survey for surveys' sake. When customers feel vested, valued and heard, they are bound to keep coming back.

6. Good ol' coupons. A simple coupon in the local paper, a direct mail piece or a discount offered on your website can help keep your current customers coming back as well as entice new ones. A study by the Manufacturer's Coupon Control Center found that 75 percent of customers who believe themselves loyal to a particular brand would consider switching to a competitor if they received a coupon for it.

7. Rewards for referrals. If a current customer recommends your product or service to someone else who ends up buying, give them a reward. At a minimum, send a thank you note.

8. Conduct on-site classes. Whether it's cooking lessons, car repair workshops or gardening tips, offer classes at your place of business. While customers are there they can peruse goods and purchase everything they will need in order to duplicate what they've learned at home.

9. Target local companies. Whatever your business, if you offer a service that busy, full-time workers could use, extend special discounts to the local human resource departments. Employees will appreciate being able to run some of their weekend errands on their lunch hour.

10. Offer a freebie. "Every so often, we give our clients something extra: a free taste--something exciting they would never have thought of by themselves--and something they neither asked for nor paid for," Green says. "It pays off, not only does it make our clients happy, they look forward to working with us. And more often than not, the 'free' idea we present inspires a project that does bring in some revenue for us, if not immediately, often in the future."

Hopefully you already know that the very best way to keep your regulars happy is to offer impeccable customer service. You can read this article in its entirty at: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/203726







Have a profitable week.



Linda Fayerweather, Editor

Changing Lanes LLC