"From the Trenches" Our Employee Blog

Ritual And Ceremony... In Your Business???We have spoken about your business culture, career paths, creating family within your business, training, flat management organizations… and on it goes. We recognize that if you do the job correctly you will have long-term employees… forever.

So, why not add another level of experience to the business lives of your employees? Why not raise the bar even further and up the ante? Why not dare to give your employees even more reasons to love their work, more reasons to want to come to work, more reasons to do their best and love their job?

Find ways to add ritual and ceremony.

This is tough, I understand, but so is business and so is life. Let’s pay hard, let’s work hard—and let’s give both value. Ritual and ceremony binds communities together, creates the common heritage, creates legacy. We find it in our religious practices, our fraternal organizations, clubs, within our families and the families of our workers. Ritual and ceremony enrich our lives, deepen our culture and add to the beauty and meaning of our lives. Why can’t we have ritual and ceremony in our workplace?

How do we do this? A very good question, and I do not have an instant answer. Perhaps your employees can answer this query. Perhaps with a little leadership, some direction, some fearless employees will take the risk of creating some ritual and ceremony. Perhaps it begins with annual awards. It could possibly be part of your Christmas celebration, or other holiday parties or maybe during your summer picnic.

What if you have none of these events? Then you’re lagging behind. Get with it—it is a new world. Be a leader and an innovator, dare to take your people to the next level. Yes, it is daring, bold, imaginative, uncomfortable and risky… yes, exactly where you need to be.

Lead the way and your people will fill in the blanks and make it happen. This will enrich everyone’s life. This will help your bottom line in unmeasurable ways.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

Tell Us Your Story–Your Family And Employees Are At Risk. We Are Listening And We Care. Margins are being pinched and debt remains what it was when things were much, much better… and it’s choking the life out of your business. This is personal. It results in the destruction of not only business enterprise, but also of families.

The banks consider it just a matter of numbers. They are not concerned about the effect foreclosure will have on you, your family and the families of your employees. It is of no importance, or even relevance, to them and thus they are not listening or paying attention at all to the plight you all find yourselves trapped in.

Is it important? Does anyone care? Is anyone interested in what is happening to small business owners trapped in this recession? Not the banks, that’s for certain, but we are listening, we care and to us, it is important, very important. We understand that this is not just about numbers, it is about jobs and your family’s survival. Your family, and the families of the employees who are counting on you to provide them with a job to survive this difficult time. Everyone knows that when one loses a job in this economy replacing it can take a year or more, or forever, as many, many jobs will not return, ever.

Why do we care? Why are we interested? What good does it do for us to understand the situation if it is not relevant to the bankers or SBA?

A few reasons:

1) We are all people working our hardest, doing our best and fighting the same battles, mostly alone. We understand how lonely that gets and it is important for everyone to have an opportunity to explain what is happening to them and to get some inside advice. Frequently, the issues are far more complex than simply dealing with debt. Frequently, it is also about downsizing, reinventing yourself, figuring out how to not only survive, but also to prosper in this down economy.

We have a deep understanding about how to accomplish this and when we listen to our prospects or clients we are always listening with an inclination to help the small business owner overcome adversity, make right decisions and successfully navigate the turmoil they are confronting. It is not just about debt, it is about helping them overcome the issues causing them difficulty, helping them to restructure, adjust, downsize, and emerge, in addition to doing the debt workouts. Why do we do this? Because we understand what is at risk and what the real cost of failure is to everyone involved in your business and their families. We understand it’s not solved by debt workouts alone—it is about making systemic business changes to meet the needs of the transition.

2) We also understand that a small business owner in distress needs to vent and let it out. You need to talk to someone who listens, pays attention and supports. It is important—we all need this and we provide this whenever possible.

3) If we know what has happened to you we can include the important issues in our presentation to the bank. It may not be relevant to the workout but it is relevant to the listener as we are all mostly the same. We all have feelings and most have families. In conversation, without whining or complaining, if we can make the workout more personal and more about the individual, we can get some additional traction in the workout. It’s human nature to care and understand if information is appropriately presented. We can do this, the borrower in default cannot. It is important to make the workout personal to the banker in charge as when we succeed at doing this the results are better, often much better.

Thus, we listen very carefully and want to hear what has happened and what is at risk so that we can help direct you more effectively. We can give you the opportunity to safely vent and explain, and we can support your workout with the banker by making it more personal.

This works, we do it. Call us at 413-584-2581 and tell us your story. Let us help you succeed. Norm will arrange a no-obligation teleconference for us to discuss your issues and provide you with solutions… and listen to your story. It is important and relevant.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

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A Four Day Work Week... For The Summer, At Least. Why Not? I have observed that, for many reasons, many small businesses slow down over the summer. It could be the seasonality of some goods or services offered, it could be because local schools and universities are on break so the students and faculty are gone for a couple of months. It could just be that many people take vacations and thus are uninterested in your service or product one any given week or two. If people head for the beaches and clear out of town, it may reduce your market for the summer. And on it goes. Whatever the reason, for many, the summer is frequently a lot slower business-wise than the rest of the year.

Why not take advantage of it and provide Fridays off during the summer? I do this in my office. We have all agreed to work an extra hour during the week, but we take Friday off. I was going to take Fridays off this summer and I decided that if it was good for me, it was good for my employees as well, so that is the policy I have implemented. Of course, our clients come first, so they have our cell phone numbers and should there be any “emergency” or necessity to communicate, we are quite available. However, for all intents and purposes, we have the day off. Three day weekends all summer and it is terrific.

Has productivity gone down? No, it’s up, actually. Is everyone happy? You bet. Are they working the extra hour to compensate? Absolutely.

So, what do I gain? A very happy workforce, both very productive and very committed. What did it cost me? In my analysis, nothing.

Obviously, this will not work for every business. Certainly retail cannot shut down for a Friday or a long weekend, and many other types of service businesses also cannot tolerate such a program, but some can. Those that can are often prevented from doing so by notions that such an act is costly and will reduce revenues. Not so. If  planned well and managed properly, it is a win/win for everyone.

We cannot be overly concerned about being generous. In the end, treating our employees better builds commitment, longevity and develops quality organizations. This is one way to add value to the job and to your business.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

Your Obligation Is To Survive And Reemerge.Why are you acting as though you even have an option? It is clear—you must surrender to your obligations and then it will be easy. You have taken on the responsibility to be an entrepreneur, a small business owner. Your family and employees are trusting you to succeed as they depend on you for support. You could have taken the safe route, i.e. “getting a job.” Predictable? Maybe. Dependable? Sometimes. Consistent… for as long as it lasts.

But, you decided to be a small business owner. Ok, fine, but this entails some additional responsibility that you must never forget.

1) Your family depends upon your success. This is an unalterable commitment that must be satisfied. If you have a family there are no options.

2) Your employees are trusting you to keep them employed as they have also made unalterable commitments to their families, commitments that are also now your responsibility. You must continue to provide employment for those who trust you and are depending upon you for the well-being of their own families.

3) You have, of course, made commitments to vendors, suppliers, the bank (if you have borrowed money) and investors or friends and family who may have lent or invested in your dream. They, too, are expecting you to succeed and to repay them what is due or pay for the services you have received.

And then… there are the commitments you have made to yourself—commitments to personal success, what every business owner needs to do.

This, we can all agree on, yet I talk to so many business owners in default on their loans (or soon to be in default), in arrears to vendors, landlords, etc., just cruising into oblivion with sharply reduced revenues and growing overhead, on a collision course for disaster. Regardless, they choose the less aggressive, safer course which is doing nothing and hope for a miracle—as if a miracle is likely to occur. Meanwhile, resources erode and time slips by and eventually you violate all your commitments and fail. In the end, you’re unable to take the only step that would save  your business, jobs and your collective families, all of whom are depending upon you, because you are uncomfortable or just unwilling to do the workout you need to do to survive, in control and ready for successful emergence.

Yes, I know, we all want to pay our bills and none of us want to default on the bank, however, if this is the path to resolution then this is what you must do. It is a matter of priority. Should you choose to go down with the ship, an “innocent” victim of a bad economy and take everyone with you, or make the tough, uncomfortable decision to survive no matter what and do the debt workout?

It’s your call. Better yet, call us, we will take the burden off of you and resolve your debt issues while you focus on your business. Hallelujah.

Call 413-584-2581 and Norm will arrange a no-obligation teleconference for us to discuss your debt workout options and plan.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

George Steinbrenner Showed Us Another Way To Successfully Manage.

Photographed by: Walter Iooss Jr.

George Steinbrenner was the definitive tyrant. He had few friends in his organization. Few loved him, but most respected him. Most importantly, he created huge success and demonstrated that there are many ways to successfully manage. He found his way and it worked for him.

He developed the New York Yankees into a winning juggernaut. He paid his players and managers very, very well, offering the highest salaries in the league and thus he attracted the best talent. He also demanded that the talent produce—nothing short of World Series victory was adequate. That was his demand. If you could not produce then you were out the door, no matter the cost. And he got his way, as his teams have won more World Series rings than any other franchise in history, by a long shot. In fact, many have said he created the most successful sports franchise in sports history. That is quite an accomplishment and he did it his way. He built an empire around this style, alienating many with his brash, emotional tirades (often quite public) against his managers and players. However, in the end they all understood it was either “produce” or “go”.

Thirty-seven years ago, when Steinbrenner bought the Yankees for less than ten million, they were, at best, mediocre. Now the franchise is worth over $1.5 billion, the most valuable franchise in the sports world and he did it his way, with belligerence and  arrogance, publicly humiliating his players and managers  if they did not live up to his expectations, delivering the success he demanded.

Not the typical success story, but it yielded an incredible result.

The point, there are many successful styles, and managing is a personal matter that pulls from your personality and character.

This worked for George. Will it work for you? Maybe. Do it your way, it is the only way that will work, whatever that may look like.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

Apple iPad: The Best Thing That's Happened To My Business!Yes, I’ve read the reviews saying an iPad is an iPhone on steroids, a supersized iPhone, another unnecessary electronic gadget, etc. But, I bet these “reviews” come from people not yet using one on a daily basis or not yet addicted to the iPad’s incredible capabilities.

I bought mine the first night it was available. I stood in a long line in Manhattan at 1:00 am in the morning… and left with the most effective and functional device I have ever owned. In short, it has changed my business life for the better and has made my life easier in general.

I am in the business of debt workouts, i.e. removing debt from businesses. Many of my clients have occasional emergencies requiring quick response and action to protect their assets. I must be available and ready to communicate with others effectively at all times. Yes, I could do this with my cell phone, but it’s oh-so-much-better with my iPad due to the mere fact that it is both 3G and internet capable. It allows me to have instant access to email, the internet, my blog and all the contracts, forms and other tools I use in my business every day, wherever I may be. With this incredible tool, I can not only receive and send emails and blog at will, but I have various forms and contracts stored in it and can utilize its capabilities in many meaningful situations that I was previously unprepared for.

Some argue that their laptop does this and more, which is true (other than the 3G part, which is huge). However, I seldom carry my laptop everywhere I go, and am not likely to whip it out in cars, cabs, bus stops, the beach, etc., as it is too cumbersome, too much of a project to boot up and use on the run, too big to carry everywhere I go…  I never have my laptop with me when I want it as I do not make it a habit to carry it everywhere I go.

However, my life has changed; I can carry my iPad with me anywhere I go. It is always on and available like a cell phone and because of its size and its touch keyboard, it is always ready to give me the business tools I want or need. Obviously, I blog, and what a delight to be able to blog anywhere I am, whenever the inspiration strikes, whether it be when I am shopping with my wife or waiting in the car to pick someone up at the airport. Anywhere I am, it is ready and available for instant action.

Sure, you can do this with your Blackberry or iPhone—I have the new Droid, which is very powerful, but I do not use it for all its capabilities because, frankly, it is too small and thus impractical. I do, however, use my iPad… it really works. Now, I go nowhere without my iPad.

If it IS only a supersized iPhone, well, then it’s the best gimmick around and has totally won me over.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

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Not Prepared For Victory... And No Wonder.Recently, I have noticed a phenomenon: Small business owners are not prepared for victory.

Small business owners have been turned into fist-fighting warriors, battling for survival. Reduced revenues, high overhead and, especially, unaffordable debt service have forced you to become cash flow experts, accounts payable jugglers and downsize experts. You’re taking blow after blow, suffering from unimaginable pain and frustration yet maintaining the vigil and battling daily to stay afloat. Nothing new here, this you all know and understand. This is your plight. What choice do you have?

The real issue is, those who are doing the debt workouts and experiencing loan forgiveness are, in some instances, stuck in fight mode or a defensive posture, still fighting a battle which is now over as they have eliminated the major cause of destruction of their small business: overburdening debt. The small business owner must make a huge adjustment from times of war to peace and many trip up in the transition, forgetting that peace requires different skills. Successful emergence requires surrendering to victory. It seems like a heavenly prospect, yet it’s very hard to do when you’ve been engaged in fierce battle for the past few years.

So what is the problem?

The problem is the inability of small business owners to make the transition from warrior to peacetime leader, once again taking the team to victory, instead of fighting impossible battles. When the battle is over we have no need for the warrior. When you successfully remove the debt and reduce your personal guaranty—in other words, when the battle is over—you need to be a builder, a developer, a thinker, a planner, a marketer… not a fighter or a warrior. The small business owner must wear many hats. For the past few years, for many, it has been a warrior’s helmet as you enter into battle, tenaciously holding on to your business. Do the debt workout and your hat becomes that of a leader, a builder, a marketer, a manager…

Let us not trip over the finish line. Leave the battle behind. Be the leader you can be and lead your business to victory. Once you have completed the workout, engage in the turnaround and be a peacetime leader, ready to carry your company to the promised land of security and safety. It is not easy. It requires different skills, but you can do this.

This is a huge challenge for the small business owner, one that is resulting in many failures. It is a difficult and dangerous transition from war to peace, but it can be done. Be careful and call us for help: 413-584-2581.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

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Part 3: Something Is Missing From Your Business Model.When I say, “Something is missing from your business model,” I am talking to small business owners. And by “small business”, I do not mean the standard equation of 500 employees, $10 million in revenue. That may be someone else’s definition, but it’s not mine or nor is it that for my audience. Here, I are talking about 25 or fewer employees and a million or two of revenue, maybe less.

Here is your objective: meaningful employee participation. Give as many employees as you can a meaningful company responsibility. Help your employees become part of the company, taking ownership in its success and not just being a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm employee. Give them another job responsibility aside from just showing up and doing their day-to-day work.

For example:

1) Put someone in charge of employee birthdays, complete with a little ceremony a card and maybe other perks. It must be managed; have someone assigned to do it and give him/her a title and include it in their regular job duties.

2) Authorize someone to plan and organize the company picnic, employee outings, parties, etc. This person should include others by delegating tasks.

3) If appropriate to your business, have someone manage a customer newsletter with a column about a different employee each month. Maybe produce an employee version as well.

4) Have an employee sit on the Board of Directors so there is a voice representative of your employees that can be heard in a meaningful forum.

5) Create an employee board to discuss employee issues.

6) Give an employee the responsibility of communicating with and supporting employees on sick leave. We care, and we are here to help should be the message.

7) If appropriate to your business, have employees help determine whether a customer or client should be released or engaged. They work directly with clients and the relationship is not just about profit it is about proper fit. They know who will work out and who will not.

8 ) Where appropriate, involve employees in the hiring process for new employees. In particular, involve a representative of the department for which you are hiring.

9) In the areas of training, equipment and resources, either wanted or required, get employee input. Create a board/forum for this purpose. They will be both frugal and focused; take their advice as they are the ones doing the work.

10) Create a community service committee to direct, coordinate and implement various community service efforts.

11) Create an employee grievance committee, and let them resolve their own issues when possible, on company time.

Above all, be creative, involve everyone possible and  get employees on board and involved. Involve your employees in as many aspects of decision-making as possible. Trust them and they will support your success, making the business everyone’s success.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

Part 2: Something Is Missing From Your Business.Ritual and ceremony. Their roots are ancient. These practices are part of every society and culture from prehistoric times through the present day. If we consider our work place as part of our culture, what constitutes the ceremony and ritual that people crave and need?

Think for a moment of all the opportunities to create ritual and ceremony that are overlooked:

1) Hiring a new employee could come with an all-company ceremony that involves introducing a new worker to the current force and passing on the principles of working within the business. Create your own ceremony and repeat it; it will become legacy and will promote bonding of your employees as everyone will have experienced it when they joined the company themselves.

2) At events and annual outings (Christmas party, summer picnic, etc.), create a ritual and ceremony of recognition for various outstanding efforts not necessarily associated with income production, but for things such as community service, company service, good nature, attendance, etc.

3) Have an annual event that is all about ritual and ceremony. Make it up, take risks. Everyone will appreciate it and look forward to it as it becomes part of the common experience for all involved and part of the fiber of life in the community which is your business.

Maybe these opportunities are best taken at the beginning or end of a business season, if you are in a seasonal business. Maybe they are better suited as annual events. Build them around core values—your values—and lead the way. They may even be, dare I use the word, “spiritual”… not religious, but spiritual. The time has come, and we all know it. Even the roughest employee knows deep down that spirituality counts. Make this part of your heritage, legacy and foundation, and your employees will become part of your company culture. Their role in your company will no longer be “just a job” to them but will instead be a fully integrated part of their lives, an important, satisfying part that cannot be easily replaced.

This is what the new age is about—quality of life. Make it happen and your business will rise to the top.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

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Something Is Missing From Your Business Model… Here It Is.Let’s admit what we all know is true: Work takes up most of our lives!!!

In many instances, it defines who we are. It is the place we spend most of our time. Universally. In some instances, then, it would be appropriate as an employer to provide some of the life requirements so many search for, thirst for and relish when they receive them.

I have talked about your business culture, leadership, how you treat your employees, what their work environment is like and what their relationship is with the company. This is not just talk; this is about your life and the lives of your employees. We can look at many well established, successful businesses that have run for a long while, have long-term, loyal employees and clients, and are profitable… places where the employees care about what they do and where they want to be—a second family of sorts. Perhaps there are aspects that can be noticed and copied, or developed, adding to the business culture you are providing.

One aspect that is very nurturing, costs very little and has enormous long-term value, is creating a sense of foundation, continuity and tradition. Where you came from as a company and where you are going. Roots, legacy, symbolism of this second family that your employees embrace as their place and their identity. If you raise the context of your work environment beyond just being a profit center for you, the owner, or just a job for your employees, you will raise the commitment of your workforce, deepen their involvement and satisfaction, and improve every aspect of your business.

There are many, many ways to accomplish this. Here are a few ideas to help you get the picture and create what works for you:

1) Create legacy. Display old pictures of early days of your business, the older the better. Create a sense of past, foundation and legacy. Frame them, hang and display them where everyone can see them. If this is a multi-generational business, pictures, price lists and graphics—anything of substance from the early days— make for great legacy development. Hang them prominently and use them where you can.

2) Create awards using old-time concepts. (Use names of the founders, etc. For example, “The John Baker Award for Community Service.”)

3) Create community service projects with management and employees working side-by-side to benefit the community. Paying forward creates legacy.

4) Create new legacy with annual tee shirts for the company picnic, etc. In ten years, those with older tee shirts will have valuable memories of the old days.

5) Provide small college scholarships for your employees’ children. It is meaningful and supports the notion of family.

6) Support and get involved in extracurricular activities such as sports. Create winning teams that can provide stories for years to come.

7) Sponsor outings to a baseball game, an amusement park, etc. to build positive company history.

8 ) Save stuff. Today’s throwaways become tomorrow’s treasures. Collect, display and grow the company culture and the family spirit.

If you create a family spirit, with legacy, roots and history, you will create a place where people want to be, a place where they feel safe, protected, comfortable, loyal and a culture that they want to be a part of. There are an infinite number of ways to accomplish this. Decide what works for you and your business, and do it; it will result in significant long-term value that can be measured by the sense of well-being your employees hold. They will return the effort with loyalty and care for your business. This works.

About Don Todrin

Don Todrin is the CEO and Founder of Second Wind Consultants, Inc.. Don and his company specialize in SBA Loan Workouts, Offer in Compromise, business debt forgiveness and solving difficult business problems in general. Follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Second Wind Consultants on Facebook.

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