Small Business Today Magazine NOV 2014 EXHIBIT NETWORK | Page 12

Take Away Notes
1. If an employee is not in alignment with your values and
your vision for your company, remove them immediately because they are hurting you, your clients, and
your other employees.
2. Understand your finances. Understand where the
money is coming from and where it is going.
3. Have parties with your employees for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions.
4. Treat your employees and your clients like family.
5. Find your niche and do it well. Then do it over and over
and over again.
6. At the same time, don’t be afraid to venture into something new but don’t try to do everything.
7. Take time to go on vacation and get away from it all.
Turn off your phone.
8. Tie the ropes on tight and hang on for the ride. Every
day presents a new challenge.
9. There are a lot of unknowns that you have to be prepared for and you have to have the tenacity to see
them all the way through.
10 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ NOVEMBER 2014 ]

Welcome to the “I.C.U.” (Intensive Creativity Unit), where dreams come together.
Photo by Gwen Juarez Photography.

10. Have a good balance at work and home. Learn how
to say “No!”
11. Every employer who has been in business for a few
years should do an annual SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis. Everybody on the team should contribute to what they view
are the strengths in the business, what are the weaknesses, what are the opportunities that the company
has, and what are some of the threats to the company’s success. This shouldn’t be from the owner’s viewpoint but from each employee personally from their
own perspective in the area they work.
12. Lead your clients toward planning far in advance for
their events. You are helping them more by taking control of the schedule.
13. Always listen completely to your clients. Don’t assume
you know what they are about to say.
14. Take criticism well. Consider it free consulting. If it
applies to you, adopt it willingly. If not, store it in your
mind in case you need it someday. If it is ridiculous,
smile and say, “Thank you anyway.”
15. No matter what happens…”Never let them see you
sweat!”