SoKy Local Business or "SoKybiz"

I've always been one to dream big! Always willing to work hard to reach the big dreams all the while keeping myself grounded in logic, facts and common sense. I've commented before that having high aspirations is much better than having low ones because your goal typically translates to effort.

I ran across a quote this morning as I was making my rounds;

Aim at the sun and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if you had aimed at an object on a level with yourself.

-- F. Hawes

A timely reminder for me as I reflect on February. Even as late as this week, my lofty dreams, high hopes and extraordinary efforts were rewarded and at the same time dashed. What keeps me going is the dream and hope for more, my unwillingness to settle for average and my drive to achieve my primary aim of a successful business, better lifestyle and freedom to do what I want to do.

As I look back at the past 3 or 4 weeks, I am reminded of the importance of "going with the flow" as well as the need to have many baskets for my eggs. I have experienced great disappointment not only in one failed effort, but also in the conduct of people I once trusted. I have also been blessed with some of the greatest opportunities of my life and have forged some new alliances and have made what I think will be long term friends.

The past few weeks have inspired several blog posts, some have been deleted, some have been saved and one is under review titled "The Impossible Equation." Once I get some input from my inner circle, I will post it. It covers an example of the effects of emotion on business and the importance to remembering the many elements of the Impossible Equation. It also applies Sir Isaac Newton's 3rd law of physics to conducting business and dealing with business associates.

One thing I have learned over the years is that I can ignore the things that affect my business or I can face them with courage... the latter is the key to making myself a better business person, a better member of my community and in the end, a better man overall.

More to come.

This was posted by SoKy : 12:57 PM  0 comments links to this post

This falls into the category of "courageous marketing." This story from the Associated press begs the question, do you have the balls to do it?

Dog Store Sign Angers Seattle Residents
Feb 22, 5:49 PM (ET)

SEATTLE (AP) - A newly opened store catering to very pampered dogs, especially female dogs, is getting more than questioning looks for its name, High Maintenance Bitch.

The third word in the sign is widely visible at North 45th Street and Wallingford Avenue North, one of the main intersections in the Wallingford neighborhood business west of Interstate 5 and north of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

"I am probably the most progressive liberal person in the world and I am personally offended by the sign," said Janet Stillman, executive director of the Wallingford Neighborhood Office. "It's so blatant and so in your face."

The sign is the issue more than products such as Gel-ous Bitch bath gel and Street Walker paw cleanser, said Kara Ceriello, co-president of the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce.

Whole story at MyWay.com

This was posted by SoKy : 6:15 PM  0 comments links to this post

By Tim Hunt

When you see a company or organization re-brand, they are usually looking to gather more attention. This attention can be because of a new product, service or simply trying to give a new face to them. Re-branding draws attention to the company or organization as something fresh and new. Re-branding is more than just changing the appearance of the logo, it includes much more. To re-brand a company or organization takes changing your approach to advertising and marketing as well. In addition, it should include policy changes that will reflect the new approach to reach customers and clients.

One of the best known companies in recent years that re-branded itself is UPS. UPS made a small change in the appearance of its corporate logo, but they completely changed their whole advertising campaign. Now, do you recognize UPS more or than you did? Probably not, but you do see UPS with a fresh new face and enhanced value with faster service (because they want to race the truck). Simple changes that gave UPS the new, 21^st Century look that they were looking for, and reinforcing the fact that they provide the fastest service of any delivery company.

SOKY.net is re-branding itself for much of the same reasons. SOKY.net is launching into new directions with a renewed emphasis. While keeping up with the original plans of being a community portal, it will also ad brand new marketing and image opportunities. Developing SOKY Solutions as its new marketing company gives us the opportunity to offer a full service menu of services to all companies and organizations. SOKY.net was pretty limited in its menu, with mainly web presence as its primary focus. Now, we have the ability to provide companies and organizations with a full service marketing company; providing marketing strategies, company image, public relations, effective advertising strategies, and company branding. Giving a new look and policy changes is the first step. Now, we will be adding staff and upgrading equipment to make these changes more effective for our current and future clients.

SOKY.net as a parent company is very excited about the opportunities of the future. We look forward to serving South Central Kentucky and providing you with the “solutions” to effectively grow your company or organization.

This was posted by SoKy : 7:41 AM  0 comments links to this post

One of my goals for the year was to become more organized and I recently recommitted myself to this through deliberate action. With all I have on my plate, lack of organization was like trying to fly at mach one with the flaps out... it was causing so much drag and resistance that it had the potential of causing great and catastrophic damage to the vehicle, in this case my businesses.

Almost like white noise, the accumulated clutter around my office, on my computer hard drive and in my mind were effecting my ability to concentrate on the things that mattered and drowning out the slight details that are so very important. Writing about the need for less clutter and more organization has been easy, actually accomplishing it however, now that's a horse of a different color.

I finally did something about it!
I've spent most of February literally clearing the clutter. From scraps of paper in my office to removing old email accounts from my servers. Finding all of the things that clutter my physical and virtual workspace has been an eye opening experience to say the least.

I have had my nose so deeply buried in my keyboard for the past several months, as a result I've allowed papers, flyers, notes, magazines and all sorts of physical stuff to accumulate on my desk and surrounding workspace. Up until recently, I had hundreds of 3X5 cards, sticky notes and cocktail napkins with scribbled notes, passwords, phone numbers and reminders crammed in the most interesting of places.

Doing what I don't want to do!
The past several weeks has been about doing the things I don't want to do. We all have them and I have more than most. Everything from returning phone calls to filling out forms, I dislike the "little things" so much that I ignore them until those tiny little things pile up and transform into a mountain that no one wants to climb. Well I had a mountain that would dwarf the Great Rocky Mountains but I knew that I had to get over it. I decided to just start to climb and accept each step as a challenge.

One issue at a time... just do it! And I did! I went from an impassable peak to a slight slope by chiseling away at that mountain of details on strike at a time. I delegated what I could and even asked for help which has not been something I've been good at. I kept reminding myself to do those things I don't want to do and then did them.

New Policy!
I started a new policy this year that requires me to address all pending issues, mail/email, phone calls, web updates and requests within 48 hours. Nothing is allowed to just sit; nothing is allowed to be put on hold; nothing is allowed to be placed on the back burner for later attention. I did it quietly, no announcements or blogs, no newsletters or bumper stickers. I just made up my mind to do it and did.

Keeping with the spirit of the new policy while bending the rules.
With all that I have going on, there are bound to be some things that need to wait. Some things that are waiting for someone else, or things that require action that is outside my influence. Some things like web features, or even websites that are not important or need to wait for the right solution are some of the issues allowed to fall outside of the new policy and rules.

The difference! Allowing some things to be "put off" for more than 48 hours requires that I actively consider the reason for the delay and justify it either as a note to myself or if someone else is waiting, by informing that person of the delay and cause for it. What this means is I can actually stick to the policy while breaking the rule.

Why 48 hours?
The 48 hour limit was intentionally set as a way of staying on the current task. Allowing for more than one day allows me the time to consider each day more intelligently and much more deliberately. As a service provider, there are many distractions throughout the course of the day which inevitably knock things down the list. As a technical service provider, there are emergency issues such as power outages, locked up servers or other mission critical support requirements that rear their ugly heads and cause an interruption of the current task list.

Allowing 2 days for completion is a reasonable amount of time to allow for the "urgent/important" issues that pop up while never loosing sight of the "important" issues on the docket. Limiting myself to 2 days creates a sense of urgency while not creating a sense of emergency and as a result, not causing me to work till midnight as often.

Perfect example!
I was on the phone with a client who understands that I work alone, he heard my phone ringing and asked, "Do you need to get that?" I said, "No, I don't need to get that, I'm working with you right now. I'll call them back when I'm done." This relatively minor event tells him a couple of important things.

1. It tells him that he has my undivided attention and is more important to me than an incoming call no matter who it might be. 
2. It tells him that when he calls and gets the answering machine, that I am giving another client the attention they deserve and I'll call him when I'm done. 

The same is true for the 48 hour limit. While one incoming issue may seem more important than another, they are all important and will be addressed as time and attention allows. So far, the policy is working and though I've not been able to adhere to it perfectly, it has resulted in a more efficient workflow.

Inspiration for the rule.
I received a call from a client who is also a friend. He's a young man who works hard to build his business and I admire his efforts. He was waiting for me to update his website, an update that I said would be done by a certain date and missed it. He gently but clearly pointed out the importance of customer service and following through, or at least communicating the reason for the delay. As he spoke I thought to myself... "I know this stuff!" His advice had been give BY ME to other small business people, friends and associates. The advice he was giving me was advice I had written about, spoken about and thought I was living by. I was not and I made a change.

Controlling the tides
A Webmasters' world is a world of constant requirements. Even when I had only one major client, that client had several departments and each had needs that required my attention. From minor updates to text on a page to brand new sections or applications that make the website more effective in communicating the mission and message of the client.

These requirements keep coming and coming, as they do it seems like a small trickle, but if not properly organized and quickly addressed, the trickle turns to a flow, the flow turns to a flood and before long, a disorganized webmaster can find himself treading water so to speak in an ocean of requirements. An ocean that seems so deep and so vast that despair and dread seeps in and sucks the life out of what was once a passion.

More work needed!
While I have made great strides in my clutter control, there's more that needs to be done!

• I still haven't found that perfect time management software. I have (had) hundreds of notes on a task manager program I wanted to write to help organize client requirements and the dreaded 'to-do' lists.
• I still haven't found that perfect data organizer that can hold my contacts, phone numbers, passwords, links, files and other information in a manner that can be quickly accessed, easily searched and always available.
• I still haven't found that perfect filing system for my office that would allow for me to be able to store and retrieve important information as needed. (I would prefer to scan in all paperwork and store it electronically but all solutions I have found are expensive or impossible to manage.)
• I still haven't found that perfect combination of banking, finance and software that would simplify the accounting process for my business much less personal expenses.

I'm still looking! I have some ideas and will write on them as I test them out. Even now, after several weeks of clutter control, I find myself with a (much smaller) pile of pieces of paper with tidbits of information. I have a (much smaller) stack of business cards. This is one area that I hope to address next and that is the effective storage of contact information and "loose data" that is important and needed but not on my desktop.

I have a plan! A combination of hardware and software that will allow me to organize this information and continue to clean off my desk. Basically, it involves Microsoft Outlook 2007, a small color scanner, a PDA cell phone, Bluetooth, and possibly my own database and web application. Before I decide however, I have to "wait" for the installation of Outlook and the purchase of the scanner as well as the time to test it all.

Until then... I've sorted through my pieces of information, stacked them nicely and will press on! There is too much going on to just drop everything and that brings me to my final point.

A little at a time.
As I mentioned about, before I started scaling the mountain of clutter in my office, I made the conscious decision to take one step. That is basically how I made it happen. Instead of trying to do it all in one day or all at once, I choose to do it a little at a time as time and resources would allow. Oh sure, I did have to "make myself" do many things that I didn't want to do, but I did them one by one as time allowed.

I still have plenty I want to do as far as organization goes. The files on my hard drive are scattered all over the place; I still have many files and other useless paperwork squirreled away that needs to be discarded; I still have a few items on the to-do list that are past the 48 hour deadline. Can I fix all of this at this very moment? No way. But I can do one item on my list, then the next, then the next.

The key for me was deciding and then doing. It is working and I will continue. For some people, this whole post and process may seem silly. For a person like me who has many interests and a personality that doesn't lend to detail oriented "small stuff," the process has been a good lesson and this is for the benefit of those who may share my struggle.

This was posted by SoKy : 7:05 AM  0 comments links to this post

I've written several times about the importance of focus and also my own personal efforts to reduce clutter and organize. My life and mind are filled with so many different "things" that my world quickly becomes cluttered. It takes a very intentional effort for me to reduce the clutter of life, and like most people, I fall behind or become lax in my effort.

I have no fewer than 6 business efforts going on right now, I have several more (dreams) waiting to blossom. Added to my own business concerns, I have the responsibility of helping other small business people with their businesses, from simple website guidance to overall operations and public relations. I'm not complaining mind you, but it is easy to see why I fall victim to a cluttered mind.

A cluttered desk, a cluttered mind.
There are various opinions about a cluttered desk, I cannot address any other desk than my own and right now it's a mess. The mess spills over the floor around it right too. It's terrible! Even my computer is filled with millions of links, files and old garbage I'll never need, yet I hold onto it just in case. Just this morning, I was going through some old files, links and shortcuts and I could not believe the number of files that were splattered all over my desktop screen. (It was full and I could not add another... pitiful!)

On a PC, there is a utility called a "Hard Disk Defragmenter." All it does is take little pieces of data that is stored randomly on the hard disk and brings them together in a more organized manner. The result of this is a more efficient memory structure that can be accessed faster and with fewer mistakes. The funny thing about this and other optimization utilities is the fact that most work must come to a screeching halt in order to run through the processes. The computer is so busy analyzing, evaluating, moving things and around and fixing itself that there is not much else that can be done at the same time.

The same is true for an "office defragmentation." I must stop what I would be working on in order to sort through the notes, letters and other bits of information strewn around my workspace with the goal of working more efficiently. It's not something I want to do and blame the fact it will take so long for the reason it continues to get worse.

Upgrades
Each time Window's or other operating systems as well as hardware memory advances, you hear the term "better memory utilization." Which means very little to most people, but what it means is that instead of having to lock up the computer for hours and hours to run through optimization utilities, the new hardware and software works smarter on an ongoing basis.

Here I am in the process of some major and significant advances in my businesses, as well as about to upgrade to the next new operating system (Vista) on my computer, while I'm at it, I am going to upgrade my workspace, process and time management. Part of the new software I'll be installing is new accounting software, new customer resource management software and new time management software. (Yes, all Microsoft.) I am also converting my websites to ASP.NET and moving away from old methods of building and publishing websites. Yep... this old dog is going to be learning some new tricks.

You may have heard the term Web 2.0... well I would like to introduce Dave 2.0! A businessman who is "optimized" for efficient memory handling, organized data access and superior performance. Dave 2.0 won't be relying on simply his own "programming" but bringing together a network of well informed, well managed and empowered partners. A super computer if you will that will be intentionally more organized and willing to delegate tasks that normally would have been a burden.

I'm even thinking about buying a PDA (GASP).
I've avoided the personal data assistant (PDA) so far! Many "upwardly mobile" executive hopefuls could be see with their face buried in these little electronic devices for several years now. I had one of the first ones back in the early 90's, entered all my contacts and schedules only to have the sun burn the memory chip as it sat on the seat of my car. I've avoided them since sticking to my 3x5 cards and other antiquated methods of organization. With the progress of synchronization software, wireless networks and the hardware nowadays, I think the time is right for me to invest in one of these tools.

Admittedly, the new software from Microsoft is a key motivator and I've discovered a little gem that allows me to synchronize my cell phone with my computer and also a PDA if I had one. I'm looking at the Dell but may go with the Cingular one that includes a cell phone. Not sure yet. The point is, I am making some changes to be more effective, informed and in touch.

Sometimes you just gotta make some changes!
Though my desk and office is in fact cluttered, in my own defense, it is not as cluttered as it has been in the past. I made a decision a while back to be more organized and throw more stuff in the garbage and have done much better. As I look around my office today, I must admit to myself that I could have done better. That's part of innovation anyway, to continually assess and modify.

Last year I learned some lessons that I had allowed to fade in my memory. Lessons about organization that are not for the sake of tidiness, but for the sake of efficiency. Establishing my own method or process of organization is important if I am ever going to expect a staff member to continue the process on my behalf. If I don't have my own document control methods, or a reason for the madness, I cannot expect someone else to be able to understand it now can I? A good document control policy is not only good for business, in many ways it is required to be in compliance with the various laws and regulations.

Why now? Good question!
The next few weeks are going to be incredibly more busy than any other time in my life. I can't explain now, but several efforts are all coming together at the same time and now would be a time I could claim I was too busy to worry about it. Alternatively, if I hope to do things right and accomplish all that needs to be done, there has never been a time in my life when organization and efficiency were as important.

Simple things first! Daily task lists, simple files and a day planner. One step at a time with the new software. One contact at a time with the new management. One task at time so I can focus to completion. I have a million things to do, but I can't do a million things! I can do one thing... at a time. So as I press the post button on my long Saturday blog, I'm finished with this one thing and will turn to the next one thing and I'll only have 999,999 more things to go.

This was posted by SoKy : 4:31 PM  0 comments links to this post

I discovered a little gem yesterday! The "Brown Knows Blog." I read blogs all over the world and one of the best ones I've found is right here in Bowling Green. The blog is written by Valerie C. Brown, President/CEO Service One Credit Union and it's wonderful! There is kind tone and very useful topics.

From a marketing and outreach perspective, I find it refreshing to see a business leader offer personal insights and wisdom in a blog format right on the corporate website. The posts do tend to highlight the products offered by her company, but it is done so lightly and intermingled within very timely and useful advice.

Well done Valerie!

http://socu.com/about_blog.cgi

This was posted by SoKy : 10:49 AM  0 comments links to this post