20
Extra Hours Per Week: A Marketing Assignment
While
I was in college, if you would have asked me what I would do
if I had an extra 20 hours to spend in a week, the first thing
I would have told you is that I would definitely NOT spend it
studying. I actually would have gone down a long list of hobbies
and activities I would like to do if I had the time. So when
my coworkers asked me to find out what owners/managers of sign
companies would do if they had an extra 20 hours per week, I
was very interested in hearing the responses. What types of
activities are sign shop owners doing with their spare time?
Was there a common activity or hobby in the sign & graphics
industry? Or would I hear several different responses?
The
Results
The results were unexpected to say the least. By my fourth call
I started to hear a common trend forming among sign shop owners.
None were used to having leisure time, or so it seemed. In fact
Marion Ward, the owner of AWC Signs, told me he hasn't had 20
extra hours in twenty years. "I wouldn't know what to do"
he said about having time off from the shop. Marion explained
that he has been in this industry for quite a long time, and
was soon going to retire. Just the thought of having extra time
on his hands was completely foreign to him. Does Marion represent
sign shop owners as a whole? Is the sign & graphics industry
really so busy that owners/managers don't even have time to
think about leisure activities? Or, are shop owners unaware
of how easy it is in this day and age to save time?
The
next person I talked with was also surprised by the question.
Randy from Bama Signs told me he "never thought about it".
Never thought about saving time I asked "Can you think
about it now and tell me what you would do?" After a little
probing and a little time to think about the question, Randy
said he would most likely "spend the time fixing up houses"
which he liked to do on the side to make a little extra money.
This was getting interesting. Already two people who never thought
about having a couple extra hours or even the ability to save
time for that matter. Two people who were surprised simply by
the question itself.
Increasing
Productivity
Being the Gen-Xer and fresh out of college guy that I am, I
have always looked for ways to make things easier. Isn't that
what we do in college, look for ways to spend less time but
get the same or even better results? At one time, my goal was
to figure out how to work less but get paid more (I hope my
boss isn't reading this) without cheating of course. This is
what most owners or business graduates call "Increasing
Productivity". Well, in this day and age with so many advances
in technology, there is always a way to work less and get paid
more, therefore increasing your productivity. In fact I now
work for a company that helps shops do just that.
Software
- It's amazing!
SOFTWARE! The amazing world of mouse clicks, GUI interfaces,
pricing screens and automation. A brain, or what techies call
a processor, that thinks even when the power is turned off,
or so some of us think. A world where you don't have to be the
only one estimating jobs, because your pricing is built into
the software. Where you can fill out customer information one
time and never have to re-enter it again. Where you have the
ability to duplicate information and go from estimates to orders,
easily and effectively by simply converting and cloning. A world
where you can set automatic reminders that tell you who needs
to be called, what needs to be done, and when to do it. Where
it's possible to truly, never again be in "management overload",
so you can actually relax and enjoy your cup of coffee in the
morning. A world where you can search through hundreds, thousands,
even millions of customer records/information in a matter of
seconds, rather then hours or days. Imagine the power and control
given to you in this world. This is the world I have come to
know and this is the world I have come to love. The world where
we all can work less, take advantage of technology, and still
increase revenue and productivity.
The
Scared Stigma
So why aren't more business owners jumping onto the "software
train". Could it be that computer software and new technology
scares them? It seemed to scare Marion Ward when I spoke with
him. Is there some stigma behind software that leaves the non-Gen
Xer's afraid? If so, to those people I say "Do not be afraid".
These advancements in technology will make it easier for people
such as Karen Bouknight of A Plus Signs & Graphix to "Relax
and just chill" as she easily put it when I spoke with
her. It will give Mike Bayliss of Bayliss Signs Plus more time
to "Play Golf" as he stated he would like to do more.
It will give us all a chance to "Take a vacation and take
off" along side of Bill from Grafx Sign & Design.
Whether
it be estimating and business management software like Cyrious
Software, or some other software package that helps you save
time, my only question is what would you do if you had an extra
20 hours per week?
For more information
on using Cyrious software to increase sales, we recommend that
you contact Cyrious Software at 800-552-1418 (U.S.) or 001-225-752-2867
for international callers, or by email at
info@cyrious.com.
Bush
touches on plans for economy
In
his first news conference since winning a second term in office,
President Bush touched on a variety of economic issues regarding
reducing the budget deficit, revamping Social Security and the
tax code.
According
to reports President Bush said "The Social Security system
is not going to be whole for our children and grandchildren,
and reforming [it] will be a priority," adding he wanted
to start reforming it "now" though he didn't offer
specifics.
The
future of Social Security was a big issue in the presidential
campaign, with both Bush and Sen. John Kerry agreeing that something
needs to be done to fix the current system. Bush has said he
favors some privatization of individual accounts.
When
asked about the cost of privatizing the system, Bush said, "Sure
there will be costs, but the cost of doing nothing will be greater.
It's a difficult issue, otherwise it
would have been done." Bush also touched upon the budget
deficit, which has increased dramatically in the last four years
as the United Sates waged wars in Afghanistan and Iraq while the economy recovered
from a recession, though growth remains tepid.
Bush
explained that his proposed budget,
is planned to have the deficit cut in half in five years. This
will be accomplished because he feels
the economy is growing, more revenues are coming, along with
spending discipline, the deficit should
start to decrease.
As
far as the cost of the war in Iraq, the president said the White
House will work with the Office of Management and Budget and
the Department of Defense to provide a realistic assessment
of what the cost will be.
As
for the restructuring of the tax code, a subject he frequently
spoke about during his campaign. Bush said "The goal is
to create a fair system that won't be complicated," he
said Though again, he offered no new specific proposal.
Ten
ways to keep your physique in top shape over the holidays, yet
still indulge in the festivities and
treats!
1.
EXPECT TO STAY ON YOUR PROGRAM OVER THE HOLIDAYS
"Fail
to plan and you plan to fail" is a time worn and cliché statement, but it's still some of the best
success advice you will ever hear.
Not
only do most people fail to plan, they consciously plan to fail
over the holidays. Most people expect to "blow" their
diet and skip workouts over the holidays. They expect to eat
more, to exercise less and to gain weight. As a result, they
don't even make the effort. Instead of taking control, they
resign themselves to maintenance at best, or back-sliding at
worst. This negative expectancy leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
By the first week of January, they're in the worst shape they've
been in for a year and they frantically make New Year's resolutions
to shed the excess fat they've gained.
You
can avoid this trap by planning to succeed. Set up a positive
expectation. Resolve now that you will not tolerate slipping
backwards. Keep your standards up and don't settle! Not only
can you plan to "stay in shape" over the holidays,
you can plan to improve! All you have to do is make the decision
and expect success.
2. PLAN ALL YOUR WORKOUTS IN ADVANCE
You
know your schedule is going to get hectic over the holidays.
You'll be cooking, shopping, wrapping gifts, sending cards,
going to parties, traveling, visiting
family, and so on. To stay on your training and nutrition regimen
is definitely going to take some sound time management skills.
Plan your schedule in advance. Anticipate what's coming up.
Write it down. Put it on your calendar. By doing so, you won't
be caught unprepared.
Use
a schedule book or monthly calendar and "make appointments"
for ALL your workouts for the next six weeks in advance. Then,
post a copy where you will be forced to look at it every day.
This is a powerful exercise that will keep you focused and force
you to think about and prepare for each upcoming workout. If
you try to "wing it" and squeeze in your workouts
and meals whenever you have time left over, you'll find that
there never IS any time left over! Somehow your daily activities
always seem to "expand" to fill the hours in every
day. So schedule your workouts and meal times in your calendar
just like you would any other appointment or event. Once you've
done that, stick to your schedule religiously.
3. SET SOME COMPELLING TRAINING AND FITNESS GOALS OVER THE
HOLIDAYS
Don't
wait until January 1st to set your goals just because you think
it will be harder to achieve them over the holidays. On the
contrary, studies on personal achievement have shown that you'll
usually reach 80% of the goals you put onto paper. The problem
is that few people set any goals at all, and fewer still set
them during the holidays.
Why
wait? Why not do it now? Set some big goals that you can start
working on during the holidays: Set a goal to lose the 25 lbs
you've always wanted to lose NOW Set the goal to gain 10 lbs
of solid muscle NOW Been contemplating a competition in bodybuilding,
fitness or the new ladies figure division?
Pick
an early spring show and GO FOR IT - START TRAINING NOW!
Goal
setting should not be a once a year affair, it should be a continuous
process. You should always have your goals in writing and your
list should be regularly updated and rewritten. If you only
set goals once a year, you're not going to accomplish much in
your life.
4. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO HAVE "CHEAT DAYS"
- AND SCHEDULE THEM IN
A
planned "cheat day" helps you to stay on your program
better in the long run. If you're too strict all the time, you're
setting yourself up for cravings and bingeing. One cheat meal
per week will have only a minor effect on your physique. If
you've been on a strict, low carb
and/or low calorie regimen, a cheat meal might actually be good
for you! It will boost your metabolic rate and give your body
the signal that you're not starving and that it's ok to keep
burning a lot of calories.
Over
the holidays, schedule your dinners and parties so they fall
on your cheat day. Then, on the other days of the week, be steadfast!
Just the fact that you know you have a "cheat day"
coming up will relieve the pressure of staying on a strict diet
for a long time. Also, when you do have your cheat meal - ENJOY
IT! If you're going to eat it and feel guilty, then don't have
it at all. If you've stayed with the program all week long,
then when "cheat day" rolls around, you deserve it!
5. IF YOU FALL "OFF THE WAGON," GET RIGHT BACK
ON IT
So you had about a dozen too many of those Christmas cookies
did you? Don't worry; because you have cheat days built into
your plan, you shouldn't let guilt immobilize you. Even if you
fall completely off the wagon, don't beat yourself up. All you
have to do is get right back on your program without missing
another beat.
Too
many people mess up once and then think their entire diet is
ruined. They feel as if everything they've done prior to that
day was wasted and there's no sense going on. Or even worse,
they rationalize to themselves, "Well, I already cheated,
so it doesn't matter now, I might as well keep pigging out."
That's nonsense. If you threw in the towel every time you didn't
score 100% on your diet, most people would never get through
more than a few days on any structured program. Just because
you mess up once doesn't mean you should quit! You're only human.
Don't let one small slip keep you derailed. Firmly plant your
wheels back on the tracks and start rolling again.
6. MAINTAIN YOUR CONSISTENT EATING SCHEDULE
If
there's one thing that all people who successfully get lean
and stay lean have in common, it's
consistency. Without it, you never get any momentum going. It's
like taking two steps forward, only to take three steps back.
Many
people allow the busy Holidays to throw them off their regular
eating schedule. They completely veer off their usual five or
six small meals per day, or they start eating foods they would
normally never eat (because "it's there").
You
have to keep your metabolic engine revving all year round. Once
you have it going, it's fairly easy to keep it going. But once
you lose it, it's very difficult to get it going again because
you must overcome inertia all over again. (An object at rest
tends to stay at rest!)
On
the major holidays, when there's a big dinner scheduled, many
people think that skipping their morning and afternoon meals
to "save room" for the big one later is a good idea.
It's not. This is a sure-fire way to invite a binge that could
set your back for days.
Don't
lose your consistency or your momentum. Continue with your pattern
of eating small, frequent meals all year round. All you have
to do is count your holiday dinners as one of your regular meals
and keep them small.
7. CONTROL YOUR PORTION SIZES
You can have your cake and eat it too - you just can't eat the
whole thing! One of the most important rules to remember this
holiday season is the law of energy balance, which states: To
lose body fat, you must consume fewer calories than you burn
up each day.
There
are two corollaries to the law of energy balance:
1.
Too much of ANYTHING will get stored as fat - even healthy food.
2. Small amounts of ANYTHING - even junk food - will probably
NOT get stored as fat as long as you don't indulge too frequently.
There's
no reason to deprive yourself of things you enjoy. Just make
sure you don't overindulge. As long as you enjoy your favorite
foods in moderation, and you keep working out, it probably won't
end up around your waistline.
8. DON'T BUY INTO THE LOW STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS
Keep
your standards high, but don't expect other people's standards
to be as high as yours. Remember that most people have already
planned in advance to fail at fitness over the holidays. You've
decided to stay strong. Don't let their negative influence drag
you down.
When
you've reached your pre-ordained drink limit, say "when"
and switch to water or a non alcoholic, non caloric beverage.
When they offer you seconds on dessert, politely say, "no
thank you, it was absolutely delicious, but I'm full, I can't
eat another bite." And when the wee hours of the morning
start to roll around, and your friends are egging you on to
keep partying, politely tell them you need your sleep. Tomorrow
is a work out day. If they're really your friends, they'll understand.
9. MAKE THE BEST CHOICES POSSIBLE IN EVERY SITUATION
You know those tables you see at holiday parties that are covered
with yards of chips, dips, pretzels, cookies, salami, candies,
punch, liquor, and a seemingly endless assortment of other goodies?
Well, did you also notice that there is usually a tray full
of carrot sticks, cauliflower, celery and other healthy snacks
too?
No
matter where you are, you always have choices. Sometimes you
have to choose between bad and worse. Other times you can choose
between good and better. But always make the best choice possible
based on whatever your options are. If nothing else, you can
choose to eat a small portion of something bad rather than a
huge portion, thereby obeying the law of calorie balance.
Chances
are good that there's probably something healthy on the menu
at every holiday gathering. As you know, lean proteins and fibrous
carbs are a great for getting lean, so fill up on the turkey
breast, try to get a vegetable in there, and go easy on the
desserts.
10. IF YOU DRINK, ENJOY ALCOHOL IN MODERATION
If you enjoy having a few drinks on special occasions, then
go ahead and have a drink or two. But if you're serious about
your fitness goals, you must drink infrequently and in moderation.
Alcohol almost totally inhibits your body's ability to metabolize
body fat. When there's alcohol in your bloodstream, you're not
in fat burning mode.
I've
never met anyone in my life that was truly serious about fitness
or bodybuilding who was a heavy drinker. Alcohol and muscles
just don't mix.
The
impact goes beyond added body fat; your energy levels and workouts
can be ruined for days after a night of heavy drinking. A glass
of wine actually has some health benefits. But there's NEVER
any never reason or excuse for binge drinking or getting drunk.
So
go ahead and toast to the New Year, but know when to say when.
CONCLUSION
This
is a special time of the year; you can and should enjoy it.
However, taking a six-week "vacation" from the gym
doesn't make any sense - ever. There's no reason to let your
training and nutrition program spoil your holidays, but there's
also no reason to let your holidays spoil your training and
nutrition program either!