How to Name Your Business

If you’re selecting a business name understand there are a few strategies to consider in order to make your company compete better.

You don’t want to select a business name that only appeals to you. You need to choose a name that appeals to the kind of customers you want to attract. If you want a younger demographic, pick a name that could trend on Twitter. If you are going after a more corporate demographic, select a name that isn’t too edgy and acceptable within the corporate culture.

You also want to create a name that helps customers connect on a more emotional level. You don’t want a name that is confusions or based on a pun. You also don’t want to add the term “Inc.” unless you are actually incorporated.

Don’t forget to check out the completion, either. You don’t want to pick a name to find out months later there is another business already established with the same name and serving the same customers.

Until Monday,

Twyla N. Garrett

The Art of Nasty Emails!

Before email you would have to look your boss, client, friend or coworker in the eye when telling him or her how upset you were. This factor alone made throwing a verbal punch hard to do. However, since email- the ability to throw verbal punches as become easier than ever and nasty emails are just a click away. Yes, a simple click will let everyone know exactly how you feel about something. The downside? It lasts forever. There is no delete button once it is sent. So, if you’re upset with someone and you want to write them an email about the issue- practice my tips to a “nasty but not nasty” email first.

1. Write the email you want to send but leave the “to” section blank. After you write it, don’t edit it. Save it to drafts and revisit the issue after a three hour cooling offer period. You will be less emotional and more point orientated after three hours and then you can edit your email properly.

2. When you do go to edit the email, figure out a way to end it on a positive note. Offer some suggestions to correct the problem or talk about how you value the other person and want to address the issue but move forward as friends or professionals. Don’t be outright nasty with no room for positive resolution.

3. Get a second opinion before you hit send. Your head is in the game and directly related to the issue at hand. However, you can be sued if you are an employer and send the wrong type of an email. Plus, it is good to have someone from the outside read the email and give it a level-headed once over.

Finally, if you don’t receive a response within 24 hours of sending the email- call the person or invite him or her to talk it over while having coffee. You don’t want to look like a jerk- even if you are right- by sending an angry email with no opportunity for recovering or without extending the olive branch.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

Homeland Security : Federal Air Marshals No More?

I saw a story earlier today via CNN that stated the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is going to cut plain-clothed Federal Air Marshals. WOW! In fact, double WOW! The past three years was spent focused on protecting our planes at an increase from terrorist via this resource. Now, all of a sudden, we are cutting back. Why?

The Department of Homeland Security declined to say how positions have been eliminated because they don’t want to give potential terrorist a number of how many potential Air Marshals are employed.

According to CNN, “critics, including some air marshals, say the secrecy allows the government to cut the workforce without acknowledging it, as happened in the years leading up to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. At that time, fewer than 40 people were in the air marshal workforce and none were on the hijacked planes.”

Air Marshal Director Robert Bray said in an e-mail, sent Friday, that the agency's budget has been cut from $966 million to $805 million in the past three years. He outlined plans to close six of the agency's 26 field offices in coming years.

This exact situation is what I address in my current book, which you can preview on Amazon by clicking here: http://www.amazon.com/Homeland-Security-Comprehensive-Guide-All-ebook/dp/B00IDW3W3Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393473922&sr=8-1&keywords=twyla+garrett

Sustainability is a real thing. While budgets may go up and down, the threat by terrorist is continual. We shouldn’t have to make these choices and preparing for real sustainability to ensure critical positions and programs aren’t cut is a must!

Until tomorrow,

Twyla Garrett

Productivity – How to Cheat

I don’t condone cheating under normal circumstances. However, if you find yourself getting overwhelmed with everyday tasks- don’t panic. Use my tips!

While these tips aren’t really “cheats” , they are shortcuts to help you become more productive. Please try them for a week and then write me back on this blog and let me know how they worked for you!

#1. Don’t answer the phone unless it is an emergency. Yes, don’t be customer orientated while you are working on major projects. In the long run, customers will appreciate this when they receive a product that is comprehensive and outstanding versus a product that is half-put together because you were busy taking phone calls.

#2. Mange anxiety, plan your scope of work for the day, and stay fit at the same time by making sure you walk for a half of an hour before going into work. This is crucial for staying productive.

#3. If you write proposals or any emails for work, write terrible first drafts. Yes, terrible first drafts lead to great final products. Make this a daily practice and your clients and bosses will love you! Just remember to revisit the draft before you turn it in!

Until tomorrow,

Twyla N. Garrett

When You Yell At Employees.

It happens. We, as leaders, tend to get passionate about our companies. We will snap on our employees from time to time. Regardless if it is warranted or not, it isn’t nice. If you want to recover from being mean, stressed or really upset about a failure on your staff’s part- consider the following steps;

1. Walk away. It sounds simple, it’s not. If you are upset the hardest thing you can do is teach yourself to calmly walk away after saying something you may have regretted. Make sure you work at this as it will save you from embarrassment and a lawsuit.

2. Listen to your mentors. If you explode on employees, call a friend in your industry right away. This will help you obtain a fresh perspective on not only your reaction but why you reacted in such away. The insight you will gain will help you realize the root of your anger and how to proactively move forward.

3. Don’t bring up the issue again at work. Let sleeping dogs lay in place and move forward. Revisiting the issue is embarrassing and will not accomplish anything. Instead, you move forward and be the example of how to move on from a bad day at the office.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

To work on the weekends or to not work on the weekends – that is the question!

There are many schools of thought when it comes to working on the weekend. Some people don't even have a choice, it is just a matter of fact. However, if you are a business owner for an executive you are prone to work on the weekend. The question becomes is it effective.

Why when it working on the weekends fee effective? Many studies suggest not being able to unplug and relax from your work can cause you to become spread too thin, stressed out, and eventually ineffective. While it is good to take vacation days and mental health days, business owners and executives feel that this is time lost and not spent effectively. Not working, for many business owners, is the equivalent to losing profit. We become obsessed with work.

It is my suggestion business owners strive to find a happy – medium when it comes to working on the weekend. You will have to work weekends, there is no getting around this fact. I don't suggest you work every weekend. It will wear you out, stress you out, and cause you to be ineffective.

It is my suggestion that you pick and choose the opportunities for working on the weekend when you can, and I understand this will not always be a point of choice. So, if you can't take it day here or there – regardless if it is a Saturday or Sunday – do so. It is beneficial to unplug when you are not at risk of losing profit or clients.

Until Monday,

Twyla Garrett

When and why to approach the media.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, businesses within this country that deserve the attention. However, not all of them will achieve coverage. Why is this? Well, I am going to use tonight's blog to provide some pointers on achieving media coverage using the right approach.

The first step you want to take it familiarizing yourself with the standards implemented and utilized today via the Associated Press. The Associated Press, otherwise known as AP, offer several interactive online tools that can help you write in the style preferred by many reporters and journalists. Learning how to format your approach will help you remain competitive when seeking media coverage.

The second step is to understand how relevant your company is in direct relation to media value. I suggest visiting Google News and type in a keyword directly related to your industry. The first page of Google News will reflect what is trending irrelevant within your industry and help you decide what slant to use when approaching media or writing a press release.

Finally, you want to make sure you are reaching the right reporter for editor. For example, if you offer a product that is related to the technology industry – contacting the general editor of the New York Times is a mistake. It is a mistake because the general editor is not in charge of assigning technology and computer pieces to the covering reporters. You should spend time researching which reporters and editors write for your industry – related news before you approach any newspaper or news outlet. Until next time,

Twyla Garrett