Dockside News

We’ve all seen people who refuse to clean their windows; drivers who think that running the windshield wipers is enough. That’s dangerous and could result in a fine – the law says that you have to be able to see clearly out the front, side and rear windows of your vehicle (although there are exceptions to the rear window if you can see using your side mirrors.

But what many people don’t realize is that it can also be an offence to drive with snow and ice piled on top of the car, even if the windows are clear.

Police have discretion in this regard: drivers have been charged after ice flew off their vehicle and struck another one. The charges have included having an unsafe load; or driving a vehicle that is in an unsafe condition.

Even if the police don’t lay charges, drivers have been successfully sued when ice from their car or truck hit someone else.

The issue has really come to a head this winter because it’s been so mild. Snow is usually fairly easy to clear off the vehicle, but the abundance of freezing rain, ice pellets and all the other precipitation we’ve had lately can stick hard and be tricky to remove. So, the tendency is to leave it on the roof, and wait for it to come off on its own.

Now is a good time to remind your team that this isn’t acceptable. Whether they’re operating a company vehicle or their own, it’s important to clear the snow and ice as much as they possibly can.

Well-written, informative content which provides valuable education to the reader will set you apart. Deciding what knowledge to share and the right time to share it can lead to incredible engagement with your target audience.

Share your expertise

Not sure what kind of information to share? Start by considering the kinds of questions you get asked – the F in FAQ is there for a reason.

An insulation business may choose to explain why spray foam insulation is the best choice for certain jobs and traditional batt insulation works well in other areas.

If you’re selling and installing outdoor kitchens, it makes sense to offer an in-depth tutorial of the appliances – how to turn them on, how to clean them and other apt information – as well as why they’ll make cooking outdoors fun.

Perhaps you build the best steel docks on the planet. Explaining the materials, you use and steps you take to add strength and durability will show waterfront property owners why they need to install your docks.

Helping others learn more about what you do or what you sell will empower them with confidence and think of you first when buying because you’ve earned their trust before ever meeting in person.

Also, keep in mind that sharing your expertise can sometimes be about reinforcing knowledge some consumers already have. Then expanding on it.

If you’re in the financial planning business, you know that most people are aware they should be planning for their financial futures, but they may not know where to start. Address questions like “is it ever too late to start planning for retirement?” or “should I set up investments for my business?” You may think you’ve answered these questions a thousand times, but the information is new for someone.

It’s relatively common knowledge that updating a kitchen or bathroom is good for property resale value; but reminding your existing and potential clients how much ROI (return on investment) they can get is often a good idea. Add to that by explaining which additions or renovations won’t provide as much bang for the buck.

Timing counts

Timing is also an essential consideration. For a landscaping company, the spring is a good time to educate your audience on preserving a healthy lawn by proper seeding techniques, eliminating weeds and regular maintenance. A late summer/fall article might focus on core aeration, protecting against pests for the winter and how long a final cut should be on your lawn.

Golf courses often choose to focus on the benefits of membership in the fall and winter, then switch gears in the spring to laud the idea of a fall or winter wedding hosted at the clubhouse.

The idea of providing education to gain a loyal client base is a tried, tested and true practice. Each of these examples are from real businesses which have produced results through showing their expertise.

The first thing to do before getting to the point of a phone call is to check your spam or junk folder. Often the email will have erringly found its way into that place.

And if you’re calling someone because they didn’t reply to you yet, gently suggesting they look in their spam folder is often the best way to start.

If you’re in business, it’s a good idea to check your spam folder regularly. I recommend every second day at the minimum. It will ensure important communications are received and sent.

It’s astounding how many times even presumably safe contacts have their emails mistakenly filtered into the spam/junk category by various servers and email providers.

So why is your email going into someone’s spam?

There are various reasons. It could be that you have the wrong buzz words in the subject line or body of the email, you have previously used your email address to send mass marketing promotions, or your server requires maintenance.

Here are some tips which can be helpful in preventing important communications from being filtered as junk.

Make sure clients and colleagues “whitelist” or mark your emails as “safe.” And you should do the same for them. This means when either email is coming through, it will go into the appropriate location.

Gmail users should check their promotions or social tabs/folders as well. If you find an email from someone who is a client or colleague hiding there, drag it into your inbox and you will see their future emails in the right spot.

Always ensure your outgoing emails have a proper subject line. Subject line messages can end up getting filtered because they are used in scam/spam emails. Whatever the subject matter may be, make sure it’s clear: Season’s Greetings or Welcome to the Club are good as long as the message in the email is a match. And don’t use the word “Urgent” in the subject line – unless of course the subject matter is truly urgent.

Whenever your email is used as the main contact in a campaign, there is a risk it could end up in spam folders in the future. Sending too many bulk emails yourself can get your email address tagged as spam. By using a reputable email marketing service such as Mail Chimp to send email campaigns – one which follows strict rules – you’ll be reducing the chances of it happening.

If possible, avoid spam trigger words. Extensive lists are available online – or ask your IT person – and try not to use them in the subject line or body of your email messages. Some typical spam words and phrases to avoid include click here, congratulations, dear friend, free or toll-free, great offer, guarantee, order now, winner and – of course – this is not spam.

If you find that using these techniques have not helped avoid important messages from ending up in spam or junk folders, it’s best to call in your IT expert as it could be a server issue.

Now’s the time to look back at the year’s revenue, marketing choices and return on investment. You may find yourself wondering whether you reached your marketing goals. What could you have done differently? Should you have spent more, and if so, where? 

It can be difficult to know how much to spend on marketing, and how it compares to your competition’s ad decisions. According to a recent study by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) most Canadian small businesses spend just over $30,000 a year on marketing, and larger companies (those with over 50 employees) spend close to $100,000.  

The truth is, marketing is a necessary investment for almost all companies, regardless of the industry. While some may spend more or less than others, operating on a clear marketing plan will keep you from making rash decisions that you will later look back and regret. 

So how do you choose where to put your marketing dollars? Here are four tips that have worked for our clients again and again: 

Go to your ideal clientele. A business card-sized ad on your local coffee shop’s leaflet is affordable, but will it be seen by your ideal client? Think about your ideal demographics. Consider their age, income level, family and marital status, and where they live and go on a day-to-day basis. Picture them reading your message: are they having lunch at a diner? On the dock at their cottage? Taking a break at work? Knowing this can help shape your message.

View your ads as an investment. A good investment shouldn’t just earn you your money back; it should return to you three-fold. Seeing it is an investment, your ads should look as good as they’re worth. Don’t just invest your money into their success; invest your time into making sure they reflect your brand and will represent your company well. 

Measure your ROI. This is a big one! You can’t accurately measure your success and plan for the next year without a clear understanding of what was gained from your investment. Train your staff to ask each new customer how and where they heard about you. If you get a lot of orders online, make it a mandatory question on your website.

Match the medium and the message. With so many marketing options, it can be tempting to sprinkle your dollars everywhere and try a little of this and a little of that. Your measurements from point three may even encourage this – if an ad didn’t bring results, you move to a different medium; it’s the old “one and done” approach. But if there’s a problem, is it with the medium or was it the wrong message? Is a billboard the right spot to explain a complex product offering? Is Dockside the right place to announce a sale you’re holding this weekend?    

While your small business marketing budget may not be in line with those behemoths, there is no reason you can’t stick out, especially in your community. 

Here are five ways to keep your business top of mind during the holiday season. 

Take an active role in community events. Sponsor a float at your local Christmas parade and spend time making it a memorable one; set up a booth at outdoor festivals; host a Chamber of Commerce networking lunch or after-hours event; or even do some fundraising for a charitable cause. Each of these actions will provide tons of recognition in your community for giving back, which in turn can come back tenfold.

Present an open house or holiday season sale. Provide light refreshments at an open house to get people through your doors and seeing all the wonderful items you have to offer. Or have a special holiday sale event – everyone loves a good sale. Just make sure to promote it well through every avenue possible. 

Send out Christmas/Holiday greeting cards. It’s a fast-fading tradition to send something personal like a quality greeting card to clients. Make sure to choose a card that reflects your business and sign it yourself. This will stand out because it won’t be just another email. Choosing a card and signing it takes effort; the kind of effort people will appreciate when deciding who gets their business.

Be active on social media. Not just by sharing items other businesses or individuals created, but by making your own original content. Present yourself as a shining light among the din with colourful and rich photography, blog posts, videos and more. Go live on Facebook with a special message to all your loyal followers and invite them over for a visit. Make sure they’re sharing, commenting and tweeting about you during the holidays. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, or just don’t have time, call our team and we can get you set up.

Decorate, decorate, decorate. No matter what other things you do to attract holiday season business, make sure your storefront or office space is festive and fun. Not only will it impress your regular clients, but a beautifully decorated store often attracts walk-in business who may not have known about you in the first place. Just be sure to not go overboard – a full-sized Santa and reindeer might be a bold statement inside your store, but you still want to leave room for crowds of shoppers!

Together they own and operate Cavan Designer Stone and Building Supplies, located just west of Peterborough. The business, formerly known as Grant Drew Designer Stone, has been supplying the area with brick and stone products for more than 15 years.

Cavan Designer Stone offers a wide range of brick and stone products, from suppliers such as Shouldice, Meridian Brick, Canyon Stone and Colonial, as well as landscaping pavers and retaining walls, among many others.

They also offer a broad array of other construction and landscape materials, including insulated concrete forms, sand and mortar, and even windows and doors as well as 100 percent recycled plastic products and lightweight architectural moldings.

They are pleased to offer estimates at no charge, and even provide on-site measuring to ensure quantities ordered are correct. They will deliver all their products anywhere in Kawartha.

There is no magic bullet – this is a Canada-wide problem, fueled by the lowest unemployment rate we’ve seen in 40 years. Locally, it’s compounded in many areas by the lack of affordable housing. But here are a few things we’ve seen being used to either attract new staff or help to get the work done with fewer people.

Seasonal completion bonuses

Some industries use them and others don’t, but offering extra pay to employees who stick around for the season can make a difference, particularly when it gets close to the end of the season. That summer staffer who might be tempted to leave in mid-August will be a bit less tempted if they know that they’d be leaving a chunk of money on the table.

Bonuses can be structured as a lump sum, or as an hourly wage top-up based on the number of hours the employee has worked through the season.

Time off mid-season

Summer’s busy and there’s a lot to do. Some of your staff may be looking to work all the hours you can give them, but not all of them do.

Obviously you can’t shut down operations in the summer, but there may be ways you can adjust your scheduling. The exact solution will depend on your business. Can you schedule your crews to work four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days? How about knocking off early every other Friday? Perhaps even pick a week midsummer when you schedule fewer jobs, and give people the option of taking time off. We know businesses who have used all of these with some success.

When you’re hiring, spend a few minutes asking which is most important to them – making as much money as possible in the summer, or balancing work and time off? That way you’re less likely to be blindsided if someone asks for time off in July.

Non-monetary rewards

It’s so hard to remember to do this in the heat of the summer season, but it’s so very important. You work hard because you’re passionate about what you do, but remember that for some of your staff this could just be about a paycheque. Pay them, of course, but give them a little something extra to show you appreciate what they do. Buy everyone lunch, or hand out gift cards, or just be extra careful to acknowledge hard work and thank people for it.

It really does make a big difference.

Can technology help?

It won’t get you more staff, but technology may help you get more done with the people you have.

Take a critical look at the things your people are doing that are eating up too much of their time, and see if there are ways to streamline them. Grocery stores have added self-serve checkouts; restaurants have put tablets at the tables so you can place your own order. They are sometimes criticized as an attempt to cut staff, but in many cases they’re actually a response to a staffing shortage.

The staffing shortage isn’t going anywhere soon, so business owners need to get creative.  

Dress Comfortably “What do I wear?” It’s one of the first things we think of when we’re planning a photo shoot. Do you dress up? Dress down? Wear black or bright colours? When it comes to planning your photo shoot attire, Andrew says the most important thing quality to consider is your comfort. “Wear something you’re comfortable in. Ultimately, if you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, you won’t look comfortable in front of the camera.”  If jeans are your thing, great! If you’d rather dress up, that’s okay too. Just make sure you’re comfortable. As for colour, Andrew says to wear colours that compliment your skin tone and stand out from the background. Keep away from white shirts on a white background, or blue shirts under a blue sky. “If you’re stuck, think about that outfit that you receive compliments on every time you wear it,” says Andrew. “It’s likely because the fit complements your body type and the colours suit your skin tone.”

Master your glasses Do you wear glasses? You can take them off for the photo, but if they’re part of your personality and style, leaving them on isn’t a problem… that is, as long as you position them correctly. Before the camera starts clicking, push your glasses up to the bridge of your nose. The closer they are to the top of the nose, the less likely they are to leave dark shadows around your eyes.

Find the light If you don’t have the proper lighting equipment, use natural light to brighten up the photo, and eliminate troublesome shadows. If you’re taking your photo outside, find what Andrew calls “bright shade” – a shaded area under a tree, that will shield harsh rays while giving you the illumination you need. If you have to be in the sun, do your best to schedule your photo shoot for early morning or early evening, when the light is softer. While mid-day sun is bright, it often leaves severe shadows.

Strike a pose Be aware of your body language. While posing with crossed arms or hands in your pockets is an easy go-to for many of us, hiding your hands and crossing your arms can often make you look closed off and unapproachable. Instead, think of ways to catch people’s attention. Loosen up, have fun with the shoot and try poses that show your passion and personality.

Keep your hands busy Another reason we’re drawn to crossing our arms and putting our hands in our pockets is because we often get in front of the camera and wonder “Now what do I do with my hands?” The result is often a robotic or awkward pose. Instead, keep your hands busy by bringing a prop to hold onto. Not only will holding the prop help you to pose naturally, it can also help you convey what you do. “If you’re a contractor, bring building plans or a hammer,” says Andrew. “Or hold your hardhat on your hip. A little prop goes a long way.”

Think proportionally How often have you seen someone who’s barely 5-ft tall next to someone who looks like they could be in the NBA? If there’s a significant height difference, it can often be distracting and detract from the purpose of the photo. So how do you solve it? Position yourselves by size – move the smaller individuals closer to the camera and have the taller individuals a few steps back, to give the illusion of equal stature, without having to place anyone on a platform or stool.  “If you’re not sure what looks best, take the time to change positions and see how it looks,” says Andrew. “Some lenses will actually stretch anyone standing on the outside, making them appear taller. If that’s the case for you, place shorter individuals on the outside, and leave the taller ones in the center, to balance the image.”

Rule of thirds Whenever you’re taking a photo, remember the rule of thirds. This rule states that you should always place your subject in the right or left third of the photo, not the centre. Why? Placing the subject in the centre makes your eye lazy. Instead of looking from left to right or right to left, they only look at the centre of the photo. The result is a boring shot that your viewers will want to skip over quickly.  

We know that first impressions make an enormous difference, but often we limit ourselves to the little details, ensuring our clothes match or our company vehicles are clean. Those things matter, but when you’re marketing your business there’s a much more powerful opportunity: You can use every aspect of your marketing to set the tone of your entire organization and give your clients a clear understanding of what they can expect when they do business with you.

Big companies with big marketing budgets use this idea very effectively. Ads for Apple computers rarely say anything specific about the products, but those ads clearly capture what the user experience will be like. You know from the ads who Apple is and what they stand for.

Few companies have the marketing budget of Apple, but there’s no reason we can’t emulate some of those ideas. Start by asking yourself how you would like consumers to see your business. Should they view you as friendly and approachable, or as formal and serious? Fun, or all-business? Is flexibility an asset to your clients, or can that be perceived negatively?

Let your desired image filter through every aspect of your marketing. Photography, graphic design and copy writing are all powerful tools, and professionals can use those tools to shape how you’re perceived. Skilled photographers don’t just capture an image: They use lighting, props, location and post-production tools to shape and define that image, to ensure it says what the client needs it to say.

Text can also help present an image. There’s a home renovation company in Australia whose slogan is “We don’t surf.” They know that homeowners have complained about renovators who don’t show up when the surfing is good, so they capitalize on that by creating a vivid image of themselves as hard-working and reliable.

We we work with hundreds of companies on a wide array of projects – articles in our magazines, of course, but also brochures, custom magazines, photo shoots, social media plans, newsletters, and more.

It’s probably not a deciding factor for most buyers. If I’m choosing between two comparable companies to paint my home or walk my dog, the amount of time they’ve spent painting or walking may not be relevant. What I care about is how knowledgeable each company is and how well they’ll complete the work I’ve paid for them to do.

Milestone anniversaries aren’t unheard of. While 20 years in business is a major milestone for any business, it’s not unique. We can all think of several businesses that have reached that milestone within the last year or two.

Your milestone doesn’t address my needs.This circles back to the first point: your marketing should always focus on telling clients how you can help them reach their own goals and milestones. Talking about our own successes may boost our own egos, but that doesn’t entice potential customers to buy.

Here are some things you could focus on instead:

Discuss how the industry has changed since you first started. The benefit of having decades of experience under your belt is you’ve seen industry changes first-hand. Draw attention to those changes and allow those comparisons to SHOW your clients how talented and experienced you are, without bragging to your audience.

Share a testimonial. Allow your repeat clients the opportunity to share their story. If they’ve been working with you for years, their testimonial will showcase your longevity and highlight how you help your clients reach their goals.

Look to the future.With your experience, you can predict how the industry will grow and change, based on how it’s developed over the last decades.

I recently spent some time with a team that excels in doing just that.

One of the most complex tasks you can undertake is designing and building a custom home. Having gone through the process myself a few years ago, I know it can be overwhelming. You have some vague idea of how much money you want to spend, and a sinking feeling that it won’t be enough to build what you want to build. But every time you ask how much it’s going to cost, you get some variation on “well, it depends.”

Kawartha Lakes Construction is an experienced and respected builder in Lakefield. They’re joining us this season as we launch our first ever Kawartha edition of Dockside.

As I chatted with their senior management team, I realized that they have carefully analyzed every step of their process, particularly the path clients need to follow as they design their home. 

One of the tools they have developed is a Custom Design Handbook, which potential clients can download from their website. It asks homeowners to describe which rooms they want, how big they should be, and how they should function. As they described it, I pictured a checklist of a page or two.

The next day, I went online to check out the handbook for myself. I was astonished to see that it is 24 pages long! 

The questions are varied and insightful, digging into just about every aspect of home design. Do you want a breakfast nook in the kitchen? How many people will be eating there? Do you want a TV in the living room? How about a fireplace? If you have a TV, a fireplace, and a view out the window, which is the most important element?

The average person would need to spend a couple of evenings to complete the handbook.

Filling out this book is no quick process, but neither is designing a house. Having potential clients complete the book serves a range of different functions. It  gives the designers at Kawartha Lakes a tremendous starting point, and saves them a lot of time; it helps refine the sales funnel by encouraging casual “tire-kickers” to self-select out of the process; it serves as a valuable -- and free -- resource for serious buyers; and it gives those buyers a bit more confidence in the abilities of Kawartha Lakes Construction.

It’s an impressive bit of work. And it got me thinking about ways that other businesses can give away knowledge, while also making things easier for their clients and themselves.

Your article in Dockside is part of that process: educating potential clients helps move them closer to the point of sale and helps them picture themselves using your services. 

Are there things you should be doing to help educate potential clients and make their experience easier? Let us help. 

This scenario plays out far more than it should and not just in construction, says Judy Terry of Muskoka Bay Clothing. And in some cases, it’s worse; an employee is wearing a jacket with the logo of the company they were previously employed with. Yikes! 

“It happens in many industries and it shouldn’t,” says Judy. “Having your team look like a team is part of effective branding.”

Fortunately, giving your team a cohesive look is easy. Simply buying each member of your team a hat with the company logo goes a long way in creating unity; it also provides sun protection for employees working outdoors.

Or dress your team in branded shirts, sweaters or jackets – whichever maximizes exposure and represents your company best. Choosing comfortable and good-looking apparel will have your team wanting to wear it even when they’re off the clock.

Whether you run small computer store or a large franchise, make sure your clients and potential clients are keeping you top of mind.

“It’s not as expensive as you may believe,” says Judy. “It’s a small price to pay to ensure your business is being recognized.”

Q: What is the biggest challenge about what you do? I love working with my clients to help them realize their goals and take control of their outdoor spaces, but I’d say our biggest challenge is sometimes just getting to sites.

Last December we were out boating in Georgian bay during a snow storm. Buses were cancelled, OPP were saying stay off the roads but we were out boating in 4-foot swells to get a job done for our client. While it’s a beautiful place in July and August, it was not an easy day for the guys.

Q: What’s one thing most home owners/cottagers should be doing, but aren’t? Protect their investment. Some of our products really make a difference in protecting the property against intruders and storm damage, and with their energy savings they pay for themselves.

Q: What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on the job? One customer had a 1200 square foot wine room – that was impressive for a seasonal cottage. Another had a pool that was basically a couple of feet from the lake. They didn’t think the lake was warm enough but wanted the swim-in-the-lake feeling, so they told me.  You really see some interesting things out there.

Q: What’s the most creative project you’ve ever worked on?   There was a house they called The Butterfly House. It was built with special windows to absorb passive UV rays to heat the home. We installed shutters to retain the heat at night and offer security. The shutters had to be perfectly sealed so there was no energy loss

Q: What industry advancement are you most excited to see in the coming year/two years? In my industry it will be aluminum decking and siding. I carry Knotwood, which is an amazing alternative to using wood on a deck or dock as it never rots.   Overall though: autonomous vehicles. I can’t wait to hit a button after a long day’s work and have my truck drive me home.

Q: What’s your favourite way to spend off-work hours? During the summer when I am off duty, I am spending time on the lake with my wife and son.  I also coach soccer and I am involved with the local hockey association. I like to keep really busy in my off hours.

Q: What’s your favourite quote?   “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”  – Steve Martin

We try to exceed expectations each day. Sometimes we fail. Those are our learning moments, but we are always moving in the right direction!

Q: Who’s one entrepreneur that inspires you most? There are lots of amazing, successful entrepreneurs out there, but I would say Oprah has impressed me the most over my lifetime. Her determination and perseverance through her career to overcome obstacles as a black woman trying to make it in television back in the mid 1980’s was truly remarkable. And she is a very grounded person. I love hearing her talk about her first car, the Chevrolet Citation.

And I’m not alone. While some ads are just okay, and others are “Okaaaaay,” (as Pepsi’s highly successful ad this year had it) these million-dollar ad spots are nearly always a huge win for advertisers.

Why? And more importantly, what can a small business in central Ontario learn from them?

It’s all about attention.

While regular tv ads are often viewed as merely a nuisance, the American Marketing Association (AMA)’s research shows that over 75-percent of the audience actually looks forward to viewing Superbowl commercials.

Now I know what you’re thinking: “If only I had $5-million to throw at a Super Bowl spot!” We’re with you. Many of us will never have that size of an advertising budget, but we can still advertise like these 30-second gems.

Here’s how:

Find a captive audience, one that’s eager to hear your message. It’s the not-so-secret ingredient behind Dockside magazine’s success; our magazines reach our audience where they’re most comfortable, with a message that readers look forward to receiving.  Before you reach an attentive audience, you’ll need to figure out who your ideal client is and where they’re most likely to appreciate hearing from you. Then picture them at the moment they are engaging with your ad. Are they sitting on the couch in a noisy living room, waiting for the game to resume? Are they having breakfast on a cottage weekend, flipping through a glossy magazine? The message you deliver to those two groups will likely have very different content and tone.

Now engage your audience. Once you find the ideal target market and ad location, you need to give them a reason to pay attention. Favourite Super Bowl ads tend to do one of three things: they either make the audience laugh, get them to think, or move them with a touching story. How can you do one or more of  those three things in your advertising? Think of what you can offer your target market in terms of entertainment or education, rather than just what you can gain from them.  You’re asking them to give you something valuable – their attention – so your ad should offer them something in return.

And don’t waste a single moment. One of the biggest things I like about the Super Bowl ads is how they make every second count. Imagine how you would craft your message if you knew you only had 30 seconds to engage your ideal client. You’d put in a lot more effort, wouldn’t you?  You may not have millions of dollars to put toward your ads, but what you do have is time. Take the time to meet with your marketing team, give thought and energy to your message and advertise like you only have one chance. 

Pay, benefits, and working conditions are all important. But what do you do when someone excels at their job, or goes above and beyond to make someone else’s task easier?  

A simple Thank You may be all it takes, particularly if it’s done in front of others. Small rewards like a gift card or some extra time off can be highly appreciated, but what if you did something a bit more unique?

Something our company likes to do from time to time is to make a fun and creative video. 

When our sales team hit a series of challenging milestones recently, I shot this little video and sent it to them. Do I look like a goof? Yeah, maybe. But that’s fine: they have a challenging job, and by being willing to make myself a bit vulnerable in front of them, I wanted to show that I appreciate what they are doing.

Videos like these don’t need to be professional productions – just something that you shoot and edit on your phone. Video works well for us because our team works in different offices. But it also has more permanence than a verbal Thank You. And I know that each of them had a laugh, then took it home at the end of the day, saying “look what my crazy boss did for me today!”

Don’t force it Some people are natural-born clowns. Others seem to have absolutely no sense of humour. Most of us fall somewhere in between those extremes, and we probably know exactly where. 

If you’re a dry wit who rarely makes people laugh, then don’t try to pull a Jim Carey routine. Chances are it will come across as forced and fake; it may even make people feel distinctly uncomfortable. 

But if you’re the serious type and one day you do something just a little bit unexpected – wearing a silly tie, or even wearing a tie when you don’t normally – and you do it with a smile and an explanation of why you’re doing it, it will be noticed and appreciated. And your team will recognize that you noticed their hard work and appreciate what they are doing.

The moment I read that quote, I wrote it out and have kept it above my desk ever since. It has become my reset button. It reminds me to pause, take stock of the tasks in front of me and simplify them by focusing on one at a time.

It also reminds me to focus on what I’m good at, and hand over tasks and client requests that may be better suited for other members of our team. Not only does it quiet my stress, but it helps our team to work better.

What business goals would you like to accomplish this year?  Is it to focus more at the office? Attract new talent? Execute a better marketing strategy? Blog more consistently? Or tighten your company’s operations and plan for future expansion?

If so, take Warren Buffett’s advice and think simply. You may want to put your tasks to paper and tackle them one by one. Or enlist the help of an expert to get you organized. Heck, you may just want to keep Warren Buffett’s quote above your desk, like I do.

I hope that 2019 will be your year of simplifying and maximizing – simplifying the to-do list, calming the chaos that comes with day-to-day time management, and maximizing your time and profitability.

Here at Dockside, our goal is to help you accomplish your goals. If you’re looking to increase your SEO with a consistent blog content, impress potential clients with booklets and brochures that fit your brand, or update your website with high quality photography, let us take that off your plate.  

This year, think smarter, not harder. If you need help, give us a call.

Looking to attract new talent in 2019? Fortunately, our region offers some unique perks! Check out: Entice employees with natural benefits.

Want to understand your employees better? Take a walk in their shoes! Check out: Trade in your title.