5 Ways to Enjoy Your Small Business Work Week More

I think all of us would like to get a little more enjoyment out of the sometimes more mundane things that we face on a daily base.  All too often work moves to the top of the list of things that people dislike.  Here are 5 ways that you can enjoy your business week more.

1) Incorporate One Passion Into the Work you Do-

Everyone has things that they love to do or information/ideas that they love to follow.  Our workload becomes far more interesting when we can find a way to bring that passion in to the things that we are doing in our jobs.  Take some time to make a list of the things that are most interesting to you.  Then make a list of some of your responsibilities or tasks at work.  Compare the two lists to see if there are some things from the first list that you can merge with the things that you are doing on the second list.  You would be surprise to see how you attitude about those tasks changes when you incorporate things you are passionate about.

2) Find a Way to Serve-

Service has an amazing way of invigorating the mind and motivating us to become more engaged in the work that we are doing.  Don’t discount the impact that it can have in making the work that we do become more meaningful.  Service can happen in a couple different ways: 1) plan projects with co-workers to build up  your community or 2) find ways to do something extra for clients, neighbors, co-workers or friends.  Set aside some time each week to do something entirely focused on someone else.  It will enrich your work week.

3) Cut Out the Unnecessary-

Take careful stock of all the tasks that you have on your to-do list.  What items are necessary?  What can be cut out or delegate?  When we do a better job of managing our time and our responsibilities, it can go a long way to giving us peace of mind and more enjoyment because we are doing more of what we enjoy and less of the mundane.  Now, unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to cut out all the mundane tasks that we have on our plates, but better time management will allow us to minimize the time wasters that we so often engage in.

4) Make a Friend-

People are really social creatures and it is critical for peace of mind to develop meaningful relationships.  This is especially true in business.  Your week will become more enjoyable as you find clients, customers and co-workers with whom you can have interesting conversations.  Be engaging with those around you and take some time to learn more about others.  Invite someone new to lunch this week.  Ask a client about their family.  Have a conversation that you wouldn’t normally have.

5) Stay Focused-

Finally, do your best to stay on task.  Work is most meaningful when it is done properly and with full energy.  Remove the things that normally distract you and focus on achieve all that you desire from your workday.  Be persistent and actively engaged in your tasks and they will become more enjoyable as time moves along.

Small Firms Need a Healthcare Checkup as Laws Evolve

Health care reform generated a lot of discussion and debate.  Now that the bill has passed, small business owners need to evaluate the impact that the new law will have on their operations.  Because of the importance of the issue, I wrote the following article for the Miami Herald.  What are your thoughts?

Miami Herald Article: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/19/1583525/small-firms-need-a-healthcare.html

Business Catalyst Networking Event

Accountability

Written in an unapologetic manner, this interesting article in Entrepreneur focuses on the importance for small business owners to take personal accountability for the management and success of their business, even in times of economic difficulty.  A truly successful business is managed in such a way that it can weather the storms as well as sail in the sunshine.  The latter is easy to do, the former is where many businesses stumble.  Check out the pointers expressed and let me know what you think:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/article203238.html

Business Card Exchange in Miami

Here is an upcoming business networking event in Miami.  For those small businesses in the area, it is a great opportunity to meet other business owners and service providers, especially if you are interested in international business.

In race for stimulus dollars, we're coming in last - Business Monday - MiamiHerald.com

In this morning's Miami Herald, there was an article that outlined the stimulus money that is coming in to South Florida.  Not enough projects are being made available to small businesses.  I hope this article inspires people in South Florida to work together to create opportunities for small businesses.  Now is an excellent time to explore opportunities to collaborate and form strategic partnerships in order to succeed in breaking out of this economic downturn.  Have a read and hopefully it gives you ideas as to how to succeed.

In race for stimulus dollars, we're coming in last - Business Monday - MiamiHerald.com

TRDA Event for Central Florida Small Businesses on August 11, 2009

Included below is information on an excellent small business event coming up on August 11.  This event will focus on emerging technologies and innovation.  There is also information included below about the TRDA and how they are of assistance in incubating emerging technology companies.  Also of interest is a list of companies involved in this event.  Hopefully you can take advantage of the resource and the event.  This information was provided to me by Lindsey Levy of pushhere.com.

 

TRDA SHOWCASES EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AUGUST 11

-- Small Businesses Present New DoD and NASA Funded Technologies--

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 6, 2009) — Technological innovation is what drives the American economy. And, it’s small technology businesses that help generate most of the economic growth as measured by job creation, output and productivity. Although launching a small tech business isn’t easy, organizations like the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) provide invaluable opportunities for these high-growth, high-tech businesses to succeed.

On Tuesday, August 11 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., TRDA will host the Technology Opportunity Forum 2009 at the TRDA Business Innovation Center, 1050 W. NASA Blvd., Melbourne, Fla. The Forum showcases some of the most promising, federally funded technologies under development in the southeast

This event offers entrepreneurs, investors, strategic partners and others the unique chance to review emerging technologies and initiate relationships with 23 small, advanced technology firms who are developing technologies for the Department of Defense and NASA. Each of the participating companies is a recipient of a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant to develop and commercialize an emerging technology.

The Technology Opportunity Forum will consist of presentations and exhibitions from companies in the areas of communications, power electronics, electromagnetics, life sciences, medical devices, mechanics, sensors and software.

The Forum’s presentations, exhibition area and poster materials are designed to provide attendees access to emerging technologies and the companies behind them, leading to engagements ranging from procurement, to licensing, to strategic partnering.

Supporting The Technology Opportunity Forum as sponsors are: Berman Hopkins, Wright & La Ham CPAs and Associates, LLP; Harris; Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. Attorneys at Law; Roetzel & Andress A Legal Professional Association; and Spacecoast Business.

For general inquiries, such as registration and event information on the TRDA’s Technology Opportunity Forum, contact:

Brenda McMillan

(321) 872-1050 x 103

BMcMillan@trda.org

The Forum registration fee is $50.00. Online registration is available at www.trda.org.

About TRDA

The TRDA Business Innovation Center helps start-up technology firms in Central Florida grow into financially viable, freestanding, high-growth companies. It offers clients access to intensive mentoring, modern office space, shared office resources, business services, professional development and training, investor networking and more for one monthly fee.

Launched in 1987, the TRDA is an agency of the state of Florida that leverages federal, state and private resources to develop and implement technology-based programs in four target areas: education, business incubation, energy and technology transfer. Since its inception, the TRDA has leveraged tens of millions of dollars in funding to support its education and economic development programs. By infusing new technology into businesses and schools, the TRDA helps to strengthen the economy and education throughout the state and nation.

For more information, visit trda.org.

###

Media Contact:

Lindsey Levy, Push.

407-841-2299 ext. 1041

llevy@pushhere.com

Companies participating in the TRDA's Commercialization Assistance Program are:

1. Accelogic (Weston, FL) — A research and development company specializing in the extreme acceleration of linear algebra problems through computational methods optimized for massively-parallel supercomputers and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), for applications such as fluid dynamics, weather modeling, molecular design, and oil exploration.

2. Advance Magnet Lab, Inc. (Palm Bay, FL) — A manufacturing, technology and product development, and testing company specializing in electromagnetic technology with solutions in propulsion, power generation, materials processing, and medical devices.

3. Aerotonomy (Ft. Oglethorpe, GA) — An aeronautics research and prototype manufacturing company, specializing in airframes and control technologies for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

4. AERONIX, Inc. (Melbourne, FL) — An engineering services and systems integrator company, transitioning from services to product development; specializing in communications technology especially radio software, hardware components, and intellectual property for high- speed wireless networking.

5. AET, Inc. (Melbourne, FL) — An engineering and development company specializing in integrated circuits and sensors in harsh environments.

6. APECOR (Orlando, FL) — A research and development company specializing in advanced power electronics especially high power density, high efficiency, and digital control.

7. Benedict Engineering Co., Inc. (Tallahassee, FL) — An engineering consulting firm specializing in design and development of material handling systems.

8. CANVS Corp. (Coral Gables, FL) — A research and development company founded to create color night vision and innovative imaging solutions.

9. Cesaroni Technology, Inc. (Sarasota, FL) — A research and product development facility with engineering and prototyping capabilities specializing in ammunition, heat exchange, robotics, and propulsion technologies.

10. CFD Research Corp. (Huntsville, AL) — An engineering research and development services company with capabilities in multi-physics simulations and engineering/biological/chemical testing and evaluations; dedicated to technology and product development for aerospace, life sciences, materials, and energy.

11. Circular Logic (Boca Raton, FL) — A research and development company specializing in advanced acoustic signal processing technology, which approaches human auditory performance in speech processing, neural implants, military intelligence, and music processing.

12. Digital Authentication Technologies, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) — A technology development company with receiver and authentication server system, which captures RF signals and utilizes neural network signal processing to create and verify unique location footprints in real-time.

13. Engineering Acoustics, Inc. (Casselberry, FL) — A research and development and low volume manufacturing company specializing in acoustic and vibrational transducers and systems for defense, biomedical and geophysical applications.

14. OptiGrate (Orlando, FL) — A research and development, prototyping, and low volume manufacturing company specializing in holographic optical elements in photosensitive glass for spectral and thermal stabilization of high-power lasers and Raman laser sources.

15. Mainstream Engineering Corp. (Rockledge, FL) — A thermal control and energy conversion manufacturing company with research and development capabilities and technical focus on vapor compression systems, high heat flux cooling systems, advanced diesel engine development, solar and wind powered systems, advanced materials, advanced batteries, ultra capacitors, fuel cells, and conversion of organic materials to fuel (biomass conversion).

16. MtronPTI (Orlando, FL) — A manufacturing company with product development capability specializing in electronic signal frequency control products such as quartz oscillators, resonators, filters for applications in communication, radar, and navigation markets.

17. NanoEngineering Corp. (Wellington, FL) — An engineering and development company specializing in miniaturized, precision instruments with high resolving-power for detection, measurement, and analysis of nanoparticles (including viruses) and molecules.

18. Novel Engineering Solutions, Inc. (Ft. Walton Beach, FL) — A research and development company specializing in geothermal energy generation.

19. Photon-X (Huntsville, AL) — A 3D image processing and optoelectronics engineering and development company, focused on 3D cameras and 3D video applications.

20. RINI Technologies, Inc. (Orlando, FL) — A research and development, prototyping, and low volume manufacturing company specializing in heat exchange and cooling products.

21. Securboration (Melbourne, FL) — A research and development company specializing in software that enables organizations to adapt. Utilizing Semantic Web technologies, executable workflows based on dynamic policies leverage distributed SOA assets to enact business processes in domains that range from a single business process to global inter-agency process automation tailored to user’s needs.

22. The Athena Group, Inc. (Gainesville, FL) — An engineering and design firm with applied research capability, specializing in data security and signal processing for digital electronics.

23. Transgenex Nanobiotech, Inc. (Tampa, FL) — A biotech R&D firm specializing in nanotech-enabled drug delivery systems for cancer and HIV treatments and for biomarker-aided diagnoses.

What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate…

It is critical for businesses to improve communication, both internally and externally.  In order to maximize efficiencies, people need to know clearly what is expected and also know that they have the right to communicate alternatives.  Business Week has an excellent article on why we fail in our communications:

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tips/archives/2009/07/why_we_fail_to.html

Who is the Face of Your Business?

One of the questions that small business owners need to ask relates to how they present themselves and their business to the public.  Who or what is the “face” of the business?  Here is a great article that outlines some of the pros and cons of being the face of your own business:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/branding/article202664.html

Effectively Assigning Blame

Today’s tip from Business Week is helpful in business and in life.  When assigning blame to any problem, it is best done with a mind to finding a solution to the problem.  Read on here:

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tips/archives/2009/07/instead_of_assi.html

Online Training Resources from the SBA

One of the things that most small business owners neglect is ongoing business training.  Many do not have the time to go back to school and get an MBA or take university courses in business.  Even so, it is still necessary for these business owners to get training.  That is why this resource from the SBA is beneficial.  They have a myriad of different topics that small business owners can learn on their own time.  Check it out:

http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html

What is your company’s social media plan?

The Miami Herald did an article on social media and outline some of the things that businesses face in this growing marketing trend.  Like any marketing or business plan, it is important to look at a couple of elements: time, cost, and relevance.  The first two are key to many small businesses.  Effective social media campaigns grow over time and do have built in cost potential.  Should you hire someone specifically to manage a social media campaign?  How do you make that determination.  How frequently will you blog?  Update a Facebook company page?  Send tweets?  Also, how are you going to develop your online “following”?  Social media is definitely a major part of today’s market and should not be ignored, but it also needs to be an effective tool in a businesses arsenal.

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/1096564-p2.html

Working with Family

This article explores some of the potential pitfalls that can come when working with or hiring family in your business.  Working with family can provide certain benefits to a small business, especially in a downturn, but one needs to be able to properly separate the business and the personal relationships.  When a business owner is realistic about the skills of a family member and their ability to contribute to the business, it is more likely for the working relationship to succeed.  Some of the principles presented in the article related to family employees can and should be applied with any employer/employee relationship.

 

http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/employment/mixing-family-and-work/?cid=1122