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April 2018
Volume 19 Issue 5

News of the day - Take your child to work day & Get rid of the automation

As we were planning the April newsletter, I mentioned something I had said in this newsletter some 15 years ago. The comment was about this celebration and inviting people to call our office on "Take your child to work day". The comment was to let you know when you called, our twins, Darren and Blake Shay would be staffing the phones at Profits Plus.

This year, they are both busy in their careers so we do not have anyone special to answer the phones for you; we will do it ourselves. And, the event has a new name; it is now,  "Take our daughters and sons to work day". The event is Thursday, April 26. We have some great memories from participating and hope you will as well. You know the children will enjoy a special reason to be away from school. Here is a link to their website for more information. Take Our Daughters And Sons to Work

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We want to share with you the essence of an article I wrote recently for a trade magazine. The story is about a local pharmacy closing. Of course our household is not going to do business with a chain pharmacy, so we went looking to find the replacement. The pharmacy we chose has a very nice person you meet when you visit. Her name is Debbie.
Debbie likes to meet you and know about you. That is what makes a small business so special. However, when you call the pharmacy you experience an automated phone system. The worst is the part when you want to order a refill of a prescription.

"Press 'two' for a refill; enter the seven digit prescription number; press 'one' if this is the correct prescription number and 'two' to re-enter. Press 'one' for delivery and 'two' for pickup; press 'one' if you want to talk with a pharmacy technician. Press "three" to hang up. And so on, and so on. I thought I was trying to do business with a chain store pharmacy.

What if you could talk to Debbie? You can't do that with a chain store pharmacy. We really do understand the efficiency of using automation. We do a better job of understanding a business that gives what the competition cannot give.

Article of the Month - Profitability through Structure

"The job is easier when you have the right tools". Perhaps you have heard this expression; most definitely you can hear it when you visit a hardware store or garden center. Let us offer a couple of adaptations for your business.

"The completion of the task is more consistent when you have the right tools". And, "You find yourself solving fewer problems in your business when you have the right tools".

This month's article is about creating the tools you need in your business. In our business we called these tools our policies (rules for ourselves) and procedures (ways of doing tasks).

One side note as we invite you to read the article. We do not believe in having a customer service policy. We have seen many of them. The reality is they tell the customer how they are to perform and behave. We think that is a very poor way to start what you want to have as a long term relationship.
Book of the Month - Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Someone once said, "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do".

Thinking like that excites me. It causes me to examine who I am, what I do, and how I do it. The person who said this quote was Steve Jobs, who we know by way of Apple and Pixar.

There is a lot to be learned from reading this book. You learn a lot about yourself and your business. Hopefully this book will excite you and cause you to want to do more with your business.
Internet Tool for Your Business - Small business evaluation

When I get to work in communities with Main Street programs, downtown development authorities, business improvement districts, chambers of commerce and similar organizations, there is a special tool I ask be given to every small business owner.

The tool is a self evaluation. It invites the business owner or manager to take a deep look at their business and answer a series of questions. There are not "right or wrong" answers. Experience has shown as the questions are answered you gain a lot of insight to what is going on in your business and with yourself as the owner or manager.

This month we want to share this tool with you. Here is the link:
Staff Incentive for Your Business - Being healthy

We made a promise to ourselves earlier this year. We would be consistent in our visits to the gym each week. (We have to admit that as we are writing this newsletter, we have missed today's trip to the gym.) It does feel good going to the gym and know the energy level is rising. We use the local YMCA. There are many ways to exercise along with many classes available. What if you got a corporate membership at the YMCA for all of your team.

You could take it a step further and create a competition between your staff for their participation at the gym. Demonstrating your interest in the well being of your employee says you are truly concerned about them.

We want to recognize A Carrot A Day by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, whose book provides the basis for each month's incentive idea.

Profits Plus | tomshay@profitsplus.org
(727) 823-7205 | www.profitsplus.org



 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 2024
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Small Business

AdvisorieS

The May Small Business Advisory is titled "Planning for a successful accountant" and is appropriate for many with the April 15 tax deadline having passed.

 

Did you work with your accountant? Or, did you just give them a bunch of papers and wait to receive a completed tax return?

 

Successfully working with an accountant requires a partnership. This month's Small Business Advisory gives suggestions of how to make this happen in 2024.

Small Business

News

Top Story

We see that many small business owners have too much of a focus on the "top line" of their income statement.

 

Increasing revenue is great, but it is not a cure all for any challenges your business is facing. And sometimes, incresing revenue can create a challenge.

Article of the Month

Who is your customer? Some small businesses have no focus. Their customer is whoever calls or walks in the door.

 

And some small businesses have determined which customers, in sufficient numbers, they should spend their efforts to attract.

 

The article of the month shares an old Southern rhyming couplet about business; "The bertter you niche, the more you get rich."


Book of the Month

Lean Startup by Eric Reis is our suggested book for May.

 

As the title suggests, the reader of the book would be someone that is starting their business. However, we see more value than just that.

 

Perhaps you have been in business for many years. We think this book could give insight to items, and methods, that a small business owner should think about with their business today.
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BOOK US

With over 25 years of frontline experience Tom Shay is America's leading Small Business Management Expert. He's a "Must Have" for your next event.

Small Business

Advisories

The May Small Business Advisory is titled "Planning for a successful accountant" and is appropriate for many with the April 15 tax deadline having passed.

 

Did you work with your accountant? Or, did you just give them a bunch of papers and wait to receive a completed tax return?

 

Successfully working with an accountant requires a partnership. This month's Small Business Advisory gives suggestions of how to make this happen in 2024.

Small Business

News

 

Top Story

We see that many small business owners have too much of a focus on the "top line" of their income statement.

 

Increasing revenue is great, but it is not a cure all for any challenges your business is facing. And sometimes, incresing revenue can create a challenge.


Article of the Month

Who is your customer? Some small businesses have no focus. Their customer is whoever calls or walks in the door.

 

And some small businesses have determined which customers, in sufficient numbers, they should spend their efforts to attract.

 

The article of the month shares an old Southern rhyming couplet about business; "The bertter you niche, the more you get rich."


Book of the Month

Lean Startup by Eric Reis is our suggested book for May.

 

As the title suggests, the reader of the book would be someone that is starting their business. However, we see more value than just that.

 

Perhaps you have been in business for many years. We think this book could give insight to items, and methods, that a small business owner should think about with their business today.

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Profits Plus Solutions, Inc.
Tom Shay
PO Box 128
Dardanelle, AR 72834
(727)823-7205