Getting Better

Here's a great, concise article by Darrell Zahorsky. I found it on About.com. We probably all know these things but this does a really good job of summing up and reminding us to do it right. Thanks to Darrell!

10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Small Business
By Darrell Zahorsky, About.com

Whether you're a one-person operation or 100 employee company, the name of the game is improvement. No business is static. Your business is on an upward track or on its way down. Making improvements to make your business better is a conscious choice. Not only must you balance your time but choose the right area of business that will make the biggest impact. These 10 tips should help you focus on the areas of business offering the biggest gain.

1. Keep Score: It's amazing how few small businesses have any idea of the daily, weekly, and monthly numbers and financial trends in the organization. Spend the necessary time keeping current on cash flow and if you lack the financial skills then hire an accountant.

2. Set Goals: Like keeping score, setting goals and objectives is an essential part of business success.

3. Use High Impact Marketing: It's easy to waste money on ineffective marketing. Learn how to use low budget high impact marketing to improve your small business.

4. Master Business Presentations: A powerful business presentation can help improve your small business by leaps and bounds. Learning the essentials of a knockout business presentation can reap many rewards.

5. Monitor Trends: No business operates in a vacuum. The events and changes in the global landscape have an effect on your business. Stay current on trends and issues.

6. Sharpen Selling Skills: A high return area for business improvement is the sales function. Whether you're selling to big companies or managing a sales team, never forget to focus on sales improvement.

7. Find Best Practices: Every industry has its own best practices or ways of doing things that are tried and true. Avoid wasting money and time reinventing the industry is generally a good approach unless you're set on building the next Google.

8. Motivate Staff: Talented and motivated staff members can bring on big improvements in business. Learn what motivates your employees to higher levels of performance.

9. Know Your Limits: Every successful business owner, even Bill Gates, has a clear idea of their limitations. By knowing your entrepreneurial personality type ,you can manage your resources and find help in areas of weakness.

10. Take a Break: Running a small business is hard work. Sometimes the best way to improve your business and re-ignite your passion is to take a vacation.

Business improvement is a way of life for succeeding. Apply these 10 quick tips to fast track your company.

Golf Anyone?

Please join us for the annual Chamber - Jaycees Golf Outing on Friday, August 21st. It will again be held at Jaycees Golf Club with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.

The outing is a four-person scramble format. The $220 per team entry fee includes golf, cart, and the cookout dinner afterward. Prizes will be awarded for1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams and special prizes for our last three place finishers. Prizes will also be awarded for Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, and more. We have a limit of 32 teams, so register now!

Call 455-8282 to register or email your team and sponsor information to jriddle@zmchamber.com, Deadline is August 7.