Author: Scott Asai

Helping people develop their leadership skills to advance in their career

Building a Business Around What You Are Passionate About

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For a variety of reasons we can choose to stay within our comfort zones when it comes to our careers. We can stick to being an employee and working for someone else, even if it is something that doesn’t really appeal to us. Being good at something is safe, but really, being passionate about something and working doing something that you’re passionate about is going to give you a much better work and life balance, and give you a career that you love. 

In terms of business, working doing something that we love can be a risk, rather than going for something tried and tested. Were the people that created an app like Uber passionate about driving other people around, or was it just seen as a business idea that could work? Although there is success with proven business models, it is even better if you have passion for what you are doing. Without making an attempt to follow dreams and unlock your potential, will you ever feel fulfilled in your career? Although it can feel daunting, here are some things to help.

Establish your vision

The first things to do are to decide on what your vision is. It will be at the heart of your business, so you need to be clear on it. Think about what you want your business to do, where your passions are, and then the plans can go from there. 

Do your research

When you have a rough idea of what you want to do, you need to make plans to check what would be possible. Is there demand for your business, or would you be taking something already established, but just putting a twist on it? Looking out for any potential risks is important too, so you’re planning ahead and will know how best to manage them.

Think about finances

With your research you will have a good idea about what kind of costs you will be looking at. Will all you need be a small amount to get a website or app up and running, or would you be looking at more to buy equipment like a box corer, for example? Although you won’t be specific at this stage, having an idea of what you will need, and where you might get it from can help.

Create a plan

How are you going to execute your plans and the goals that you have? You aren’t going to make it a reality without a clear plan about what you are looking at and how you will get there. Having a strategic plan behind your business is a must, as well as having it be adaptable and measurable. Being able to be flexible and change things as and when you need to is important, as well as being measurable so you can motor how things are going. Having the plan be digestible is important too, so that it can be intuitive and compelling, which is going to be important when you have a team of employees.

Going Green: The Logical Choice For Your Business

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Should you go green in business?

This shouldn’t be a question we need to ask, because you HAVE to go green. Aside from the benefits to your business (which we will discuss in a moment), you will also be doing much to protect the environment. You already know that the planet we live on is in peril, due to global warming and environmental damage, but if we work together, we can start to make a difference. 

And that work has already started, as many businesses implement green measures today. Ford, Disney, and Starbucks are just a few of the bigger companies leading the way with environmental initiatives, and many smaller businesses are following suit. There is great work being done in the field of research too, through the support of environmental marine services, for example, and this is shaping the way businesses think about the impact they are having on the environment. 

So, if you haven’t gone green yet, we have to ask you why? What are you waiting for? Not only will you be doing more to protect the environment, but you will be doing more to protect your business too. Here’s why.

#1: You will build employee morale

There are all kinds of ways to build employee morale in your business, from giving them a boost to their pay packets to having more fun together. Going green is another way, because let’s face it, not many people want to work for a company that cares little for environmental concerns. When you start to go green then, you will do much to raise the spirits of your employees, and you will start to see the benefits of this when their productivity rises too.

#2: The government offers tax benefits

We all hate it when tax season comes around, but if you can implement green initiatives, you might see a deduction in your tax bill. Installing solar panels, upgrading your HVAC system, and implementing greener technologies, are just some of the steps you could take to become eligible for tax credits and deductions in your business. 

#3: You will save money

If you use less energy within your business, you will see the difference in your utility bills. If you convert to a paperless office, you will save money on paper and printing costs. And if you reuse the plastic bottles you use within your business, you won’t need to waste money buying extra bottles of water for your team. These are just a few of the ways in which you can save money by going green, and as every business owner knows, it pays to be frugal!

#4: You will attract and retain the best talent

Employee engagement studies have shown that many people today place social and corporate responsibility at the top of their criteria when choosing who to work for. If you embrace sustainability, you will do much to attract people to your business, and in all likelihood, you will do much to retain them too. This is good for you, partly because you will benefit from the best employees in the marketplace, and also because you will keep them away from the doors of your nearest rivals. 

Finally

Going green should be a necessity, for both world-saving and business-saving reasons. So, if you are taking your time transitioning to greener measures, perhaps today is the day you research what you can do to become a greener business.

What To Think About As You Get Started Working From Home

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Working from home is becoming more common these days. You may find yourself in this position for a variety of reasons. For example, it may be that you’re ready to branch off and start your own business and be your own boss.

Be aware that there’s a lot to think about as you get started working from home and are beginning to set up your office space. It can be confusing and overwhelming to think about all that you need to do to ensure success. Take it one task and day at a time and remind yourself of all the benefits that come from working from home whenever you’re feeling frustrated or defeated.

Operating Your Office

You’ll want to think about where to set up your office space in your home and how it’s going to operate. For instance, you’ll need to be answering the phone, checking emails from clients, and have a way to send and receive mail. In this case, you may want to check out the option to configure virtual addresses for your business so you can get mail for your company. It’s a wise idea to invest in these types of services that are going to help you operate as a professional business and take some tasks off your plate.

Your Schedule

Think about your daily schedule and what type of structure you want to have when working from home. It may be tempting to sleep in or not get dressed, but these actions may cause you to feel less motivated over time. Therefore, consider waking up early, working out, having a cup of coffee and showering to help you feel alive and have some energy. Create a working schedule like you would if you were at a physical office to help you stay on track. It’s in your best interest to schedule breaks for yourself and times when you leave the house.

Staying Connected

It’s easy to get caught up in your own world when you work from home. Therefore, think about how you’re going to stay connected to others when you’re working remotely. There are many ways to do so these days, including via phone, email, and videoconference. It may be that you need to check in with employees regularly, meet with clients, and have a mentor who you like to discuss business topics with frequently. Make these meetings possible by taking advantage of all the capabilities that technology has to offer.

How to be Productive

If you want to be successful working from home, then you need to find ways to be and stay productive. It may mean turning off your phone or email for a while or having a quiet office space where you can work and shut the door. It’s also a wise idea to put off any house chores or tasks until you finish your work assignments for the day. Monitor how much time you’re spending on your phone or social media and do your best to cut back so you can focus on your work to-dos.

A Strong Structure For A Strong Workforce: Building Your Perfect Office

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The working environment is vital to productivity and efficiency. When you are leading your company to greatness you can’t take credit for every effort. You must remember that it’s the combination of approaches from your workers and the environment in which they inhabit. When you start out, you may not necessarily give consideration to what impact the office environment can make on productivity and morale, but it’s something that you start to focus on as you gradually improve your business efforts. Building your perfect office can encourage productivity but also help your company to thrive in other ways. What does this entail?

A Flexible Space

It’s crucial to retain some sort of flexibility and plan for growth. There could be so many fixed components of an office that it will restrict your progress further down the line. You may have it in your head that there are perfect spaces for your employees to sit and thrive right now, but you also need to consider the importance of scaling the company further down the line. And when the business begins to improve in other ways you may want to incorporate this into the office environment. You may want a reminder of the brand identity which can reinforce the initiative in your employees but you must also think about the feelings it will evoke to visitors of the office, like the clients. A smart choice of fabrics and furnishings can easily reflect the personality of the company. And when you start to think about the little touches that make for minimal maintenance like epoxy coatings and rough and ready upholstery, this will communicate a very specific message to everyone, inside and out.

Focus On Collaboration And Privacy

Everybody needs the opportunity to work closely with others but at the same time if they need the chance to work by themselves you should provide this as well. Collaboration is one of the things that will build up a business, and this can be seen in numerous open-plan offices, but you must also think about incorporating small meeting rooms where people can go away to focus on their tasks in private. Not everybody likes the idea of a thriving and vibrant office. If you can put the components in that focus on collaboration and privacy at the same time, you will be covering all bases.

The Importance Of Breakout Areas

Nobody wants to be surrounded by reminders of work. If someone is on their break they want to be able to escape for an hour. And when the office location is away from the bustling city center it’s crucial to incorporate some form of escapism. Providing breakout areas that don’t just encourage relaxation but also provide that sense of escapism will ensure that your employees come back feeling refreshed. It’s a very difficult thing to be away from your work in your head if you are still in the environment. And this is why escapism through games consoles or a change of scenery can encourage an employee to feel distant from everything.

It’s crucial to be flexible but it’s also important to realize that an employee is only as good as the environment they inhabit. Make it a strong one.

How Much Is Cybercrime Going To Cost Your Business?

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One of the biggest threats to businesses is cybercrime. Every minute, $2.9 million is lost across the world due to cybercrime. 

Every year, figures rise. 

But if you’re not making cybercrime protection a priority in your business, then you are sleepwalking into some worrying situations. 

Every day your business will come under attack. Whether that is through attempted brute force attacks, phishing attempts, or ransomware, you need to be aware of the threats and protect yourself. 

How much is cybercrime going to cost your business? 

Let’s discuss how you can invest in making sure it doesn’t cost you anything at all. 

Bring in an IT Services Company 

If you’re not sure what you are looking for when it comes to identifying weaknesses in your systems, then it could spell disaster. 

The best thing that any business can do is to bring in the services of a specialist IT managed service provider. 

An example can be found at hudsonvalley-it.com. Your systems will be watched 24/7. If there are any signs of vulnerability within your infrastructure, your managed service provider will fix the problem. 

There are many managed service providers who will help you with specific concerns relating to your sector. For example, in the healthcare sector, HIPAA compliance is essential, but having an IT services provider who understands the regulations and threats will be very useful. 

Know the Enemy 

What do the cybercriminals want from you? Do you have a big database full of customer email addresses and passwords? Do you hold customer’s bank details, social security details, date-of-birth, or address details on file? Or, are you a major company that might have a lot of money in the bank?

Cybercriminals will target your business to either steal any personal data you have on file or to exploit your business financially. 

Understand how much of a threat businesses in your sector face. 

Carry Our Audits

Get into the routine of going through your entire company and analyzing how you use your IT systems. 

Look for how your team interacts with your systems. Are they taking care not to expose their passwords? Are passwords changed on a regular basis? 

Look at former employees that had system access. Have they had their accounts terminated? 

Team Training 

Very often, cybercriminals find success because they manage to easily steal valuable login details from employees. 

An email from a recognizable brand name asking your employee to go and log into their account will often prompt them to do this. But phishing scams use fake websites to acquire login credentials. 

Once a cybercriminal has your employee’s login details, they can just walk straight into your system through the front door. There will be no alarm bells going off because the system will just show a legitimate login. 

Investing in team training on cybersecurity is vital. Make sure that all of your employees are aware of how phishing scams and ransomware work. Reiterate these messages on a regular basis.

How Your Business Can Stay Ahead During This Pandemic

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As coronavirus continues to spread around the world, business owners and managers are preparing for a long period of recovery. With normal operations suspended or greatly reduced, the effects of COVID-19 will be felt throughout every industry. However, there are a variety of innovative ways you can safeguard your business against the long-term impacts of the pandemic…

  1. Adapt to different delivery methods

Businesses that already operate online will be well-primed to continue delivering services to customers. For companies that rely on face-to-face interactions or bricks and mortar stores, however, things will be trickier. To overcome the barriers your business faces, explore alternative delivery methods to ensure your customers can still access your products and services. 

Adaptability is a valuable trait, and, in these testing times, your business has a chance to show just how versatile it can be. Restaurants switching to subscription-style food deliveries, theatre groups hosting online performances and teachers delivering lessons in real-time via the internet are just a few examples of how you can adapt your operations to continue trading, despite the disruption to your business. 

  1. Diversify your product range

Coronavirus is affecting every sector but it’s having a varying impact. While some industries are effectively on hiatus, others are under immense pressure to increase their output to serve local, national and global communities. 

Depending on your set and facilities, you may be able to modify your processes to join in the effort to overcome COVID-19. If your company has its own production line, for example, the addition of sanitary tubing may enable you to start manufacturing products and equipment for the medical or food and drink industry. By diversifying your product range in this way, you can continue to operate and deliver extremely valuable support when it’s needed most. 

  1. Consider the long-lasting impact self-isolation has

As people are either encouraged or required to stay at home, the way we live, work and interact is changing. With an increasing reliance on technology, remote working facilities, at-home entertainment, and delivery services are in higher demand in ever before. However, don’t assume that things will ‘return to normal’ following the outbreak of coronavirus. 

Instead, take the time to consider how this period of self-isolation and ‘lockdown’ will change your customers’ behaviors. By doing so, you can get ahead of the curve and begin to tweak your business operations to satisfy your target audience in a post-coronavirus environment. 

Keep Your Company Operational Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak

Depending on your specific location and the nature of your business, you may be prevented from trading as normal while the coronavirus outbreak continues to wreak havoc. Many firms considered ‘non-essential’ are being asked or instructed to close until further notice, for example. 

If you’re prevented from trading as normal, this doesn’t prevent you from modifying your processes to continue operating. Furthermore, you can still safeguard your business by planning your return to standard trading. With a compassionate outlook, patient perseverance and creative solutions, your business can continue to serve its customers during these unprecedented and unpredictable times.

Smart Ways To Shield Your Business From Disaster

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Protection! That is what your business needs, otherwise you could see all the effort, time and money you put into it come to nought. Want to know which kind of protection that is best? Just keep reading the post below. 

Data loss 

Businesses that run without IT are few and far between in today’s market. What that means is if you are to protect your business from disaster, you need to minimize the risk of data loss. After all, many of a company’s most valuable assets such as leads, content, concepts, and professional systems are all online now. Something that means if you lose them or have an extended time where your employees cannot access them, your business will grind to a halt. 

Happily, safeguarding against the disaster of data loss isn’t as hard as many think. In fact, the best way of doing this is to recruit the help of a specialist like the one you will find at 

https://www.realitsolutions.com/services/data-backup-solutions/ because they can offer you a  reliable data backup solution. Something that means all your valuable data is protected against hackers and scammers, and technical failures as well. 

PR nightmare

Another common disaster that a business can go through is one of bad PR. In fact, because our companies operate in such a connected environment, even the smallest criticism, unhappy customer or minor scandal can be blown up into a disaster.

Fortunately, there are several actions as suggested at https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/ you can take to minimize the risk of a PR nightmare. Perhaps the most important one is to effectively vet your employees and suppliers before you work with them. While the second is that you put company-wide policies in place that prevent harassment, abuse of those that work for you. 

Finally, you may also like to try a reputation management service. The reason being as they can provide you with easy to manage alerts whenever your business is mentioned online. Even if you are not actually tagged in the post. Something that means you can stay on top of things and deal with any bad press before it sets values. 

Fall in the market/demand

To some extent, all businesses are dependent on how well the market in which they operate is behaving. Of course, that is excellent news when things are up, but it has the potential to result in disaster when things take a downturn. A situation that there is much anxiety about currently. Due to the reduction in demand for many products and services because of the COVID-19 crisis and associated lockdown. 

Sadly, safeguarding against market and demand fluctuation can be one of the most challenging things to protect your business against. Although there are some steps such as the ones listed at https://www.kyero.com/join/en/sales-tips/ that you can take. With the one that is particularly important being to make sure that you don’t overextend your markets. That is you only expand when there is a proven need for your product. Otherwise, you could incur costs that will quickly become unsustainable. This being something that can easily lead to a disaster if there is a crash in the market.

Crucial Steps For Leading Your Company Out Of A Crisis

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When a crisis hits, you can wallow in self-pity or take action. Businesses that do the latter have a better chance of surviving Covid-19 and coming out the other side relatively unscathed. Of course, it’s easier to say you should act than it is to do, mainly because the starting point is never evident. You want to do something, yet you don’t know where to begin.

It’s a tale as old as time itself. Still, the fact it’s common won’t point in your company in the right direction. Instead, let the tips in this article do that. 

Below are the crucial steps to consider if you plan on leading your business out of a crisis.

Avoid Firing People

Liquidity is essential, especially if you’re a small or medium-sized enterprise. As a result, the labor bill is the first thing to be cut, which means laying off employees. However, while it may relieve the pressure now, this move will only put the company in a tricky spot in the future. Without physical employees, it’s almost impossible to create a comprehensive customer experience or generate leads and make sales. Nearly 50% of workers in the private sector are relying on businesses such as yours to maintain their employment, according to sba.gov. The ‘Small Business Workforce Stabilization Fund’ is available if you’re struggling.

Ask Customers For A Show Of Faith

Selling goods and services is going to be challenging for the next couple of months. So, you need another way to keep money coming in so that the company’s arrears don’t escalate out of control. In the US, and around the world, businesses are asking for a show of faith from shoppers. Broadway, for example, said theater-goers should continue to purchase tickets or gift cards. Cnn.com, on the other hand, is reporting that restaurants in Seattle’s Chinatown are offering discounts if you can prove you shop at local stores.

Plug The Gap In The Market

Finding a niche in a crisis such as Covid isn’t easy as everything is specialized. Still, businesses are doing their best to fill a gap in the market. ‘Uber Eats’ is probably the most popular takeout service in the country right now! Tcsupfitting.com is also a shining light of how to get creative during tough times. By upfitting emergency vehicles, such as police cars and ambulances, they’re helping to keep emergency services safe. And, which one of these institutions isn’t going to ask for extra security?

Do Something Memorable

Making a grand gesture is a long-term investment. When the chips are down is when communities must come together to help one another. If you are willing to do this, sometimes at your own expense, the public won’t forget your dedication to the cause. Whether it’s paying employees even if they aren’t working or offering discounts for medical staff, now is the time to invest in the community. After all, people will gladly return the favor when they finally have the resources.

Is your business in trouble? What are you doing to survive the current crisis?

Making Your Employees’ Workspace Practical and Comfortable

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Your employees spend a lot of their time working for you in whatever commercial premises you provide for them. Often, this space is an office. Now, bearing in mind that the majority of your staff will spend at least eight hours a day, five days a week in this location, it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s practical and comfortable. It’s the least you can do as an employer. At the end of the day, these are the people who form the backbone of your company. They’re the individuals who keep things up and running. They generate the sales and interaction that boosts your profits. So, prioritize their needs and do your utmost to achieve top quality office goals. Here are a few steps you can take to achieve this.

Choosing the Right Office

If you’re in the process of choosing your first office or you’re planning on moving offices, take time to make the right decision. Ideally, you should opt for somewhere that has more than enough space (rather than being cramped), a building with plenty of natural light (which looks nicer and boosts your employees’ productivity) and preferably somewhere that’s either a central location or has good public transport links (this will improve your workers’ commute). It may take a little time to find the perfect spot at a reasonable price, but once you’ve settled in, your company could remain there for years. So, it’s worth making it the right fit the first time round.

Making Alterations to Your Office

If you’re not planning on moving but own your office space or can strike a deal with the owner in order to improve upon the office space, there are a number of changes and renovations you can carry out to help the space better meet your employees’ needs. You could have bigger windows fitted. You could have the space extended. You could have extra bathrooms added. You could alter potential hazards, such as unexpected steps or low ceilings. The possibilities are endless. Just make sure to use a high quality cleanup service like MC Janitorial to clear up any debris at the end of the work.

Invest in Ergonomic Furniture and Equipment

Sure, you’ll already be following health and safety rules. But immediate threats aren’t the only threats that your office can pose to your employees. You need to be aware of hazards that can worsen your employees’ health and wellbeing gradually, or day by day. This is where ergonomic furniture and equipment comes into play. Ergonomic furniture and equipment are specially designed to help your employees work in a safe and comfortable manner, reducing injuries like general sprains or strains and repetitive strain injury. There are plenty of options on the market, like ergonomic desks, chairs, keyboards, footrests and more.

These are just a few areas you can focus on. There are plenty more that can make all the difference to your employees’ happiness and wellbeing. So, don’t let the journey stop here. Always strive for the best for your staff!

Fun Ways To Build Employee Morale

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The world has gone a little topsy turvy, and we are all acutely aware of the state of things outside our front door. Your employees are currently working from home to keep your business going, and you are all trying to keep up morale – and it’s not going well. 

So, rather than focus on all the panic and fright in the world, why not think about the ways that you can get your business moving and employees feeling motivated once more? There will be a day the lockdowns are lifted, and quarantine is over, and that day needs to be met with something fun. Your staff are counting on you to still be there for them when this pandemic is over. With that in mind, you should take a look at our list of fun ways you can all enjoy spending time together once life goes back to normal.

  • Host A Sports Day

The idealists in all of us are hopeful of summer back to normal. Walks on the beach, pub gardens and BBQs are just a part of it. Every business should celebrate resuming regular activity with a fun day, and that can include a company sports day! Check out the personalized boards at Cornholeworldwide.com and brand a corn hole board with your business brand and set up a range of mini sports to enjoy. A sports day is a great way to get the whole office laughing and relaxed in each other’s company once more.

  • A Pot-Luck Picnic

When the sun is shining, it’s an excellent idea to kick off the “back to work” feeling with something delicious, and that means food! Ask everyone to bring in a dish they cook (yes, cook) and have an outdoor picnic. If you don’t have an outdoor space by your office, head to the nearest park and bring blankets for all. Make sure people know that they don’t have to wear work clothes: it wouldn’t be the most comfortable for all.

  • Go For A Walk

Some business activities don’t need to be on site. You could get everyone together and arrange a hike! There are always challenges that can be done for charity, and it’s a great way to raise morale, get everyone moving and change the scenery. You’ve all been cooped up at home; a pleasant walk somewhere countrified is always going to add a little wind to your sails!

  • Dinner & Drinks

The very first day that you arrange to get back to the office is going to be a little disjointed. People won’t have seen each other for months on end, so a celebration is needed! Get the gang together and go for a meal (on the company, of course) and make sure to go somewhere with round tables so you can all see each other. Discuss how you are all feeling about the months that have just passed and let everyone air out their relief that it’s all over!

You need to get your staff happy – and now you know how to do it.