There are several things about this commercial that are true and give warm, fuzzy feelings to certain types of viewers. Yes, I agree with you that it would be great if the USPS could deliver on time and for a reasonable fee but that is another matter to be discussed later.

On the other hand, things placed on physical wall boards and in open trays on desks that tend to get covered up (translate “piles”) give us unpleasant thoughts of late fees, wasted time searching for the physical item, possibly missing a sale, as well as other stresses. According to the medical professionals, these are unhealthy scenarios for the heart.

Here are a few questions to help:

1) Are you kinesthetic? Do you LIKE to hold the paper, highlight it, make notes on it and place it in a binder for future use? Is the type of paper the information is printed on important for making decisions regarding your business?
2) Would you prefer to never see another piece of paper again? In your opinion, going to the Cloud is the ONLY way to conduct business, and you do not understand why everyone does not realize how vitally important it is to Go Green.
3) Are you a combination of the two?

If you enjoy using the computer to search for information, for communicating by sending email etc. but you are totally kinesthetic, you print each important email and keep almost every piece of important business paper there is. For you, having a system to keep the paper in order is important. Professions such as marketing and legal come to mind. There are many reasons for these businesses to keep certain types of information in printed form. For ideas and solutions to keep physical information together in a stylish and organized way, check out www.bindertek.com.

Depending on the type of your business and your target market, there are many reasons and ways to go completely to the Cloud. If the Cloud is right for you, chose your favorite method and get going!

If you have a business that needs a combination of the two systems, check out www.mobillogic.com and learn how you can effectively keep and FIND the physical items you need/want to keep while storing related information on the Cloud for future reference. You can have your paper and scan it too!

1) Be aware that the WAY you speak often has a more lasting impact than the words you use. Think through what you will say and HOW you will say it before initiating an important discussion of any kind. There are certain words and phrases that are good to use and others that are not based on the person you are talking with.

2) When someone is talking to you focus on the person talking. Make eye contact. Whether they are 4 or 40, it shows respect and helps you stay on the proper train of thought rather than planning what you will say next. If you need to remember to answer something being said, make a quick note and then re-establish eye contact.

3) Do not interrupt someone while they are speaking. They will appreciate being “heard”. If you don’t know the answer to their question or dilemma, be honest and say so! A polite answer that lets them know they have been heard and that you care enough to get back with them with an answer will serve you well in business and at home.

An ergonomically-designed workspace will naturally encourage users to assume safe, low-risk postures and what so many workers do not understand is the importance of having the correct chair to sit in at their desks. This can mean the difference between a good work product and a great one. The seat pan is the most crucial component of a comfortable and ergonomically functional chair. When the seat becomes uncomfortable you begin to squirm, sit improperly and lose the benefits of other chair features. The longer you sit, the more uncomfortable a flat seat becomes.

You must be able to move freely in your chair. Evidence today shows that fixed postures are inherently dangerous and you must be able to move freely in your chair. Our bodies were designed to move and the more we move the more oxygen reaches our brains and the better our minds work. When we do not move as we should, the elasticity of our spine and joints is reduced and waste products build up in the muscles, causing fatigue. Not good.

Years ago I began to notice the chairs of the people I worked with. There were about as many different styles as there were people. Whether they were executives or assistants, the one constant was that the chair did not fit the person seated in it. These people would never wear shoes that did not fit properly, yet they were spending the majority of their work day seated in a chair that was not the right size. I hear all kinds of complaints from people I work with such as shoulder pain, neck pain, and of course the perpetual headache complaint. There are the ones with the occasional leg pain complaints, and also backaches. The list is long and they are grateful for those professionals who help relieve their pain.

When we do a brief study and they realize that the chair is the problem they are amazed. To correct the issue they purchase a chair fitted specifically to their body. Yes, these chairs are not usually the cheapest ones in a store, but soon they begin to see the pains go away, and their company begins to see healthcare bills reduced. A real win – win situation.

In fact, look around and notice that everyone that our culture puts on a pedestal has a coach. America may have been built by rugged individualism but today what works is rugged individualistic coaching. And the last bastion of non-coaching is in the executive suite of most small businesses. That excites me!

Many executives confuse advice and coaching. Maybe it’s because business is comfortable with advisors, from the board of directors to your lawyer to your banker and accountant. All these experts offer advice in their area and most businesses make it a point to isolate their advice. Like a painter, advisors add value. But advice is not coaching. Coaching is a focused relationship designed to bring out the best in an individual. Think of a sculptor bringing out the beauty of what is already there at the start.

Coaching has its roots in sports as far back as 1831. Executive coaching started in the 1930’s and grew slowly until the 1980’s, primarily in large organizations. In the 1990’s coaching exploded. Today there are 40,000 business coaches worldwide generating $2.4 billion in revenue and growing at 18% per year.

Does coaching work? A 2009 Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey found 91% of organizations using coaches rated their benefits as somewhat high to very high. And 92% of those coached would hire one again.

The primary reason for coaching has been for leadership development. In large businesses this is obvious. In small business the ego of the entrepreneur often gets in the way. Succession planning for small businesses would benefit from coaching the heir apparent, yet too many “Big Dog” owners are afraid to share their “secrets” or admit their chosen one has some rough edges. Many rocky transitions take place for lack of a little executive coaching.

Other reasons for coaching include transitioning new personnel into a company, retention of high potential talent (better than a raise), performance issues, and team development issues. In all cases the coach and executive(s) set goals, agree on milestones, discuss strategies and review results. Some typical engagements may include:

• Motivating, leading, and developing others
• Critical conversations and decision making
• Personal, professional, and organization performance
• Changing career limiting behavior
• Time control, managing stress, and avoiding burnout
• Maximizing opportunities in times of change or transition

Most executives like four things in coaching: 1) confidentiality, 2) increased focus, 3) third party accountability, and 4) win/win mindset. My clients set the agenda and like most coaches, I determine the right approach for each client.

Typical engagements run three to six months initially. Fees vary with experience and prominence. Most coaches charge between $1,000 and $10,000 per month. Sessions usually require three to six hours per month.

Coaches usually come with a wide variety of business experience yet share common threads. They are good listeners, empathetic, and goal oriented. They understand both team chemistry and EBITDA. And they are sculptors at heart.

Finally, good coaches are role models. As such they have a coach. As a coach, I have found I actually need even more coaching to remain effective. So I have daily sessions with my coach who is also my Lord and Creator. I look to him for counsel instead of my own narrow perspective. He gives me a daily game plan for helping others and keeps me on the right path.

Meanwhile, we all watch a golfer make a four foot putt worth $300,000 in marginal prize money, and I wonder “who is his putting coach?” For our pro golfer, one tip can make a big difference; the same is true for most business executives.

Pro*Grams
Pro356 Consulting, LLC
252-472-5629

Over the years I’ve heard many employees’ reasons for hoarding company information, especially in a large company. One of the most common is that the creator of the information wants to be able to find it again. They fear that if they place it on the drive that is the company backup drive they will not be able to get back to the information when they need it. Yes, it does happen sometimes that a drive becomes “full” and the info is moved, but more often than not the creator of the info has had a bad experience with losing information and does not want to repeat it. That person is responsible for maintaining the information since they have created it; however it will not benefit the company if that person is not there to retrieve the information when needed.

This is a true story: A few years ago an employer needed information that an employee had created. As a deadline approached, the employee was on a well deserved vacation and was out of cell phone range. (Good for them!) In a panic, thinking the deadline would arrive before the employee returned, the employer called multiple family members to try to locate the employee, which caused much distress for many. Whenthe employer finally reached the employee, he learned that everything needed was ready and that the employee would return well before the deadline arrived. This episode did nothing to improve their working relationship.

In this case, a good search engine and better communication would have relieved the stress for everyone. Of course, moving to the cloud to create and store information would have helped significantly. Fears of lost information on random drives would be relieved and everything needed would be a search bar away. So when you run into these same issues, try making a change to MobilLogic to solve the problem. The people in the story above made the move to the cloud and both are much happier now. I believe you will be also.

“We offer a simple way to help reduce the strain on our environment: donate your “gently worn” footwear to people in need instead of throwing them away. Last year alone, Americans discarded more than 300 million pairs of shoes. When these shoes break down in our landfills, the toxic glue that holds the shoes together can leak into our water supply and atmosphere.

Soles4Souls can save your shoes from early death by cleaning them and shipping them to needy people around the world, who will treasure the gift for years to come. Since its inception following the Asian tsunami, Soles4Souls has distributed over 15 million pairs to people in 127 countries, and our efforts have been publicized in thousands of articles, including the Green Guide by National Geographic and Runner’s World.

Most of our closets are filled with shoes we rarely wear. Instead of dropping the unwanted pairs in the trash, consider stopping by a local shoe retailer in exchange for a discount on a new pair of shoes. In addition to this program, Soles4Souls hosts thousands of collection events across North America, including marathons, schools, churches and more.
Consider joining us in our mission to Change the world, one pair at a time. The gift of shoes is a simple yet profound way to benefit people in need while helping the environment at the same time.”

With much thought and planning, MobilLogic was born.

MobilLogic makes it easy to organize student papers and projects, as well as administrative files, science exhibits, continuing education information, student health forms, AND gives the ability to pack all of those classroom show and tell items in boxes for the summer so that the maintenance people can get the classroom ready for the next year. When you are ready to move back in and unpack you will know what is in every box without having to read the side of the container!

This web based application is a numeric filing system with a powerful search engine. It is better than putting a search engine on your file cabinet. Using key words, various reminder dates, categories, among other tools, MobilLogic numbers your files, remembers where your physical files are located and keeps all scanned and non-scanned documents in the same place as your hyperlinks, photos, etc. It remembers what’s in the file so you don’t have to. For teachers, that means you will be able to find everything in one place – one less thing to remember. Best of all it will send you text messages OR e-mail reminders in advance of the due date so that you will not miss a deadline again.

MobilLogic makes it easy for administrators, and substitute teachers to find needed information in the classroom. Another benefit is that there is always room for more. Numeric filing means no more shoving files deeper to the back of the drawer to squeeze one more folder in the “M” section! With this tool you will be able to continue to work on files without having to be at the school. This HIPAA compliant, password protected, encrypted system will allow you to go home earlier than usual because you will not have to be in the room to gain access to information. That is a very nice thought!

There are so many other good reasons to use this application. Visit www.leelogic.com to learn more. While you are there check out the Careers Page for additional information.

Think about it – what did you do last weekend that really could have waited until some time in the future OR that didn’t really need to be done at all? Was it cleaning out the attic or painting the garage floor or mopping the basement? You get the picture – was the thing that took your time and energy really what you needed to do? Was there a true purpose to the activity that you expended so much energy on? If so, GREAT! Congratulations on getting the house ready for the party, or for house guests, or to be placed on the market soon, but if not, well, you know…

Did you allow time for any personally enjoyable activities? Not just fun for others, but for you as well. I am not suggesting that you always place yourself first on the list; I’m simply suggesting that it is healthy for you to be on the “Fun Activity” list somewhere. If working in your container garden is rejuvenating then do that. If rock climbing is fun for you, then do that. It doesn’t matter what it is, just do something each weekend that relaxes you and lets the stress leave your system; so when Monday arrives you will have the energy and mental capacity to properly focus on your work.

Spend some time on you each weekend and become the person that people want to emulate and not the one they dread seeing on Monday! That’s a great individual to be.

If the storm is strong and you receive a direct hit, it will take longer to get back to normal business activities than if you are on the weaker edge of the storm. There may be no electricity for days and so being prepared is important. Depending upon the type of business you are in, and the advance preparations you have made, you may or may not be able to continue doing business right away.

Advance planning is important and can mean less lost time and revenue for you and your employees. Some businesses resume business the day following a hurricane, even in the event of a direct hit, because they took time and planned ahead. These are a few tips to consider:

1. Create a disaster recovery plan for your business. Do this before there is a threat so that your mind will be clear.
2. Be sure all in the company know their roles in the plan and give them the authority and resources to accomplish them.
3. Use electronic information as well as physical information and be sure each person has all user names and passwords to get to the information they need to access.
4. Create physical binders of information as needed. Put only necessary information in these binders and store all else in a web based file system, such as www.mobillogic.com The cloud is usually available…
5. Consider your phone system well in advance and be sure your workers, customers, or clients can reach you in the event of an emergency.
6. If you have time, reach key clients and customers in advance to let them know of a possible interruption in service. Sometimes the best surprise is no surprise.
7. If there is a direct hit, consider whether or not to evacuate your business and where to go in the event you do decide to evacuate. It’s much more comfortable to do business in an air conditioned hotel conference room out of town than in a muggy, hot office in town.
8. If the threat is imminent, remove all physical information such as exhibits and displays that are necessary to your business or practice. It will be easier, less expensive and faster to remove them than it will be to recreate them later.
9. Consider using a AAA Certified Records Management Center for all types of information storage. It will be well worth the time and the investment.
10. When all has returned to “normal” take time to review the plan you followed and make any necessary changes and corrections to that plan before the next time it is needed.