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Sep
12
I’m Not One to Gossip!
Co-workers and Office GossipHow often do you hear others complain about another employee in the office? Complaints about people when they are not present equates to gossip. How often have you caught yourself doing the same thing? Any discussion with another person in a negative way is considered gossip. Some people
are worse at doing this than others. Gossip can quickly ruin friendships and business relationships. There’s always the notorious co-worker who tells on you. How about those people that go to your boss and insinuate that you’re not doing your job correctly, timely or not at all. For some, these complaints may be valid but it can be very frustrating when you consider there are always two sides to a story. Numerous people choose to listen to only one side. Look deep inside yourself to see if you are one of these people or if you contribute to their behavior.Fueling the fireOthers try to fit in by participating in discussions that are negative. It is probable, you either speak these negative words or fuel the fire. Everyone has been in this situation on more than one occasion. No matter what you think, others don’t want to hear you complain 24/7. This reflects bad on you and the person you’re talking to. Others see or hear you converse in this manner so be aware no matter how discreet you are, your participation is recognized. Constant negative discussions will bring a person down and make them dread being around you. Most people enjoy being around others that are positive.Change yourself and othersIf you change your ways, others will acknowledge it and also change. I recall a time when I was complaining to a co-worker about my boss. They agreed but instead of fueling my complaints, they said “What can you do?” and shrugged their shoulders. This person did not agree or disagree with what I was saying but their comment and body language ended the conversation. This was their way of saying I was gossiping and they didn’t want to have a part in it. I immediately realized what I doing and stopped complaining and changed the subject.
Nov
16
Small Business Start-Up Tips, Things You Need to Consider
Should You Start a Small Business?Should You Start Your Own Business?So, you’ve decided to leave the rat race behind and become your own boss. Now what? Although we all have had days where we want to take Johnny Paycheck’s advice to heart (“Take This Job & Shove It”), there are many things you will need to consider before making a final decision. First and foremost is the choice of what field to enter. We’ve all heard the maxim that says “Do what you love”, but will that pay the bills? I don’t know many people who are interested in paying me to sit on the couch and watch TV, no matter how much I enjoy it. While it is important that you like your work since you will put a lot of time and effort into a small business, it is equally important that you be realistic in what the market is calling for. You do not want to get into a situation where you have spent your entire life savings on a plan that has no chance of succeeding. You will need to consider such factors as what problem your product or service solves and who has this problem. Do your potential clients have the money to pay for the product or service you are offering? For instance, you may have a dog who chews your furniture when left home alone, so you decide you want to start a dog daycare, which is a fairly high-priced service. It will be an uphill struggle to succeed if you are in an area where people struggle to meet their basic daily needs. You also must make sure that others have the same problem you are trying to solve with your product or service. You may be extraordinarily good at drawing spiders and snakes, and your idea is to sell your drawings because they fill the blank spots on the walls of your house. However, you need to think about how many people are sitting around staring at their living room walls thinking, “Boy, this room would be just perfect if I only had a picture of a tarantula to hang over the fireplace.”Another consideration is whether or not you are good at creating the product or providing the service. I dearly love to sew, but most of the garments I create would fit either a resident of Munchkinland or an NBA player – no one in between. My clientele would be rather limited if I chose this as a career.
Feb
21
Starting Up Your Startup: A Guide to Starting Your Own Business
Common considerations when considering starting a new business.Maybe you can’t take your boss anymore. Maybe you have a great new idea and you don’t want someone else to profit off of it. Maybe you just want to be able to make your own way in the world. Whatever the reason, you’ve decided to start your own business… and your life will never be the
same.
Starting up a new business can be both a blessing and a curse, a trial of both love and terror. If you don’t know where to start, it can make it that much worse… the task can seem so overwhelming that even the most steadfast of people can give up on their dreams and ambitions. Do you want to see your ideas come into being, or are you content to simply wonder about what might have been? Presented here is a guide to be used as a starting point, so that you’ll be better able to determine whether or not to continue with your pursuit.
Consider the various benefits of being the owner of your own business. You’ll have the freedom to run your business as you want to see it run. You’ll be the one in charge of how much or how little you make, and what you do in your business life. Most importantly, though, you’ll be able to use your creativity effectively, not having to worry about what your boss thinks about your decisions, and doing item A instead of focusing on item B. You should be careful, though… while it’s nice to have freedom, too much of it can be more of a curse than a blessing. Many people need a more structured life, and as a business owner you’ll have to deal with all of the things that never affected you as a mere employee. You’ll have your freedom, but you’ll also have the all of the consequences of that freedom.