Sunday, January 27, 2008

There Is Always Room At The Top!


"Good chances for the young no longer exist as formerly, "complained a youthful law student to Daniel Webster. "You are mistaken, "replied the great statesman and jurist, "there is always room at the top."


"Good chances for the young no longer exist as formerly, "complained a youthful law student to Daniel Webster. "You are mistaken, "replied the great statesman and jurist, "there is always room at the top."

Yes! I believed that until now there is always room at the top if we will be ready for the opportunity to come. Always work hard on our self and be higher than our calling. The world will make a path to our door!

Below are few suggested guidelines that can help to bring you to the room at the top. I suggest that you try to follow the precepts daily and surely, you will not be disappointed!

1. Think for a change. Think for the innovation of your being. Do not waste your time for something which you think not worthy, not valuable and could not help to harness your will power to think and grow rich!

2. Read a good book. For these are the vitamins and nutrients for your mind and soul that can help to awaken your giant within.

3. Apply what you have learned from your reading. Remember knowledge will be became power if only you will apply them and put them in the right application.

4. Study the lives of highly successful people. Read their biographies, their writings and copy their formula of success and apply it to yourself. Surely, two to five years from now, you will be at the top of your dreams.

5. Be true to yourself. Always follow the dreams and desire of your heart. Remember, you are the architect of your destiny and you are the architect of your fate. Avoid looking back instead move forward and follow your calling.

6. Keep on moving. Remember this secret formula that can guide and help you to avoid to much disappointment, failures and headaches as you travel in the games of life: work slowly but surely.

7. Never give up. Remember all the greatest men in history were a product of courage and courage you know is born in the cradle of adversity! So hold on! Be strong! Don't ever give up! You can if you think you can! Remember that the only person who can stop you of what God intend you to become is you!

Finally remember my friend, that the best investment you can give to yourself is you! You can make a lot of money by investing in you than any other investment. Therefore always work hard on yourself and you will earn a fortune!

Remember, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM AT THE TOP!

Good luck to your journey in life and God bless!

Moises P. Reconalla

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Retaining Employees in a Down Economy



Retaining employees in a down economy is simple but not easy. This article will show you three quick but sure-fire strategies that will help you to keep your employees happy and motivated.


Recently a business owner complained to me about the economic downturn and the effect that it was having on his business generally and his staff particularly. One key area in which a bad economy rears its ugly head is the restlessness of employees and key staff. It made me recall another story I heard about an employee who jumped ship after nearly twenty years in one place! While business owners and managers may not be able (or want!) to keep every staff member from exiting their employ, there are a few strategies that you can enact that will tip the odds of keeping them in your favor.

First, communicate. One of the biggest complaints among employees is lack of communication by their superiors to them. It is astonishing that, with all the communication tools at our disposal, we seem to be communicating less and less. Keeping open lines of communication with your key staff members is imperative. Conduct regular (but brief!) staff meetings, as well as, schedule individual meetings. Make sure you have face time with them and not just contact via email, the web or telephone. Nothing replaces sitting in front of another person to really understand what they are saying. Since communication is only 7% verbal, it’s imperative that you have regular, person to person, human interaction with them. When you ask them how they are doing, listen, really listen to them. They will know that you care and that goes a long way in building loyalty.

Don’t ever make assumptions either. Don’t assume that your employee’s know what you expect, know what you think or know how you want a specific task completed. Tell them, in precise detail what you want from them. Don’t leave anything to chance. You might be surprised how well they perform when you are clear about your desired outcomes.

The second strategy is educate. It seems that many companies are opting for distance or computer training rather than putting the employees in a room with a professional facilitator. I know that it keeps the price down but what is it costing in terms of team building and experiential learning? Companies that regularly choose webinars or teleconferences over actual training are doing a disservice to themselves and to their employees. Create an environment of learning and personal growth for your employees. Regularly scheduled trainings show that you are investing in them and that you want them to grow and develop. What happens if you invest in training them and then they leave? There’s no simple answer. However, don’t let that be the reason to stop you from investing in education for your employees. When you do, they will be better and thus so will your company for whatever time they are with you.

The third strategy while under utilized should not be underestimated. It is appreciate. When I get to this strategy in seminars there is usually one boss or manager in the audience that will sarcastically retort, “I show them I appreciate them every time I give them a paycheck!” Normally I respond by saying, “You’re right. But would you rather be right or look for a new employee?” Touché. That is music to a business persons ears since it usually costs 10X more to recruit, train and hire a new employee than it does to invest in retaining the ones you already have. That is a staggering number. So showing some appreciation to your employees is vital in a down economy.

How do you show them you appreciate them? The simplest and most cost effective way is to have an employee of the month program. Every month have a meeting where one employee who has shown improvement, gone above and beyond or had the best attitude is rewarded with a gift (minimum $50.00 value) publically in front of their coworkers. There are programs available that make this process simple and easy while allowing you to have maximum impact (see www.recognizeandreward.com). You want to “wow” the employee of the month so that he or she talks up what you gave them which in turn motivates others. You can also institute incentives for safety, sales or customer service. But make no mistake a pat on the back along with a gift in their pocket ensures motivation and helps to maintain employee loyalty.

Retaining employees in a down economy is no easy task, but if you begin to communicate, educate and appreciate the value of working with you and your company will increase exponentially!

Bob Sands