Saving Time and Daylight Saving Time

Saving Time
Planning - having a plan - timeline - scheduling - following the schedule. All these terms get us thinking about getting things done AND on time! Sometimes saving time means slowing down.

I've known forever that rushing around leads to mistakes that will take more time to correct than the time spent doing it correctly in the first place and Coach John Wooden said it best "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?".

This weekend while driving home from upstate New York on Interstate 90 between Albany and Buffalo, the weather went from rain, to slush, to sleet to fog and settled into snow. The temperature dropped from 50°F to 27°F so the road became slick, very slick. For over an hour, I drove 50 miles per hour or less and saw my GPS adding minutes to my ETA (expected time of arrival). About a dozen cars were seen in ditches, mediums strips, pointing the wrong direction and one even off in farm field. I realized that by taking the time now and driving slowly, I was saving not only future time, but dollars and possible injury. I'm guessing, but I do think a turn into the ditch would have added at least 3 hours to the trip IF the car was still drivable.

In the end, I arrived home only a half hour later than I'd originally planned, but in one piece.

During the course of our busy work weeks, we often don't plan for the unexpected and smash our schedules into the impossible situation of too much to do and too little time leading to hurry-up and get it done.

Being realistic with our time and abilities can lead to happier customers. Why? Because if we realistically plan for "our own slick roads" we can knowingly estimate projects more accurately, schedule catch-up time and feel less stressed as we complete projects on our own schedule and not on the traffic of the rush-rush world.

Take some time this week to wedge in some breathing room in your calendar.

Copyright 2011 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!

Daylight Saving Time

Spring Forward on March 13
The current Daylight Saving Time law was passed in the United States in 2007. Daylight Saving Time (DST) now follows the following schedule:

• DST begins on the second Sunday in March each year; and
• DST ends first Sunday in November each year.

Officially, the law requires businesses and timekeeping institutions to change clocks at 2:00 a.m. when DST changes occur. But you can change your clocks at a more convenient time (i.e. at bedtime the night before, or when you wake the following morning.) Just remember that when you wake up, businesses and schools will have changed their clocks and you will need to adjust your schedule accordingly.

Although most places in the United States observe daylight saving time, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not.

If you live in the U.S. where DST is observed, set your clocks ahead by one hour when DST begins, and back one hour when DST ends.

No-No Employees

The No-No Employee

If you have an employee that is always saying "No, that won't work", realize there is value in pessimism. Pessimists tend to make safer choices than their optimistic counterparts. Let's face it:

Optimists see the opportunity in every difficulty.
Pessimists see the difficulty in every opportunity.

Paying attention to nay-sayers can lead to a healthy dose of skepticism. Questioning can lead to insight. Take time to ask "Why do you think this will not work?" "Why will we fail on this approach?". The downside that many feel with a nay-sayer is that they don't have solutions - just problems.

Using the Lean approach of "5 Whys" will help you drill down to the real obstacles the nay-sayer sees. After adjusting expectations, your biggest challenge will be to help this nay-sayer person understand that he must either help "row the boat or be thrown overboard" and this is usually easier if the pessimist is heard and his opinions validated.

Copyright 2011 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!


Boomers Age - Part 2
Women Baby Boomers constitute 37% of those online. And let us not forget that Women in general make 80% of household buying decisions.

In order not to offend this particular pool of customers, make sure you don't use words like "senior," "older women," "silver surfers or silver anything," and particularly "grandma, grandmother, grandparents, grannies." Boomer gals are "happy to lipo, pull, tighten or do just about anything to avoid being asked "Would you like the senior discount?" A recent AARP commercial has been built on the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" One guy wants to rehab houses, a woman wants to run a marathon and another wants to start a band.

The tag: "AARP believes you're never done growing." Whether or not you agree that Boomers ranging in age from 50-65 need to act their age is a moot point. Your takeaway should be "What do I need to do to better serve this market?"

Copyright 2011 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/

Customers - Those pesky people we NEED!

Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Businesses view customer loyalty as the holy grail of satisfaction. Often elusive, sellers frequently approach loyalty by duplicating competitors programs. Right now I have at least 6 cards in my wallet for local cafes. The one that gives me the most rewards is one that is left at the store in a rolodex file where I put my own card in alphabetically, and each time I visit, I get a stamp, when I get 10, I get a free beverage of my choice. Simple to administer, simple to find and I know what I'll get.

Down the street is a national chain that has a plastic key ring fob that I had to register online before I could use it and then randomly you would get a reward. The fob fell off the key ring so I will have to get a new one - why bother. The rewards were never known and it could only be used by some of the shops - not all regionally.

Getting to know your primary customers will help you understand how they want their loyalty rewarded. And loyalty is always cheaper than fishing for new customers. Do the numbers so that you know what the discount really is - 11th coffee free, really means that each cup is discounted 10%. Make sure you can afford you loyalty program.

You'll know your program is working when your loyal customers buy more and bring new customers. Making it easy for your customers to bring new customers is smart planning. Oh, yes, your bottom-line should also show a positive correlation.

Copyright 2011 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!

Boomers Age - Part 1
The first class of Baby Boomers is turning 65 this year. With this said, it's interesting to note that some very interesting things are happening in marketing thanks to this aging generation. First off, this is a group that's never been encouraged to "grow up." Case in point: the new claim that "50 is the new 30" several years ago and the increased age of Harley Davidson's target market to 55+. Collectively, Boomers are ignoring the fact that they're getting older. And they're reacting by not buying stuff for "seniors."

Smart marketers are alert to the sensitivies of this market. They're using larger type faces in their ads to accommodate weakening eyesight. They're lowering store shelves to make them more accessible to the Boomer. And they're avoiding using the colors yellow and blue as these colors don't appear as sharply distinct to older eyes. And they're doing this all without saying the "o" word.

Boomers are turning the senior market on its collective head. You know that "grab bar" that's sold with new shower/tub stalls? Kohler has renamed it "belay" - which is a mountaineering term. Men who can't pair 18 rounds of golf with a night of passion are told they're suffering from "Low T" and to call a doctor to get it fixed. Whether or not these points make you chuckle, you need to respect what turns this large collective buying group off. Simple changes can and must be made in order to keep this group of customers returning to you.

Copyright 2011 Rebecca Booth
Marketing Goddess
Imagine That!
419.855.3399
Celebrating 10 years of delivering results for our clients.
http://www.rebeccaboothmarketinggoddess.com/
http://www.marketinginabox.biz/

Demographics, Economics and Taxes, Oh My!

Demographics and Economics
Demographics and Economics go together like a Horse and Carriage.  Years ago when I'd ride somewhere with my dad, he'd just shake his head when we saw a school with those little "portable classrooms". Having been a school administrator, he'd comment that unless a school had a really large new housing project happen, most schools just needed to count the number of babies born in a given year and make a best guess as to the number of kindergartners that would be attending schools 5 years in the future. Demographics - they have always been readily available.

To benefit economically in any business climate, you need to have enough customers buying at the price to meet your expenses and desire for profit. Demographics are available, and they are part of the equation.

•If you are a financial planner that is targeting prospects that are 50+ years old (boomers), there are lots of them and lots of other financial planners chasing them, too! Economically, you may decide to look into a particular niche of that market (boomer teachers, boomer plumbers, boomer dog groomers, etc) or a niche that serves that market (landscapers, vacation planners, health clubs). Think "where does your target hang out" or what "services do they use"?

•If you are a neighborhood child care center, remember that many neighborhoods will have the same families throughout the children's school age years. Your demographics will change and targeting only your local neighborhood will lead to diminishing returns. But you know this - and it is tracked by the United States Census Bureau.

•If the economics of your prospect is likely to change, demographics may also be playing a part in that. As people go through different stages of their lives, they spend differently. Keeping customers for life means staying relevant to them at their different stages.

Adding demographic reviews and economic projections related to your customers may help make your future more economically rewarding to you!

Copyright 2011 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!


Financial Tips and 2011 Tax Season
Often when people start gathering all their information for taxes, they start to think about "how can 2011 be better" Here is a short review you can implement to make things better this year.

Review Your Savings Plan: Establish or review your savings plan to begin accumulating assets for your life goals. Professional guidance will be helpful in reviewing investment alternatives.

Review Your Retirement Plan: Establish or review your retirement plan. Explore the availability of deferred compensation programs through your employer, such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Begin contributing as soon as you are eligible.

Review January's Budget vs. Actual: Compare January income and expenditures with your budget. Make adjustments as appropriate to your February expenditures. Make sure you have invested your planned savings amount for January.

Collect Your Tax Information: Verify that you have received all necessary Forms W-2 and 1099 and a statement showing the year-end balance of IRA and Keogh plans. Contact the appropriate company for any that have not been received. For those that have been received, make certain that the amounts agree with your records.

Although taxes for personal returns are not due until April 18, it is best to get an early start since additional follow-up may be necessary. Decide this year to make tax season less about recording history and more about writing a new financial plan.

Copyright 2011 Tim Pinkelman, CPA
Accounting Center & Tax Services, Inc.
"Our Value is Measured by Your Success"
419.882.9255
734.847.0400
http://www.accounting-centers.com/