Author: Michael Perez

After a long time, you have decided to dive into the business world. You believe you have all it takes, and you are ready for the ever-competitive arena.

Since you have the best business idea, you have a strong belief that you will not experience failure. You have identified a power team which will help you achieve the clear goals and objectives contained in your business plan. Additionally, you have identified your business location, and all that is left is for you to get a things together and launch your startup.

But before you do that, there are a few skills you need to succeed in your endeavours. They include;

Social skills

For a fact, you cannot achieve business success on your own. You need people on your side. You need customers, financiers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. If you cannot relate with these people, then rest assured your rivals will always be ahead of you. Therefore, invest time and resources to acquire interpersonal skills, which will help you a great deal in developing mutually beneficial networks.

Research skills

Succeeding in business is not always about having a good idea and implementing it. Look, clients are constantly looking for businesses which will not just sell them products and services, but those that will also solve their diverse needs. Therefore, you need research skills which will allows you to understand your target market, the type of content they love, the problems they face, and learn some of the things you can do to fulfil their ever-changing needs.

We cannot also forget to mention that research skills will also help you to understand market dynamics, and stay on top of the trends that can help you stick out of the crowd.

Communication skills

As a business owner, you will be constantly sending written and verbal communication to your stakeholders. Therefore, you will need to develop communication skills, which will not only help you create a rapport with others, but also assist you pass crucial information efficiently to your audiences.

Internet skills

Today, a majority of people will look for a product or service online before deciding where to buy it. Therefore, if your business doesn’t have an online presence, then be sure that your competitors will always be ahead of you.

Apart from hiring an IT team, make sure you also have the necessary internet skills as the business owner. Understand some basics of SEO, and learn how to advertise effectively on social media. Also, learn to use an array of tools which can aid team management and digital marketing success.

Complex problem-solving skills

Of course, you have the right problem-solving skills, because you know that you will face various challenges in the course of doing business. However, you need to remember that they modern market is highly complex, and is dominated by complex problems which entrepreneurs face every day. Therefore, you need to learn some of the common problems which you might face, and uncover their practical solutions. By offering solutions to complex problems, you will enhance effective decision-making, which will eventually result in business success.

Gone are the days when floors used to be made with the natural grey concrete. Today, there are a wide range of decorative options, and acid-stained concrete is perhaps the most popular.

When you choose to install an acid-stained floor in your home, you will delight in a host of benefits which include;

Longevity

As long as it is well installed, sealed and maintained, an acid-stained floor can serve you for many years without demanding major repairs or replacement. Essentially, this floor will endure heavy traffic for over two decades. However, you may need to reseal it every two or three years based on how you use it in order to achieve this.

Curb appeal

Acid-stained concrete come in different colours, patterns, and designs. Therefore, the beauty that it can bring to your abode cannot be matched. The colour in this type of floor penetrates to the surface of the concrete, thus it cannot fade or discolour.

Versatility

Just like any other type of concrete, acid-stained concrete is highly versatile. You can use it to build any type of flooring that you can think of. Whether you want to create a floor that mimics high-end products such as stone, gemstone, marble, natural stone, slate, wood, or bricks, you can easily achieve your goals. Additionally, in case you saw a floor somewhere, or you have a design in mind, a good concrete contractor will actualize your dreams in no time using this type of concrete.

Ease of maintenance

Unlike other types of floors, you don’t need to spend a lot of time or resources trying to keep an acid-floor looking good throughout the year. All this floor needs is a brush with soft bristles for regular sweeping, and some pressure washing at least two times a week to get rid of chemical stains and debris. To enhance its longevity, you may need to reseal it at least once every two or three years.

Increased property value

In case you will sell your property at some point in future, a well-installed acid-stained floor can go a long mile in increasing the value of your property. In fact, experts say that this type of floor, if well installed and maintained, can increase the overall value of your property by a whopping 20%.

Fire resistance

In case of a fire disaster, and acid-stained floor can protect various aspects of your home from getting burnt. This product is highly fire resistant, and this is why it is one of the most recommended products for anyone looking for a concrete floor.

Water resistance

Concrete in its natural form is highly porous, which means it permits the entry of water and moisture. However, with acid staining coupled with proper sealing, water cannot penetrate into the surface. This reduces the occurrence of cracks and other water-related damages. Additionally, it inhibits the growth of mould and mildew, which can be detrimental to human health.

If you are looking for a type of floor that will present you with a host of benefits, including the ones outlined above, consider finding the best concreter to install a good acid-stained floor for you!

Whenever you want to install an element in your home using decorative concrete, perhaps the most challenging step is finding the ideal contractor for your needs.

In today’s market, there are thousands of decorative concrete contractors. They all promise their prospects the best through an array of advertising methods, which makes the selection process a pain in the neck.

Hidden in the midst of tons of masquerades are hundreds of good contractors whose calling is to provide clients with world-class services. Finding them might not be easy, but there are a few steps which can help you out. Read on!

Take your time

Unless you are in an emergency situation (which is highly unlikely), don’t rush to find a contractor of your dreams. Look – when you rush, there are high chances that you will select the first expert you come across, and this could be detrimental to your project and your home.

By taking your time, it doesn’t mean that you need to just sit at home and do nothing. You need to get out of your comfort zone, do through research both online and offline, and ensure that the experts you shortlist are not only credible, but they also enjoy a rigid reputation in both online and offline platforms.

Don’t do it alone

When searching for a concrete contractor for your decorative concrete project, avoid doing it on your own. Ask your partner or close relative to help you identify the best. If this isn’t possible, simply request your friends or colleagues to give you referrals. Once you get a few referrals, visit their homes and see the projects that the concreter undertook. Ask as many questions as you wish, and at the end of the day, make sure you choose a contractor you believe will provide you with world-class services.

Talk to other professionals

If you have contacts to a roofer, electrician, plumber, or home improvement expert, then finding a good decorative concrete contractor should not be a vicious cycle. There are high chances that these professionals have worked with one in the past, and they will be glad to give you referrals.

Once you get referrals from these experts, don’t just hire the contractor. Do your due diligence first. Visit their offices, and find out the kind of services they offer. See their portfolio, and look at the projects they have worked on in the past. Then, look at the number of years they have been in business, in a bid to ensure you are working with an expert who has been tested and proven.

Never ignore your instincts

Finally, your instincts play an important role in the selection of the right concrete contractor. Remember, the expert you want to work with will be working inside your home, where you store all your precious belongings. Therefore, finding a company you can trust is highly essential. Therefore, even if a contractor meets all your requirements, but you cannot believe in him for some reason, you will do yourself a favour by walking out and finding another contractor you can trust.

Preventative routine maintenance is also essential. Spills on the polished concrete must be resolved as speedily as attainable so that they don’t take up into the area. Griffin suggests services use topical guards or nano-coatings to the top of polished concrete to prevent ugly blemishes, these kinds of as acid stains, from sinking into the flooring.

“These topical guards are much more resistant to acid assault, ” he says. “One of the biggest difficulties with these flooring in paint merchants, drug stores, and grocery shops is that the acid meals and acid spills damaged them in the past. In a grocery store, the pickle aisle is a disaster. If somebody picks up a jar of pickles and drops it and breaks it, by the time they get there it has etched the flooring and there is no effortless resolve for it. ”

New nano-coatings specifically developed for polished concrete are far far more resistant and protective in opposition to places, stains and damage from acidic components.

“One of the most widespread issues we listen to about polished concrete is that oils will sink in and issues will stain them and we can not get them out, ” says Griffin. “Again, if they are taken treatment of correctly and some of the proper types of protectants are put on, it will turn into considerably less and much less of an problem.”

The exact maintenance regimen needed and the frequency of cleaning is mainly dictated by the volume of visitors in a facility. As a result, it is critical to look at for indications of wearing. Facility owners ought to appraise their flooring on a regular foundation.

A quite basic way to determine the maintenance frequency for a concrete flooring is to look at the floor and see if it is getting rid of its sheen and if there are extreme scuffs and scratches. If so, far more recurrent maintenance might be needed.

For case in point, in an environment with moderate foot traffic, such as a restaurant, flooring routine maintenance may entail reapplying the ground complete once a month to provide it back to its first point out. Meanwhile, with concrete flooring that are subject matter to continual foot traffic, these kinds of as in a purchasing mall or a stadium, floor routine maintenance might be essential two or three times per thirty day period, or even far more frequently.

The growth and popularity of polished concrete is not likely to drop off whenever soon, especially as term continues to unfold about its many advantages. Griffin states it is essential for distributors to learn all factors of polished concrete flooring, whether or not it be through trade exhibits like the once-a-year World of Concrete demonstrate in Las Vegas or through business-particular seminars and instruction sessions.

McGarvey states distributors ought to be geared up to show their understanding of the latest technological innovation in polished concrete ground treatment.

“Options exist that may well preclude choosing a contractor but are not for the faint of coronary heart, ” he suggests. “We are speaking about sprucing stone, and it requires time and equipment. Some of today’s choices need considerably less investment decision in tools, but do require instruction and endurance to achieve the best possible results. A knowledgeable distributor can aid take some of the thriller out of this variety of perform.”

A properly installed and maintained stamped concrete can last for decades or even longer. With routine maintenance, stamped concrete is highly durable. It can withstand exposure to harsh conditions such as heavy traffic or severe weather. Below is a list of some of the ways to help keep your stamped concrete last as long as possible:

1. Apply color hardener to the surface. Not only does a color hardener adds beautiful coloring to the surface of a stamped concrete, it also enhances the durability of the surface making it more resistant to penetration and abrasion. You can learn more about the coloring methods of stamped concrete.

2. Protective sealer application. Coating the surface with a protective sealer is the best way to prevent dirt, oil and grease stains, deicing chemicals, and other substances from penetrating the concrete. Furthermore, a protective sealer makes it easier for you to clean the concrete. It can also enhance any coloring applied to the surface and help prevent its fading from exposure to UV light.

3. Always make sure that the concrete contractor you hired is using the correct concrete mix. The mix should be able to withstand the conditions it will be exposed to. A protective coating or a sealer won’t save the concrete if it’s not correctly installed.

4. The freeze and thaw effect can damage the appearance of stamped concrete so make sure to protect it. There are concrete mixes that are resistant to freeze-thaw damages including popouts, cracking, and ugly flaking or scaling of the surface.

5. Do not use deicing salts to remove frost on your stamped concrete. Deicing salts can damage the sealer leaving white, hazy marks on the concrete. It can even be worse by removing the sealer from the concrete.

What is the subsequent era of servicing items for polished concrete flooring and where can contractors uncover them?

The mechanical process of refining and smoothing the concrete does generate a complete that does not want to be preserved in the identical manner as conventional flooring choices at that time. There is no everyday buffing required. No waxing and stripping is essential. So, in that sense the floors had been “no maintenance”. But what was found quickly is that the concrete can and did scratch at any time so slightly when sand particles are pressed into the flooring and slid across the surface area. This implies that foot site visitors, cart site visitors and any other procedure that developed an abrasive motion would dress in the floors down slowly. These tiny micro-scratches build up in excess of time and decrease the smooth complete and for that reason the total glow of the ground.

With this new-located information, the companies that ended up the most invested in the polished concrete market stared scrambling to uncover a floor cleaner or routine maintenance method that would help remedy the scratching predicament and extend the daily life of the floors. The first procedures place forth have been to sweep regularly and thoroughly clean the floors with drinking water only. Then we commenced saying “add a minor little bit of delicate soap, like dishwashing cleaning soap to the scrubber h2o.” Subsequent arrived the first polished concrete cleaners. These were basic neutral cleaners that would raise the dust permitting for less complicated scrubbing. As time went together and the data and feedback came in, the merchandise ongoing to adjust. Manufacturer’s experienced cleaners designed with a bit of densifier in them. Theoretically these cleaners would continually harden the surface area as they produced it denser and more difficult which would make it more tough and resistant to micro-scratching.

Concrete Cleaners

The best polished concrete cleaners are made by construction chemical manufacturing organizations and as private label merchandise for grinding machinery makers. These construction business makers created maintenance systems as a way of safeguarding their main merchandise. Right now, most of these kinds of products are offered right to contractors and consumers or offered via design supply houses. This makes polished concrete upkeep challenging to sustain. The janitorial contractors that historically sustain flooring already have great relationships created with their janitorial distribution companies. They want to get from their typical suppliers. The only problem is that their regular suppliers do not make items that are a very good fit for polished concrete. This qualified prospects to “best guess” substitutions of cleansing merchandise. These substitutions usually do far more damage than excellent.

Cleaners that are standard and fantastic for VCT or Terrazzo flooring with a sealer as a protectant and a disposable wax as a living surface do not do effectively for concrete flooring. I area calls day-to-day from keep administrators, janitorial contractors or retail regional administrators discussing issues on present initiatives. I locate that problems that start off with “the color is coming off on our floors” usually indicates that the cleaner being used has a solvent in it which unusually sufficient has an effect on solvent primarily based dye shade. Issues that begin with “My ground is losing its glow significantly faster than I expected” usually implies that the cleaner they are making use of has an acid ingredient that is obtaining a chemical response with the concrete and eats the surface. This outcomes in pitting, which lowers the shine. As a facet notice, I did have 1 client even though that was utilizing an approved polished concrete cleaner but had no glow considerably less than a calendar year right after opening. I was possessing a hard time comprehending why the flooring was shedding its gloss in all the primary isle ways only. Even the coloration was coming out in specific designs and areas. We talked numerous instances with all the functions about the scrubbing method and chemical substances and pads that have been being employed and it all appeared in order. Following demonstrating up on internet site at 2:00 in the early morning for a shock check out, I discovered the issue. The routine maintenance plan said that the ground ought to be burnished two to 4 instances for every 12 months with a diamond impregnated burnishing pad. The store supervisor thought “If burnishing four times a yr is great, then burnishing nightly would be significantly better”, so which is what they had been doing. Burnishing nightly with a four hundred-grit pad for a yr. This resulted in a slow sanding of the surface area only in the primary stroll methods the place the burnisher was managing. As you can see there are a lot of possible ways that the straightforward approach of polished concrete servicing can be overlook managed or messed up.

Exactly where the Market is Headed

As polished concrete carries on to obtain momentum, the large janitorial manufacturing businesses will begin functioning to create procedures, chemical substances and packages to address this massive industry section. I feel that the janitorial giants have not wished to get into polished concrete routine maintenance simply because the margins and quantity are not as big as other flooring types. This state of mind is shifting though due to the fact the sheer volume of polished concrete floors currently being accomplished each year can make up a main and growing phase of the general flooring market place.

Over the next couple of several years I imagine that each and every major janitorial supplier will have goods particularly made to tackle the polished concrete market place. I see two techniques that the marketplace for routine maintenance programs can go. Alternate flooring types are worthwhile since the sealer or wax is changed routinely. This is at a large value to the operator, but the floors always appear good. Most of the damage that takes place is held at the surface area and only affects the disposable sealer. I know of one big manufacturer that presently sells a thin topical sealer system that demands to be replaced numerous instances a yr. I could see the makers pushing to go this course since it would suggest higher profits as far more product is utilised. I consider that this method will little by little collapse the polished concrete market place. My believed procedure driving the assertion of a slow collapse is that polished concrete is an eye-catching ground since of the search, but there are often flaws and imperfections in the concrete slab. The accurate advantage is the reduced routine maintenance value. If the industry goes to a disposable sealer regularly utilized, it will creep the maintenance charges up. At present, using a very good maintenance program with the very best available polished concrete cleaners and regular burnishing a buyer will spend significantly less than .75 for every foot for each year to maintain their ground. This expenditure will preserve the flooring serviceable for ten several years or lengthier. Evaluate that to VCT which has an common upkeep cost of $one.fifty – $2.00 per foot for each 12 months for scrubbing, buffing, stripping and waxing. VCT has an typical daily life of ten a long time or less and then it demands to be completely taken off and re-put in. The common cost for removal and alternative of VCT is $four.50 per foot. Compare to polished concrete at a refurbish value of $one.25-1.50 for each foot. The concrete never requirements to be eliminated so the refurbish is significantly less invasive and much faster. If the routine maintenance expense of polished concrete creeps up towards the $1.00-1.25 for every foot for each yr variety, I do not consider most stores or owners would be as prepared to offer with the inherent flaws of concrete for the minor financial savings that are reached. This will lead to a lower in the tasks specified and a sluggish collapse of the industry.

The other route that can be taken is genuinely “maintaining” the present finish. This requires performing mechanical remedies to the floor to maintain the polish at or around the degree of shine that was provided at the time of installation. There is a single method like this that has strike the market place just lately by 1 of the bigger janitorial solution makers. I am really fired up by this mechanical path to effective servicing as I see it continuing to grow the industry. The fundamental value of polished concrete is mechanically profiling the concrete area to be sleek and polished. I see this sort of mechanical servicing program as boosting this core benefit daily even though doing work to address the weaknesses of a flooring program with out a sealer or sacrificial complete. Mechanically dealing with the maintenance every day removes the effects of micro-scratches that are designed by the sanding action of the soil that we talked about at the commencing of this article. I see this as a great solution, especially when a mechanical technique is utilised with a very good cleaner exactly where densifier and stain protection are frequently utilized to the floors. Based on the information that I have appeared at this kind of floor maintenance program will maintain on to the considerable expense benefits of polished concrete flooring although addressing gloss amounts and the periodic staining that occurs via schedule usage. I see this variety of system becoming especially beneficial in the foodstuff services and grocery sectors.

The future of polished concrete as a flooring procedure is carefully tied to the ability to sustain the appear and durability of the finish. Routine maintenance can both support or swiftly hurt the total search of the finish. As polished concrete continues to increase and grow to be the flooring of option, huge producers will start off to court docket the sector with systems developed exclusively to address the worries talked about listed here. I am thrilled to see the next chapter in servicing.

Your floor is an integral part of your American home. Not only does it endure massive traffic every day, it is also one element that can add on to the beauty of your indoor and outdoor space. For this reason, there is a myriad of flooring materials available in today’s market. From wood, natural stone, bricks, marble, to flagstone, river stone, and many others, homeowners are willing to diversify how floors are built. They believe that you don’t just install a floor just because you need one, you do it because you want the best for your home. However, nothing makes a floor more beautiful than an acid-stained concrete floor.

Whenever you want to customize your concrete flooring, you need to use a product that will not disappoint. Acid staining is undoubtedly one of the best and one of the most trusted methods of making outstanding floors look beautiful and have a personal touch.

What are the benefits of this kind of floor?

Durability

As a known fact, concrete is more durable than any other flooring material. Acid staining is aimed at adding durability to the already hardy concrete floor. When installing a floor in your home or business premises, you do not need on that will peel off, discolor, fade, or chip. You need one that will maintain its aesthetic look for a long time and one that the children of your children’s children will remember as a legacy left by their great, great-grandparent. Acid-stained concrete floors will help in achieving this. With them, be lest assured that they will never need refinishing or replacement. NEVER!

Affordable beauty

Sometimes, nobody tends to believe that you can achieve beauty without a price tag. Most people don’t believe in this possibility. With acid staining for concrete floors, you can mimic the most expensive materials in the market such as marble and natural stone, have an array of colors, patterns, and shapes to choose from with an unimaginable price tag. If you think you have a very tight budget that cannot allow you to have a floor of your dreams, you have not tried acid-stained concrete floors.

Water resistance

Water is the main cause of cracks on many types of floor, especially concrete floors. Acid-staining makes it practically and technically impossible for water to have a way to the floor, hence is capable of having zero-corrosion. If your house gets damp and wet especially in the aggressive American weathers, an acid stained concrete floor is your most ideal lifetime partner.

Low maintenance

A broom, a vacuum cleaner, and a mop are all you need to maintain an acid stained concrete floor. Actually, you do not need to use a vacuum cleaner all the time. A sweeping broom is enough to keep your floor alive for a long time. This means that you will save a significant amount of money that you would have used on regular maintenance and resealing of your floor. Even though many suggest that the level of traffic on a floor determines its maintained regularity, this floor has the lowest average cost of maintenance than any other floor in America.

Do you need a concrete contractor for a domestic or commercial construction project? Before you go any further, there are a few things you need to know! Not every contractor is the same, and opting for the wrong company could cost you thousands of dollars.

But don’t panic – we’ve compiled a list of the things you need to look out for when choosing a concrete contractor, including practical steps you can take to ensure you get value-for-money. By the end of this article, you’re going to know how to find the perfect concrete contractor for your project. Ready to get started? Good, let’s go!

1. Do your research

If you’ve never used a contractor before, you probably don’t know where to start. A price comparison site is a
good place to begin your research as you’ll find a number of concrete contractors in your area; you can then
compare services based on price and other factors.

Once you’ve whittled down the list to two or three  companies you are interested in, contact them directly and find out more. You’ll want to find out how long it will take for the contractor to complete the project and whether there are any additional costs or hidden charges (for example, if the contractor has to work during the weekend). You might also want to ask for  references or find out which companies the contractor has worked with previously.

Find out about what type of work the contractor specializes in, for example:

• Patios and driveways
• Large commercial projects
• Stamped concrete or textured concrete
• Paths and decking for residential properties

2. Find out about the company

Third-party review websites can be a good place to ascertain how long a contractor has been in the business
and the type of customer service they provide. These reviews are submitted by previous clients and customers – providing you with lots of useful information when searching for the perfect concrete contractor.

The longer a contractor has been in business, the more experience they will have. When it comes to price, a contractor that charges more for his services doesn’t always mean that he’s better; however, cheaper contractors might use less expensive materials, resulting in a poorer quality end-result. This isn’t always the case, so always do your research and find out about the contractor’s previous work.

3. Find out about insurance

You will need to choose a contractor who has the right insurance to provide you with the protection you need. This information should be listed on their website, but if it’s not, contact the company directly to find out more. Ask about general liability coverage, workman compensation coverage, and vehicle insurance. Insurance is an important safeguard when a contractor starts work on your home or commercial building, especially as you could be held liable if an accident occurs on your property during the project.

Contact us

Looking for the perfect contractor? Look no further! We specialize in a wide range of services and pride ourselves on the customer service we provide. Contact us NOW to find out more or book an appointment. We are waiting for your call!

Empowering your employees is the most important thing you can do for your business. Not only will it increase your chances for “success”, but more importantly it will add value to the lives of your staff and even yourself. Stop focusing on the bottom line alone and start focusing on those that can help you turn that bottom line around! One of the most successful men in technology, Steve Jobs, put it perfectly when he said, “It’s not the tools you have faith in – tools are just tools – they work or they don’t work. It’s the people you have faith in or not.”

Ok! So you may be able to close that big deal because you were able to read your client like a book, but how about your staff? Do you pay attention to them? Do you recognize their efforts, achievements, and even failures? One of the worst thing to do is to ignore someone. As humans we are wired to connect with others. Solitary confinement is known as one of the worst forms of torcher. The New Yorker reported on the long term effects of being isolated from others and quoted a telling statement from John McCain, a five and a half year prisoner of war in Vietnam, about being isolated. He said, “It’s an awful thing, solitary.” He goes on to say, ““It crushes your spirit and weakens your resistance more effectively than any other form of mistreatment.” The workplace is not much different from a foreign war zone. Workplace shootings, suicides, and depression is more prevalent today than ever before. Check out the short list below of how you can stop going about your business alone and start giving back to your staff! Be the difference in business, not the statistic!

“Virtually every company will be going out and empowering their workers with a certain set of tools, and the big difference in how much value is received from that will be how much the company steps back and really thinks through their business processes, thinking through how their business can change, how their project management, their customer feedback, their planning cycles can be quite different than they ever were before.” –Bill Gates

• Organizational instability. Constantly changing management and not having a clear focus of your business goals creates confusion among your staff. If employees don’t know what’s going on, what the priorities are or what they should be doing then they will loose the drive to work. The stresses of your business shouldn’t be on your employees. Invest in solid leadership and you’ll be on the path to success in no time.

• Offer quality training. When someone is hired into a position they expect to be trained how to do that position. To often small businesses just throw their staff to the wolves with a “sink or swim” approach. This leads to frustrated employees, premature loss of staff, and creates a “do it how you see fit” direction. You need unity in your company which means everyone needs to do most tasks the same way. Train your new hires how to succeed at their job and you will be left pleased with your efforts. If you don’t have a training program, check out this awesome blog by the amazing employee scheduling software When I Work of how to create an effective on the job training program.

• Rude behavior. Studies have shown that everyday indignities have an adverse affect on productivity and result in good employees quitting. Rudeness, assigning blame, back-biting, playing favorites and retaliations are among reasons that aggravate employee turnover. Feeling resentful and mistreated is not an enticement for a good work environment. The environment in which your employees work starts with you, so get a handle on it and clean up the bad attitudes ASAP!

• Work-life imbalance. When organizations choose to demand that one person do the work of two or more people it only creates stress and drastically reduces productivity. This is especially true when an organization downsizes or restructures, resulting in longer hours and weekend work. Employees are forced to choose between a personal life and a work life. Try to find a balance for your staff. If they feel you are committed to their happiness, then they are more likely to want to work harder for your business.

• The job did not meet expectations. It has become all too common for a job to significantly vary from the initial description and what was promised during the interviewing stage. When this happens it can lead to mistrust. It is understandable that a job position might vary over time as your business changes, but keep open communication between you and your staff. Don’t just give them more tasks that are outside of their job title. Talk to them about how you have some tasks that need to get done and find out which ones they might enjoy working on. Communicate if they are temporary assignments or permanent changes due to a new direction the business is going. Knowledge is power and the less you leave your staff in the dark the more likely they are to see the light in the opportunity.

• Feeling undervalued. Everyone wants to be recognized and rewarded for a job well done. It’s part of our nature. Recognition does not have to be monetary. The most effective recognition is sincere appreciation. Recognizing employees is not simply a nice thing to do but an effective way to communicate appreciation for positive effort, while also reinforcing those actions and behaviors.

• Coaching and feedback are lacking. Effective managers know how to help employees improve their performance and consistently give coaching and feedback to all employees. Many managers were promoted because they did their jobs very well and got results. However, that doesn’t mean they know how to lead. Leaders aren’t born—they are made. People skills can be learned and developed, but it really helps if a manager has a natural ability to get along with people and motivate them. Managers should lead by example, reward by deed.

• Raises and promotions frozen. Over the years, studies have shown that money isn’t usually the primary reason people leave an organization, but it does rank high when an employee can find a job earning 20 to 25 percent more elsewhere. Raises and promotions are often frozen for economic reasons but are slow to be resumed after the crisis has passed. Offering competitive wages can leave employees feeling valued and can help you find quality staff for your business!

• Faith and confidence shaken. When employees are asked to do more and more, they see less evidence that they will ultimately share in the fruits of their labor. When revenues and profits increase along with workload, organizations should take another look at their overall compensation packages. Employees know when a company is doing well, and they expect to be considered as critical enablers of that success. Organizations need to stop talking about employees being their most important asset while treating them as consumables or something less than valuable. If an organization wants empowered employees putting out quality products at a pace that meets customer demand, they need to demonstrate appreciation through actions.

• Growth opportunities not available. A lot of good talent can be lost if the employees feel trapped in dead-end positions. Often talented individuals are forced to job-hop from one company to another in order to grow in status and compensation. The most successful organizations find ways to help employees develop new skills and responsibilities in their current positions and position them for future advancement within the enterprise. If you are a small business your growth opportunities might be limited, but before you find an excuse to cap your staffs promotion opportunities think of adding a new position that might take your business to the next level. You don’t want to loose a quality employee that is hungry for success, so figure out a way to keep them and get help to grow your business.

Organizations need to stop talking about employees being their most important asset while treating them as consumables or something less than valuable.

As always, thanks for taking the time to read this one all the way through. I hope this post helped encourage you to strive for more by helping others. Find success for your business by helping your staff succeed. I’d love to hear from you so leave your comments below or reach out to me directly. For more information, visit 2014PEMC.org.

So I thought this topic would be perfect since it’s been, “sigh”, over a month since my last post. I can tell you that I’m frustrated at myself, to say the least, for getting so busy that I wasn’t able to keep up with my beloved blog. In these past few weeks I’ve learned some lessons on how to not be overly consumed with my schedule and I’ve also appreciated some tools that have helped me keep my head above the water. When it comes to a busy schedule, take it from me and learn a few things about what not to do! Of course I’ll give some ideas of how to get through the day as well. You didn’t think I was going to leave you with a long list of my bad ideas did you? Keep reading and take back control of your busy schedule today!

Don’t let the busy tasks of the day define your future. Stay in control and find the calm in the storm.
What not to do:

Skip exercising. As much as you may be so sleep med152deprived you want to paint eyes on your eyelids so that you can sleep sitting up, making time for some good exercise is crucial for both your health and brain power and focus. For me, exercise is usually the first thing to go when I start to get overwhelmed with my week. My wife likes to go to the 6am Crossfit class so I find myself tagging along with her twice a week. But I can tell you that if she was out of town or if she decided to take the day off from exercising, I would be right there supporting her decision, face deep in my pillow! I am getting better at making workout more of a priority though since I ALWAYS feel better and more alert after I go. Of course eating healthy is a must too, but this usually goes hand in hand with regular exercise. For yummy dinner ideas check out this awesome food blog and become the chef you were destined to be.

Let your hair take over. Ok. So it took me almost three months to find a time that worked for both me and my stylist. Yes, that’s right, I have a stylist. My hair has some serious cow licks and I can’t settle with some big chain “salon”. My go to style is a faux hawk, but as time goes on it turns into a comb over. Even though I still gel my hair to the side, my side burns start to get way too overgrown and I find myself feeling less and less confident about my appearance as the weeks go on. The day after I got my hair cut I received several comments which boosted my confidence and gave me a new sense of energy. Take it from me and make time to stay well groomed and your successes will follow.

Loose site of your short term & long term goals. If your business is doing well 10-Steps-to-Achieving-Your-Business-Goalschances are it was because you had some sort of goal of where you wanted to take it. Most business owners don’t find success by simply stumbling upon it so you naturally have to plan and work for it. If planning and hard work got you here, why just show up and get lost in your daily to do list? Even though this isn’t something I’ve completely failed at, I do struggle to stay on task and plan for the future when I get really busy. I run multiple businesses so I find myself challenged to find the focus to stay on point with one task at a time. If I’m at a point of mental and physical exhaustion I have to take a step back and see where I am and where I want to be. Sometimes that means planning for the week, month, quarter, or even 5 years down the road. Whatever the case is I am regularly revisiting my business and personal goals to make sure I am still on schedule for success.

My saving graces (just a few of them):

Putting my marriage “first”. My wife and I are coming into our fifth year of marriage and I learned early on that she is “first” in my life. Being that we are both Bible believing Christians, we put God above all, so we then put each other as second above all the rest. Being a business owner I definitely have a full schedule and as my business grows the draw to always be working is a constant. Because of this I have to regularly be putting my wife before my work and more importantly before myself. Her and I have found a great balance where she supports my long hours most nights and I make a point to come home early on the nights she is making a special dinner, wants to snuggle up and catch an early movie at home, or wants to go for a walk to get fro-yo. The point is that she knows I have a lot on my plate so she does everything she can to help make life easier on me and I make a point to be around WITHOUT work. I come home early, set down my phone, and enjoy some genuine conversation with the love of my life. Having someone support you when your schedule just seems too much is priceless. Just remember, no matter how busy you are, it is never ok to ignore the feelings of those close to you. Being selfless is a freeing gift.

Having a to-do list. Honestly I wouldn’t be able to get as much done if I didn’t have an  todoist1efficient way of keeping track of my tasks. Todoist is one of the best to do apps that I’ve ever used and it’s packed full of features making collaborating with teams a cinch! Having a place to put my thoughts/tasks helps to keep my worries at bay. I feel more in control of my day when I’m not worrying about forgetting to do something. Have a plan for how you will take on extra burdens and tasks and don’t let a busy day bring you down. If you don’t have an app already you should seriously check out Todoist. It will be your new best friend.

Delegating my tasks. DELEGATE,DELEGATE,DELEGATE! I can’t say enough about how important it is to delegate tasks for your business and even personal ones too. Despite our technological advancements, there still are only 24 hours in a day so you need to make the most of them. As your business starts to grow so will your responsibilities. It’s no way to live being at work for 18 hours to only come home to shower, eat, and go to bed. You need to start handing over some responsibilities to your staff and let them take some of your worries away. I’ve found that I start my new employees with the tasks that won’t make or break my business, but those that, if done correctly, will help improve my business. They will start to learn how to execute decisions and you will see which staffers are ready for the big choices and which ones might need a little more time. I try to make sure that my employees understand my overall vision and what is expected so that they don’t have to ask me about EVERYTHING. Every time one of my employees asks me a question I think, “is there a tool, reference sheet, or training I can give them so that they don’t have to ask me that next time?” People feel empowered when they can accomplish tasks on their own so I try to give my employees as many tools as I can to empower them and they don’t know how to do something I don’t just do it for them, I typically teach them how to do it and make them accomplish the task right then and there. Being able to delegate tasks is quite freeing and it’s helped me continue to grow my business.

This was really just the short list of how you can get through a busy schedule without loosing your mind. I could list a hundred ways of how to manage a busy schedule, but I think the above are really the core concepts that have helped me and might just be able to help you too. The overall idea is to not let stress get the best of you when you’re overwhelmed and to realize the rest will fall into place as time goes on. So thanks again for reading this one all the way through and remember that if you can find a sense of control of your schedule you may just be able to find the calm in the storm.

Article sponsored by Replacement Window Glass