Here is another opportunity to select solutions to a problem that every company is facing. This could be your chance to become a hero and increase your company profitability. But, don’t move too fast to produce a product, which is not properly tested. The legal impact could become a devastating tidal wave of lawsuits. If you are not sure, do not present the product to the marketplace.

One caution for everyone impacted by this new government requirement, make sure any new software has a penalty clause within the agreement in case the program fails to perform as promised. Yes this will add to your overhead because of the required monitoring, but you must comply or face fines from the IRS. Ouch!!!

Some micro businesses with 5 or less employees could be hit hard by this requirement. It may cause companies on the edge to close up shop. I think the true impact on employment will not be known for a couple of years when the IRS starts handing out fines.

So comply or die.

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

So if you are out of a job, it may be time to be more creative. Are you using your social networking accounts like Twitter, Face Book, My Space and Linked In? When you are looking for work, you are a marketing person. You are your product! Your image needs to be polished and presented in an orderly and logical fashion. You also need to be found easily by potential employers. You may be a gem, but it does not help if employees can’t find you. You need more then just a resume. Many Human Resource departments receive 10 – 500 resumes each day without advertising openings. Larger companies have resorted to software that will search for key words embedded in the resume. It your resume has enough of the targeted key words, it is passed on for review. If it did not meet the mark, it is deleted before anyone sees it.

Creativity and connections help most people land a new job. At that point, your skills and work ethic, will determine if you retain the job.

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

We have a cultural flaw of wanting to blame someone when things go wrong. “Heads must roll,” when major errors are discovered, but I ask Why. We all make mistakes. When a manager attempts to shame or blame someone for a mishap, does it increase morale or profits? When the culprit is exposed, are you any closer to correcting the error? No. You have only made things worse. Your blood pressure increases and your abilities to creatively solve the problem are diminished. You actually train your employees to cover things up, rather then expose themselves to your wrath or demoralization. You become unsafe for honest communication with your employees.

I suggest converting the problem into a productive learning situation to prevent this error from being repeated by other members of the team. I liked bringing these issues up at our weekly Safety Meetings. I did not want to embarrass anyone. I wanted all of the team to be come better at what we do.

When I worked as a project manager, I told my supervisors that I did not want to know who committed an error unless it was habitual. I wanted to solve the problem with the least negative impact to the project. After awhile, I was told about problems and discovered the correction was already underway. My supervisors were learning to become pro-active with less of my involvement. I let them know that I needed to know about any problems, just incase something came up during a meeting with our customer. Being able to respond positively to our customers, continued to build confidence that they had hired the right company for the job.

True leaders don’t blame, they direct and inspire others to solve the problem and get back on course.

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC – Management & Operations Professionals

Last fall a number of studies were conducted indicating that many employees wanted to leave their jobs. Employees stayed because they were afraid of unemployment and the time it would take to find another job. So they put up with managers turning up the pressure and demanding more. But the tables are starting to turn. Both USA Today and the Harvard Business Review have recently published articles citing the new trend.

“There is going to be a mass exodus of the top performers as the economy starts to turn around,” says Razor Suleman, a consultant who helps companies retain their best workers.

About 25% of companies’ top performers said they plan to leave their current job within a year, according to a survey published in the May edition of the Harvard Business Review. By contrast, in 2006, just 10% planned to leave their jobs within a year. The survey questioned 20,000 workers who were identified by their employers as “high potential.” USA Today

Many workers are tired of all the pressure, stress and lack of appreciation at work. Mark Weidman said, “The grass may not be greener somewhere else, but hopefully there is less B/S.” Labor & Industries indicates that workman’s compensation insurance premiums have been increasing because of additional claims.

How will you prevent key employees from leaving your company? Most companies can’t afford pay increases. That is probably the wrong strategy anyhow. During stressful times, the increase has a higher potential to disappoint then motivate. Money simply isn’t enough. Employees want to be appreciated and feel that they belong.

If you receive a ticket and are planning that the police officer will not show up to court, think again. Some cities are paying officers overtime to attend traffic court battles.

Traffic fines are stiff with many resulting in hundreds of dollars go to the municipality. And then there is the increase in insurance premiums. All in all it can be quite costly to drive an additional 5 or 10 miles per hour. In most cases your increased speed only means a few minuets in arrival time. So slow down and save the money and frustration.

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

We are the Baby Boomers of the 50’s, Hippies of the late 60’s and now Grandparents. Some of us fought in Viet Nam, while returning later on vacation. We have experience in life and work, but this recession has been a little different. It’s been going on for two years at this point and has devastated middle management. When we were downsized, many of us were not replaced. Others were traded for some whiz kid, 26 years old, with an MBA, but little actual experience.

We have seen many changes in our lifetime, but it’s time to change again. Take your talent, knowledge and experience, put it to use in your own company. This is a time of great opportunity because business is changing once more. Many of the huge corporations and smaller companies are in need of talent, but management is afraid of committing to a full time employee. They would rather hire you as a contract worker or vendor. You can charge more for your services because you are providing your own benefits. They will hire you because you have the know how to get things done.

It will all start with a business plan to lay out your strategy to fill the void in your customer’s business. Seek sound advise during the organizational stage of your company to determine your most profitable customers and those business activities you need to outsource. Remember the plan is to make money, not to work yourself into a heart attack.

Call or E-mail me. We can discuss your new career and business venture.

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

503-702-0930

E-mail: ken@aslbc.com

There is a solution. PrePaid Legal is a membership of people who pay a low monthly fee for access to quality lawyers. You know, the way medical insurance worked in the past.

How they keep the bums out:

• Law firms are given a 60-day contract. If there are valid complaints they can be dropped.
• Each firm must be AV rated (top rating for peer reviewed law firms)
• The law firms need to invest approximately $70,000 of computer hardware and software.
• They are monitored daily with automatic reports indicating the following:

1. Number of clients served that day.
2. Time of call and time of response by an attorney.
3. Number of outstand calls not responded to that day.
4. All inquires must be responded to within 24 hours.

• If a member received less then great service and advice, they are encouraged to call PrePaid Legal’s home office to report the issue. An investigator will research the issue and get back to the member.

PrePaid Legal has over 1.6 million members. There are no long-term contracts. The service is on a month-to-month basis.

Other companies are attempting to offer a similar service, but PrePaid has been offering the service since 1972. That’s a very long learning curve.

Click the following link for more information.

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

Preventative:

• Get advice before you make decisions. This is especially important for those who have never successfully started a business. Having run a failed business is not a qualification for success.
• Plan your route before you start the journey. The more you understand your customer and why they purchase, the better your chances of success.
• Write out a business plan for the first two years of operation. Describe in detail what will be required and define success. Expenses, Capital Requirements, Location, Equipment Requirements, Advertising, Marketing Plan, Key Personnel, Anticipated Monthly Cash Flow.
• List your team. Record Keeping, Legal Advice, State & Federal Compliance, Suppliers and Bank.

You Have Lost Your Way:

• Your business is going nowhere.
• No clearly defined customer.
• Working hard with little positive cash flow.

Response to Problems:

Symptoms:

• Business not generating enough profit to pay the owners.
• Orders not delivered on time.
• Employee morale down.
• Theft or vandalism at work.
• Customers not re-ordering.

The above are symptoms of a greater problem within your organization.

New Rules:

• Considering diversification of services or products. This will require a new business plan for your new venture.
• Market is shifting. If your market is shifting, you need to redefine your customer and market size. There are usually great opportunities in shifting markets.
• Technology Advances. Where is the market for outdated equipment? It does exist!

For more information, call for a free consultation.

503-702-0930

Cost does not determine which of the two are Linchpins. Well-paid employees become cogs if they fail to meet objectives and goals or are easily replaced. A minimum wage worker could be a Linchpin when their dependable actions influence and support the success of a project.

While working as a project manager, I had a large project, which included the replacement of parts in a variety of light fixtures. The light fixtures operated on either 120 volts or 277 volts. The ballasts were also specific to the six different types of fixtures in the project. My seasoned electricians cost $47.23 per hour. They were to do most of the work. My material handler cost $12.03 per hour. His job was to deliver new parts to the electricians and remove the old parts for disposal. Which workers do you think were linchpins? If you chose the material handler you are correct. If this one person did not do his job properly, it would delay production, possibly damage the fixture, and or create a fire in the building.

This project also came with additional incentives to complete it on or before the given time frame. My contract indicated that I would be penalized $5,000 per day for time over runs; but I could also receive $300 per day for finishing early. I am glad to say that we collected an additional $4,500 on the project and my material handler was the only person to receive a $100 gift certificate to a fine local restaurant. He was the linchpin!

• Who are the linchpins in your organization?
• What have you done to show your appreciation?

Ken Bear Cole

A Second Look Business Consulting LLC

Thousands of people are without jobs today. For some, it is to no fault of their own. Their company simply needed to reduce staff or went out of business. But most feel wounded and diminished because of their temporary inability to contribute income and financial security.

Similar feelings tend to erupt when a businessperson discovers their services terminated or product orders cancelled because of quality. An honest examination is required to determine the cause of the problem and make adjustments. This should lead you toward greatness, because you are being offered a gift and opportunity to examine what is needed to become better. All great people and businesses must have the ability to recover from wounds and injuries. For those with inadequate financial resources, you may need to close your business and start over. Though it is extremely painful, hopefully the experience has made you wiser and more capable for future ventures.

As long as you do not give into the destructive lies that accuse You of failure, you can continue to grow closer to greatness.

Ken Bear Cole

A Second look Business Consulting LLC