Relationships drive and grow businesses. When you’re a busy business owner, your schedule can make it tough to put your best foot forward when it comes to taking calls. While an automated answering service is too impersonal (and sometimes frustrating), a live virtual receptionist may be the solution to impress your callers and cultivate your brand. The following is a look at what virtual receptionists do – and don’t do. What a Live Virtual Receptionist Service Does Answer calls. … [Read more...]
Taking a Distribution from Your Retirement Plan? Avoid the Early Withdrawal Penalty…
May 7, 2013 By 1 Comment
Many people find that they need to withdraw funds from an existing retirement plan for such things as unforeseen expenses or to buy a home. Though it’s not recommended that you pull money out of your retirement fund early, the IRS does recognize that there will be circumstances in which taxpayers may need to do so. Distributions from an IRA, 401(k) or other retirement plan generally MUST be included as part of your taxable income. Additionally, if you are under 59 ½ years old, your … [Read more...]
Manage risks, yet know how to recover if things don’t go well
April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Are you leading your company or team through a risky or challenging time? There are ways to handle the risk well, such as by: - Preventing or eliminating it, perhaps by taking a different path toward your goal than you originally envisioned. - Reducing, retiming, or in other ways resizing risk. - Changing your perspective and comfort with uncertainty by focusing on the value of the change instead of its cost Yet, try as you might, you have to acknowledge, and work with the … [Read more...]
Personal Risk Management: An Essential Business Skill
April 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“This feels risky! This feels risky!” A colleague and I were joking nervously on the first day of an intense, week long training class. We were about to begin a rigorous simulation as we learned to coach teams through high-risk, conflict-ripe situations. In the release of tension through humor, we were doing some personal risk management by being honest about our feelings and our sense of the learning risk we faced. How you handle risk on a personal level has a big impact on … [Read more...]
Five ways to increase your business resilience
April 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“A good half of the art of living is resilience.” Alain de Botton A good half of the art of business is resilience, as well. Here’s how the need for it shows up, typically: - All signs are that things are going pretty well. - Oh, maybe the data show that one small thing is not quite right, but it shouldn't turn out to be a big deal, after a few process tweaks and tucks. It's really nothing to worry about. - Suddenly, out of the clear blue, you’re facing potential … [Read more...]
The best way to manage business risk: go toward it
March 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
What’s the best way to manage business risk? Go toward it. Does that sound risky, itself? It can be. The alternative, however, can be far worse. Real business risks, ignored...well...it's not pretty. Remember, first, that not all risk is the cliff diving, high-flying, life-defying kind. Many of the circumstances that bring about these types of extreme risk are, frankly, ones you can't control anyway. The national and world economy, for example is something you can't do … [Read more...]
The Tax Benefits of Health Savings Accounts
February 22, 2013 By 1 Comment
If you have a high-deductible health insurance plan, you should have a Health Savings Account (HSA) to save for those medical expenses that come out of your pocket. Not only is it a good idea to save for the unexpected, the tax benefits of Health Savings Accounts are pretty compelling, if you qualify. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible insurance plan. What's considered high-deductible? For 2013, the insurance plan must have a deductible of at least $1,200 for self-only … [Read more...]
5 Timeless Social Media Marketing Tips
October 14, 2012 By 2 Comments
Social media has changed marketing for good, and the social media marketing landscape continues to evolve at a dizzying pace. Facebook changes its platform with annoying regularity. Twitter tools proliferate like mushrooms on a lawn. Even LinkedIn has recently stepped up the pace of rolling out new features. It’s enough to make your head spin, even if you’re a social media pro. As daunting as it can be, companies and individuals -- yes, individuals -- ignore social media marketing at … [Read more...]
Finding Your Way to Financial Freedom
September 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
At WIC meetings I have often heard women business owners state that they have a goal to find “Financial Freedom.” In the instances I have heard this, it is stated as the person’s fondest desire. As a financial planner and Investment Advisor for more years than I care to count, it has been my life’s work to help people identify and achieve their personal financial goals. Based on that experience, here are what I believe are the five key steps to financial freedom. Define it. What … [Read more...]
Need a laugh? Recall now-funny mistakes you recovered well from
August 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Are there times when, overwhelmed by the weight of world news, you need a moment of lightness or levity? If so, and if you can laugh at yourself, just think of some of the biggest embarrassments or mistakes you recovered well from. As long as no one was hurt, mistakes and foibles that may have been horrifying when they occurred can be quite funny at some distant date. Do you need some inspiration, and maybe some laughs, to get you started? If so, here are three stories from my … [Read more...]
