Day 78: Change is Inevitable

Change is Inevitable

 

Industries fail

Technology is always new,

Change is inevitable

But without it

We can not grow.

Fight for it!!!

Let me ask you something.  Are you tired of being passed up for promotions; or are you part time, and just want to go full time?  The harsh reality is life isn’t always fair, and you always get what you deserve, but you have to look at what is within your power to change, and what isn’t.  In the case of those two questions, there are ways you can make them happen, but you are going to have to fight for it.

One of the things you can do is become versatile.  Be the first to volunteer if another department needs help.  You may not know what you are doing, but more than likely they will train you.  If you apply yourself, listen to what they say, and do the job well, you will be the first person they ask when they need help in the future.  This will have two very positive results.  First, you will learn something new, and that will add to your list of credentials that you might need for a promotion.  Second, it will show your supervisors that you are more than just reliable; but that you are also willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Another thing you can do is adhere to all attendance rules, and when possible, take advantage of opportunities.  What do I mean by attendance rules?    Punch in right at your scheduled time.  If you punch in too early, you may be wandering around looking for something to do, and that just doesn’t look good to any supervisor.  I usually stick to a five minute rule; never more than five minutes early, or late.  As far as breaks are concerned, never punch in early, EVER.  Try to keep your time exact, or if you can’t, try for within three minutes.  This really looks good.  If you can, don’t ever call out sick, unless you really.  Calling out too often will be looked at as indifference to your job, and any sign of indifference can cause your boss to say, “You are the weakest link; bye, bye.”

What I mean by “take advantage of opportunities”, is seize opportunities to show that you want the job, and are willing to do what they need.  If they offer overtime, take it. This will give them the help they need, and give you extra money on the paycheck.  It’s a win/win situation, and you always want to look for those.  If there is any opportunity you don’t want to take, it is the option of leaving early.  When a supervisor says, “Once all the work is done you can cut out early.”  Sometimes they are waiting to see who will stick it out.  Remember, just because you have finished your assigned tasks doesn’t mean there isn’t work that can still be done.  There is always work to do, and if not, you can be trained on something else.

The point is, be reliable, versatile, and seize opportunities when they arise.  This will let your supervisors know you are serious about the job, and are worthy of every chance they give you.

Don’t forget to see my latest vlog http://www.youtube.com/user/apb148

Making your business name stand out

We’ve all heard the saying, “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”, but when we start a business, we don’t put enough thought into the first thing people see, our business name.  There are many things to do when you start a business, and the name is at the top of the priority list, but unless you choose one that stands out, you won’t get enough business to succeed. So how do you make your name stand out?  There are quite a few things you can do to make it stand out, but here are a few tips that might help.

The first thing you should do when naming your company is to make it say something about your business.  This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many first time business owners get this wrong.  To have a business called “McKenzie and associates” doesn’t tell you anything about what the business is without a follow up description like, “legal services”.  If you want to stand out more, you can make it even more specific.  There is a business here in Maine called “Ankle & Foot associates.”  If you have foot or ankle problems, you don’t have to call dozens of businesses to see if they can help, this name is an obvious choice.

Another thing to consider when coming up with a name is whether your name is unique.  When I originally chose my name, it was “Bradford Photography.”  After looking it up online, I found over 100 companies with the same name.  If I wanted my business name to stand out I had to come up with something a little different.  My business had more than photography; it also had writing and photographic design as part of it so I went with productions.  The only problem with “Bradford Productions” is that Bradford is too common a name to make it unique, so I turned to something from my area.

I live one block from the “Portland Breakwater Light.”  That name would be too long for a business name but it has a shorter, less known, nickname, “Buglight”.  I liked the sound of the name, so I tested it.  “Buglight Productions” had a nice sound to it, and when I looked it up there was only one other business with that name, which in my book makes it unique.  This brings me to my third tip; keep it short and simple.

If I had used “Portland Breakwater Light Productions”, it would have been hard for people who used my services to spread the word, and remember the name for future services.  The longer the name, the easier it is to forget.  With only two words in the name, it becomes much easier to recall.  You will need that advantage if you want to spread your business name.

Remember this one thing, the name of your business, if chosen well, can become your best advertisement, and a great way to make a first impression.

Enjoy,
Allen