Introduction
It's so easy to stop your employees doing what you say you want them to do. Yet many managers unwittingly do so. You lead by example. Check these examples to see whether you might be a "performance stopper".

1. The Slack Timekeeper. You schedule your weekly staff meeting for 8.45am. All but 2 of your team are on time. You don't start the meeting until they arrive at 9.10 am. The same occurs for the three consecutive weeks.

On the fourth week only 2 people arrive on time. Everyone else is at least 20 minutes late.

By holding up the meeting for the 2 latecomers in the first and subsequent weeks, you're virtually telling all your staff that lateness doesn't matter. And you're telling the punctual staff that you don't care if they're inconvenienced by others' unpunctuality.

2. The Deadline Breaker. You set a very specific d ... Читать дальше »

For anyone who has ever reckoned it a liability to be a slacker or has been made to feel self-conscious of their natural desire to disdain the tedium of trying to look busy, the television show, The Office, offers a redeeming image to the unfortunate enmity that slackers have had to endure over time. Essentially, the show is a virtual paean to the art of slacking. The boss, Michael, is the representative dunce of the office, preferring to occupy his time contriving jests rather than doing anything remotely close to constructive work; a satirical twist on the usual charge of slacking attributed to the employees by the boss.

As one of his more critical employees, Stanley, says, he is either a genius or preeminently clueless. In either case, their branch enjoys great success in the otherwise waning fortune of the paper industry. By liberating the office employees from putting on a pretense of hard work, he encourages them, through example, to adopt the self same mockery t ... Читать дальше »

Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC

Whether you are a volunteer Gala Chair or a paid Special Events Manager, you want your event to be a success. Let's look at some investments which will make your job easier and make you look good!

1. Invest your time upfront in placing volunteers into appropriate roles where they can shine.

Not all auction volunteers are created equal. To ensure fewer headaches for you later, make an effort early in the process to get to know your volunteers and committee members. Learn their interests and strengths.

Two years ago my friend launched the first-ever Reading Festival in her Kansas hometown with the help of her Altrusa Club members. As a former human resources manager, interviewing club members for the right volunteer role came easily to her. Sometimes the "interview" was a simple conversation over coffee. That often provided my friend with enough information to determine if her fellow Club mem ... Читать дальше »

Reverse mortgages continue to grow in popularity among senior citizens seeking to tap into the equity they’ve established in their homes. But despite their widespread use, reverse mortgages are still a source of mystery among many homeowners. The following list addresses some of the more common myths associated with the reverse mortgage loan process.
Myth 1: The bank can take my home whenever they like
With a reverse mortgage, the homeowner retains the title to the home. As long as the standard obligations – such as keeping the home maintained and paying for property taxes and home insurance – are met, the homeowner cannot be forced out of the home. The loan does not become due until the homeowner permanently leaves the home, at which time the borrower or his or her heirs must repay the mortgage, often through sale of the home.

Myth 2: When the ... Читать дальше »

Like a jewel in the crown of the UAE, the city of Dubai is not only one of the fastest growing but is also famous as an epicenter for employment and new job opportunities. Being truly cosmopolitan, Dubai welcomes every one with open arms and is therefore regarded as the city of dreams for many desirous of getting here to earn and live.

While we admit that Dubai too has been hit by the recessionary effect that has taken the USA and Europe within its grasp, many are hopeful that the worst is over and prosperity will return to the Gulf next year. In other words, the hordes of expatriates that have left this year have reduced to a trickle and life is slowly returning
to normal.

With life picking up in the emirate, some brave new souls have been returning to these shores. They are typically being seen looking at job opportuni ... Читать дальше »

Most of us know that twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. In this article, we will discuss how small business can utilize twitter effectively.

Earlier in twitter, group following was not possible. On the basis of users’ feedback, twitter has launched new features “Twitter List”. It enables group relationships beyond following each other. Anyone can create and publish twitter lists, so if you have a new idea for one, just click "New list" in the sidebar of your Twitter account. Add accounts to a list using the "Lists" drop drown on a twitter profile page.

Twitter list has some incredible benefits for small businesses in how they can organize or otherwise endorse people they follow. There are no best practices for using Twitter Lists. However, we will share some great ideas to spark your imagination.

The basic requirements to set up a company, incorporation procedure, time-line and statutory compliance are some of the factors that need to be taken into account while determining the ease of setting up a company in a given jurisdiction. This article presented by www.guidemesingapore.com contrasts the company registration and related statutory requirements for two of the major countries in Asia namely Singapore and India.

FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
Singapore does not impose any restrictions on foreigners who wish to do business in the country. It allows 100% foreign ownership (i.e. shareholding) of a Singapore private limited company. Any foreign individual or a foreign entity can register a company in Singapore. No special approvals or formalities are required and the new entity can engage in any lawful business activity.

In India, foreign entrepreneurs can set up a fore ... Читать дальше »

If you’re thinking about purchasing a boat, but you’re not that savvy when it comes to marine and automotive mechanics, it might be helpful to learn about a few parts. If you experience problems with your new boat or yacht, you might have a harder time pinpointing the issue than you might with your land vehicle.

Just as an automotive engine needs a cooling system for the engine to stay cool enough to drive, a boat needs marine engine fuel coolers and marine engine oil coolers to keep your boat running properly. These cooling systems work, both in cars and boats, by circulating water through the engine cooling systems. There are two main types of cooling systems, raw water and fresh water.

Raw water cooling systems draw water in from the outside of the boat and run it through the engine’s cooling system. The only long-term problem with these types of marine engine fuel coolers is when you use salt water for coolant. Over time the salt in the water co ... Читать дальше »

When you run a boutique, you really have a lot of creative freedom with your displays. You can get really inventive and turn just about anything into a decoration. But, there are some basic things that you should keep in mind when decorating your boutique this Christmas.

Write down what you want people to think about your boutique. Do you want them to feel like your boutique is eclectic? Maybe you would rather stick to vintage. Some boutiques need a really sophisticated feel. Some like a more classic environment. The environment in the store adds to your boutique’s appeal. You need to make sure that the decorations and displays that you choose for the holiday still fit in well with your overall plan for the store. It’s all about building that image and branding yourself. Straying too far from what you originally intended will confuse the customers as to what you’re all about.

The holidays can be an exciting time in retail, but they can also be very stressful on owners and employees of retail stores and boutiques. No matter how much overtime you have to work and how many frustrations you face this season, make sure that your customers are not aware and are taken care of. Use these tips to train your employees on keeping the customer happy, regardless of the season stressors.

The first thing to consider is the atmosphere of the store. With the right tone, customers and employees will stay on the calm side. Avoid harsh lights and loud or repetitive music. Keeping things on a quiet and organized level will improve everyone’s outlook. Keep your clothing racks and displays orderly and fully stocked. Make an hourly round and check to make sure that things look nice and neat. Disarray can lead to agitation for both the customer and the worker.

... Читать дальше »

In another positive sign for the U.S. economy, fewer-than-expected job losses in November and an unexpected plunge in the unemployment rate helped send markets opening higher this morning.

The Labor Department has determined that 11,000 jobs were lost due to unemployment in November, considerably fewer than the estimated 125,000 unemployment losses from a survey of economists at Bloomberg News. The unemployment is also far below ADP's figure of 169,000 job losses earlier this week, which had been cited in a blog Wednesday by Zacks senior strategist Dirk van Dijk, CFA.

In addition, overall unemployment reduced from 10.2% to 10% in the month -- a further signal that the U.S. economy is finding its footing.

That's the first word that comes to mind -- wow! The Unemployment Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was far better than anticipated, with a loss of only 11,000 jobs in November. Consensus expectations were for the unemployment re ... Читать дальше »

With goods being constantly shipped all around the world international cargo companies and shipping services have a major role to play. They not only ensure that cargoes arrive at their destinations safely, but also that the cargo has been shipped within the various laws and regulations governing international trade. These companies provide a useful service for those who regularly export goods, and especially for those sending goods overseas for the first time.

When you are preparing to send goods overseas, it is not only important that they are packed correctly to ensure they come through the journey unscathed but they must also comply with the various export and import laws, including any duties to be paid. International cargo companies and shipping services are able to assist with these matters and deal with the requisite documentation in both exporting and importing goods, both at home and abroad.

No matter the size of a business, it must have an administrative and management regime. Small businesses will be structured quite differently from their larger counterparts, and there will have their own particular administrative requirements.

One important aspect a small business must deal with is cash flow. Cash flow is the life blood of any enterprise, as it is the amount of money that keeps your business operating, so it is crucial that is handled efficiently. It is good practice to over estimate what your operating expenses- the amount its takes to run the business – will be, while underestimating the amount of cash – income -you have coming in. Also keep cash aside for any expected expenses. It is also good practice to regularly revise your budget and then stick to it.

Another way to successfully manage a small business is to keep a close eye on the inv ... Читать дальше »

Many people ask me why the script they use in door to door sales is not working well. One reason is often that they ask the big question too early. When I say "the big question" I mean asking for the goal of your visit. It could be to come in to the home, it could be to get an order, it could be to get an appointment later.

I recently was working with a company that offers a free water heater if you use their natural gas service. Their door to door team was saying. "I am here to sign people up for a free water heater. Would you like to have a free water heater". Even though it is free, almost no one accepted the offer. It is too abrupt. They went for the "big question" too early.

Here are some suggestions to make your opening more successful:

"Hello, I am Carl With Acme Utilities. We are in the area offering a free new water heater to people who's wat ... Читать дальше »

Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC

Occasionally I'll have a conversation with a non-profit attempting to build awareness of their gala by inviting a well-recognized actor or musician to its event.

The charity's goal is multi-faceted. The presence of a star could draw others to attend their gala, or the star himself might donate to the auction, thereby raising funds in a more direct way.

When Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson - both active in charitable causes - passed on the same day, the uncanny timing of their death drew considerable awareness to their respective charities.

Contacting and cementing a relationship with a star can be a lengthy process, so targeting the right celebrity upfront is important. It would be a waste of time to send correspondence to a star who has no interest in supporting your cause.

A crit ... Читать дальше »

It is amazing as a frequent shopper and customer to see that a store is offering a discount on something or even holding a sale. But I also want to feel appreciated by the company as well. There is a great way to make your customers feel as if they belong with you and that you want them to come back in a more personal way than a sale.

There are a few ways that you can show your appreciation towards those customers that pick your place of business over many others that they could be shopping and spending their hard earned money at and you want to make sure that you know it.

1. HAVE A FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL STAFF. Welcoming your customers into your store should be like bringing guests into your house You want them to feel at home and that you are there for them and you also want them to feel like they want to come back again.

2. OFFER REWARDS. Offering re ... Читать дальше »

Whoever has recently bought a printer, can not but noting how the price of this device has decreased a lot in the last years.

In addition electronic store often practice discounted prices on these devices, and you can easily pay around €50-€80 for a decent printer, even of some important brands such as HP, Canon or Epson.
What’s the catch, you might have asked? Most salesmen would say there is no catch. They’d probably go into a rant about how the printer market has gotten more competitive, driving prices way down. While that’s a true statement, it isn’t the primary reason for such inexpensive printers these days.

So, why are printers so inexpensive? It is pretty simple, printer manufacturers need you to buy their printer model so you are forced into buying their outrageously-priced ink cartridges. It is kind of like the relationship between a gasoline company and car manufacturer, except in this situation the printer company is s ... Читать дальше »

Inventors are not marketers. A strong belief in their new product idea combined with little or no understanding of marketing causes them to look for an easy way to achieve commercial success. Sadly, many spend their time, effort and money on get rich quick schemes that drain them of resources before they achieve commercial success.

Probably the most common get rich quick scheme is the Infomercial scam. A number of companies cater to inventors. They promise to present the inventors product to the market via an infomercial for somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000. The poor inventor has visions of someone like the late Billy May making them into over night millionaires. The short video gets produced and the firm airs the infomercial a few times in unlikely time slots in tiny markets. They report back to the inventor that the product didn’t sell. Now the inventor has a very expensive video and a much lighter bank account.

Employees do not need to be union members to be protected by the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRA is generally perceived as protecting just union employees, but the Act really protects and gives rights to both union and nonunion employees. The NLRA gives every employee the right to engage in activities for the mutual aid and protection of employees, including activities that impact the terms and conditions of employment. Employers cannot interfere with or, in any way, discipline employees who exercise their NLRA rights. That includes nonunion employees who exercise their NLRA rights.

The most common way that employers violate nonunion employees’ NLRA rights is by attempting to limit employees’ communication about their employment with other employees or nonemployees. The NLRA gives all employees the right to discuss the terms and conditions of their employment. This means that employees have the right to discuss their compensation; working conditions; discrimi ... Читать дальше »

Workers compensation insurance is mandatory in all states. Perhaps you've heard it called a "workers comp for short. This insurance, which provides medical care for the employee, if they get injured in the workplace. It also protects the employer from a claim by the employee.

Workers compensation insurance may cover more than just accidents at work. It may involve an employee in another place, even if they have a car accident when conducting business. This should not occur directly on the spot. Diseases can be covered as well.

This compensates the employee for time away from work after injury. This is regardless of who is to blame for the accident. It is also a means of death insurance for the family. Each state laws relating to workmen's compensation are unique to this state.

Whenever a business is trying to buy workers ... Читать дальше »