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Digg it UP - Your Team Members Don't Have To Be Perfect
You may not realize this but your thoughts and thought processes have an impact on how you run your business and its inherent success. The way you think has an effect on your business and thinking positively or negatively may make or break you. How does a person's thought processes affect a business? What is the correlation between the way your mind works and how successful your business is and will be?The way a person's mind works is so intricate that digging deep into it to figure it out may be a pretty tough call, however, there is evidence that proves how positive thinking often brings positive results. This positive thinking equals positive results phenomenon is brought about by the possible solutions one can come up with when faced with a problem.Every now and then, when a problem arises within your business organization, how you deal with the problem can either help your company move forward or backward. With the positive results that can be had with positive thinking, you will do well to make your mind run on that path. An example of such positive thinking would be when your business experiences temporary losses due to seasonal fluxes and instead of buckling under the pressure of such losses, you go with the flow and calmly assess the situation to come up with countermeasures to counteract such losses.Having the proper positive mindset when running a business not only helps you realize your company's potential but helps keep things in the proper perspective. If you keep thinking positive about your business in the proper context and within the boundaries of reality, you save yourself from a lot of headaches that needless negative thinking may generate. Looking at the brighter side of the situation will also help you come up with timely solutions for certain business problems you may not have been able to so
David drove a Corvette. One day a college student employee said, "Mr. Mike, you must be paying David more money than you do us, look at what he is driving." Within earshot, David heard. He simply held up his lunch bag, implying, "I bring my lunch. You buy your lunch. It is not how much you earn, it's how you manage your earning."
I am so glad that David kept showing up. He was my last employee when I retired after 28 years, and closed the shop. I was able to hire over eighty five women and men with physical and mental challenges and coach them into more gainful employment in the community. I would look for what they could do, not what they could not do, as it is easy to find what people cannot do. I was 98 percent successful. I had just a few results that did not work out. I found my associates to be loyal, honest, and dependable. Consciously, I worked to remove their fear of being fired by encouraging them to make business decisions freely and by not pouncing on their mistakes.
<5 Tips to Ensure You are Well Received by Your New Employer.Although you're throwing off the cap and gown and heading off to a corporate environment it doesn't mean you will no longer have to impress the ‘instructor' – so to speak. Now it's your boss you'll need to impress…wait a minute, not just the boss, but also a whole plethora of people in your new company.Pretty soon you'll be dreaming about the days you used to crawl out of the sack, throw on a sack and slip in to class just as things were starting to roll. As long as you did the reading, tossed in some good essays and passed the exams you were fine.So, now that you're not a student anymore, what's next?1st – show up! Yes, I mean show up for your job search. Maybe you were lucky enough to land a job while still in college, but if not this is the time that you need to put your research skills to the road. Get involved, highly involved in all things job related. Make sure you've got a well-written, up to date (fast reading layout) resume. If you're not sure about your resume have it reviewed by a professional resume writer. It is worth it. Pick several organizations to join and begin networking. Go to their meetings, volunteer to contribute your time and energy – meet people. These connections are valuable and may be the inroad to your new job.2nd – make a positive impression! I know you won't go to your interview dressed like you would for a college class, or even show up for your job that way (I can count on that, right?). My point here is, be sure that you always keep your appearance one level above the current level you are in. Dress for success. Whether you're interviewing or ready to start your new job, always give the impression that you are ready to be promoted to the next level.3rd – bone up on your writing skills!
My first employee was in a wheelchair from an auto accident that happened when he was sixteen. I hired him to answer the telephone and talk to customers who came into the store. My second employee had one arm. Word spread that I hired people with physical challenges. The placement officer at a local community college with a rehabilitation school called on my business about hiring people with physical and mental limitations. One day the placement officer asked me to interview a young man who was having trouble finding a job. He told me that David was a little shy, did not talk much and was afraid to go on interviews. He requested that I grant David an interview just for practice. He plainly told David that I had no positions open at the time and the interview was just for practice.
When David came in for the interview, he hardly said a word. I told him what we do at the bicycle Shop and showed him around. When the interview was over I told him I would keep his application on file. Then I took a few minutes to coach David on how to apply for a job. I told David to keep showing up (figuratively) because the number one thing an employer wants in an associate is dependability.
David was very quiet (he was evaluated as a slow learner in school). Every ten days or so, for weeks after the interview, David walked into the bicycle shop and stood by the front door. He never said a word, just stood by the door. I would tell him kindly, "I really do not have any positions open at this time." I wished he would go away but he kept showing up!
The shop was a very labor-intensive place to work, with students unloading trucks, assembling bicycles and lawnmowers, making repairs and waiting on customers. I usually had seventeen employees at one time, mostly high school and college students. David continued to keep coming by about every ten days. He never said a word. One day, shortly before Christmas, a large tractor-trailer backed up to the shop, packed with 250 new, unassembled bicycles. It had to be unloaded right away or the driver would leave, and it might be a long time before I could get him back for the delivery. It was raining. Some of my student workers (without physical limitations) chose not to brave the weather to get into work, so I was short handed. The place was crowded with shoppers. Frustrated customers were waiting to be served. A line formed at the counter.
It seemed everything was going wrong and on top of it, David came in the front door and just stood there. I looked at him and barked, " Well, all right! Fill out a time card and help me unload this truck!"
David worked for my bicycle shop for eighteen years. His dedication was a model for me. He came to work every day thirty minutes early. He could talk; however, he rarely chose to. He was a man of few words. He drove my truck and made deliveries. He went to the bank to make daily deposits. David would assemble and check out all of the new lawnmowers. The customers would brag about David, saying, "He doesn't talk, but he really shows you how to operate a lawnmower!"
I got into the habit of looking over at David for advice when I was making decisions. David would nod or shake his head. He helped me make a lot of good choices. Eventually, I let David run the business when I was out of the store taking care of other business.
David was a blessing. I really feel that God sent David to me. I did my best to find David a better paying job with better benefits. However, he would not leave! I learned much from him.
David drove a Corvette. One day a college student employee said, "Mr. Mike, you must be paying David more money than you do us, look at what he is driving." Within earshot, David heard. He simply held up his lunch bag, implying, "I bring my lunch. You buy your lunch. It is not how much you earn, it's how you manage your earning."
I am so glad that David kept showing up. He was my last employee when I retired after 28 years, and closed the shop. I was able to hire over eighty five women and men with physical and mental challenges and coach them into more gainful employment in the community. I would look for what they could do, not what they could not do, as it is easy to find what people cannot do. I was 98 percent successful. I had just a few results that did not work out. I found my associates to be loyal, honest, and dependable. Consciously, I worked to remove their fear of being fired by encouraging them to make business decisions freely and by not pouncing on their mistakes.
A construction cost estimator knows that there are a lot of expenses that need to be tracked when estimating a job. Many people who have been in the industry for a long time have always relied on pen, paper and a calculator to estimate a job. They feel that their experience in estimating out weighs the convenience of the new software programs. However, what they do not realize is that using this software can save them a lot of time and headaches.Projecting Construction Costs Is The First Step To A Successful ProjectThere are a lot of costs that have to be considered when estimating a job. Both the seen and unseen cost can delay a project if they are not calculated correctly. Land acquisition, as well as assembly, holding and improvement are just a few of the things that need to be taken into consideration. Others include Planning and feasibility studies of the structure; capital costs for a construction project are just a few of the costs that need to be considered.You will also need to take into consideration the financial fees, which include filing fees and architectural and engineering design. These factors need to be taken into consideration before you can estimate any other part of the project. When you have these numbers, you can then go on to add the construction cost, labor and materials, insurance, taxes equipment and all of the other factors that will make up your bid or proposal. You have to take into consideration that maintenance costs will be a big part of your expenses. It is critical that you account for all maintenance costs in your estimate. This includes the operating staff, land rent, periodic renovations, labor and material for maintenance and repairs, insurance and taxes, financing costs, utilities. There will be other expenses that you will need to deal with as they pop up, however, with th
When David came in for the interview, he hardly said a word. I told him what we do at the bicycle Shop and showed him around. When the interview was over I told him I would keep his application on file. Then I took a few minutes to coach David on how to apply for a job. I told David to keep showing up (figuratively) because the number one thing an employer wants in an associate is dependability.
David was very quiet (he was evaluated as a slow learner in school). Every ten days or so, for weeks after the interview, David walked into the bicycle shop and stood by the front door. He never said a word, just stood by the door. I would tell him kindly, "I really do not have any positions open at this time." I wished he would go away but he kept showing up!
The shop was a very labor-intensive place to work, with students unloading trucks, assembling bicycles and lawnmowers, making repairs and waiting on customers. I usually had seventeen employees at one time, mostly high school and college students. David continued to keep coming by about every ten days. He never said a word. One day, shortly before Christmas, a large tractor-trailer backed up to the shop, packed with 250 new, unassembled bicycles. It had to be unloaded right away or the driver would leave, and it might be a long time before I could get him back for the delivery. It was raining. Some of my student workers (without physical limitations) chose not to brave the weather to get into work, so I was short handed. The place was crowded with shoppers. Frustrated customers were waiting to be served. A line formed at the counter.
It seemed everything was going wrong and on top of it, David came in the front door and just stood there. I looked at him and barked, " Well, all right! Fill out a time card and help me unload this truck!"
David worked for my bicycle shop for eighteen years. His dedication was a model for me. He came to work every day thirty minutes early. He could talk; however, he rarely chose to. He was a man of few words. He drove my truck and made deliveries. He went to the bank to make daily deposits. David would assemble and check out all of the new lawnmowers. The customers would brag about David, saying, "He doesn't talk, but he really shows you how to operate a lawnmower!"
I got into the habit of looking over at David for advice when I was making decisions. David would nod or shake his head. He helped me make a lot of good choices. Eventually, I let David run the business when I was out of the store taking care of other business.
David was a blessing. I really feel that God sent David to me. I did my best to find David a better paying job with better benefits. However, he would not leave! I learned much from him.
David drove a Corvette. One day a college student employee said, "Mr. Mike, you must be paying David more money than you do us, look at what he is driving." Within earshot, David heard. He simply held up his lunch bag, implying, "I bring my lunch. You buy your lunch. It is not how much you earn, it's how you manage your earning."
I am so glad that David kept showing up. He was my last employee when I retired after 28 years, and closed the shop. I was able to hire over eighty five women and men with physical and mental challenges and coach them into more gainful employment in the community. I would look for what they could do, not what they could not do, as it is easy to find what people cannot do. I was 98 percent successful. I had just a few results that did not work out. I found my associates to be loyal, honest, and dependable. Consciously, I worked to remove their fear of being fired by encouraging them to make business decisions freely and by not pouncing on their mistakes.
<The major part of an estimator’s job obviously is estimating job costs. In the past, doing this manually left marginal room for error. Today, with technology evolving everyday, software has been developed to reduce the chances of input error. The software offers an assortment of different templates that allow you to enter your costs, inventory and even profits. This allows you to give a more accurate estimate without leaving the jobsite. With this software, what used to take hours and even days to complete can now be completed in a fraction of the time. The software programs can be learned in a short amount of time, and are made so even those who are computer illiterate can learn them.Estimating software allows your business to operate on a higher level by making it look more professional. You are able to estimate jobs faster and more efficiently. Your business will have the appearance of stability and competence. Changes on a jobsite occur often, and in the past, when the changes occurred, it would cause the estimator large amounts of stress adding or subtracting from the estimate. With estimating software, the estimator can adjust the estimate with a few clicks of the mouse within minutes. This saves a lot of time. You can make the changes right on the jobsite and print them out for the customer to sign. It is just that easy.There are several software programs on the market today to assist you in estimating your project. However there are few features that the software must have in order to give an accurate estimate. The program must be able to allow you to break down each of the costs including inventory labor and profit. This is important to allow you to create an accurate estimate. Having a program that contains a separate vendor list is also a key feature. A good estimating software program should assist you in unde
The shop was a very labor-intensive place to work, with students unloading trucks, assembling bicycles and lawnmowers, making repairs and waiting on customers. I usually had seventeen employees at one time, mostly high school and college students. David continued to keep coming by about every ten days. He never said a word. One day, shortly before Christmas, a large tractor-trailer backed up to the shop, packed with 250 new, unassembled bicycles. It had to be unloaded right away or the driver would leave, and it might be a long time before I could get him back for the delivery. It was raining. Some of my student workers (without physical limitations) chose not to brave the weather to get into work, so I was short handed. The place was crowded with shoppers. Frustrated customers were waiting to be served. A line formed at the counter.
It seemed everything was going wrong and on top of it, David came in the front door and just stood there. I looked at him and barked, " Well, all right! Fill out a time card and help me unload this truck!"
David worked for my bicycle shop for eighteen years. His dedication was a model for me. He came to work every day thirty minutes early. He could talk; however, he rarely chose to. He was a man of few words. He drove my truck and made deliveries. He went to the bank to make daily deposits. David would assemble and check out all of the new lawnmowers. The customers would brag about David, saying, "He doesn't talk, but he really shows you how to operate a lawnmower!"
I got into the habit of looking over at David for advice when I was making decisions. David would nod or shake his head. He helped me make a lot of good choices. Eventually, I let David run the business when I was out of the store taking care of other business.
David was a blessing. I really feel that God sent David to me. I did my best to find David a better paying job with better benefits. However, he would not leave! I learned much from him.
David drove a Corvette. One day a college student employee said, "Mr. Mike, you must be paying David more money than you do us, look at what he is driving." Within earshot, David heard. He simply held up his lunch bag, implying, "I bring my lunch. You buy your lunch. It is not how much you earn, it's how you manage your earning."
I am so glad that David kept showing up. He was my last employee when I retired after 28 years, and closed the shop. I was able to hire over eighty five women and men with physical and mental challenges and coach them into more gainful employment in the community. I would look for what they could do, not what they could not do, as it is easy to find what people cannot do. I was 98 percent successful. I had just a few results that did not work out. I found my associates to be loyal, honest, and dependable. Consciously, I worked to remove their fear of being fired by encouraging them to make business decisions freely and by not pouncing on their mistakes.
<Evolution of printing is an invention comparable to creation of the alphabet or the emergence of the internet. Printing was revolutionary in its impact on educated minds and triggered a much higher rate of literacy and accessibility to books than what was possible before its emergence.Printing was invented in Germany by the inventive genius of a goldsmith known by the name of Gutenberg. Before Gutenberg used metal alloys to form printing blocks, wooden blocks or stone blocks were used for the purpose. Printing made it possible to produce exact replicas of a text. Before this every handwritten text was unique in some way or the other from other handwritten text. Author authentication was also taken lightly. With the evolution of the printing press multiple copies could be efficiently produced. With consistency in printing process and increased reliance on mechanised versions more organised versions of books appeared, with page numbers and index. Authorship was also came to acknowledged widely and perhaps this lead to the evolution of the ‘copyright’, since now several publishers could produce copies of the same text.Oral traditions have been a crucial part of any culture. Many rich ancient civilisations are known to have relied on purely oral tradition without dependence on the written word. Though the written word brought about aspects which were not explored before. Though art literature and even law were a part of oral tradition, accounts and commercial figures were not. Written records slowly became crucial for administration and industry.If the written world supplemented business, industrialisation too had a huge impact on education and the way it was imparted. With evolution of printing, books became accessible to a surprisingly large number of the population. This lead to a complete cultural change. More an
David worked for my bicycle shop for eighteen years. His dedication was a model for me. He came to work every day thirty minutes early. He could talk; however, he rarely chose to. He was a man of few words. He drove my truck and made deliveries. He went to the bank to make daily deposits. David would assemble and check out all of the new lawnmowers. The customers would brag about David, saying, "He doesn't talk, but he really shows you how to operate a lawnmower!"
I got into the habit of looking over at David for advice when I was making decisions. David would nod or shake his head. He helped me make a lot of good choices. Eventually, I let David run the business when I was out of the store taking care of other business.
David was a blessing. I really feel that God sent David to me. I did my best to find David a better paying job with better benefits. However, he would not leave! I learned much from him.
David drove a Corvette. One day a college student employee said, "Mr. Mike, you must be paying David more money than you do us, look at what he is driving." Within earshot, David heard. He simply held up his lunch bag, implying, "I bring my lunch. You buy your lunch. It is not how much you earn, it's how you manage your earning."
I am so glad that David kept showing up. He was my last employee when I retired after 28 years, and closed the shop. I was able to hire over eighty five women and men with physical and mental challenges and coach them into more gainful employment in the community. I would look for what they could do, not what they could not do, as it is easy to find what people cannot do. I was 98 percent successful. I had just a few results that did not work out. I found my associates to be loyal, honest, and dependable. Consciously, I worked to remove their fear of being fired by encouraging them to make business decisions freely and by not pouncing on their mistakes.
<You've seen it before: people who make a hullabaloo about following their dreams and then end up broke, busted and disgusted. If this has made you put your own dreams on hold, here are 5 reasons why most people fail and how to avoid making those same mistakes as you strive to make a living doing what you love.1.They don't carve out their own niche- Many aspiring singers fail for instance, because they're too busy trying to become the next Kelly Clarkson, James Brown or Michael Jackson. Same thing goes for wannabe models, writers and business people. Does the world really need what it already has? Stop trying to clone somebody else, learn from successful people by all means but project your uniqueness too. On a sheet of paper list your talents, hobbies, life experiences, educational background and practical skills. Can you infuse your culture into your work? For instance American author, Amy Tan, has made a fortune writing stories about the trials and triumphs of Chinese immigrants. If she'd tried to become the next Joan Collins she would have failed to convince her audience. Think, ‘how can my life experiences, education and practical skills contribute toward creating my desired lifestyle?' Thoughtfully write down the answers to these questions. If you require further insight, get some feedback from family and friends. Work with what you've got- it's more than enough.2. They don't perfect their craft- You'd be surprised how many times an actor rehearses for a single movie scene or how many times a writer has to proofread a manuscript. Some dreamers think that raw talent will fetch them a fortune overnight. When crude oil is drilled out of the earth's crust is it supplied to gas stations right away? No one shells out their hard earned money to amateurs. Work on your skills so that you can compete with the best in the world
David drove a Corvette. One day a college student employee said, "Mr. Mike, you must be paying David more money than you do us, look at what he is driving." Within earshot, David heard. He simply held up his lunch bag, implying, "I bring my lunch. You buy your lunch. It is not how much you earn, it's how you manage your earning."
I am so glad that David kept showing up. He was my last employee when I retired after 28 years, and closed the shop. I was able to hire over eighty five women and men with physical and mental challenges and coach them into more gainful employment in the community. I would look for what they could do, not what they could not do, as it is easy to find what people cannot do. I was 98 percent successful. I had just a few results that did not work out. I found my associates to be loyal, honest, and dependable. Consciously, I worked to remove their fear of being fired by encouraging them to make business decisions freely and by not pouncing on their mistakes.
I encouraged my employees to constantly look to better themselves, whether it was within my company or somewhere else. I loved to coach them on how to apply for jobs and encouraged them to tell their prospective employers, "Please do not look at my disability.
Look at my ability. Let me show you what I can do. I am honest, I am dependable, and I am willing to listen and learn." I told my associates if they left me for a better job and it did not work out, they could always come back. I looked for better paying jobs for my employees so I could hire more people with limitations who needed a place to enter the job market. I was blessed beyond my fondest dreams when I hired people with physical and mental challenges. Listening to and learning from them was a bountiful gift sent to me.
Only expectations can limit people. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Your team members are not perfect and that's okay.
They can still do excellent things. When I graduated from school, I was connected with a group of thirty people that made a pact to stick together for life. One particular girl is the leader. She has kept us all together for years with a newsletter that announces weddings, births, engagements and deaths (3 so far). As years go by, the twenty seven remaining are scattered around the world. Our leader arranges community projects each month for all of us to participate in, no matter where we are located. Our pact is to "hit and run"-we do good without getting credit, which is the whole idea. Knowing that no one knows makes us feel good. It helps me to walk around with a smile most of the time. We have a secret.
One day I answered the phone at my bicycle shop and our leader was on the phone. She said that I was to be in Lafayette, Louisiana that Sunday for a community project. We were to entertain forty abused children. I was to bring potato chips and soft drinks. The girls would decorate the children's faces, and we would give them gifts and play games. The event was at a oil field playground at noon. The members of the group of twenty seven that were out of town or out of the country had to call a pay phone at the shelter on the playground at a certain time of the day. Everyone had to participate in some way- no matter what time it was where he or she was calling from. Everyone was expected to participate. When I hung up the phone, I called Tony, who worked for me answering the phones at my store. He had been in an auto accident when he was sixteen and was now confined to a wheel chair. He did not go out much and I thought it would be good for him. He was so happy I called, and his mother said that she would have him ready for nine o'clock on Sunday morning. When I hung up the phone, Kenny, one of my cashiers, asked if he could go with us. I told him not to listen in on my phone conversations anymore! Then I said, "Okay, but you must be in front of the bicycle shop on Sunday morning at ten o'clock because it takes two hours to get to Lafayette from New Orleans." Born with cerebral palsy, Kenny relied on crutches to walk.
That Sunday morning, I said good-bye to my understanding wife and I picked up Tony. As I drove up to the shop for Kenny, I saw he was with a young man who was also using crutches for support. Kenny said, "This is my friend Richard. I knew you wouldn't mind if he came along. He does not get out much." I helped the men get into the back seat of my Ford van, set their crutches on top of Tony's folded wheelchair in the back, and we were off to Lafayette. Tony, Kenny and I talked all the way to Lafayette. Richard said very little. At the playground, we fixed hot dogs for the children. The girls painted faces and we gave out presents. The music was wonderful. As we say in Louisiana, "We passed a good time."
On the trip back home, it was starting to get dark as we approached Baton Rouge. Everyone got quiet and rode in silence. I could hear the tires on the road and every once in awhile I could hear Tony, sitting next to me, sigh under his breath, "O
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