Who wouldn’t like to sleep a little late, commute from their bedroom to their home office and save money on gas?  Sounds enticing…where do I sign up?  Some people call it laziness, I call it pure genius.  If your type of work allows, you may want to consider working from home especially in this economic climate, where cash is king.  If you can combine your office rent with your home mortgage you can save some serious money for other important expenses, such as marketing your business or paying a consultant. (more…)

Just as important as the name of your business is the location of your office.  If the prosperity of your company depends on walk-in traffic then a storefront in a heavily traveled part of town is key.  If clients/customers rarely have reason to be in your office, a space in a high-rise office building will work, and rent will be significantly more affordable.  Whatever your business does, ask yourself the following questions when deciding where to set up shop. (more…)

Employee training programs are more valuable than you might think.  Take a real-life situation that probably happens thousands of times every month.  You own a business and hire a new employee, someone without much work experience.  Whether that person is flipping burgers at McDonalds or reviewing government files for the CIA, chances are techniques exist that will benefit both the new employee and the company.  (more…)

Performance reviews: the dreaded yet anticipated annual or biannual meeting with your superiors to discuss your progress, goals, and possible raise.  Not only is it your boss’s chance to review you, but it is your opportunity to review your boss, your position and your experience at your job.  Don’t let this pass by as just another assignment or meeting — Prepare for it as you would a client meeting. (more…)

When trying to improve efficiency at work, many people often overlook the easiest thing to fix: communication.  This is especially important when a team of employees works on the same project; if one member finishes a task and doesn’t tell the rest of the team, time is wasted when others start the same task.  Efficient communication can come in many ways, including face to face, over the phone, through email or instant message.  It’s important to keep it short and concise, as too much communication over a small issue can also be a waste of time. (more…)