5 Tips to Save Your Business

I was recently asked about tips on saving a business before or after it starts. Well, each situation is complex but here are my basic tips;

# 1 -Don't just offer what you know. Expand and find out what your competitors are offering that you don't know- then learn it! Be competitive not complacent.

# 2- Don't be afraid to ask for help. Find a good mentor in your field and ask him or her to identify your weaknesses. This will offer you insight to your business' short comings.

# 3 - Never hire friends, unless you don't value the friendship. Hiring friends is worse than hiring family. Friends can become vindictive, expect favors and usually don't consider holding themselves accountable for mistakes. Hiring friends is always a bad idea.

# 4 - Try to promote from outside. If you promote from within it can cause desertion in the office and between co-workers. You may have a really good, trustworthy employee that deserves a promotion, but you also have to consider the climate of the office. Ask yourself if the person is promoted could other employees become jealous? What are the benefits and the risks?

# 5 - You are running a business. Understand this! Many people think just because they started a business that the business and the employees will run it for you. You need to be present and take the task seriously, if not- you will fail.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

2 Simple Ways to Succeed!

We get caught up in our day-to-day routines. We start gaining a little success and then it stops. Instead of moving onward and upward, we move downward and lose ground. Why does this happen. Fundamentally business owners and CEOs can lose sight of two very important things in business, which can collapse any pending or current success.

Be Efficient is the first simple rule for success. If you offer a deadline to your client, meet it. There is nothing worse than getting a client all pumped up in a presentation and then disappointing them later because you failed to meet a deadline. Even if the presentation is the best in the world, it will not matter. Deadlines are important. Always make sure you meet them!

Be a pleasure to work with. If you are not pleasant you will lose customers and vendors. We all rely on vendors to help us get our work done and to service our customers. If you are not professional and kind, vendors will stray away and you will lose both customers and employees. Keeping people happy means your business is gaining a great reputation within your industry. People can test you, I know this. Chose to be polite and kind, even if you have to be firm.

Until next time,

Twyla