Thursday, January 3, 2013

WHAT NEW YEAR?

Well, 2012 is history and we now are over the holiday season and it is back to managing and operating our business. So, will 2013 be a new, exciting and dynamic year for you or will it be a repeat of 2012? You may recall one the messages I convey each year is---are you a 20 year old company or are you a 1 year old company 19 times over. Some companies continue to do the sames things that haven't worked in the past over and over while others are always looking for exciting new innovations to move their companies forward. Which are you?

Let's look at each of the departments in your company and see if you moving forward or just rehashing last year.

SALES

What new and innovative ways have you created to bring in new business in 2013? 

1. Have you worked hard at finding new prospects in the market segments you do best?
2. Have you designed a sales campaign that will interest those suspects into becoming prospects?
3. What are the new points that you can present that make you different than your competitors?
4. Have you planned a systematic mailing or calling campaign and made the committment to follow through, no matter what?
5. What training are you providing yourself and anyone else responsible for calling on prospects that wow! the prospect when you call on them?
6. Have you researched additional market segments that may be a profitable growth opportunity for your company?


HUMAN RESOURCES


1. Do the people that interview your prospective employees have the attitude that employees are the most important asset you have and should be treated as such or do they treat them as a necessary evil and interruption for their day?
2. Is the place where applicants come to apply neat and clean and inviting so a prospective employee will WANT to work for you?
3. Do you have a thorough orientation and initial training program for new employees so when they leave the office to go to the work site they feel great about their job?  
4. Are you up to date on what you need to know about the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act?
5. Have your HR people been brought up to date on what they can and cannot ask in an interview in 2013?


OPERATIONS

1. Have you created a schedule to make sure ALL employees receive a refresher course in your companies way of cleaning?
2. Do you have a company way of cleaning?
3. Have you discussed with your suppliers any new supplies and equipment that could help you do your job faster and better?
4. Have you re-engineered each job to assure that the hours budgeted are correct and the right amount of supplies and equipment are in the facility to perform the job professionally?
5. Have you scheduled additional training for your supervisors?
6. Does everyone know what to do in case of an emergency?



ADMINISTRATION

1. Have you researched to assure your accounting software is the best for your company? 
2. Do you have software to assist you in effectively managing the numbers?
3. Have you established what reports are necessary to support Operations and Human
Resources and what schedule is needed to provide the reports for them to manage?
4. Are you making sure you are collecting your receivables promptly?
5. Is your billing going out promptly and not laying on someone's desk to send out at the end of the month?
6. Have you scheduled regular meetings with your banker to make sure the relationship is sound so when growth funds are needed they will be there without delay. 


It is impossible for me to list all of the items needed for you to get 2013 rolling on a positive note but my purpose for listing the items above was to get you to thinking. It is my desire that your company will be one that experiences an exciting new year and not JUST ANOTHER YEAR. 

What will it be for you? Keep me posted. 

Don't forget to sign up for our FREE weekly tripodcasts at www.tripodcast.com. 

Till next time. 

   

 

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