Archives for September 2018

Communication Breakdown

September 18, 2018 by Mike McRitchie Leave a Comment

“I need this building permit picked up today.

It expires today and we don’t have a GC [general contractor] assigned who can get it. Can you take care of it?”

That was the exercise that landed in my email box on Friday.

Now first off know that Fridays suck as a day for visiting jurisdictions. Many aren’t even open on Fridays. The good news was this one was open.

The second problem is people have a habit of disappearing on Fridays. Taking vacations or just disappearing. You know…they just aren’t reachable for some reason.

So here I am trying to round up a way to pull this permit so it doesn’t expire.

So I email my go-to guy who has a guy (doesn’t everyone have a guy?) who drives all over Northern California to pick up permits. That’s his job. And he does it well.

I’m feeling pretty good that this thing can happen.

So I get an email back. Yes. Can probably make it happen. Just need the permit information. I realize when I forwarded the email the building permit PDF wasn’t attached. No problem. Resent with the attachment. All good.

And then it wasn’t.

“Communication Breakdown…It’s Always The Same…” – Led Zeppelin

This jurisdiction doesn’t take credit cards. Need a check. Now in the old days that would have been a deal killer. Because ordering a check means a week-long process (the corporate guys had a funny issue with local markets spending and not accounting for their petty cash fund very well and having to spend a boatload of time following up to get the receipts).

But it this case we’re better. We have check writing ability in our market. Yeah 🙂

So all I need is a…Oracle number.

That beautiful, wonderful 7-digit accounting number that lets me charge stuff to a project.

One problem…

I’ve never had to give anyone an Oracle number for this project. It is a new project. And my boss is the one who does the finances for the program. And given that it is a program management project where we’re not doing the day to day site acquisition and construction work directly, we don’t cut many (at this point any) checks. And the other expenses are all automatically coded to the right 7-digit Oracle number automatically behind the scenes. I don’t see them.

Thus my quandary.

Now normally I’d ask my boss right? Logical question since he does the the PO’s and invoicing. He, or his accounting staff, would have that right at their fingertips. Easy, peasy.

Another problem. He’s in the hospital.

Not good.

How about my boss’s boss. He should know it too.

…

He’s in the hospital too.

…I hope this isn’t something I can catch. Maybe wireless isn’t a good line of work…

Not a big deal. This is a big company with lots of people. Just ask, right?

So I start with my local project controls person from my last project. She’ll know, right? I call her.

No answer. Voicemail.

Who else?

I try the guy who codes our expense checks. But he does what he’s always done. And it is automatically coded so he doesn’t have the number either.

So I email a guy on the same program but in another region (found him on an email my boss sent).

No answer to my phone call but after I email him he doesn’t know but forwards to someone he thinks might know.

So I call my friend in the Seattle market who I worked with up there and asked her. She did all the data stuff so thought she might have a hack to find the info. Nope. She only does the data side and doesn’t know how to track that bugger down. But she gives me her accounting guru and says she probably has a way to find out.

So I call her. Voicemail. Nothing.

Beach in Cabo with Drink in Hand

So I call another friend at the company who works in the Seattle market. I reach him. Perfect. Only problem. He’s in Cabo on vacation. He’s got a drink in his hand on the beach…he’s got the right idea…but he doesn’t know either. Darn.

So I think. There was a guy who set things up nationally initially. He was a data guy. Let’s call him.

Get him on the phone. Awesome. Only problem. He was laid off two weeks prior due to the site count reduction on the program. And he doesn’t know anyway. But if I know of a job opening, he’s open to referrals.

Okay. Starting to run out of go-to people to run this down.

Then it happens.

Ding, ding, ding.

I get an email back from one of my guy’s guys. The winning golden ticket. The 7-digit Oracle number.

It has only taken half a day to track down. But I’ve got it. I send it to the guy who will have the permit picked up.

He’s off and running.

But…

He calls the jurisdiction and finds out…

It has already been picked up.

WHAT??? (or insert appropriate expletive)

When this whole thing started there was a GC who we’d been talking to about picking up this permit. They said since the project hadn’t been bid out yet they weren’t willing to pick up our BP without having the award of work.

So we’d moved on to other options.

But in the meantime they thought, “We can’t let this expire and have to have the permit started from scratch. That would suck. We’re a good company who cares. We should just pick it up anyway and see where things head with this project. We should help them out.”

Good thought process.

Only problem.

They didn’t tell anyone they were doing it.

Communication breakdown.

…and as all those in wireless telecom know. We suck at communicating.

Impressing Luxury Clients

September 17, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Impressing clients, getting them involved in your company and ultimately, taking their money, is essential to the success of your business. As a new business, with a tiny budget, you might stick to taking clients for businesses lunches or hiring conference rooms for meetings. You might even stretch to the odd corporate event or dinner party. You might just rely on your products and marketing campaign to do the talking. This is great and is certain to appeal to some clients. But, at some point, in order to take your business further, you need to do more. You’ll need to attract luxury clients, who aren’t going to be impressed by a novelty event or party. You need to offer more.

Think Quality, Not Quantity

Loads of events throughout the year and a huge range of cheap products appeal to some. But, if you want to attract a high-end client or customer, you need to hold back. Cut back on your product range, and what you are offering, and instead focus on quality. Save your money and time and devote it to coming up with luxury options of very high quality. Think of it like a restaurant. Cheaper establishments often offer a massive menu. All easy, cheap and fast to prepare. Not particularly tasty or nutritious. A more premium establishment provides a much smaller menu. The food is more expensive, of a higher quality and takes longer to cook. But it tastes much better.

Offer Personalization

High-end clients are used to personalization. Their holidays are personalized, they buy products that are made just for them, and their décor is one of a kind. Offering customized trips and gifts might be out of your price range, but that isn’t the only way to do it. When a luxury client gets in touch or makes an order, send them a handwritten thank you note and keep in touch. Sometimes, it’s the little things.

Use a Private JetOf all of the private jets in use by businesses, most of them are flown by small firms and companies. Read more about business aviation news to learn more. A flight in a private jet screams luxury and appeals to everyone. If you can’t afford your own, hire one for the day or consider a timeshare with other small businesses in your area.

Establish Credibility

High-end clients have got the money to be fussy. They can take their time to choose the right brand for them. So, they’re never going to pick a small company that they know nothing about. So, spend some time boosting your credibility. Define your marketing strategy, get feedback from your customers and get people talking about your brand. Make sure you’ve gained a reputation as a company that’s sustainable, great for customers and a fantastic employer.

Branding

Branding is crucial when it comes to attracting clients, especially those of a higher caliber. Your branding should be smart, easy to read and understand. It should stand out from the crowd and be easy to remember, but it should also get people talking. Speak to a branding expert for help if this isn’t your field.

Time Is Money – Here’s How To Make Yours Work Harder

September 16, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Time is the most valuable resource at any business owner’s disposal, which is why it’s so vital that you learn to make the most of yours. Until you do, it’ll be impossible to unlock the true potential of the venture.

While you may fear that this will require wholesale changes to the operation, the simple upgrades are often the best. Learn to incorporate these five ideas into yours, and you should see noticeable improvements.

Focus on efficient communication. Team meetings are an important feature but allowing them to go on too long can waste a lot of time for several employees. Keep the meetings to 20 minutes and use team messaging and digital tools to relay important messages following this. Aside from actively reducing the time designated to the meetings, it helps you to maintain focus. Allowing the meetings to last too long could easily see them digress into insignificant chatter.
Get on top of your admin. From hiring junior staff to complete simple tasks to using templates invoices, all positive steps should be taken. This will ensure a level of speed and accuracy like never before, enabling you to focus on actively driving the venture forward. The fact that it keeps your venture on the right track from a legal perspective is another factor that should not be overlooked. Fail to do this, and the end of the fiscal year could be an utter nightmare.
Let your social media interactions work more seamlessly by using automation. Not only does this save valuable time, but it allows you to hit audiences from multiple directions. This will encourage a far better response rate, which will hopefully lead to more conversions. Apart from anything else, this can also be a great way to eradicate preventable mistakes from the admin side of posting to multiple channels. Given that you use this every day, it will have a telling impact on the outcomes.

Solve customer issues before they even have to reach you. Mistakes will happen in business while some clients are likely to get confused about certain factors too. Adding a fair returns policy and a clear FAQ to your website removes a lot of ambiguity and lets them find support without needing to hassle you. Their lack of frustration can encourage loyalty while you’ll be left to do other vital tasks. For the sake of your staff, clients, and self, this aspect is essential.
Get rid of unnecessary elements. Most businesses are guilty of persisting with ideas that don’t work. Whether it’s a marketing plan, an individual service, or something else does not matter. Learn to track everything in business, including employee activities. The quicker you spot an issue and rectify, the sooner you can get back to working at the maximum capacity. Running a business is hard enough without having those things weighing you down. Do not forget it.

Making time work harder doesn’t suddenly guarantee success in business. Still, it does instantly give you a better shot at sustained success. Better still, once you’ve mastered this task, you’ll have more time to address other issues.

Remodel Your Home for a More Practical and Pristine Vibe

September 16, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

When you walk through your front door you often struggle to feel inspired; your house has become a practical place to sleep, eat your dinner and sit on the couch on a Friday night. As a career driven person you have put the interior design of your home to the bottom of your to-do list and it’s finally time to make a change for the better.

Whether you’re looking to protect your home through the winter, make it a more creative space to work or build your family’s forever home for the future, there are so many renovations that you can make to your home in a quick and simple way. No matter what kind of budget you are working with, you will soon find that your creativity starts to shine when remodelling your home.

You will need some help from the experts in the very beginning, but you will soon have the freedom to make all of the changes you want.

You might feel the need to make your home more family friendly, with more outdoor features for the children. If this kind of style doesn’t sound right for you, then why not opt for the minimalistic approach?

Giving your home a makeover is everybody’s personal choice, so it is up to you to make all of the important decisions yourself. As long as you have a vague idea in mind about your vibe, colour schemes and remodeling options you will soon have the most practical and pristine home in town.

Modern Remodeling

When it comes to remodeling your home, you should always seek out the expert advice and help from a reputable remodeling company. With their help and expertise you can trust their judgments and have minimal disruption to your day to day life. Companies such as Schemel-Tarrillion Inc will always have their client’s best interests at heart, so there will be no need for you to move out and relocate whilst they remodel your kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms or any other aspect of your home. Whether it’s a complete lounge refitting or a small tweak to your wooden flooring, they will have it covered for you.

Outdoor Overhaul

Your home makeover wouldn’t be complete without a change up to your outdoor space. It completely depends on how much space you have to work with, so don’t worry if you only have a small backyard. There are many ways in which you can revamp your outdoor space, from small changes to your plants and trees to a brand new summer house installation.

Try and plant some flowers than will blossom with the seasons and choose complimenting colour schemes to match your preferences. You might need to make your garden more family friendly by building a fence around a pond or installing a swing set. Do whatever is right for you and grab inspiration from gardening magazines and landscaping experts.

Home Office Happiness

When you run a business from home it is very important to get your office space practical and pristine right from the very beginning. You need a separate space in your home to get your work done, otherwise you can easily become distracted and unmotivated.

Choose a calming colour scheme that gets your brain into work mode straight away. Whether it’s a soothing neutral white or a chilled out sky blue; your preference is what is important here. Find some simple storage solutions online that can keep your desk and documents all in order.

When your home office is neat and tidy, your creative mind will be much more productive.

Pristine Paintwork

Certain colours and patterns can make your home look bigger, so make sure you use these techniques as much as you can. People often become perplexed when it comes to remodeling a smaller or more limited home, but there are so many options out there ready to be explored.

Opt for white paint for your walls and ceiling when you can; this bright colour will truly open up even the smallest of rooms. Place mirrors on the walls opposite natural light whenever you can too, because this will give you the illusion of a larger space.

When it comes to painting your rooms a brand new colour, make sure you get plenty of samples from the hardware store before you take the leap and paint the entire room. You might find the shade looks a lot darker once you actually paint it within the space. Most paint samples will be free of charge, so you won’t have to worry too much about blowing your budget on these.

Go Greener

Whilst your home undergoes a makeover, it might be time to think about how you can improve your carbon footprint. Often an eco-friendly home is much cheaper to run, so start thinking about ways to save energy, cut back on water consumption and keep your home insulated.

You might also want to consider growing your own herbs and vegetables, as this will help to reduce plastic packaging and waste on a daily basis. Freshly grown ingredients always taste so much more delicious, so give it a go, even if you are dubious at the start.

Living Space Luxury

Your living room is arguably the most-used room in the entire house, so you want to make it look and feel as welcoming and luxurious as possible. Think about your set up and whether you have an open plan kitchen and dining room or seperate rooms. During the remodeling of your home, you might wish to open up the space a little more so that you can enjoy a more spacious vibe throughout the entire house.

Family Friendly Features

Perhaps your motivation for changing up your home is due to the fact that your family is expanding. Perhaps you have a new arrival on the way and need to boost the safety features in your home. Baby proofing can be a time consuming task, but you should always make sure you do this thoroughly to avoid potential dangers to your little one. You might also need to redecorate a room and invest in new furniture for a nursery; this is an exciting time for you so enjoy the process as much as you can.

Seasonal Saviness

Your home needs to be adaptable to the different seasons, so make sure you take this into consideration when purchasing all of your accessories and cozy comforts. In the winter time you want to come home to thick duvets, dark woods and fluffy blankets on the sofa. In summer it is much better to keep your rooms light, bright and free of clutter. With autumn quickly approaching you might find it useful to start transitioning to the new seasons slowly. You can purchase a tonne of beautiful autumn accessories and soft furnishings that will compliment your personal style and new home decor.

Minimal Magic

The minimal look is extremely popular right now, so try to throw out all of that unwanted, useless junk that you no longer need. You might want to hire a skip for the week so you can quickly and easily get rid of your unnecessary items. Having a good old clear out in your home means that you can truly start a fresh and start to think about how you really want to utilise all of this new space. You will soon find that rooms seem bigger and cupboards seem more spacious after a much needed decluttering session.

When you think about all of the things you could change about your home it can all become a little overwhelming; with so many options available to you it can be difficult to know where to start and how to progress.

In the initial stages all you need to do is contact a reputable remodeling company who will be able to advise you on what would work for your home. As long as you have a vague idea in your mind, the rest will quickly follow.

When you run your business you often have to think creatively and quickly. Use your business acumen to create the home of your dreams instead of settling for second best.

There are so many successful business people out there who don’t spend enough time on their home. They throw themselves into their business and forget that home life is extremely important too.

As long as you strive for what you want you will soon become more content with your work life and your home life. Whether you take on a huge remodeling project in your backyard, touch up the paintwork in your living area or create the perfect family friendly environment you can be sure that your hard work and efforts will pay off.

Remodeling your home will not happen overnight, but you will start to see positive changes over time. As long as you put your trust in the experts and stick with your personal tastes, your home makeover will be worth all of your time, effort and money.

Up Your Pinterest Marketing Game

September 14, 2018 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

The world of social media is one which never stands still for long. And while you may have been focusing all your attention on Facebook and Twitter, there is plenty that you can do with the other major platforms out there. If you have never really focused much on Pinterest, there is a lot that you can do with it.

Pinterest can be used to promote your business or on a more personal level like Jos Opdeweegh. But you can’t simply start uploading pictures and assume that you are going to enjoy the type of success that you are looking for. So, here are a few tips which are designed to help you out with your Pinterest efforts.

Pin Consistently

The whole point of social media is that you make updates on a regular basis. Otherwise, you are not going to be able to attract the type of following that you are looking for. Ideally, you should pin something on a daily basis, and you should also work out which times are likely to generate the most attention. Evenings and weekends tend to be the best times to generate some interest. Try to make a plan in advance so that you always have things to pin on a regular basis.

Focus on Strong Visuals

Since Pinterest is a very visual platform, it makes sense that you make the images as strong as possible. Your photos need to be clear, well-lit, and in-focus. You may well not have the time, tools or skills necessary to create your own imagery, but there are plenty of stock photo websites out there with imagery which is waiting to be used by you. Ask yourself how you are going to present your brand and/or products in the best possible light. It is worth bearing in mind that lifestyle imagery tends to perform a lot better than product imagery.

Don’t Neglect the Copy

While we have just talked about what a visual medium Pinterest is, this doesn’t mean that you should simply ignore the words on the page. An image on its own doesn’t tell the whole story. The description field needs to be used to tell users what they will find if they click through to your main website. Include some important keywords to help users out in their searches. Of course, this needs to be done in a natural way as you don’t want to pay the penalty for keyword stuffing.

Get Social Yourself

The clue is in the name ‘social media’ – you need to be social yourself! As well as posting your own content, you need to follow other boards and accounts. You also need to actively ‘like’ other Pins which are directly involved in your own specialism or niche.

Like any other online marketing activity, it takes some time before you work out a formula which works well for you. But these are just some of the basic tips which can prove to be useful to your business.