Michelle Patrick

Management Style: Collaboration and Contribution

2013-04-04T09:52:00.001-04:00

Here's a link to my article

http://voices.yahoo.com/business-management-collaboration-contribution-12076538.html?cat=31

Michelle Patrick: Link to my Yahoo Springtime Craft Project for Kids...

2013-04-04T09:38:00.001-04:00

Michelle Patrick: Link to my Yahoo Springtime Craft Project for Kids...: http://voices.yahoo.com/ springtime-craft-project-kids- 12076001.html

Link to my Yahoo Springtime Craft Project for Kids, Enjoy

2013-04-04T09:37:00.003-04:00

http://voices.yahoo.com/springtime-craft-project-kids-12076001.html

Watch out for business Sand-traps

2013-03-27T19:06:00.000-04:00

I started my first company many years ago; I was fresh, wide eyed and bushy tailed as they say. I researched the latest and greatest sources, tech, programs and was ready to hit the ground running with my skills and take over the world. As a new business owner I noticed other business owners had become complacent and set in their ways, they were stuck in the "Sand-trap". I can not tell you how many times I heard; "I have always done it this way" or "It works just fine so I am not changing it now". In life and business things change constantly; there is always learning to be done.

I talked about my learning curve with the implementation of the new iPad to my tech tools for work in my prior blog post and then it dawned on me; I was becoming one of those business owners. I should have been on top of this from the get go. I starting considering something my father always told me when I was a teen. "I spend money on tools; I spend money on things that make money or support my business." As a teen I can tell you it took many a conversation for this to sink in but that advice has stuck with me to this day.

Although I still swear by my software choices in my business maybe this weekend I finally realized I had started to fall into what I call the "Sand-trap". I was functioning as a business owner and turning a profit but losing ground in production speed. I made the mistake many of us make at some point in our careers; I was swinging, but the ball was stuck. When they launched I didn't purchase an iPad because I thought that it was a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a "tablet" that wasn't even a fully functioning production based PC. I had Google calendar with mobile access; but I didn't use it because I still liked the feel of my good old trusty spiral calendar.

I was bouncing around ideas on increasing production in my business and like being hit with a brick it dawned on me; I was regurgitating what I heard those other business owners say so long ago. When I first started, while I was fresh I would hear the comments and think "That attitude is going to eventually put them out of business. Don't they know they need to understand the current market, their clients' demands, business needs and stay up to date? In business you can't become set in your ways".

Oh.....Wow! Many of us forget that while we are working comfortably in our "zone" all around us there are technological improvements and marketing tools we should be learning to implement. Never forget there are those fresh minds and new entrepreneurs entering our market as competitors. We must consistently assess what improvements we can make to our business and what information we can learn to keep us in the forefront and true competitors in our fields.

The addition of the iPad will reduce my report writing by 1-1.5 hrs per report giving me more availability which of course means higher production and increased profitability. This single addition to my arsenal will allow me to reach out and schedule or confirm appointments on the run, hold masterminds from anywhere without lugging a laptop around, work on my book or freelance writing when and where the mood strikes. This is the end of my spiral calendar, clipboard, and bag of business goodies I have been caring around for years. I have filled many production needs with that one piece of equipment that will lighten my load in many respects.

Take a day, review how you can increase quality, production, and your marketing vs cost to do so. If you have been in business awhile I'm sure you will find some "Sand-traps" of your own. Invest your time and your money in ridding your own business "Sand-traps" or you will be left swinging in the dust by your competition. I'll look forward to seeing you on the greens.

Michelle Patrick: Business and Family, CEO's and Balance

2013-03-27T18:08:00.001-04:00

Michelle Patrick: Business and Family, CEO's and Balance: Saturday I decided to move forward with purchasing an iPad 4, so of course I spent the day downloading and setting up all the proper share a...

Lithia Appraisal Service Inc.: Beware Deadbeat AMC, The FBI Wants Information

2013-03-27T18:06:00.001-04:00

Lithia Appraisal Service Inc.: Beware Deadbeat AMC, The FBI Wants Information: In the wake of appraisal management company JVI and most recently ES Appraisal closing up shop and leaving appraisers unpaid estimated mi...

Michelle Patrick: Business and Family, CEO's and Balance

2013-03-26T20:43:00.001-04:00

Business and Family, CEO's and Balance

2013-02-24T16:33:00.001-05:00

Saturday I decided to move forward with purchasing an iPad 4, so of course I spent the day downloading and setting up all the proper share and production software. Now mind you I have been a PC user for years so adding in an Apple product included a certain learning curve. After spending most of the day online between the iPad and my laptop I realized I had been spending no real family time with my girls. At 4 pm my youngest left to spend time with her friend and my oldest wanted me to take her to the movies. Well of course I was not done completing all my tasks to get ready for the week ahead so I told her I couldn't; then I remembered a conversation with a couple other business owners this week.

We were joking online about things our kids say to us while we are working or getting ready for work. So cute; some of the things kids come up with that we can't help but share and enjoy each others experiences. The conversation eventually brought out the shared guilt many business owners feel with regard to time spent working their business beyond 9-5. In most cases a business success does come with both sacrifice and reward beyond what is typically discussed. We all decide and deal with these sacrifices differently based on our own individual lifestyles and family dynamics. I found that each person determined what was right based on his or her own particular business model.

I for one will spend time working on reports at night a few nights a week while the girls work on homework. On a normal week I will close early Friday and have the weekend from the time my girls get out of school until Monday am with my family. There are those weeks that I will have to work at least part of the weekend, but I try to set aside extra time the week prior or week after for "family time". In a perfect world this would be the norm, in CEO world; we do what we have to do to keep our companies growing and productive. However, we MUST set aside time to obtain a balance to everything.

One business owner asked me this week how I track time and task management. I use my calendar, lists and reminders and I also include my family time. It came to my attention recently that many recommend not using your calendar for non business items. Here is my problem with that; my family is my first business; when it comes to my professional life I am a bit obsessive and will become so engrossed in my work I will honestly forget to stop working. So if you are like me, which I am sure many of you are; do what works best for you. Advice is just that. Consider it, try it, then do what feels right for your situation. Happy business owners are ultimately the most successful.

And yes, I packed up my work and took my daughter to the late movie and we had a blast.

Welcome

2013-02-22T09:03:00.000-05:00

Welcome,

I appreciate you stopping in. I have previously written for a few blogs and websites part time based on my business experience or hobbies. This blog will incorporate insights and opinions on various topics and be less industry specific than my corporate blogs. I look forward to sharing with you.

Enjoy,
MP.

There are definitely worse places to work.
Remember to take time to enjoy your surroundings!