7 Business Lessons to Learn from Criminal Enterprises

You never thought you’d sit down to watch The Godfather to glean some business knowledge from its tale of mob dealings, did you? Not that we’re advocating any of the criminal activities portrayed in such movies – it’s probably not a good idea to start laundering money or put a severed horse’s head in somebody’s bed – but believe it or not, there are some valuable lessons to be learned from them. Sure, there are plenty of dumb criminals out there, but there are also brilliant ones – and the most successful of them live by these 7 rules of business.

It’s just business, nothing personal. Don’t fret too much about whether you’re going to offend someone with the decision you choose to make, and don’t take it personally when other people make business decisions that aren’t to your advantage. Not that people aren’t out to get you – your competition would love to see you get whacked, so to speak.  But, if you leave your emotions out of your business dealings, you’ll likely be able to keep a clearer head.

Grease the wheel, make things easy. Make sure you’re always prepared for the worst – have a backup plan. Make plenty of contacts that can help you out when you’re in a bind. In other words, don’t get caught with a bag of money in the bank parking lot because you forgot to get gas before the heist.

Be flexible, go with the flow and find the market.  Stay open to all possibilities.  Having a plan is good, but you don’t want to set yourself on such a narrow path that you can’t go down a new and potentially profitable road when you happen upon one. If you’re not flexible, you could miss out on an important opportunity that can help you grow your business and rake in the cash.

Treat your employees like kings and you enemies brutally. Expect loyalty from your people, squash them if they betray you.  Your employees are essential to your business, and if they don’t feel valuable, they’ll go work for someone who treats them better, possibly taking your trade secretes with them. And on that note, while you don’t want to put your competition on the offensive, always be wary of them and don’t hesitate to act in the best interests of your business when necessary.

Secure your supply lines. The world’s richest drug kingpins keep on top of their supply, making sure they know the status of their goods at all times. So should you, with the supplies that are essential to your business.  Get friendly with the people who have the stuff you need, maintain good relationships with them.  They’ll put you first before their other customers and you might just score a deal, too.

Selling products that people NEED to buy is good business. Get your customers addicted to your services and products.  Make sure you’re offering the best of the best, at competitive prices, along with great service – that’ll help ensure customer loyalty.

When all else fails, order a drive-by. To check on your competition, that is.  Please don’t shoot anyone.

8 Tips for Getting In and Out of Kinko’s With Your Work

Getting documents printed up at a print shop like Kinko’s can either be really easy or a big hassle, depending on the task at hand and who’s at the counter.  For small jobs, you probably won’t have to much trouble getting them done correctly (the first time) in a timely manner – but then there are those last-minute, super-important jobs that just can’t be messed up.  In those cases, take these tips to heart: they might just save you from a whole lot of stress.

Before you go in, have your files formatted correctly and saved to a thumb drive in clearly marked folders. Make sure to include source files as well as a text document clearly laying out all the job details: how many to print, what files to use, what size and type of paper, along with binding and finishing instructions. Be very specific. While most of the employees at print shops are very good at what they do, there are the occasional ones that seem unable to operate a copy machine, let alone give you the results you want without extremely explicit instructions.  If you spend enough time at Kinko’s, you’ll run into them.

Be courteous yet firm about your expectations. The last thing you want is to still be at Kinko’s hours after you expected to have your printed documents back at home or the office, but it happens.  Don’t lose your cool when the kid behind the counter gives you some lame excuse as to why your work isn’t ready yet. Keep in mind the fact that you’re paying them for a service, and if they mess it up, they’ve got to fix it somehow. That may mean bumping other jobs to complete yours faster, giving you a free color upgrade or having 25% taken off the final bill.

Bring your laptop to ward off that worst-case scenario. If you have something important to get out the door, don’t rely solely on media like CDs and thumb drives – things happen. Bring your laptop and have them check your disk/drive before you leave. If a file is corrupted or a sector lost you can boot up your computer and break off another copy. Most Kinko’s have thumb drives that you can use to do the backup transfer.

Haggle. If you have a big job and do a lot of business with them, get face to face with someone managerial and ask for another 10% off in light of all the loyal business you throw them. Then post about it on your blog or Twitter stream to give them some love back.

Buy a stash of paper. If you find one kind of paper that really makes your brochures pop, don’t assume it’ll be in stock every time you go. Copy shops don’t switch out paper types often, but it happens and when it does you’ll be in for a lot of testing to find a good replacement.  While you might be able to find it elsewhere – or order directly from the manufacturer, if you’re really desperate – you might as well just stock up on the kind you like, just in case.

Avoid peak hours to get your job done faster. You know the drill – during super busy times, when there’s a line 8 people deep and a pile of back jobs, it’s far more likely that something will go wrong with your order – or at the very least, you’ll have to deal with cranky salespeople. If you’re not pressed for time, try to make it in while it’s slow. You’ll get the desk jockey’s full attention- late at night is often best.

When you can do it yourself, do it yourself. Don’t rely on Kinko’s to do design or prep work. Go in with your files ready to print in the right format and size. Make it clear you don’t expect any setup charges since your files are perfectly prepped. It’ll save you money, time and hassle.

Get to know the good employees. Take the time to chat with them, be friendly, help their work day go by quicker. They’ll be more likely to personally make sure your print job is done right, which can be really helpful if you go in frequently. Plus, if you become pals with the good ones, they’ll hook you up.

Photo credit: Flickr user morisette.martin

Starbucks: A Fall from Grace

Just a few short years ago, Starbucks’ status as an international coffee giant was unquestioned.  Starbucks had enjoyed a meteoric rise to become a giant, multi-billion-dollar corporation with tens of thousands of locations across the globe.  The economy here in the U.S. was good enough for millions of Americans to feel okay with spending up to $5 on a coffee drink.  In 2006, the Starbucks stock hit an all-time high and the company was expanding feverishly.  Multiple locations could be seen on the same street in many cities, and there weren’t any signs of stopping.

Then, sales began to drop off.  The stock got hammered. The company hired back its key founder to help them get on the right track, and announced the closing of 600 stores across the U.S.  It was a swift decline for a company that had swelled to 16,000 stores since its inception in 1971.

So, where did Starbucks go wrong? Their first problem was they got too big for their britches. Starbucks failed to recognize that saturating the market would give rise to a sea of detractors, not to mention the fact that there’s only so much coffee that people can drink.  In growing so large, Starbucks also made the fatal mistake of cutting out what made them stand out in the first place: fresh, high quality coffee and what CEO Howard Schultz describes as ‘romance and theatre’.

When Starbucks first became popular, it was their fresh-ground, top shelf coffee beans that were brewed with a smile and friendly conversation in an intimate environment that made them so alluring.  As they grew into a monster corporation, these elements were put to the wayside so the company could shave money off their budget and maintain a formula that could be easily copied.  It was a dangerous bargain, though they didn’t realize it at the time.

Starbucks took for granted the idea that customers embraced them because they’re Starbucks, not because the coffee was great.  The pre-ground beans, automated espresso machines and drive-thrus chipped away at what made people like Starbucks in the first place. They removed most of the soft, comfortable chairs and carpeting from their stores.  All of this made people less likely to see Starbucks as a place to relax, read, chat with friends or hold business meetings.

They also began to muddle their brand a bit by experimenting with various reportedly smelly breakfast sandwiches, movie promotions, liqueurs and their very own record label.

As Americans’ wallets got lighter, more of them began to scorn high-priced fancy coffee drinks and respond to advertising by competitors like Dunkin’ Donuts, who espouse the idea of simple coffee at low prices, though they do offer lattes, mochas and frappuccino-like drinks as well.  And then there’s the uprising of locavores, who believe that coffee shops should be small, intimate, unique and independently owned.

The company is working on turning it all around, though.  In addition to closing 600 stores and laying off some 1,000 employees, Starbucks is trying to get back to its roots at a rapid pace.  They’re improving their espresso equipment to ensure the freshest, highest quality brew possible, and they’re also focusing more on the brews they offer.  Their simple, comparatively inexpensive drip coffee will get more attention, and a reward program for loyal customers is being put into place.  They’ll be putting more emphasis on training baristas to make consistent drinks across the board, so customers know what they’ll be getting at each location.  The reaffirmation of their focus on what made them successful in the first place – coffee – will likely be their saving grace after this brush with disaster.

The biggest lesson that Starbucks has learned from all of this – and that you can take away from it as well – is to know when to stop.  You don’t have to go along with every idea.  You don’t have to grow to the point of making your company the butt of one-on-every-corner jokes.

Better times may well be ahead for Starbucks, if they can manage to stick to their current goal of keeping it simple and sticking to what works.

Photo by Flickr user jimg944

How to Find Freelancers Using Craigslist

So you need to hire a freelancer – what’s your first step? Some might automatically think of heading toward a crowd sourcing site like Guru or Elance, but that can be more complex and time-consuming than some businesses want to get into.  A quick, easy and free way to advertise for freelance gigs is Craigslist.com, that old reliable internet classifieds board.

The best thing about Craigslist is the ability to find someone local. Perhaps you need a bookkeeper, or a graphic designer who can meet with you regularly in person.  It can be difficult working remotely with a freelancer like this, depending on your business’ needs. Craigslist will put all of the freelancers in your area at your fingertips.  Instead of perusing the yellow pages or trawling freelancers’ websites online, let Craigslist do the work for you – prospects will come to you instead of the other way around.

Another great aspect of using Craigslist to hire freelancers is that it’s so fast.  Thousands of freelancers monitor Craigslist for ads that fit their skills, and often you’ll get lightning-fast replies to your requests.  If you get multiple responses to your ad and are having trouble deciding, you may choose to meet with them in person or ask for their portfolios.

Placing an ad on Craigslist is simple.  First, you’ll want to determine exactly what you’re looking for, how much you’re willing to pay, and what your requirements are. Once you’ve decided that, write up your ad.  Include the information above as well as a specific respond-to address and, if necessary, a sample request (if you’re hiring a graphic designer, web designer or writer, for example).  The more detail you include about the job, the more likely you are to receive responses from people who might actually work out.

If you find that you aren’t getting the right responses, just change your ad. Make it more specific, or place it in the nearest big city.  For example, if your business is located in St. Augustine, Florida, you might have better luck placing the ad in the Jacksonville section.

Craigslist can also be a great way to outsource last-minute projects.  Got a tight deadline? Don’t lose clients – post the details of the project, the deadline and the pay on Craigslist and you’re likely to find someone to help you get it done in time.  Outsourcing individual projects on Craigslist can also help you find tried-and-true freelancers you’ll go to again and again.

Some business owners find that they’d rather use a specific freelancing site where freelancers’ previous clients have left feedback, and samples are viewable with the click of a mouse.  If that sounds more like what you’re looking for, check out our previous post, ‘Needle in a Haystack: Finding Great Graphic Designers for Your Small Business Who Work On Budget and On Time’.

5 of the Dumbest Business Decisions in Modern History

Hindsight is 20/20, and many business decisions don’t begin to stand out as outrageously stupid until years down the road.  It’s always hard for companies and investors to tell whether a product is going to go on to be successful, but in some cases, you know they’re kicking themselves for missing out on what could have been a huge break.

We’ve already heard about some unbelievably stupid business decisions that have taken place in the last century, including turning down the Beatles, selling M*A*S*H for peanuts and making snot beer – but those are old news.  Here are 5 of the dumbest business decisions made in the last 30 years.

8 publishers turn down the first Harry Potter book

A single mom named Joanne Rowling had completed her first manuscript in 1995, and began shopping it around to publishing houses.  For a year, one publishing company after the other rejected the book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, telling her that it was too long and they didn’t think it would sell. Finally, after getting a new agent, Rowling’s manuscript was picked up by Bloomsbury Press.  The book became an overnight sensation, breaking numerous records and making Rowling the third richest woman in the world.

Xerox fails to capitalize on its GUI and mouse

Xerox began as a paper and paper equipment company way back in 1906, achieving success in the ‘60s and ‘70s with their copiers. After opening a research facility in 1970, the company developed a minicomputer called the ‘Alto’. It was the first computer to use the desktop metaphor and graphical user interface (GUI), and Xerox also developed a mouse to be used along with it.  Xerox itself failed to see a commercial application for the Alto, and a visit by Steve Jobs to the Xerox research center would later spawn Apple copycats, which helped Apple to become the computer giant it is today.

IBM allows Microsoft to retain rights to MS-DOS operating system

IBM began seeking an operating system for its new personal computer in 1980, and it turned to Microsoft for help.  At the time, Bill Gates didn’t have an OS to sell, but he accepted anyway, and promptly bought another operating system, QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) which he renamed MS-DOS and sold to IBM.  Now, Bill Gates didn’t become the billionaire businessman he is now by being stupid – he convinced IBM to allow Microsoft to retain the rights to MS-DOS, which secured Microsoft’s future as the tyrannical leader of the PC industry.  Dumb business decision by IBM, but a brilliant one on behalf of Bill Gates.

GM scraps the EV1 electric car

Here we are in 2008 in the midst of an energy crisis, when hybrid cars are so in demand there’s a year-long waiting list and everyone’s waiting for the next big thing in clean, green vehicles.  GM could have gotten a major head start instead of being in their current position, struggling to stay above water due to a major drop in sales revenue. In 1996, the auto giant debuted the first purpose-built electric car, the EV1, which was only briefly available for lease in California and Arizona only.  It was never available for sale, and was discontinued in 1999. In 2003, despite a lengthy waiting list and a lot of interest from consumers, GM scrapped the EV1 and removed the EV1s from the road for complex and mysterious reasons that many believe stem from corporate corruption (see the documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?).   Most of the vehicles were disposed of by GM in December 2003.

Martha Stewart’s insider trading costs her an empire

Shortly before it was announced that ImClone Systems’ drug Erbitux failed to get the expected FDA approval, ImClone founder Samuel K. Waksal informed family and friends that they should sell their stock, and attempted to sell his own.  The news got to Martha Stewart, who sold her own ImClone shares for $230,000.  Waksal went to jail for insider trading, and Martha Stewart soon followed after being found guilty of lying about a stock sale, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.  In the aftermath of the scandal, Martha saw her empire, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, begin its fall from grace.  Her show, Martha Stewart Living, was put on hiatus with no announced date of return, and she resigned from the board of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.  Though Martha is still very rich and successful, she’ll never know what the ImClone saga ultimately cost her.

How Far We’ve Come: Looking Back at 3 Iconic Companies’ Websites

Back in 1996, when companies were first starting to bother with having websites built, the web was still in its infancy.  They put the bare minimum of effort and information into them since people weren’t yet using the internet as a main source of information, and the technology that makes websites so much more vibrant and interesting today simply wasn’t available.  Even companies whose services revolved around computers and the internet had ugly websites.  Apple, IBM and Yahoo are three iconic companies whose websites started out less than great.  Here’s a look back at their websites in 1996-1997, compared to today.  Want to check out more? Type any web address into Archive.org’s search box and see how it evolved over the years.

IBM

1996

2008

IBM’s 1996 website looks like it was put together by a bored teenager with minimal web publishing experience. It’s left-justified, its grainy icons have the old ugly blue borders, and it utilizes the simplest of html code.  Its white background, horizontal rule and limited content betray the year it was created, though sadly, a cursory look around the internet today will show you that some people still haven’t learned anything in the last decade.

What changed? Virtually everything.  IBM has clearly gone Web 2.0 in terms of its layout and content. It reflects the fact that today’s internet browsers use the internet as a major source of information, and provides organized sets of links to internal content along with a large, eye-catching central graphic.  While it’s still not fantastic, it’s certainly a step up.

Yahoo

1996

2008

When Yahoo debuted in 1994, it was a bare-bones website with a single purpose: to help people find stuff on the web.  Two years later, in 1996, it was certainly no-frills, with nothing but a header, search box, top menu and category list.  It’s pretty much as basic as can be, and at the time, that was all that was needed.

What changed? Surprisingly, not too much – on the surface.  Of course, it looks far more polished, and there are far more categories to choose from (oh, how the web has grown).  Aesthetically, Yahoo’s website has maintained a fairly crisp, straightforward look that stays true to its main purpose as a directory.  Of course, Yahoo now offers far more than just a web directory; it now has email, shopping, news, weather, horoscopes, jobs, music, personals and more.  They’ve managed to keep it all organized despite the site’s massive growth, however.

Apple

1997

2008

While Apple’s 1997 website was indeed ugly, it was still ahead of the curve – see IBM above.  They actually bothered with things like a left menu, tables, gradients and watermarks.  Though basic, it’s testament to the fact that Apple has always been a bit more advanced than its competition.

What changed? Plenty. Still crisp and to the point, the home page of Apple.com acts as a virtual billboard for its latest products, showing the iPhone 3G in brilliant detail and color. It still offers lots of content, accessible by a slick and simple top menu bar.  Apple’s 2008 website shows that less can be more on the web, if you do it right.

The Paperless Office: Six Ways to Cut Costs and Save Trees

Memos, post-it notes, newsletters, hard copies, HR documents, receipts… a lot of paper floats around the average office, and it doesn’t just litter company desks.  It results in untold numbers of trees being unnecessarily cut down, and costs you plenty of money to boot.  Paper is expensive, and having hard copies of important documents can actually work against you in the long run.  Going paperless will give your important files more security, give your employees some breathing room at their workstations and lower your overhead costs.  Here are 6 easy ways to go paperless at your office.

Nix paper memos.  If you’re just sending out a memo asking employees to wipe up the microwave when they’re done cooking their Cup-O-Noodles, there’s no need to pass out sheets of paper printed with a sentence or two; it’s a colossal waste.  Email provides a quick way to communicate such info without wasting paper, since employees are likely to drop such memos directly into the trash can.

Store important documents electronically, and back them up regularly. You’ll need a dedicated hard drive to store the documents, and a good file backup system. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make frequent backups of your files.  Experts recommend using two portable hard drives, and using one to back up the other each week.  The backup should be taken to a secure offsite location like a bank deposit box.

Scan documents and send them as attachments rather than using the copy machine.  Use a dedicated document scanner and teach all of your employees how to use it.  Save the documents in PDF format, which is printable and keeps the document looking exactly as it does on paper.

Use an electronic calendar and appointment setting software, such as that built into Microsoft Outlook.  Such applications allow you to keep a running list of tasks and to-dos, share your calendar with others and set reminders.  In other words, they’ll do a lot more for your employees than the Kountry Kats paper calendars hanging on their cubicle walls.

Provide employees with digital pay stubs.  Just make sure your HR manager knows how to do it properly to avoid potentially catastrophic flubs like accidentally emailing your salary to the entire company.  Most payroll software has an option to automatically distribute virtual pay stubs to predetermined email addresses.

Have inbound faxes sent to your computer system, and send faxes electronically when possible.  Faxed paper documents aren’t usually the greatest quality anyway, and when you request electronic faxes from others, it might get them thinking about going paperless in their own offices, too.

Photo credit: Flickr user Kyle and Kelly Adams

10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Copywriter

Hiring a copywriter can be one of the most important marketing decisions you make for your business. A good copywriter will help define your brand, keep readers engaged, build their trust in you and make them feel the need to purchase your product or services. A bad copywriter will undermine your professionalism, confuse potential customers and possibly rip you off.

How do you tell the difference between the two? Asking 10 important questions before you hire them. These questions will help you weed out the wannabes and find the true professionals who can help advance your business.

1. Work samples – Ask about the copywriter’s recent work and read a variety of samples in different areas such as sales letters, web copy, brochure copy, product descriptions and email marketing campaigns. Don’t place too much emphasis on whether they’ve done the exact sort of project you’re looking for before – you can tell a lot about their abilities by looking at other work they’ve done.

However, be advised that there’s a big difference between copywriters and creative writers – don’t hire someone whose portfolio is full of short stories or poetry. Similarly, there’s a difference between content writers and direct response copywriters (though many writers do both): content writers can provide a nicely written article according to your needs, but may not have sales and marketing experience. Bottom line: work samples are the single most important factor in hiring a copywriter – they give you an instant idea of what you’re going to get.

2. References – Get a few references from previous clients of the copywriter (family and co-workers don’t count). When you check the writer’s references, ask about how happy they were overall, how professional the writer was and whether they recommend the writer’s services.

3. Adaptability – How well the writer can mimic or develop the right tone and voice for your piece is an important factor in how successful it will be. If the writer seems to write in the same voice over and over again for various clients (i.e., playful or authoritative), ask if the writer is adaptable to achieve the effect you’re going for. ‘Voice’ is an important branding factor for businesses, so if you have one already established you want a writer who can stick to it.

4. Subcontracting vs. working alone – Does the writer subcontract any of his or her work, or do it all him/herself? If subcontracting is part of their business model, ask exactly which tasks are done by others and which will be personally completed by the writer. Some writers farm out tasks like research, proofreading and fact checking, while others may farm out entire projects. You want to know exactly who the work will be coming from. If the writer does subcontract the actual writing of the piece, ask if they guarantee the quality.

5. Market research – How extensively does the writer research your market before beginning a project? Unless you provide it all for them, they’re going to have to get out there and do some grunt work before starting (and be advised, this may cost extra). How will they get to know your industry and market? Will they interview clients, or research statistics? If the writer doesn’t know who they’re speaking to, their work won’t be as effective.

6. Turnaround time – How long will it take to finish the piece? Be aware that freelance writers usually work for several clients at the same time. Rush jobs cost extra. Disorganized writers who can’t tell you approximately how long it will take could be a headache in the end. Both parties agreeing to a deadline before work begins is the best way to prevent this problem.

7. Rates and fees – The writer should have a rate schedule with ballpark estimates for various types of projects. The actual total for your project may vary depending on how much research is involved and how many revisions you request. Ask for a detailed list of any other fees that may crop up, also – some writers charge for things like hard copies and conference fees. And yes, it’s true: cheap copywriting isn’t good, and good copywriting isn’t cheap. You get what you pay for.

8. Contracts – Ask if the writer provides a contract. Most professionals do. The contract should outline the project, what’s expected from both parties, expected turnaround time and an estimate. The contract may include a purchase order or letter of authorization, which guarantees payment for the writer. Fees for initial projects often require a 50% advance payment. Some contracts stipulate that the writing, unless otherwise specified, is the intellectual property of the writer and that they retain the right to use it in their portfolio.

9. Revisions – Some writers include a set number of revisions in the fee for each project, with additional revisions charged at a set hourly rate. Make sure you find out what that rate is before beginning, and be aware of it when asking for revisions. Writers should be open to changing their work to please you, but be aware that it takes time and effort and the fees can add up. Some writers may set a maximum number of revisions they’ll do on any one project in order to ensure that they can keep their commitments to other clients.

10. Questions from the writer – Ask the copywriter whether they have any questions about the project before you begin. Unless you’ve provided it up front, a good copywriter should ask about how the writing will be used, who it’s targeting, what action you want the reader to take, what are the features and benefits of the product or service you’re selling, and whether you have testimonials. All of these things will help the writer create a piece that meets your needs and produces the wanted action from the reader.

OPERATIONS | Busy vs. Productive: Why do American Workers Waste So Much Time on Non-Value-Added Activities?

In nearly every workplace, no matter the industry, there’s at least one person who somehow manages to get paid to do nothing. Maybe it’s a pair of office schleps who play games all day to avoid filing paperwork, the lady in the cubicle down the hall who spends an inordinate amount of time working on scrapbooks full of cat photos, or the delivery guy who somehow manages to spend a few hours of every shift at the pub watching football. Goofing off on the company’s dime doesn’t just waste money – it unevenly shifts the workload to others, which can lower morale and start a vicious cycle.

Loss of productivity can break even a successful business. Workers waste time for a lot of reasons – sometimes it’s lack of a defined schedule or concrete deadlines, other times it’s a lack of motivation or a need to clear the mind for a little while. Either way, you can nip time-wasting in the bud by giving your employees regular breaks, putting accountability in place to make sure tasks get done, praising good work, and setting goals that allow employees to see their importance in the daily functioning of the business.

The first and most important factor in employee productivity is morale. If your employees aren’t happy, they’re not going to put as much effort into their work. Make sure you’re providing a work environment that makes employees feel valued – that means providing fair benefits, for one. It also means setting goals and making sure each employee understands their value in the overall scheme of the company. If they feel like their work isn’t important or appreciated, they’ll be more likely to waste time on the internet or talking on the phone, so praise is very important.

On that note, having deadlines – and being firm about everyone sticking to them – can be a big motivator. If employees know that work is due on a certain date and time, and that someone will be holding them accountable for their work, they’ll be far more likely to get it done. You may also want to set progress markers at certain intervals before the deadline to go over outlines or see how the project is coming along. Communication really is key – keep up with your workers and make sure their questions are answered along the way.

Take a close look at the company supervisors. Having bad bosses can be a huge obstacle to success in business. If the employees can’t get along with their boss, they’re not going to be very motivated to do a good job. Supervisors must offer praise, keep negative comments to a minimum, take ownership of their own mistakes and keep their promises.

Finally, you must accept that your employees aren’t robots. If you work them too hard, they’re going to burn out and do even less work in the long run. Have reasonable expectations and they’ll be far more likely to go about their work with a positive attitude.

Give employees regular breaks throughout the day – say, ten minutes at midmorning and/or midafternoon in addition to the lunch break – to get personal things done like phone calls and internet browsing, or to get up from their desks and stretch a bit. This also gives them a chance to re-focus if they’ve hit a difficult point in their work. All of these measures show your employees that you understand the need for a work/life balance, and that in turn will help increase productivity.

10 Management Lessons From College Football

Business and college football don’t frequently overlap–at least not on the field–but the men managing those teams are every bit as prone to pitfalls as you are, and being in the business of leading makes for more common ground than you may have anticipated.  Just think, even more violent metaphors to use in that dull office banter!

10. Know When To Fold ‘Em

Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno were, at one time, the two best football coaches in the country, regularly competing for (and winning) national titles.  But sometime in between the late 90s and now, these legends were seemingly killed and replaced by zombies that can only think about their next meal, instead of, say, NCAA compliance (Bowden) or getting out of the way of a speeding linebacker (Paterno).  The lesson?  You can’t always win, and it’s important to recognize when to step aside or bring in help–Coach Bowden has his successor on staff already, just waiting for the old coot to die.

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