#bernath

Photo of a model in a ski jacket by Bernath, ca. 1936. Photo by Peter Weller.

Bernath House Thayngen, Schaffhausen, Switzerland; 1954-55

Otto Glaus, Robert Neukomm (photographs by Fritz Maurer, R. Neukomm, Hans Eichenberger)

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As a former hedge fund manager and current business owner, Lonny S. Bernath is a talented money management expert who is as careful with his personal finances as he is with his professional ones. This is an area where many people struggle, which can lead to debt mounting up and difficult living conditions. If you would like to be able to manage your income more effectively, consider all of these tips in order to create a strong personal budget.

List Your Expenditures

One of the first things that you need to do when creating a budget is to get a good idea of where your money is currently going. As such, you need to list every single expenditure that you incur during the month, regardless of how small. You can then divide this list into essential and non-essential expenditures, thus giving you an idea of what you can cut out.

Create A Goal

Many people start saving money with the vague idea that doing so may benefit them later on. Unfortunately, this lack of focus in saving often results in these efforts being disregarded in fairly short order. Instead, try to create a defined goal that will give you something to shoot towards, thus offering you the motivation that you need to stop spending.

Avoid Using Cards

Lonny S. Bernath began working for IBM in 2013 as an enterprise software seller to government accounts and financial institutions in the Carolinas. His work led to him being promoted to the role of Sales Manager two years later and he is now in charge of a team of 5 enterprise software sellers serving North and South Carolina. In order to ensure his team reaches its full potential, he implements a number of sales management techniques with the aim of improving morale and productivity. The below are some of the most effective techniques that you may consider for your own sales team.

Speak Plainly

Many new salespeople make the mistake of thinking that their job is to manipulate customer thought patterns so that they stand the best chance of making a sale. However, trying to do so carries with it an enormous amount of risk, especially as we live in a more informed age where any information that you try to pass off as fact can be quickly verified. Instead of going this route, encourage your team to speak plainly with potential customers, making sure that they understand how important it is to provide accurate information while also establishing why customers need the product that you are selling.

Get Feedback

Your sales team is going to be one of your greatest resources in regards to determining the techniques that work best for them. Whenever you implement a new policy, be sure to get feedback from each member of the team. This will help you to figure out what works best for each individual, allowing you to tailor your overall sales strategy. Furthermore, asking for feedback improves morale in the team, as salespeople are generally much happier, and thus more productive, if they feel like their opinions matter to you.

Explain Changes

Whenever you do make a change in the team, be it bringing in a new member, changing pay structures or trying out new sales techniques, you should always make it a point to explain everything about the decision. It is not enough to just tell the team that something is going to happen, so justify every choice that you make so that your team understands your mindset. This can serve to quell a lot of the resentment that can arise as a result of unexplained change.

Treat People Equally