January 23, 2009

Lunch with an old friend

I’ve had several goodbyes lately. I can’t fool myself into believing that it’s likely I’ll ever return to Hawaii once I move, so I know that it’s unlikely I’ll be seeing any of my local friends again. I had a call last week from someone who is very dear to me. We met when I was working for the employer who first moved me to Hawaii and have been friends ever since. Jamie helped me start my business. He gave me my first computer (one he had recently retired for an updated model) and taught me how to use it. He gave me his client address book and told me to feel free to solicit any of the realtors and escrow officers who had made his own business successful. The real estate industry was thriving in 1999 and Jamie knew that there was more than enough business to support a new provider of termite inspections for home sales. He knew the quality of my work and the caliber of service I would provide to his valued clients if they chose to start using my service instead of his. Some of them did and my business was launched because of Jamie’s generosity. There aren’t many people in business who would have done what he did. We’ve worked together on a number of jobs over the years, but the fact is that we are competitors. The term “friendly competitors” exactly describes our relationship. I was a little perplexed when I found out that he had married and hadn’t sent wedding invitations to myself and another business associate with whom we both share ties, but it turns out that he and his bride had tied the knot on a cruise ship somewhere near China. He made up for the faux pas by inviting me into his home and introducing me to the love of his life, so I had to forgive him, of course. She’s the prefect mate for him and they’re still deleriously in love five years or so later, so I’m thrilled for them both that they found each other, even though they didn’t include me in their plans.

Jamie met me for lunch yesterday. We discussed current business trends. A number of other pest control operators and quite a few realtors in Hawaii are casting about for new ways to support themselves and their families. We talked about the state of our own industry and the financial crisis and our hopes that the new administration in Washington will bring about some positive changes. Nothing earth-shaking - just two friends catching up with each other and commisserating over the dismal business climate that has spurred me into leaving our beautiful paradise. I’m going to miss talks like that when I get where I’m going. I hope I’ll be fortunate enough to find new friends, competitors and associates in Texas with whom I’ll share such a comfortable working relationship. Maybe not. I think Jamie is unique.

Aloha Jamie. Gonna miss you, guy!

[tags]business, business associates, Hawaii, Hawaii business, Hawaii real estate industry, termite inspectors[/tags]

October 15, 2008

Taking Florida into account

Closing down my business and packing up my home are taking longer than I had hoped, but I’m making steady progress each day. I’m really excited about the prospect of living near family again and feel very blessed to have found several business opportunities in the area where I want to live. While my main goal this time is re-establishing family ties, having work that I love to do each day is also critical to my happiness. My last two moves were career-motivated and both brought good things into my life. Relocating for the sake of career advancement gave me so much more than just “a good job.” I’ve been places, seen things and been exposed to cultures I’d never have experienced if I had stayed where I was twenty years ago. Both moves also propelled me up the ladder of success. I’m convinced that my current move will do the same, and I’m thrilled to be returning to The South (always capitalized in my mind!) If you’re in accounting this might be a good time for you to consider a little Southern exposure, too, because Accounting Jobs in Florida are really hot right now. Positions are available for all skill levels and backgrounds, so there’s a place for you in Florida whether you’re a seasoned bookkeeper or a new CPA looking for your first career placement. Do you love keeping the books for the insurance industry? Perhaps you have a special affinity for striking a balance within an IT firm. Florida is the place for you! You should be doing what you love in a sultry, Southern paradise, where Gulf breezes freshen the soul and a stroll on the beach is a daily reality, not to mention the availablity of some of the best entertainment destinations in the country. Whether you’re already in Florida or in some place a little less perfect, don’t you owe it to yourself to seize this opportunity for advancement? Follow the link to find the career opportunity that will turn your dreams of success into reality!

[tags]accounting jobs, Career opportunities, career placement, Florida, job placement[/tags]

October 5, 2008

Postcards for my clients

One of the hardest things about moving is saying goodbye. I let the gals in the Table of Contents know a couple of months ago that I’d be leaving, and am gradually sharing the news with neighbors and other friends. It’s been gratifying to learn that many of them will genuinely miss me. What really surprised me, though, is that one of my clients almost burst into tears when I told her. She’s a warm and friendly person that I’ve done a lot of business with over the years, but I think it’s the situation that brought about my move as much as the move itself that made her so emotional.These are tough economic times in Hawaii and it’s very discouraging for all of us to see so many small businesses folding. The few inspections I’ve had in the last few months have all been for people who were leaving the islands because they couldn’t make a living here anymore, just like me. It’s a sad process to watch and an even sadder one to be overtaken by. The only good thing about business being so slow is that I won’t be seeing most of my clients and having to tell them face-to-face that I’m leaving. That’s an emotional overload I don’t think I could handle right now. They’ve supported me over the years, though, and I do want to thank them for that and give them some referrals so that I know they’ll be in good hands after I’m gone. I think the easiest way to do that will be with postcards. VistaPrint can produce them for me for less than three cents apiece, and using coupon code PC50 will allow me to add fifty free oversized postcards to my order. I’m also thinking about using their mailing service. I’m handling my move by myself and it’s all pretty overwhelming, so letting them take care of that chore will ease free me up for things that only I can do. Once I’ve decided how I want my message worded I can design my postcards online, upload my mailing list and be done with it. It would be nice to have an aloha party and spend an afternoon thanking each of my clients personally, but that’s just not something I have time for now. VistaPrint offers quality design and print services at budget prices, even for smaller orders like the one I’ll need (less than three hundred postcards.) I’ll be keeping that in mind once I arrive at my destination, too, because I’ll be needing professional printing services to help me get the word out about my new business. You’ll know all about it first, of course, but it’s nice to know that VistaPrint can help me with flyers, business cards and all of the other printed materials I’ll need to let folks know that skeet has arrived.

[tags]business printing, mailing services, postcards, printing[/tags]

September 16, 2008

Still digging my way out of the clutter

I have a nifty little rolling cart at my elbow whenever I’m at my desk. The top drawer contains pens and pencils, sticky notes, paper clips and a few more frequently used items. The second drawer holds a supply of blank file folders and the bottom drawer houses frequently used documents. It’s very handy and helps me do my job smoothly and efficiently. It’s also the only completely organized spot in my office. The photo above is typical of the remaining 140 some-odd square feet. It’s the middle shelf of my supply closet. There are several types of specialty papers, drafting papers, the remaining supply of file folders and some file protector sheets tottering in a huge stack. The bin contains all kinds of clips and labels, tape, staples and who knows what else. I certainly don’t know what’s in there and I’m a little afraid to find out. The clue to Jimmy Hoffa’s whereabouts could be hiding in there for all I know. It’s a safe bet that I won’t be retiring my blog subtitle anytime soon. I’m still digging my way out of the clutter.

Do you watch any of those home-organizing shows on cable TV? They all have various solutions for dealing with situations like mine, but there’s one thing that every one of them recommends every time. Label everything! As often as not, when you see them in action they have a Dymo label maker in hand. That’s because Dymo is the premier source for label makers and labeling supplies. From the neat little embossers we all had as kids to the specialty office and industrial solutions, Dymo has you covered.

School has been back in session for a few weeks now. While you were shopping for back-to-school purchases I reminded you that you need to label everything. Did you take my advice? Let’s do a little impromtu survery: what has your kid lost since school started? A notebook or binder? Gym shoes? That expensive backpack they promised they’d take good care of? Next question: did it have a personalized label so it could find its way home? If not, well … don’t say I didn’t warn you! It’s not too late, though. Get yourself a Dymo label maker and get busy. You’ve already replaced the lunch kit once. Don’t you want the next one to make it all the way through the school year?

[tags]Dymo, Dymo label makers, label makers, lables, organizing home & office[/tags]

September 9, 2008

Furniture for my office

I need to go furniture shopping soon. The desk that I bought when I started my business nine years ago is falling apart. I had some start-up money, of course, but investing in good furniture wasn’t real high on my list at that time. I’m actually a little surprised that my cheap desk has lasted as long as it has. I’ve been looking at new home office furniture for while, but now it’s time to get serious about my search. The pull-out keyboard tray for my desk (which I’m using for my laptop right now) is trying to fall off. Since I’ve just been through the nightmare of having to buy a new computer in a hurry I don’t want to have to do that again any time soon. I found the desk shown here at Max Furniture and I really like it. I have a little rolling cart at my elbow because my current desk doesn’t have any drawers. Would you look at all the drawer space on this beauty! My current desk has about the same amount of hutch space, but the L-shape of this one gives it more desk surface, so maybe I can get rid of the printer stand in addition to the rolling cart. That would make my office much less cluttered and - well, you know about me and clutter!

Once I get my office squared away I’ll be ready to start looking at living room furniture. I like my sofa, media center and book shelves, but I don’t have any end tables in my living room. How am I supposed to hide clutter from unexpected guests if I don’t have any drawers to shove stuff in when someone comes to the door? First things first, though. Getting my office in order is a top priority. I’ll have some fun with the living room once that’s done.

[tags]furniture, home furnishings, living room furniture, office furniture[/tags]

August 28, 2008

Office chores

I’m really awful about keeping up with all of the things I should do as a business owner. I seriously hate office chores. If I could just do my inspections and issue my reports I’d love my job. There’s all this other stuff that needs doing though, and I neglect most of it horribly. That’s why I’m rather proud of the productive day I had yesterday. This morning, for the first time in months, there was no filing piled up on my work table, waiting for me to set it in order & put it away. There are also no checks waiting to be entered into the books and prepared for deposit. How far behind was I? The photo above is a clue. A few of them don’t show, but those are the twenty checks that have been waiting patiently for my attention. Most of them are payments from escrow companies for my inspection services. Five of them are tax refunds. Yep - five tax checks. Remember how stressed I was about filing my taxes so late? I’d been paying my taxes quarterly (fed) or semi-annually (state) as a good little business owner is required to do, but I neglected to file my taxes on time. I hadn’t kept good track of things, so I wasn’t sure if I still owed a bunch on taxes until the refunds started coming in. Turns out I payed more than was due for 2006 and 2007 to both the IRS and the State of Hawaii, so both of them sent me separate checks for each year. Uncle Sam was also kind enough to send my econoimic stimulus check, which I was afraid might be witheld as a penalty for filing late.

I hate fooling with money. It doesn’t matter whether it’s coming in or going out, I hate to fool with it. When I first started my business I rushed to the bank with deposits as soon as checks came in. After a while I realized that was inefficient, so I started logging payments as they came in, but going to the bank once a week. Then maybe once every two weeks. Then I started letting them accumulate and didn’t log them in until I was ready to go to the bank - once every three or four weeks. When I started opening mail yesterday I was more than a little chagrinned to realize that some of the checks were postmarked six weeks ago. Obviously not acceptable! I’m adding a new vow to my list of “things I will improve on.” My checks are all tallied up and my deposit slip is filled out. As soon as I’m through with this post I’m going to head to the bank. I’ve made a committment to my business: in the future all office chores will be cleared away a minimum of once a week. I’m getting better at keeping my life and my business organized. This is just one of many areas where I’ve failed in the past. I’m putting it out here in front of all of you to impress upon myself that this needs to be something that I take seriously and address in a business-like manner. I almost asked you to wish me luck, but that would be ridiculous. Keeping my business running smoothly doesn’t need luck, it needs my committment, so let’s just leave it at that. I’m committed to doing better.

[tags]banking, business, business chores[/tags]

July 17, 2008

Small business success

After almost thirty years in the industry, I know pretty much eveything there is to know about pest control. I’ve done household, commerical and industrial pest control, termite inspections and treatments, canine-assisted termite inspections, sales, training and media relations. I’ve served in management for two national corporations. One of the good things about those two positions is that they came with instructions. Both had business plans in place and I pretty much just had to follow established routines. All of the things I’ve learned over the years have been useful in running my own small business. Working for someone else is a great way to learn a business from the from the ground up, but does not necessarily teach you everything you need to know to reach your goals and dreams as a small-business owner. That’s where business coaching can be very helpful. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day drudgery of running a business and never make the time to do any long-range planning and goal setting. OneCoach can provide the small business owner with the tools and resources to:

As small business owners, most of us went to work for ourselves so we could achieve independence and financial freedom. Don’t we owe it to ourselves to take advantage of the resources that can take us there? Check out OneCoach and watch your business grow!

[tags]business, business coaching, business success, small business[/tags]

May 29, 2008

Polishing my image as a small business

As the owner of a small business I know just how frustrating it can be to try to find affordable vendors and services. Many companies are not interested in working within our small budgets to help us out. While our businesses are small, we are entitled to the same courtesy and quality as the mega-corporations when we shop for our business needs. That’s especially true when we’re promoting our businesses. Shoddy marketing and cheap giveaways can do us more harm than good, tarnishing the image we’ve worked hard to build. We need quality promotions that will help us form a good first impression, and that will reassure our existing clients that they’re dealing with a professional organization. I don’t have a brick and mortar shop that my clients will ever see. My office is in my home and I do my inspections out of my car. While I don’t need a sign to plant out front, a tasteful sign on my car could help promote my image. Most of my realtor/clients never meet me before I pull up to the curb outside a home they want me to inspect. My car is my first impression, and signs for the two front doors have a lot of potential for helping shape my image. They could also convert some casual passers-by into clients. Have you ever copied down the name and phone number of a business because you saw the signage on their car in a parking lot or at a stop sign? I have! Without those signs I’m missing opportunities to recruit new clients every time I take my car out. BuildASign.com will let me design my own sign or custom banners right on their website, so I won’t have to waste time running around town looking at proofs or play phone tag with a sales rep when the color is not quite what I wanted. They’re priced right, too, and BuildASign is small business-friendly. I can order one sign or a dozen from them and be treated with the same respect as a larger business placing a huge order. They work with high-quality materials and every purchase comes with a satisfaction guarantee. If my sign is not exactly what I ordered, they’ll make it right. That’s the kind of service I want and the kind of business I want to deal with. You probably do, too. Check them out and see what they can do to help you promote your business. Don’t have a business of your very own? What about a banner to help folks find your next family reunion or to advertise that huge garage sale you’ve been planning? Did I mention that they’re affordable, even for small fry like you and me? Yep! They’re all that!

[tags]banners, business, business promotions, signs[/tags]

April 3, 2008

This is me, working

I do termite inspections. Over the years I’ve inspected everything from slum properties to a palace (literally) to the museum in the base of a well-known statue of a lady with a torch. These days I limit myself to providing inspections for the real estate market. I’m brought in to help prospective buyers make informed decisions about the homes they’ve selected. Most of the structures I inspect are typical middle-class homes, though I’ve certainly inspected my share of upscale properties. Today I inspected a seven thousand square foot house that is assessed at over five million dollars. The crawl space was about five thousand square feet. There was about two feet of clearance under most of the house, but it was tight quarters getting beneath plumbing and other utilities. I crawled some of it, but for most of it I had to squirm along on my belly, pushing with my feet and pulling with my elbows. I was appropriately suited-up, of course. I wore coveralls, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves and a dust mask, and today I finally remembered to get a picture. I asked the realtor to snap a photo before I entered the crawl space. If I’d been thinking I’d have asked him to take another when I came out. My entire front side was covered with damp sand and I had spiderwebs in my hair, which was plastered to my head with sweat. On second thought, maybe that’s a picture I wouldn’t want to share. So this is me working. Before. No after.

[tags]termite inspector, working women[/tags]

March 26, 2008

Label and postage help

There are definite advantages to working out of a home office. I frequently work in my pajamas until noon or even later. I don’t have distracting co-workers to keep me from focusing. My dog can sleep at my feet while I work. No one but me ever sees my office, so it’s okay that things stay pretty messy most of the time. Well, no, that last one isn’t true. See my tagline up there on my header? Digging my way out of the clutter? It’s more like “getting more and more buried under the clutter.” I confess, it’s gotten to the point where the clutter interferes with my ability to get my work done. It’s time to clean up and organize my office.

Last week I finally got back into a routine of sending out solicitation letters to realtors who have been parties to inspection I’ve done, but have never ordered work from me themselves. It’s the only advertising I do. I had a stack of letters ready to go and couldn’t find the postage I needed to affix to them. See the file sorter over there at the left? It used to help me stay organized, but now it’s just more clutter. I found my stamps in a folder there this morning, a week after I needed them. Once I get things straightened up I need to get myself set up to use online stamps instead of keeping a supply of stamps that A.) I’m going to lose and B.) are never in exactly the denomination that I need. The Dymo Desktop Mailing Solution would fit well into my rotuine. It prints lables and postage, so it can help me organize my office and do my mailings. It even has a built-in postage scale so I can quit second-guessing how much postage I need to use (and putting excess stamps on everything “just in case.”)

A Dymo Label Printer can help me with much more than my mailing dilemma. It can handle all of the printing of labels for my file and storage cabinets and the shelves in the closet where I store my office supplies. It would be nice to be able to have a place for everything and to count on finding what I need without calling in the bloodhounds. After I get the work table and storage situation under control I’ll have to tackle my desk. The nicest thing I can say about it right now is that it fits in with the current decor, which I describe as Twenty-First Century Clutter. Do I need a Dymo? You be the judge!

[tags]Dymo.com, home office, labels, office organization, online stamps, postage[/tags]