Leading vs Managing
As small business owners, we often end up being both the leader of the company and the manager and quite frankly, very few people ever get to be "just a leader". One definition of the difference is that a leader has followers and a manager has subordinates.
Other than some charismatic leaders throughout time, most leaders we meet do have subordinates. Furthermore, most entrepreneurs are leaders and are great at getting people to follow, but managing is really the first step for entrepreneurs to build a salable business - and therefore, it either needs to be done or delegated.
According to Ken Blanchard and his parable "The Leadership Pill" we want to shift some of our thinking. These are some of the key ideas I found in the book:
• Leading is the opposite of control. Leaders are decisive, and realize that change is not something they can "make" someone do.
• Leadership is something you do with people, not too them.
• Integrity is a given. Leaders lacking integrity don't stay leaders long.
• Leaders share their plan or vision getting everyone on the same page (oh yea, maybe a one page business plan)
• Leaders refuel.
• Leadership is a process; one that gets everyone to the place they are supposed to go.
• Leaders provide praise and appreciation as deserved.
• Profit is the applause you get for taking care of your customers and creating a motivating environment for people.
Yes, there are born leaders, but as a business owner we owe it to our staff and to our self to make sure some of our time is devoted to leading. Starting with a plan that is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely), will be a good place to put our mark on the future. Realizing that not all people can be lead will be a conversation for another Monday.
Copyright 2011 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
2011 Three words: Implement-Lead-Relax
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!
The Slight Edge Plan (or The Make a Plan Plan)
I'm going to make a BOLD statement. Most people, in my experience, make a plan once a year, usually at the beginning of the year - and they do it with the full knowledge that they'll never revisit it, act upon it, or otherwise use it in any way. Why? Because a Plan is ONE thing; and what ONE thing we do, or don't do, probably won't kill us or our business, TODAY.
An example; part of our plan is to write a guest column for a monthly blog. Our deadline is the first of the month. We get busy and caught up in "work work" and don't make the first deadline. No big deal! It's only one month and we've got 11 more to make up for it. WRONG! Our plan is shot and we need to revisit it, make adjustments, and find ways to get the individual parts done.
But we don't. And we miss the next deadline for another part of it. And we decide, "Well, that didn't work". And we don't do another part, so we scrap the whole thing. Sound familiar?
Reading "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olsen has really opened my eyes to how success and failure can be compounded. Doing (or not doing) small actions CONSISTENTLY over time can make or break you.
So my solution to this dilemma is: The 6-Step Make a Plan Plan.
1. Write down your Goal - What is the BIG number you want here.
2. Look at it every Day - Morning and Night work best.
3. Set a Price - What is worth to you to achieve it? What is the penalty for not achieving it?
4. Make a Plan - What are the EXACT, SMALL steps to attaining what you want?
5. Tell somebody - Get an accountability partner or hire a Coach.
6. Take Action - Every day take a step in the direction of what you want.
Now go back and dust off The Plan you made at the first of the year and apply the six steps above to it. Send me an email on April 1st and let me know how you did.
Copyright 2011 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 at http://www.toddpillars.com
Monday, January 10, 2011
Monday, January 03, 2011
3 Words for 2011
"The Calendar is a very arbitrary thing." ~C. C. Chapman
The 3 Words for 2011
Each year, Chris Brogan, a consultant and speaker to the Fortune 100, co-author of Trust Agents and a featured monthly columnist in Entrepreneur Magazine states his three words for the coming year.
The three words idea is designed so you can have something easy to reflect upon and point you in the direction your goals are driving you - much like a lighthouse or compass. As you know, goals are SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) and sometimes not as memorable as we would like - that is why we write them down! The way you use the two together will remind you of the path to achieve the goal and these simple words will help you get back on path.
For instance, one of my words is "implement" and this relates to several projects of 2010 that now need finished workbooks, scheduled webinars, and marketing activities - basically, I need to get busy implementing at many levels. If I get distracted by something "shiny and new" my word "implement" will remind me of my desired outcomes for 2011 related to product development. I keep my three words visible - on my monitor and in my planner.
Now, since a calendar is an arbitrary thing, I am throwing down the challenge to you:
What are your three words that will help you achieve your desired outcomes by 11-11-11? I know, November 11th is not the end of the year, but it is such a fun, auspicious number, I'm using it as my year end date!
What are the three words to drive your 2011 goals???
Copyright 2011 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA 2011 3 words - Implement-Lead-Relax
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
Consider working with a coach or a MasterMind Team to make 2011 the year of your dreams!
SEE BELOW: Two Workshops below to get your year off to a great start!
Accountability and Using Outlook to keep on track - short and free
Small Business Marketing Nuts and Bolts for 2011 - Day workshop in Northwest Ohio
How to Hire a Freelance Designer or Copywriter
Hiring a creative person is different than hiring a standard employee. Why? Because you're hiring that person's style rather than a skills list. Below is a quick list of things you should keep in mind when you're farming out your creative work:
1) Have a plan - what are you specifically looking to do? How quickly do you need it done? How much are you willing to pay? Do you want a seasoned professional or someone out of school?
2) Do your research - There are plenty of copywriters and designers out there - some in your town, some out of state/country, depending upon your budget. Know what the going rates are before you start making your inquiries and if possible get a referral from a reliable source.
3) Know the boundaries - Don't expect the freelancer to work in your office and follow your dress code, office lunch hours, etc. This person is not an employee. Today's technology allows us 24/7 access to email so save yourself some money by doing things electronically. (No face-to-face meetings for which you could be charged travel time in addition to meeting time.)
4) Check credentials - Do NOT buy creative services based on price. You'll be sorry you did. You'll rack up additional hours in "learning curves" if you're working with a newbie. Invite each prospective contractor into your office to review his or her portfolio. This way you'll "see" what they do. If you're outsourcing a brochure, make sure there are brochure materials in the portfolio. Ask the person what their role was in the creation of the piece. You'll want to work with someone who's taken the project from start-to-finish.
5) Put it in writing - Freelancers usually have their own contracts, if they don't here's a link to creating a simple contract that will ensure that you and the freelancer are on the same page before the project starts. http://advertising.about.com/library/graphics/contract.gif
Copyright 2011 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/
Small Business Marketing Nuts & Bolts
This One Day Seminar is designed to give you the tools to get your 2011 marketing plan on the fast track. You will learn how to:
• Create a Vision for your business
• Develop a Markeing Hourglass
• Use Social Media for Business
• Close more Sales
• Work your network and stay in touch with your clients and prospects.
Meet your Faculty: Patrick Giammarco, Allen Mireles, Todd Pillars, Jeff Winke, and Linda Fayerweather
Date: January 15 - 8:30AM - 2:30PM - Saturday
Location: Stautzenberger College, 1796 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee OH
Price: $97
Registion: http://ezregister.com/events/2152
Accountability with MS Outlook
Planning Needs Accountability. Making Planning successful means being accountable but how do you do that yourself. Short of paying a coach or having your spouse nag you, you can train your MS Outlook to remind you.
This short webinar will walk you through how to use Outlook to set and manage your monthly projects. You will see examples from both Outlook and Google Calendar.
When: Tuesday, January 11 - 4:30-5PM
Location: Webinar via Go To Meeting
Price: FREE
Registration: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1165940359
The 3 Words for 2011
Each year, Chris Brogan, a consultant and speaker to the Fortune 100, co-author of Trust Agents and a featured monthly columnist in Entrepreneur Magazine states his three words for the coming year.
The three words idea is designed so you can have something easy to reflect upon and point you in the direction your goals are driving you - much like a lighthouse or compass. As you know, goals are SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) and sometimes not as memorable as we would like - that is why we write them down! The way you use the two together will remind you of the path to achieve the goal and these simple words will help you get back on path.
For instance, one of my words is "implement" and this relates to several projects of 2010 that now need finished workbooks, scheduled webinars, and marketing activities - basically, I need to get busy implementing at many levels. If I get distracted by something "shiny and new" my word "implement" will remind me of my desired outcomes for 2011 related to product development. I keep my three words visible - on my monitor and in my planner.
Now, since a calendar is an arbitrary thing, I am throwing down the challenge to you:
What are your three words that will help you achieve your desired outcomes by 11-11-11? I know, November 11th is not the end of the year, but it is such a fun, auspicious number, I'm using it as my year end date!
What are the three words to drive your 2011 goals???
Copyright 2011 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA 2011 3 words - Implement-Lead-Relax
http://www.changinglanes.biz/
419-897-0528
Consider working with a coach or a MasterMind Team to make 2011 the year of your dreams!
SEE BELOW: Two Workshops below to get your year off to a great start!
Accountability and Using Outlook to keep on track - short and free
Small Business Marketing Nuts and Bolts for 2011 - Day workshop in Northwest Ohio
How to Hire a Freelance Designer or Copywriter
Hiring a creative person is different than hiring a standard employee. Why? Because you're hiring that person's style rather than a skills list. Below is a quick list of things you should keep in mind when you're farming out your creative work:
1) Have a plan - what are you specifically looking to do? How quickly do you need it done? How much are you willing to pay? Do you want a seasoned professional or someone out of school?
2) Do your research - There are plenty of copywriters and designers out there - some in your town, some out of state/country, depending upon your budget. Know what the going rates are before you start making your inquiries and if possible get a referral from a reliable source.
3) Know the boundaries - Don't expect the freelancer to work in your office and follow your dress code, office lunch hours, etc. This person is not an employee. Today's technology allows us 24/7 access to email so save yourself some money by doing things electronically. (No face-to-face meetings for which you could be charged travel time in addition to meeting time.)
4) Check credentials - Do NOT buy creative services based on price. You'll be sorry you did. You'll rack up additional hours in "learning curves" if you're working with a newbie. Invite each prospective contractor into your office to review his or her portfolio. This way you'll "see" what they do. If you're outsourcing a brochure, make sure there are brochure materials in the portfolio. Ask the person what their role was in the creation of the piece. You'll want to work with someone who's taken the project from start-to-finish.
5) Put it in writing - Freelancers usually have their own contracts, if they don't here's a link to creating a simple contract that will ensure that you and the freelancer are on the same page before the project starts. http://advertising.about.com/library/graphics/contract.gif
Copyright 2011 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/
Small Business Marketing Nuts & Bolts
This One Day Seminar is designed to give you the tools to get your 2011 marketing plan on the fast track. You will learn how to:
• Create a Vision for your business
• Develop a Markeing Hourglass
• Use Social Media for Business
• Close more Sales
• Work your network and stay in touch with your clients and prospects.
Meet your Faculty: Patrick Giammarco, Allen Mireles, Todd Pillars, Jeff Winke, and Linda Fayerweather
Date: January 15 - 8:30AM - 2:30PM - Saturday
Location: Stautzenberger College, 1796 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee OH
Price: $97
Registion: http://ezregister.com/events/2152
Accountability with MS Outlook
Planning Needs Accountability. Making Planning successful means being accountable but how do you do that yourself. Short of paying a coach or having your spouse nag you, you can train your MS Outlook to remind you.
This short webinar will walk you through how to use Outlook to set and manage your monthly projects. You will see examples from both Outlook and Google Calendar.
When: Tuesday, January 11 - 4:30-5PM
Location: Webinar via Go To Meeting
Price: FREE
Registration: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1165940359
Monday, December 27, 2010
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?
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
Copyright 2010 Linda Fayerweather MBA EA
Lame Duck Congress ResultsThe 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:
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
419-897-0528
Consider working with a coach or a MasterMind Team to make 2011 the year of your dreams!
Lame Duck Congress Results
- 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.
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
Monday, December 20, 2010
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
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