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The Business IDEA
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For many, the commute to work and back home represents a lot of wasted time. The longest average commute, each way, in the US is a little over 43 minutes in New York City. This adds up to over 9,000 hours a year spent sitting in a car or public transportation. However, your commute does not have to suck. Here are four ways to make your commute better and safer.
Use the Time to Learn Something It can be helpful to use all the time spent commuting to learn something. There is a wide range of podcasts and audiobooks to appeal to anyone. Whether you want to catch up on the daily news, discover what is happening in the world of tech, or explore developments in psychology, educational audio entertainment can not only make your commute seem shorter but also convert time that would have otherwise been wasted into productive time. Know the Blind Spots When you drive the same route every day, it can be easy to go into autopilot and neglect safe driving habits. However, safety is vital and the most important part of driving safely is knowing your blind spots. Commercial trucks have many blind spots and when driving, don't assume everyone will turn their heads. Knowing where the blind spots of your own car are and being aware that others may not always check their own blind spots can reduce the risk of accidents and make your commute safer. Plan Your Time One of the biggest stressors during a commute is running into unexpected traffic and being late for work. Allocating extra time for your drive can alleviate this stress and make your drive easier. Additionally, leaving earlier in the morning can sometimes mean fewer cars on the road, leading to a safer and more relaxing drive. There are even apps available that will notify you when the best time to leave is so you will hit the least amount of traffic during your drive. Disconnect from Your Phone A key part of driving safely is ensuring that there are little to no distractions in the car. Cell phones, however, are a major distraction while driving and can severely increase the risk of a crash. Disconnecting from your phone can make your drive more relaxing, but more importantly, it increases the safety of your drive. A commute, long or short, can be draining. No one likes to be in the car for a long time. However, with these tips in mind, you can make them safer and even enjoyable. If you’re looking for something to listen to while you drive, take a look at this article that includes some of the best ways you can set up your phone apps and car to listen to music and podcasts while you drive!
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Toxic employees drag everyone down with them. Bad attitudes and inappropriate conduct make other employees feel uncomfortable. Managers find themselves constantly distracted dealing with disasters these troubling hires cause. Firing them may put an end to current miseries, but the effects of toxic employees can linger long after they are shown the door. The best way to deal with toxic employees is not to hire them in the first place. Here are three ways to avoid making a regrettable hiring decision.
Look at Employment History Horrible employees likely have a long and dubious track record of poor performance. Look closely at an applicant's prior employment history for any red flags. Was the person locked into low-level work for years without any promotions? Did he/she jump from job to job frequently? According to Palmer Group, this can show that an employee could have a behavior issue. Probe these areas of concern, and see what the full story is. Taking the employee's word for everything might not be enough, though. Contact references and past employers to confirm any explanations. Remember, the past may be a good indicator of the employee's future. Put Them Through an Attitude Test Not every human resource department relies on an attitude test when screening would-be employees, but their inclusion could be helpful. According to The Hire Talent, attitude tests look for signs of toxic traits like blame, dishonesty, unsupportiveness, criticism, and negativity. Once these traits reveal themselves, a personnel manager can make a more informed decision. Hire someone to train HR in effectively administering an attitude test if no current managers possess the skill. In an office environment, teamwork can be crucial for success. If an attitude test reveals someone is argumentative or hostile, then he/she may not be the right match for the team. Look over the results of the test carefully when weighing different hiring choices. Anyone with toxic traits is not likely a good fit. Screen Social Media Feeds According to Law Depot, approximately 70 percent of employers screen a candidate’s social media when making hiring decisions. People reveal a lot about themselves on social media. Sadly, many show shockingly negative personality traits. Inappropriate or adversarial behavior on social media may spread to the workplace. Don't ignore how someone acts online; he or she probably acts that way everywhere. An employee becomes the face of a company to others. When that person acts outrageously on social media, he or she may drag the company into an embarrassing position. A business might even need to hire a PR firm to dig it out of an employee's social-media-created hole. Toxic employees create havoc wherever they go. Make sure you are confident you aren't hiring one the next time a position opens. By following these tips, you can be less likely to hire an employee that will cause you problems. Enjoy this article? Check out this other article on ways to increase your employees’ attention to detail!
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Most large businesses have an IT team that is responsible for protecting data and networking the computers used by employees. In many cases, the IT department can be ignored or isn't given enough attention from upper management. If you manage or own a business, there are a few things that you need to know to get the most out of your IT team.
How Much to Budget Depending on the industry, good IT can cost a bit of money because the technology likely affects your customers. Technology is a key driving force in every business market, which makes IT teams more in demand. IT teams can also cost more because they're responsible for accommodating the re-occurring wave of change while embracing technology as a partner rather than a commodity. Companies that sell technology as a product will likely have lower costs than those that sell products like tacos or buildings. Investing more money in IT may be a sacrifice but can have a positive impact on each department and aspect of the business. The Terminology If you make the mistake of getting hooked on buzzwords as a business, then you will quickly find yourself bloated with useless hardware and incompatible software, which can make your IT team confused and ineffective. Do you know the difference between ITIL and ITSM? Using confusing acronyms can only lead to issues and complications that occur down the road. Their Strategy Many businesses fail to have an IT plan or strategy, which is critical to the operation of their business with the type of software that is used. Many businesses often assume that technology can compensate for mistakes that are often made, but it is actually a force multiplier for the business. It can save money, attract more business, and boost the productivity of your team. You'll need to work closely with your IT team to develop a strategy and research the top software that can be utilized. Work with a professional that can help you to identify that IT structure that is needed to support the business and also plan for the future. Businesses that understand the importance of their IT team often succeed because they utilize what the department has to offer. With the right software used and a plan created, you'll likely obtain more success in the industry. KEYWORDS
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Attention to detail, or lack thereof, is a crucial component in making or breaking a business. Consequently, the level of detail-orientation of your employees plays an important role in the success and longevity of your company. There are measures that can be taken to enhance and improve employee attention to detail throughout your organization.
Hire Accordingly If you want to increase the level of attention to detail in your organization, one of the best places to start is at the foundation. When hiring new employees, make sure to ask them about their ability to notice the little things, and test them on this if possible — a lot of people list “attentive to detail” or “detail-oriented” on their resumes and in their interviews without actually having this skill. Candidates with the Analyzer/Logical personality type are naturally exacting, make excellent troubleshooters, and are more likely to double- or triple-check their work before handing it in. However, keep in mind that these personalities may perform poorly in high-pressure environments. Training Training employees about the importance of attention to detail is the first step to achieving the desired milestones and goals set for your business. Moreover, the aspects of your business in which more thorough attention is needed should be specifically outlined to the appropriate employees with training tailored to their unique business needs and contributions. Setting the right expectations upfront encourages workers to pay attention to the small details each and every time. A training program can be set up accordingly by utilizing a work plan or task checklist with emphasis on areas such as employee and client relations, fiscal benchmarks, and data and operational accuracy for example. Training should be customized in a way that makes the most sense for your company’s business goals. Track Employee Progress Tracking employee progress and providing actionable feedback is pivotal to the growth of your workforce. In addition, it helps to build trust and motivate your employees to continually improve and strive for strong results in regards to attention to detail. Furthermore, facilitating feedback can lead to improved communication and effective completion of work tasks. When employees are tuned in to how their position ties in and relates to company goals, the potential for costly mistakes and errors are greatly reduced. By following the three steps outlined above, your organization and employees will be on an empowered path to contribute quality work as a direct result of increased attention to detail. A few small changes can prove to be both beneficial in building up your company and hardworking personnel alike. Liked this article? Read this one next: How to Make Employee Engagement a Daily Habit
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 Grades have now been posted for the “Active Class Participation” part of your course grade. Here’s the formula that was used for determining your participation grade. Please note that there were two “free” absences (one week’s worth of classes). Then, they counted….so, based on your number of absences during the semester, the following table shows your grade for in-class participation for the class:  For those that took advantage of this grade, I congratulate you for your diligence. The class was made better by your participation. For those however that failed to take advantage of this opportunity for earning your grade (and learning more by being in-class), please be advised that this was spelled-out to you at the beginning of class (both in-class and in the course syllabus as shown below) and repeatedly discussed throughout the semester. If you have any questions or concerns over your participation grade, please see me at dwyld@selu.edu. Thanks and good luck on your finals - and congrats to those of you graduating! David From the Course Syllabus   Grades have now been posted for the “Active Class Participation” part of your course grade. Here’s the formula that I used for determining your participation grade. Please note that there were two “free” absences (one week’s worth of classes). Then, they counted….so, based on your number of absences during the semester, the following table shows your grade for in-class participation for the class:  For those that took advantage of this grade, I congratulate you for your diligence. The class was made better by your participation. For those however that failed to take advantage of this opportunity for earning your grade (and learning more by being in-class), please be advised that this was spelled-out to you at the beginning of class (both in-class and in the course syllabus as shown below) and repeatedly discussed throughout the semester. If you have any questions or concerns over your participation grade, please see me at dwyld@selu.edu. Thanks and good luck on your finals - and congrats to those of you graduating! David FROM THE COURSE SYLLABUS   
Your new business is finally up and running and you feel like a kid in a candy store. You are happy, you have all your ducks in a row, and you feel ready for that first sale. Here are five things that you need to know in order to be successful in your business now and in the future.
It's About the Experience Businesses thrive on customers having a great experience when buying a product or service, so it's up to you to make sure that this happens for the people that you serve. Make sure that your customer's journey is a pleasant one every single step of the way. Providing a good experience for customers is important for future growth and success because these customers are going to be able to speak well of their experience with your business. They're also the customers most likely to come back repeatedly. The way you approach customers and communicate your brand can greatly impact your success. If you’re struggling with business growth, then you may want to examine your marketing strategy. Ultimately, customer experience is what will drive your business forward. Reputation is Important Being able to manage your online reputation is important if you want to have a successful business. Once you've established a solid customer base, ask these customers to review you on outlets like Google and Yelp. Also, you can politely invite them to send in video testimonials of their experiences with your business, which you can use for marketing on your website. By utilizing customer testimonials to manage your reputation, you'll be able to gain new customers faster because you have built a trust factor with your audience. If you're concerned about asking your customers for testimonials, don't be. Your customers will love to be involved in the process of your success and offer you their perspective on their positive experience in working with you. Your Mindset Holds the Key Some people say that the key to success is knowing how to make a sale. The true key to success is in your mindset. Your mindset holds the key to your ability to be able to market yourself well to your target audience. If you have limiting beliefs on how many sales per month you can make or how many clients you can work with in one year, then you'll see that come to fruition in your business. Train your mindset so that you're setting yourself up for success and eliminating limiting beliefs from the get-go. Your Business Shouldn’t Be a Replica of Someone Else’s It's very easy when you're starting out in business to play the comparison game. Especially if your business is a year old or younger. There may be people who have been in business at the same time as you and you see them and feel like they're crushing it with their sales goals and client testimonials and pretty photo shoots. The truth is, your business shouldn't be a replica of anybody else's business. Your business is a living, breathing entity of its own that is specific to you and how you operate and who you serve. Don’t try to copy someone else. Be at Peace with Failure While you may feel like failure is one of the worst things that can happen in your new business, that could not be further from the truth. Use failure as a stepping stone to learn what you need to know to run your business successfully. Everything in your business that doesn't work out the way you expected it to has a solution on the other side of it. By using these five things as guideposts in your business, you're setting yourself up for success and less frustration when failure hits. Want more ideas to help you succeed in business? Read all about The Business IDEA today!
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If your marketing strategy is older than three years, it could be time for an update. Moreover, if you find your messaging is not getting the results you want, maybe it's time to go back to basics. If you work on the fundamentals of a good marketing strategy, then the results should fall in place.
Revisit Your Audience Personas It's vital for your company to understand the likes and dislikes, backgrounds, age groups, political affiliations, dreams, and aspirations of your ideal audience persona. Consider the type of audience that would be the best match for your product and/or service. If you haven't evaluated your audience personas in years, now is the time for an overhaul — especially if your products and services have changed over time. If something isn't "clicking" with your marketing, this may be the step you need to get back on track. You can then use your updated audience personas to get back in sync with their needs and wants. Sundance explains that all this information is vital to understanding how to interact meaningfully with your target market. Understand Your Product and Service For this step, perhaps you should take another look at analyzing your product and service. What market need does it meet? How is it unique from similar products and services? What sets it apart from your competitors? No one can market your product and service better than your company can. While you do need customer advocates, the basics of product marketing starts with your understanding. If sales have stalled and you feel like you don't know where to take your marketing campaign, then it may be time for a refresh. Digital Marketing Training Group recommends participating in ongoing training to stay up to date on the latest trends and standards in the digital marketing industry. You can then apply your knowledge in furthering your marketing goals. Get to Know Your Competition When getting back to marketing basics, your company might be so focused on your product line and customers that you forget any other obstacles that might be lurking around. MarketResearch.com warns that one such hurdle in your quest for market domination would be your competitors. It is critical to get to know your competition. You can learn from their mistakes and avoid similar pitfalls. You can also gain a better understanding of why your target audience might purchase from them instead of your company. In addition, you might learn from their successes and apply some of their winning strategies. Not to mention, you can study their segment of the marketplace to find any opportunities to sell more of your products and services. Embrace Strategic Partnerships In order to grow, some companies need to find allies. For instance, if you look at the history of McDonald's, Ray Kroc partnered with local bakeries throughout the nation to ensure a consistent baked product for every McDonald's franchise. As far as your company stands, think of a partnership that can work in a mutually beneficial way. If your company sells lipstick, you might partner with an eye shadow brand to sell kits instead of individual pieces. In terms of marketing, you and your partner benefit from exposure to new consumers. There you have it, the basics of marketing. At times, going back to basics is all it takes to get your company moving in a forward direction once more.
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