Unemployment Rate is Down in 45 States?
Really? I thought it was the end of the world last year when Fox News annouced we were headed into double dip recession in Q3 of 2011. Oh boy, and my friends wonder why I only watch cartoons. Because the National news is great at creating fear and depression! Oiy!
According to the Washington Post, there has been a drop in unemployment claims in 45 states “bolstering a range of positive economic data suggesting that a stronger recovery is taking hold across the nation”. Great news!
It’s great news in my opinion for those who are willing to get up and get to work and for those who ever wanted to start a small business. Economic times such as these are great for small business start ups…they just are. This is a great article by V. Dion Haynes at the Post, check it out Washington Post.com
- Was 2011 a good year for your business?
- Small Business Definition
- Is the housing report good news?
- 4 Surprise Bright Spots in the Economy
- Double dip recession: What are the odds?
Small Business Optimism
So I was right about 15 months ago stating that businesses will bounce back when everyone else was forecasting a double dip recession, implosion of major banks, and the devaluing of the American dollar. This article from CNBC bolsters this thinking where most of my clients over the last year can attest to positives outlooks as well as growth and planned capital spend over the next two and three years. In the last 15 months, the company in Houston I own a small portion of has realzied over 51% growth in sales YOY and well over 72% growth in sales since 2009. Internal operations are off the charts with a Real Internal Growth (RIG) number of well over 12%. That is truly a number we can take to the bank and we did. Today we received a second steel laser cutting machine worth just under half-million. In the last 18 months we have not only improved efficiencies to go from a 45 day lead time to a 24 hour lead time (yes, it’s true) that we now operate with two laser cutting machines having only financed once of them. Truly amazing. My consulting company, Allectus LLC has also shown equal if not better growth YOY. Why do you suppose that is? If my consulting business continues to grow that tells me two things. 1) Business owners realize they can manage their businesses better and they hire Allectus LLC, 2) Business owners see the potential in their industries to organize and develop better structures to meet the demand coming in the next 2-3 years. Read this article, it’s a good one. CNBC.com
- Small Business Definition
- Accounting v Finance, it’s an apple and an orange
- Recession May Be Over, but Joblessness Remains
- After blah week, stocks to get in gear. No, really
- Obama: Get corporate cash ‘off the sidelines’
Small Business Definition
There is an interesting article attached to this blog by the Associated Press. Its asks a great question, “what is the value to the U.S. economy of small businesses?” What a great question.
As an owner of a couple of small businesses and a consultant to many other small businesses from manufacturers, construction companies, and professonal services, I “believe” I understand the value of small businesses in the U.S. economy. It’s pretty simple really. Small businesses are truly the backbone of any economy – regardless of what the business produces, manufactures and or sells. In other words, as this is a good article relative to the knowledge of the author about small businesses, no matter what you may hear or who you choose to believe, small businesses in the U.S. are truly the lifeblood on this economy. It’s basic math – we should try it. So no matter what your policical affiliation, left or right, up down, blue red – small businesses in the U.S. are the single most important aspect of this country’s economic stability.
Read the article at CNBC.com
- Are you ready for 2012?
- Recession May Be Over, but Joblessness Remains
- Is the housing report good news?
- Accounting v Finance, it’s an apple and an orange
- Unemployment Rate is Down in 45 States?
Measuring Employee Performance
The other day I sat with one of my employees to do his 30 day performance review and was reminded of how truly important a performance evaluation truly is to employees. According to Abraham Maslow (1968), a fundamental psychological desire of every human being is the need to “be”. In other words, all of us, inlcuding me need to “feel” accepted, acknowledged, and appreciated whether it is at work, at home, and in society (Facebook, MySpace, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, etc). And being that we spend more time at work than anywhere else in our lives, it is imperative that business managers recognize and respect the importance of employee performance evaluations.
Over the years I have developed a pretty elaborate Employee Performance Evaluaition System (EPES) that not only helps manage business operations through training but it satisfies that fundamental need of human existence to feel acknowledged, part of the organization, and their opinion matters. In other words, evaluations are great training opportunities for employees as well as managers and evaluations are a fantastic way to show employees management is listening, and management cares not only about each employees’ success, but the success of the business as a whole.
As I sat and discussed this employee’s last 30 days I noticed he was ready and organized with bullet points, reports, and quantifiable data depicting his percieved progress over the last 30 days. What we need to take away from this is that he is serious about his success within the organization becuase we have shown him that the organization is a success and we need him to be a part of that success. He’s been watching us a managers as we have been watching his performance. In other words, this person “gets-it” and is aware and in control of his future within the organization.
Part of the success of any evaluation program is the consistency in which it is administered. Rather, you cannot introduce an evaluation program and not use it. I’ve witnessed this many times. Employees, believe it or not, want structure, they want leadership, and they want direction. An evaluation system facilitates that for them AND over time, perforance evaluations make managing the business much easier. As I meet new clients I often here (from employees) that there needs to be an evaluation program plugged into their organization, and they need direction, and they need leadership. Installed properly and used accordingly, an employee evaluation program will make everyone’s life so much easier within your organization. Don’t know how to do this? Call me and I will walk you through it.
Good luck.
- Are you ready for 2012?
- Texas recession proof?
- Accounting v Finance, it’s an apple and an orange
- National News on The U.S. Economy
- After blah week, stocks to get in gear. No, really
Are you ready for 2012?
This time of year we are all asking the same question “is my business prepared for 2012?” What does being prepared really mean? Do we have enough employees? Do we have enough sources for working capital? Or is a more important question “is my business organized enough to withstand whatever may come?” That is the million dollar question. What is to come of the U.S. economy in 2012 or better yet, what is to come of the global economy in 2012 and is your business prepared? Please do not believe your business has done well enough in 2011 that you don’t need to double check your organization’s status and please do not believe your 2011 business performance was so bad that it will be the same in 2012. In other words, be prepared at all times.
One of the companies I own a small percentage of did very well this year despite negative outlook by National media and the constant “nay-sayers” and doubting Thomases.
How did we do it? Three parts; 1) Commitment, 2) Courage, 3) Consistency.
1) Commit to change those things that are wrong with your business’ operations and stay changed. Don’t revert to what you know are bad habits. Search for professional opinion to determine where your business might be flawed, fix the flaw and commit to that change.
2) Be courageous to make relative decisions based on what you know about your operations. Seek professional advice if needed but be courageous in your decision making. If your sales are not where you need them, change the way you sell, or change the message in the sales pitch. If your operations are chewing up your overhead and SG&A expenses, change the way you operate. Often I hear clients say “we’ve always done it this way”. Well, ladies and gentlemen maybe always doing it that way is the wrong way. Note that the external environment is in a constant state of flux, why isn’t your business constantly reviewing its processes to keep up with the ever changing external environment?
3) Remain consistent in future plans and decisions especially when managing employees. Humans will test your consistency and will take advantage of your lack of consistency. Of the many facets of organization management, employees (who are truly just being humans) are the most challenging and the most dynamic where mastering “how” to understand and manage human behavior is a huge opportunity to realize business success. In other words, how you manage and remain consistent in your decisions as it relates to human behavior and how those humans behave within your organization is key to your business success in any economic environment.
Allectus LLC client’s who have communicated with me this year touted great success in their organizations and they look forward to a great 2012 because their businesses are structured, organized and prepared for what every the economy has to throw at them. Get some help for your organization, for your processes and for your employees.
Good luck everyone!
- Measuring Employee Performance
- Accounting v Finance, it’s an apple and an orange
- Business Success in this Economy?
- Consumer confidence is better than expected
- Investors search for signs U.S. will avert a double dip
Was 2011 a good year for your business?
Great AP article today about how 2011 will end better than most would have thought (the media-grrr). Rather, most macroeconomic numbers are pointing positve where not only is the National unemployment rate lower at 8.6% but consumer confidence is at its highest point since April of this year.
So what about you and your busienss? What are you going to do in 2012 to keep your business going stronger? What are you going to do in 2012 to help your business perform better if it didn’t in 2011? With so much positive news regarding economic outlook for 2012, are you really prepared or are you just going to sit there?
Read this great AP article from Christopher s. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer at YahooFinance.com
- Consumer confidence is better than expected
- Unemployment Rate is Down in 45 States?
- Debt-induced stress continues for many Americans
- Is the housing report good news?
- Business Success in this Economy?
Consumer confidence is better than expected
Unemployment numbers are good if not getting lower and gas prices have fallen where some economists are positve in their outlook for 2012 but still some economists are “Debbie Downers”. Where do you stand? Are you prepared for 2012 regardless economic ups and downs? There is an interesting short article on CNNMoney.com today that makes me wonder how many business owners are truly prepared for 2012. According to end of year summaries and begining of year predictions, your business could be in for a great 2012 or tough road ahead. Either way, is your business organized and prepared for 2012?
Read Chris Isidore’s article on CNNMoney.com
- Is the housing report good news?
- Was 2011 a good year for your business?
- Are you ready for 2012?
- Double dip recession: What are the odds?
- Dow on track for the best September since 1939
Is the housing report good news?
Tuesday reported better than expected housing starts where as we come into a new year I wonder, is there good news for business via these housing numbers in 2012? Housing starts are up 24.3% from last year and almost 10% from the provious month October. Data such as this as well as positve consumer confidence numbers tells me that finally, finally, the fear mongering National news media can stop creating panic and business owners can now focus on developing their businesses relative to positve data as well as good hard work.
One of my companies will end the year up almost 30% this year over last year with significant RIG numbers to boot. At least four of my previous clients have also reported positve growth numbers for 2011 as well as plans to expand their production facilities in 2012. So the big question is, are the housing numbers finally enough to get you going and fix your business once and for all? I have always said that no matter what occurs in the macroeconomic environment, your business should be in the position to manage whatever might come.
Read this article from CNN Money.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Home building spiked up in November to the strongest level in almost two years, as record-low mortgage rates and a surge in apartment and condo construction lifted activity.
Housing starts shot up to an annual rate of 685,000 in the month, up 9.3% from October and 24.3% higher than a year earlier. Building activity easily topped predictions of 627,000 starts economists surveyed by Briefing.com were expecting.
Read more at CNNMoney.com
- Consumer confidence is better than expected
- Dow on track for the best September since 1939
- Was 2011 a good year for your business?
- Stocks rally to 4-month highs
- Unemployment Rate is Down in 45 States?
National News on The U.S. Economy
This past Saturday I found myself in the local BMW dealer for service on my car and to my surprise, the showroom floor was packed with potential buyers. What gives? According to the National news and some local news reports (Houston KPRC), the U.S. economy is still in turmoil and we are still headed for a double dip recession. Really?
The next day Sunday, I was in a Best Buy to get my copy of MW3. Great game! Best Buy was also packed with customer buying everything from TVs to computers to smartphones! Seriously? Why is it that the National news presents such doom and gloom and why is that according to the National news, no one person is ever qualified to the President of the United States. In other words, why does the National news present such fear, such end of the world news and such drama?
Should we really be listening to or watching National news? Is the National news just a fear mongering outlet?
- Business Success in this Economy?
- Unemployment Rate is Down in 45 States?
- Measuring Employee Performance
- Recession May Be Over, but Joblessness Remains
- Is the housing report good news?
Business Success in this Economy?
Is it possible to profit from your hard efforts in managing your business in this economy? Yes it is! Besides, what is all this talk about a double dip recession and the U.S. economy being near bankrupt? It’s fear mongering really. I recommend we all stop listening to National news because according to the National news, we’re all going to hell.
So again, how can you manage your business better in this economic environment to actually produce a profit, become more efficient or manage your business and its employees more effectively? Send me an email and I will tell you because I just did in a business in Houston, Texas. I can show you the numbers if you like (you have to sign an NDA) to prove it. It’s not magic, just reality. As a business owner, you must always have your business prepared for the unknown, The Black Swan, or at least have your business runniing smooth, efficiently, and profitably.
Send me an email. LuisLuarca@allectus.com
- National News on The U.S. Economy
- Texas recession proof?
- Is the housing report good news?
- Small Business Optimism
- Was 2011 a good year for your business?