When working with our clients, we find that many don’t have a written business plan. When we ask to see their business plan, the response we usually get is, “It’s in my head.” Or, if they do have one, it’s hidden in a file drawer somewhere. Now if you don’t see that as a problem, you probably shouldn’t be running a business. And if you’re asking, “What does a business plan have to do with customer service?” Well, here’s … [Read more...] about Making Customer Service Part of Your Business Strategy
Columnists
Understanding Radon Risks in Your Home
What is radon? Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It is produced by the normal breakdown of uranium in the soil and rock, and it may be a problem in your home. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Surgeon General’s Office have estimated that as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths are caused each year by radon exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. … [Read more...] about Understanding Radon Risks in Your Home
Are Americans Slow Learners? Business Book Review
There is an old adage that we learn best from mistakes. A more poignantly popular saying is that if we don’t keep history alive, we are destined to repeat it. All evidence suggests, however, that human beings are slow learners and that we forget the past long before the ink in the history books is dry. We are particularly bad at things like probability, advanced math, and imagining that anything could go wrong since we’ve relied on science and the guarantees of corporate … [Read more...] about Are Americans Slow Learners? Business Book Review
Achieving Success Through Fun and Play
By Trish Rensink and Jamey Hasapis For too many people, work is, well, work – a job. They dread going to work, procrastinate on getting tasks done, and don’t get too excited about being assigned projects by someone else. For some, work is serious business. Work is work and we’ve got a job to do. If you’re not serious about work then your business isn’t really a business, is it? There’s a reason they call it work, right? Get with it people! … [Read more...] about Achieving Success Through Fun and Play
Promoting Your Company With Guerilla Marketing
No, we are not talking about renting a gorilla costume from your local costume shop and standing on the street corner – although it might be a way to keep your kids or mother-in law occupied during the summer (and she might not even need the suit)! Guerilla marketing is an unconventional way to promote your business in unusual ways that rely on ideas, energy and imagination, rather than a large marketing budget. The goal is to use unusual approaches, such as encounters in public places, product … [Read more...] about Promoting Your Company With Guerilla Marketing
Covering Flagstaff’s Utility Operational Costs
The City retained Willdan Financial Services to prepare a long-term financial plan and rate and fee study for the water, wastewater and reclaimed water utilities. The purpose was to ensure the utilities have sufficient revenues to meet their operational, capital and debt service obligations. Rates are set proportionate to the costs of providing utility service to each customer class. As part of this rate study, City staff facilitated dialogue with the community at several Water … [Read more...] about Covering Flagstaff’s Utility Operational Costs
Thank You Flagstaff
Your overwhelming support and renewal of our one percent City Sales Tax and two percent Bed Board and Beverage Tax shows how important our basic services and quality of life is to you. Thank you for your commitment to sup- porting your community! The revenue from our City Sales tax (one of the lowest in the State) will continue to support our most critical services: police, fire, parks, recreation services, city court, and our libraries. Our BBB revenue will continue to support programs and … [Read more...] about Thank You Flagstaff
Voting to Continue Taxes
Important city ballot questions that impact our business community are coming to you in May 2010: Continuation of the current City of Flagstaff Sales Tax and Continuation of the current Lodging, Restaurant and Lounge (BBB) tax. When you pay your taxes on a purchase in Flagstaff, a small but important portion of that goes to funding services such as police, fire fighters, parks, recreations services, libraries and our city court. The city portion of your sales tax bill is one percent (out of an … [Read more...] about Voting to Continue Taxes
From the Classroom to the Boardroom
Student business incubation programs are in existence around the world and soon there will be such a program in Flagstaff! Schools such as Fudan University in Shanghai, China partner with incubators such as the Yangpu Science and Technology Center to foster the creation of companies around university- developed intellectual property. Springfield Community College in Springfield, Mass. has created a student incubation program involving students down to the middle school level to guide them … [Read more...] about From the Classroom to the Boardroom
Dining Secrets of Snowbowl
Many of us in Flagstaff are skiers or snowboarders and enjoy getting up to Arizona Snowbowl to get in some runs once in awhile. But did you know what goes on there so that you can get some nourishment into your body and a frosty beer now and then? I spoke with Dave Smith, Snowbowl’s director of sales and marketing, and Greg Klause, executive chef, about the numbers and facts about dining at Snowbowl. Approximately 3,000 meals are served per day at Snowbowl. This number can vary … [Read more...] about Dining Secrets of Snowbowl