Sunday, October 25, 2009

So What Time Will You Finish Work Tomorrow? Work Life Balance

This is a great article from David Anderson of Priority - Okanagan Training Solutions

Donald Robichaud - FloodLight - Build Your Business


Just as few people are trained in information management, even fewer are trained in workload management. Yet every job in the world entails balancing a series of to-dos with the clock. Our research with over 1,000,000 of our customers worldwide in best-practice productivity processes, shows that very few people have a realistic plan for each day. Most plans that we see are long lists of non prioritized tasks-more of a wish list than a plan.
Here is a quick check as to how your workload management processes compare to best practice. Firstly, think about where you presently keep all the things you have to do . How many of the following tools do you use each day? Notepad, paper to-do list, scraps of paper, post-it notes, whiteboard, piles on the desk, Inbox, electronic to-do list, diary, electronic calendar and your memory. No wonder we so quickly lose the plot and find ourselves working late.
Best practice demands just one place to plan (yes, that’s ONE). When our work is in one place then we have something we can manage and control.
Now we have consolidated our tasks into one location we have a process that will get you home on time!

1. Write down all the things you need to do tomorrow in one place.
2. Estimate how long it is going to take to get each item done. Total the time - does it fit into
an 8 hour work day?
3. Are you likely to be interrupted tomorrow? If so, how will that impact your work? It will most likely double the time it takes to accomplish your work. Ask yourself if you can still get the work done after the interruption time is added?
4. Have you included time for lunch? What about travel time to and from your appointments? What about time to check your email? Remember that non-productive time for lunch, coffee breaks and checking email can easily add up to one-and-a-half hours.
5. Now total the realistic time and block out your calendar. What time are you going Home?
Is it time you want to go home?

Start today to develop the skills that will help you stay balanced and in control of your personal agenda. By developing essential skills such as personal organization, life/work balance and workload management you will improve every aspect of your life.

David Anderson
President
Okanagan Training Solutions / Priority Management Interior BC
250 762-5096 / 1-877-762-5096
prioritymanagment@telus.net
http://www.okanagantrainingsolutions.com/
http://okanagantrainingsolutions.blogspot.com/

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Home Construction in Kelowna – what it takes today!


The biggest financial market crash since the 1930’s has been followed by the deepest economic slump since that time. And yet, if we are to believe some of the recent economic reports put out by major Canadian banks and investment firms, there is an unprecedented amount of money sitting on the sidelines, which for the most part is earning little to no returns.

Between the years of 2003 and 2008 Kelowna residents witnessed a period of unprecedented construction activity and real estate sales. Single family construction was ignited by the fires of 2003 (no pun intended), followed by what many saw as condo-mania. Many bought homes and in particular, condos, that they never intended on occupying. The lure of a quick flip and easy money were in full swing! Rising prices and low interest rates forced many buyers to make quick decisions in a very heated market. Most housing prices more than doubled over this period of time. Many of the local old-timers just shook their heads in disbelief.

This activity all but came to a halt in mid to late 2008. As inventory accumulated, trades went elsewhere for jobs, and the ripple effect of a slumped local construction industry created massive lay-offs across the board, when coupled with a gloomy macro economic picture.

Yet, there is hope! Fundamentally, people need homes to live in and Kelowna is still one of the most desirable places to live in Canada. What appears to be selling in today’s climate are homes under say $500K. There’s an issue of affordability and comfort for this buying demographic. Land prices, labor rates, and in many cases, material costs are down. Combine this with the unprecedented money that is sitting on the sidelines, and there’s only one factor missing, and that’s providing consumers with a reason to feel comfortable about buying, which boils down to confidence and perceived value.

There are enough interior and exterior finishing options that builders can use today to ensure their costs are reduced without compromising on appearance and quality significantly. The key to a healthy local residential construction and housing market is the supply of smaller, lower cost, energy-efficient homes to meet the needs of first time home buyers, young families, empty nesters, and the downsizing baby boomers. When builders focus their efforts on meeting the needs of these groups we will all witness some of those unprecedented savings being pulled from low interest yielding financial instruments and find their way back into the housing market.

Richard Tremblay has spent the past 25 years working in various aspects of the construction of building products industries.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Business Coach or Business Consultant – What’s the difference?


There is a “defined” difference between coach and consultant. At FloodLight we bring both sides into play as we work with our clients, through their Business Life Cycle. Over the past 5 years FloodLight has been called on as a Business Consultants in certain circumstances, and as a Business Coach in other situations.

Business Coach:
Generally a business coach operates with essentially a ‘hands off’ approach guiding and advising the client along the way. A good business coach is typically a generalist in his understanding of sound business management and leadership principles, as opposed to being an expert in any particular area. In most cases, coaching involves working with a client over a period of 6 to 12 months through a structured program where accountability rests squarely in the hands of the client.

In a typical coaching setting key objectives are identified, in many cases in the form of a 90-day plan, and a systematic approach towards achieving those objectives is designed by the coach. Regular weekly coaching sessions are held to monitor progress against those objectives and deal with any stumbling blocks along the way. The uniqueness of the relationship between the client and the coach often results in an on-going program as the client sees the value of having on-going coaching or guidance much in the same way that professional athletes have coaches throughout their careers. Coaching is a very affordable means of achieving greater business and personal success for most clients.

The Business Consultant:
Generally a business consultant operates with a ‘hands on’ approach with a client. In most cases consultant have a particular area of expertise and are brought in by clients to perform a certain task or accomplish a particular objective. While coaching can go on in perpetuity, consulting involves intensive involvement over a specified period of time. Once the task or project is complete, the consultant typically moves on to the next assignment.

And while a business coach can manage a number of clients at once (i.e. 6 to 12 on average), a consultant typically works exclusively for one client and possibly 2. The consultant will typically work full-time for the client until the task is completed, while a coach will usually spend an hour or two per week with each of his or her clients. For this reason, hiring a consultant is usually a more expensive proposition than hiring a coach.

FloodLight Business Solutions Group

At FloodLight we have 60 plus years of business experience and our team approach to business solutions allows us to work with owners, executives, managers, and employees in small to medium sized companies. Our primary focus is to help our clients grow their business and achieve a greater work-life balance!

The outcome is a more effective management of your time, team and money!

In a number of cases we at Floodlight have been called in to address a very specific issue such as Internet Marketing or Search Engine Optimization. This sort of situation lends itself well to a consulting role as circumstances dictate that we specifically focus on implementing a solution over a brief period of time.

In many other situations coaching is a better approach in dealing with operational, strategic, business management, and team leadership issues. At FloodLight we work with business owners to Assess their business needs, Assemble a comprehensive strategy, and Apply tailor-made solutions in a practical day-to-day action plan.

Being a business owner can often be a difficult and lonely job. And hiring a Sales Manager, Marketing Manger, or Operations Manager is not always an affordable option. Hiring a business coach often makes more sense and is certainly more affordable.

At FloodLight we provide you with a coaching team to guide, advise, and coach you towards your business and personal goals.

Please contact us at 250.768.9415 or email us ( Click Here ) for more information on how we can help you “Build Your Business”!

At FloodLight we provide:

Business coaching, personal business coach, business coach, professional business coach, small business coach, business coach,personal coach, Kelowna business coach, strategic business coach, executive coach, coach, coaching and executive coaching.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Why is signage so important? Speedpro Imaging Kelowna

This  is a great article from Janet Fichett and her team at Speedpro Imaging Kelowna,

Donald Robichaud - FloodLight - Build Your Business


Signage is usually the first thing that a customer will notice about your business. The goal of any marketing or advertising medium is to “get noticed”. Professionally designed graphics for your signs and printing will help you yield the greatest return on your advertising dollars.

Here are 10 tips on how to create high impact graphics:

1.Use an image. The use of a photo creates a 300% greater recall than ads without a photo. Logos and other graphical elements can also be used.

2.Use the right font. The text should be easy to read and no more than two font types should be used. Special effects such as shadows and outlines can be used to create a more visual impact.

3.Use the correct text size. The size of your sign will determine the text size. We recommend one inch for every 10 feet of viewing distance. A combination of upper and lower case letters is more legible from a distance.

4.Use good color combinations. The text and background colors should contrast for better visibility and readability. The sign should al­so contrast well within the environment that it is placed.

5.Use power words to add sales impact – Approved, Authentic, Bargain, Better, Discount, Easily, Guaranteed, Improved, Introducing, Powerful, Professional, Profitable, Reduced, Successful, You…

6.Target your audience. Who is your best customer? Is your sign appealing to the them. Cartoons aren’t for everyone. What do you provide that they are looking for? Are they current or potential customers?

7.Think about its purpose. What words do you want to linger in your customers mind about what you have to offer? Is the information you include for advertising, direction or for safety purposes?

8.Consistency. Apply a consistent look and feel to all marketing materials – design, color, font. Familiarity leads to trust.

9.White space – Less is more! Although the temptation might be to get the most bang for your buck, too much text will make your sign difficult to read from a distance. If you can get your message across in a word or two, do it. You may only have a second or two to convey your message. Text without adequate white space leaves us feeling crowded and cramped. A general rule of thumb is that around 30% to 40% of the sign's face area should be left as white space for optimal readability.

10.Use a border. This can focus the reader on the most important information that you want them to take away. Also if your sign needs to be noticed by automobiles in traffic, it will increase reading speed.

Your signage is a reflection of your business and if properly designed and situated can attract new business throughout your target market and assist in the advertising, marketing and branding of your business.

For further information or for great ideas on how to market and brand your business contact us SpeedPro Imaging at 250-763-8868

SpeedPro Imaging Kelowna
#135 – 1855 Kirschner Road, Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N7
Ph: (250)763-8868 Fax: (250)763-8768 speedproimaging@shawbiz.ca
  http://www.speedprokelowna.com/   http://kelownasigns.blogspot.com/

BlogCatalog

Marketing Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

FloodLight - Marketing Consulting - OKBC.TV

"We Help Entrepreneurs Reach their Goals"

http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/



Kelowna - Business Coach- Marketing Consultant- Speaker - Canada