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

Homeland Security Headquarters Over Budget

The construction of a massive new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security, billed as critical for national security and the revitalization of Southeast Washington, is running more than $1.5 billion over budget, is 11 years behind schedule and may never be completed, according to planning documents and federal officials.

Now what? This is the question the mind of many reporters today. It has been announced that “The entire complex was to be finished as early as this year, at a cost of less than $3 billion, according to the initial plan. Instead, with the exception of a Coast Guard building that opened last year, the grounds remain entirely undeveloped, with the occasional deer grazing amid the vacant Gothic Revival-style structures. The budget has ballooned to $4.5 billion, with completion pushed back to 2026. Even now, as Obama administration officials make the best of their limited funding, they have started design work for a second building that congressional aides and others familiar with the project say may never open.” – At least this is the report the Washington Post put in the paper today.

There isn’t much we can do about the spending at this point. It is like building a house one cannot afford and then being stuck with a half built house that can’t be sold in the middle of everything. We do need the space for the department and then again- we don’t. Heck, we have been functioning without it all this time, right? This brings up the question of “was it ever needed in the first place?” And then the onslaught of even more anger of budgets and projects, etc.

I wanted to talk, briefly, about this issue today because it is important. While no one has an immediate answer, we should address the elephant in the room.

Twyla N. Garrett

Hotel Safety During A Terrorist Attack

The last couple of days of tested our patience as a Country. We've had to endure the horrible events in Boston. Now, we aren't sure what the cause of the explosion in Texas is a result of. I've dedicated the rest of this week to providing tips on how to stay safe during a disaster and/or terrorist attack.

Today's topic is hotel safety. Most people when traveling, even domestically, feel safe in a hotel. But, what happens if your hotel is attacked or located near a disaster? It is always better to be prepared for an event and not have to use your knowledge then to not be prepared and have an event happen. So, that said, below are my tips for staying safe at a hotel during or after a disaster or terrorist attack.

#1. Consider where you will be staying. Is your hotel located with a region that has been impacted before? The U.S. State Department offers country-specific safety information on its Web site; which is located here:

#2. Before booking the hotel call ahead. Make sure you ask the following questions; Is the front desk is staffed 24 hours a day, are there security guards on the premises and are there are surveillance cameras in the public areas? In areas where terrorism is an issue, are vehicles inspected before coming onto the premises? Is access to guestroom floors restricted to guests only?

#3. Don't accept a ground floor. Rooms booked between floors 3-6 are best because they detour any possible break-ins and are still easily accessed by first responders. Always check, and then walk, the fire route when arriving in your room.

#4. Check the locks of the windows in the room. Make sure windows can open and locks work. If a window is stuck or bolted, ask for a different room. It is important to be able to signal first responders if needed from your room's window.

We all hate discussing these precautions. It is unfortunate that today's culture is susceptible to acts of violence, terrorism and disasters. Again, the more prepared you are- the more you have a chance of survival.

Stay safe out there,

Twyla