Background checks as part of a pre-employment hiring is becoming more
common, and necessary than ever before. If you wait till after the
hire, do it immediately afterwards.
Hiring the right
candidate for the job is always the top priority. Business hopes
that they have made the right hire first time; background checks help
significantly with choosing the right person. The goal from using these
checks is to lower the risk of loss and liability to you and your
firm. You want to know that your business is protected as best as
possible.
Your business and you personally are what is at risk,
preventative measures can reduce your potential losses and liabilities.
This is not an area to be penny wise and pound foolish.
No
background check can eliminate all risk in your hiring, but it can go a
long way at minimizing it. Hiring is a difficult process at best, and
the complexity of it relates to the industry and the position. So to
improve your hiring results, lower your risk of loss by fraud or theft,
and reduce your liability overall, use background checks as part of your
hiring process. All companies that offer this service provide levels
of checks, I have seen them for as little as $10 each. A small price to
pay for such a potential benefit it can deliver.
Coach Michael
Albuquerque NM
Coach_Michael@comcast.net
http://on.fb.me/PETCMR
1/18/2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Old School Meets New School
2013 will be even moreso the year of networking & relationships. Referral marketing will be more important, and good old fashion leg work and knocking on doors will return as a primary way of marketing ourselves and the business. It is the year where 'old school' meets 'new school'. That is not to say that what has been done with Mobil/Social Media marketing will become less important, on the contrary; it is just that this will be the year of the old and the new merging together giving us greater opportunity of success and to move our businesses forward. Those that can not work the 'old school' methods blended into the new school, well, I am sorry to say that for any of them, this year will be the end of the road.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Start Over & Do It Right
It is not uncommon for an entrepreneur to start their business equipped only with
an idea, passion, and a "seat of the pants" operating process. That has worked for
many over the past century, but it has caused the downfall of many as well.
So, if things are not meeting your vision then perhaps it is time to take a step back and look at what you created. Undoubtedly, you have gained many insights into developing your business which can now be a big benefit to you.
Start over, in your mind and on paper, I do not mean close your business. Use all that you have learned and apply it as part of a game plan just as if you were starting a new business.
Do right the tings you had done wrong. Start with the things you wanted to do but didn't. Benefit all you can from the knowledge you have acquired just as if you were giving advise to someone who was starting their own business like yours. Remember that every drop of sweat, every tear you shed, every ache and pain you fell all belongs to you, for your business, for your future. Start with the end in mind.
Put in the hard work, the effort, do the things you least like to do first, and plow through the obstacles with the new found knowledge that you have acquired, and as my old friend
Zig Ziglar would say, "I'll See You At The Top".
Michael Loewenthal
The Business Coach
coach_michael@comcast.net
an idea, passion, and a "seat of the pants" operating process. That has worked for
many over the past century, but it has caused the downfall of many as well.
So, if things are not meeting your vision then perhaps it is time to take a step back and look at what you created. Undoubtedly, you have gained many insights into developing your business which can now be a big benefit to you.
Start over, in your mind and on paper, I do not mean close your business. Use all that you have learned and apply it as part of a game plan just as if you were starting a new business.
Do right the tings you had done wrong. Start with the things you wanted to do but didn't. Benefit all you can from the knowledge you have acquired just as if you were giving advise to someone who was starting their own business like yours. Remember that every drop of sweat, every tear you shed, every ache and pain you fell all belongs to you, for your business, for your future. Start with the end in mind.
Put in the hard work, the effort, do the things you least like to do first, and plow through the obstacles with the new found knowledge that you have acquired, and as my old friend
Zig Ziglar would say, "I'll See You At The Top".
Michael Loewenthal
The Business Coach
coach_michael@comcast.net
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Make Next Years Money Now
Make Next Years Money Now
When I first entered the insurance sales procession, one
thing I learned early on from the seasoned agents is that there is only two
weeks in the year that you can sell; all the other weeks are filled with other
things that people find more pressing than buying insurance. So needless to say, it was imperative that I
did not take any vacation time during that two week.
How this two week only to sell within came about I don’t
know, but here is a sample breakdown of what it consisted of.
1.
You can’t sell in January, no one wants to hear from
you after New Years and besides, it is stone cold out (I lived in the North
East)
2.
You can’t sell in February because it just too gloomy,
and besides there’s a holiday or something in there somewhere.
3.
You can’t sell much in March, the Ides of March and all
that stuff
4.
April, OK, you can sell now but you can’t sell for two
weeks before Easter.
5.
May, good time to sell buy maybe for 5 days all the
rest people are getting ready for spring and planning vacations
6.
June-July-Aug-September-October all the same type of
junk reasons you can sell during these months.
7.
November, only about 7 days you can sell here. People are getting ready for Thanksgiving,
they are too busy to see you.
8.
December, maybe a day or two here, everyone is worked
up and preparing for the holidays, you can’t bother them now.
So you see, us sales people only got about 14 days to sell
our of 365. How ridicules was that. No wonder there is so much failure in the
insurance sales profession.
But for this article lets focus on November and December and
how these two months are critical for starting off the new year with that
proverbial “bang”. These two months are
made of in large part two types of buyers.
1st, the one that needs to spend the rest of their budget
before years end, or because tax brakes they want will not be available in the
following year. 2nd, the
serious buyer, a person that does what they need to do regardless of the time
of the year or what holiday is approaching.
Meet up with either of these and you’re in fat city. Know this, you have a better chance of
meeting them in Nov & Dec because most of your competition, regardless of
your field subscribe to the 2 weeks a year of selling opportunity. Where there is usual a hundred or so vying
for the same sale, now there is only a hand full, and you’ll be one of them.
Now for the real value of November and December,
prospecting. As you continue on your
selling path, you will run into an extraordinary opportunity to get “qualified”
prospects for the new year. This is
where you “Make Next Years Money Now."
Without a doubt you will find people telling you to contact them next
year, great, agree with them, pull out your calendar and set a date for the
appointment, at least the week you will contact them, set something, and please
FOLLOW UP via email (get their primary email) reminding them that you will be
contacting the week of…by phone or will be arriving at the designated time of
the set appointment.
In Nov & Dec you can set many appointments for January
and February, and as we all know, without appointments we can not sell, no
matter how good we are.
Doing this will set the ground work for starting off the new
year with that bang I mentioned earlier.
You’ll be the leader of the pack in sales and others will be trying to
catch you for a change.
As for selling in these months let me say that in almost
every year, December what my best sales month, why, because everyone else was
too busy talking about how you can’t sell in December, and that in November
people were preoccupied with Thanksgiving, bull, it just ain’t so.
Remember, the months of November and December are your
friends, they give you rewards for sales made now (with less competition
around) and they set you up for quality appointments in January and February. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Good Selling,
Coach Michael
The Business Coach
Michael Loewenthal
Coach_Michael@comcast.net
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Running-Running-Running & Never Getting Anywhere
It has been my observation over the past two years that people are more aggressively running around looking for the newest, latest & greatest "thing" that will drive their business. Now, don't get me wrong, I encourage people to network, to explore new avenues to drive success, however, to do it, and expect it to be your "silver bullet", well, that is quite another thing.
Networking groups, networking events of all sizes and shapes, meet up groups, etc., there is now something for everyone. The key to the success of any of these events is tied to several factors.
1. Are you prepared to attend the event. Every event I have ever attended I come across people who not only don't know how to tell me who they are and what they do, but they don't have the very basic business item, their business cards, what's up with that, really now.
2. One out of a hundred ask for an appointment, and I have been prospect candidate for scores of people who I have met.
3. Be at the right venue, just because there are people there does not mean it is right for what you do.
4. Certain events, which some call a networking event is really a "brand building" opportunity, it is more social than business not a prospect hunting opportunity. When people ask what you do, tell them (with a smile) only if they keep asking probing questions is it OK to suggest that you get together at a later date to discuss further. Make sure you know the difference between your true networking events and the social ones, you do not want to destroy your credibility.
5. Have a plan of your objective before you get to the event. Be specific on what you want to achieve. If you want to leave with 2-4 prospects to call, determine that beforehand. If you want to set 2 appointments right at the event, know that and make sure you conversation allows for you to make the approach to set the appointment. Always have your calendar with you or in your phone/PDA.
6. Look for the buying signals, the interest signals that people give you about what you do. Too often this is missed and the opportunity is lost. Don't be afraid to ask "it seems that what I do/offer has an interest to you, can we set an appointment/meeting, now so I can get a deeper understanding just where and how my business can be a benefit to you?" you can vary the words but you get the idea.
I know I stand alone on this issue, but here it is. The big push for the past 5 years or so has been when you meet someone, show interest in them and what they do and forget about yourself. I say, no, that is not correct. Yes, have genuine interest in the other person but do not just shake hands and leave on the table an opportunity to get in front of them again to learn more, sure, but to also talk about what you can bring to their table for their benefit. Re-read number 6 above.
Imagine this. You meet someone at the event, you inquire about them and what they do, they ask you what you do and in 19 words you tell them and then you are back focused on them, building rapport. Now, they just came from training that said to focus on the person they meet, to forget about themselves and focus, and focus some more on the other person. Now the two of you are jockeying for position to see who can focus more on the other person. Guess what, both of you leave and move on to other people and neither of you got an appointment or permission to follow up. What a lost opportunity. Rapport is great but business is better.
Even the best sales people, business owners and others have a tendency to fall down at networking events. It takes practice, dedication, and a plan to make them work for you.
The newest thing to hit the business street is Strategic Alliances, Joint Ventures and a resurgence of Host Beneficiaries. Although all three have been around for a long time, especially in Europe, here in the U.S. they were mostly low key. Are these avenues of business development for everyone, no, but they are for most people. The key to success with any of them is the proper match up of the businesses, and the training, I repeat, the training of the participants as to the responsibility of each party and how to effectively promote the interests of each member. Without training, more often than not everything is done with good intentions only and no one benefits. There is another component, management of each group. With a manager (usually an outside person) the group has accountability, assistance with marketing, and record keeping of the individual success and the groups success. This data helps to be a laser focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the group, and for the development of future promotions.
Focus, have a plan of action, know what you want to achieve at every level, and stop running around and getting nowhere. Your most important assets are you and time. Watch over them carefully.
"It takes time to succeed because success is merely the natural reward of taking time to do anything well".
Joseph Ross
PS: Never forget to perform the fundamentals of your business. No networking, no group, no event will ever take the place of that.
PPS: Running a business is not like a race, it is more of a journey that never ends.
Networking groups, networking events of all sizes and shapes, meet up groups, etc., there is now something for everyone. The key to the success of any of these events is tied to several factors.
1. Are you prepared to attend the event. Every event I have ever attended I come across people who not only don't know how to tell me who they are and what they do, but they don't have the very basic business item, their business cards, what's up with that, really now.
2. One out of a hundred ask for an appointment, and I have been prospect candidate for scores of people who I have met.
3. Be at the right venue, just because there are people there does not mean it is right for what you do.
4. Certain events, which some call a networking event is really a "brand building" opportunity, it is more social than business not a prospect hunting opportunity. When people ask what you do, tell them (with a smile) only if they keep asking probing questions is it OK to suggest that you get together at a later date to discuss further. Make sure you know the difference between your true networking events and the social ones, you do not want to destroy your credibility.
5. Have a plan of your objective before you get to the event. Be specific on what you want to achieve. If you want to leave with 2-4 prospects to call, determine that beforehand. If you want to set 2 appointments right at the event, know that and make sure you conversation allows for you to make the approach to set the appointment. Always have your calendar with you or in your phone/PDA.
6. Look for the buying signals, the interest signals that people give you about what you do. Too often this is missed and the opportunity is lost. Don't be afraid to ask "it seems that what I do/offer has an interest to you, can we set an appointment/meeting, now so I can get a deeper understanding just where and how my business can be a benefit to you?" you can vary the words but you get the idea.
I know I stand alone on this issue, but here it is. The big push for the past 5 years or so has been when you meet someone, show interest in them and what they do and forget about yourself. I say, no, that is not correct. Yes, have genuine interest in the other person but do not just shake hands and leave on the table an opportunity to get in front of them again to learn more, sure, but to also talk about what you can bring to their table for their benefit. Re-read number 6 above.
Imagine this. You meet someone at the event, you inquire about them and what they do, they ask you what you do and in 19 words you tell them and then you are back focused on them, building rapport. Now, they just came from training that said to focus on the person they meet, to forget about themselves and focus, and focus some more on the other person. Now the two of you are jockeying for position to see who can focus more on the other person. Guess what, both of you leave and move on to other people and neither of you got an appointment or permission to follow up. What a lost opportunity. Rapport is great but business is better.
Even the best sales people, business owners and others have a tendency to fall down at networking events. It takes practice, dedication, and a plan to make them work for you.
The newest thing to hit the business street is Strategic Alliances, Joint Ventures and a resurgence of Host Beneficiaries. Although all three have been around for a long time, especially in Europe, here in the U.S. they were mostly low key. Are these avenues of business development for everyone, no, but they are for most people. The key to success with any of them is the proper match up of the businesses, and the training, I repeat, the training of the participants as to the responsibility of each party and how to effectively promote the interests of each member. Without training, more often than not everything is done with good intentions only and no one benefits. There is another component, management of each group. With a manager (usually an outside person) the group has accountability, assistance with marketing, and record keeping of the individual success and the groups success. This data helps to be a laser focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the group, and for the development of future promotions.
Focus, have a plan of action, know what you want to achieve at every level, and stop running around and getting nowhere. Your most important assets are you and time. Watch over them carefully.
"It takes time to succeed because success is merely the natural reward of taking time to do anything well".
Joseph Ross
PS: Never forget to perform the fundamentals of your business. No networking, no group, no event will ever take the place of that.
PPS: Running a business is not like a race, it is more of a journey that never ends.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The HIRE Act
President Obama signed into law, The HIRE Act, which benefits employers to hire the unemployed.
This is a must read article if you have employees and are considering hiring additional personnel or if you are hesitating hiring new employees.
This short article is only an outline, but, it just may motivate you into researching it further and encourage you to take the plunge and hire one or more new people from the unemployment line.
"Hiring Incentives"
- AccountantsWorld – Extensive resources for accounting, tax and payroll. Accountant, CPA: Join the largest community of CPAs and accountants. (view on Google Sidewiki)
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