BUSINESS GUIDE:5 Reasons Why People Fail in Business

Do you ever worry that your business will fail? It's hard to contemplate failure, especially when you're working so hard and want so much to be successful.
Considering failure is valuable, though, because the very ingredients that make for business failure can be transformed into business success.
Here are 5 ingredients that go into the mix of business failure, and how you can transform them for your own business success:
1. Unclear purpose
Here's the thing: the more clarity you have about what you want, the more likely you are to get it. In your business, having little or no focus on anything but making a profit results in scattered effort and less effectiveness. Ironically, it leads to less money too.
Transformation: Clear Purpose
Have you ever been part of something greater than just you and your self-interest? Feels great, right? The reason it does is that we are actually built that way. We are motivated, and can accomplish great things in service of something bigger than ourselves. It's no different for your business. Define your greater purpose. Define the impact you want to have in your business, your community, and the larger world. Then you'll have clarity and energy to do more with your business. You'll have the motivation to pull through tough times, for even greater success.
Communicate that impact purpose to your prospects and customers. People are drawn to businesses with a higher purpose.
2. Destructive thinking
A day at work filled with thoughts about imminent failure and negative perceptions of people's motives will drain you and your motivation, and ultimately, kill your business. Not only that, destructive thinking also negatively affects your health and even your life span.
Transformation: Constructive Thinking
Your thinking affects your actions in your business and everywhere else in your life. Optimistic thinking followed by persistent action leads to better results. If you're not naturally inclined that way, the good news is that you can learn optimism. Problems become less personal, the size of the problem more realistic, and the fleeting nature of problems more clear.
You can support your constructive thinking with a daily ritual that includes mindfulness (e.g., meditation, breathing exercises), visualization (mentally rehearsing your desired outcomes), and affirmations, including gratitude. Schedule your daily ritual in. You can do this in 15 minutes, and it will make a great difference, especially as a start to your day.
3. Unproductive action
Low productivity means you can be working all day for days on end without moving closer to business success. We're in a culture of busy-ness, and it's tempting to fill our hours without thinking too much about whether the actions are in themselves valuable.
Transformation: Productive Action
Productivity begins with focusing your actions on your impact. Will this help me to be more impactful? Is it aligned with my impact purpose?
A quick overview of powerfully effective strategies for productive action:
· Plan before you begin each day. Plan the night before if you can.
· Do the most impactful thing first, so you always have some progress each day.
· Rush unimportant tasks. Set a time limit on each job to help move you through it more quickly.
· Delegate. Allowing others the opportunity to offer what they do well in areas that are not your strengths is a great service to them, and a great time-creator for you.
· Segment your time, then rest. I work in 50 minute blocks, followed by 10 minutes doing something completely different to rejuvenate. Find the time frame that works for you.
No doubt about it, choosing productive actions requires discipline. And in the best way! Discipline serves you by helping you to choose the things that will help you reach your business goals and be successful.
4. Constricted connection
It can feel comforting to stick with your close circle and not expand further. It takes work to reach out and maintain new connections. Staying with your same small comfortable group, though, will hold you back in your business.
The quality of your connections matter too. Are you surrounding yourself with negative people? People who aren't as interested in success as you are? Who you spend time with matters.
Transformation: Expanding Circle of Connection
Expanding your circle of connection is one of the most powerful things you can do for your business success. The more people you know, the more likely you are to learn new things. They also become a source of inspiration, and more connections that can help you in your business. People love to be helpful. Give them that gift of asking for and receiving their help.
Find and welcome the support you need to be successful. Learn from an experienced business person as a mentor or coach. Reach out to people you admire and ask them questions. Make this a regular practice.
5. Money obsession
It can be tempting to become too focused on money. First, our culture encourages it. It's considered a good thing to accumulate stuff. And you need money for that. The thing is, money and stuff don't bring you happiness or vitality.
Second, if business isn't going well, you can become hyperfocused on money and leave your values behind in order to make a profit.
Transformation: Money Health
Instead of focusing on money, focus on connections with people and with your purpose instead. Helping others in your business is what will bring you business success that is both healthy and sustainable.
Find balance and harmony around money. Yes, it's important to know where you stand with money. But money is only a tool. Instead of loving money, love yourself and others. That is key to business success.
These 5 reasons why people fail in business don't have to be a recipe for failure. Instead, you can transform them into success.

BUSINESS GUIDE:Offshore Banking Services

Banking is one of the most important sectors of the world economy as it influences investment, consumption and other business activities. Furthermore, banking has a substantial impact on the circulation of money and thus influences economic growth. Offshore banking provides a unique opportunity to individuals, business people and companies to access the international market and implement their business and investment plans since offshore banking encompasses stronger privacy and security features. That is to say, the activities you launch through your offshore private banking are more confidential and secure. It should be underlined that you will be able to offer the same privacy to your customers together with other related benefits.
The procedures you need to follow in order to open an offshore bank account are not complex. In other words, every individual may open an offshore bank account within few hours. Note that each offshore banking jurisdiction has its own requirements. Among the most popular offshore banking centres are the Cayman Islands, Seychelles, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Bahamas, Gibraltar and Netherlands Antilles.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
As it has been mentioned before, opening an offshore bank account is rather simple. The procedures you need to follow in order to open an offshore bank account are similar to the procedures you follow in order to open a bank account in your home country. First of all, offshore banks will ask for your personal details: name, date of birth, address, citizenship, occupation and submit a copy of your passport, identity card or any other identification document issued by a governmental authority. Second of all, you will have to verify you residence address by presenting a utility bill or any other document. It should be mentioned that all the submitted documents must be certified.
Some considerable benefits of offshore banking are:

• Minimised political risk. In many cases, the biggest threat is not the market risk but the governments, i.e. capital controls measures and bail-ins.
• Asset protection.
• Currency diversification. Holding foreign currencies leads to the minimisation of the risks you confront.
• More options for your business and investment plans.

JURISDICTIONS:
Cayman Islands:
One of the major advantages of the Cayman Islands is the political stability. The annual license fee is 9.000 US dollars. The international banking infrastructure is well-developed with many facilities. Another considerable advantage of the Cayman Islands is the zero taxation on international banking income. Nevertheless, the state's approach toward international private banks owned by non-banker is poor. Despite the fact the Cayman Islands have well-developed banking structures, the poor attitude towards international banks owned by non-bankers discourages many investors and business people to launch offshore banking activities in the Cayman Islands.
Seychelles:
The major advantage of Seychelles is confidentiality since state authorities have no direct access to bank information without a Court order. Note that Seychelles has double tax treaties with Barbados, Botswana, China, Cyprus, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Oman, Qatar, South Africa, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that Seychelles has signed Tax Information Exchange Agreements only with the Netherlands.
Saint Vincent and Grenadines:
The country maintains a degree of flexibility and confidentiality that many bank owners prefer. In particular, confidentiality regarding the incorporation and the launch of business of an International Banking License has been ensured by the Confidential Relationships Preservation (International Finance) Act 1996 and by the International Banks Act 1996. Among the major advantages of Saint Vincent and Grenadines is the absence of exchange control restrictions to offshore transactions and stamp duties. Furthermore, there are no corporate taxes, no income tax, no withholding tax, no capital gain tax and no estate/inheritance/succession duties.
The country has political stability, well-developed international banking infrastructures and skillful labour force.
The International Banks Act 1996 issues the following licenses:

• Class I Offshore Banking License: The Licensee is involved in offshore banking activities outside the country. The minimum class requirement for Class I license is 500.000 US dollars.
• Class II Offshore Banking License: The Licensee is engaged in offshore banking with individuals or groups detailed described in a written undertaking. The minimum class requirement for Class I license is 100.000 US dollars.

Bahamas:
Bahamas is considered one of the most attractive international banking centres in the world because of its excellent communications systems and the frequent air and sea connections with the USA. In addition, the country has a well-developed banking secrecy legislation. It should be taken into account that there are no taxes on international banking income.
There are two types of licenses, the unrestricted and restricted license. The unrestricted license can be obtained by private individual given that they can prove that they have a considerably high net worth. On the other point of view, restricted licenses are granted to financial institutions. Note that a restricted license enables the holder to offer banking and trust services exclusively to a particular class of associated individuals or businesses.
Gibraltar:
Gibraltar is a full member of the European Union. Therefore, banks incorporated in Gibraltar operate under the same legal framework as the banks in the UK. Nevertheless, Gibraltar has some additional advantages such as the efficient and effective bureaucratic procedures. Moreover, banks may operate completely free of tax.
Netherlands Antilles:
The Netherlands Antilles have a well-established international banking secrecy legal framework. Among the main advantages of this particular jurisdiction is the absence of license fees for an international bank establishment. Moreover, the international banking infrastructure is good, with many attorneys and accounting firms which handle international businesses. It should be considered that there is a small amount of tax imposed on international banking income. Nevertheless, the government's attitude towards international banks owned by non-bankers is poor.

BUSINESS GUIDE:What You Can Learn From an Angry Misfit Geek on Unique Positioning and Conversion

Remember that inner geek you tried so hard to leave at home when you were in high school?
Or that angry misfit in you that was dying to come out but got stuffed back into the box every time you tried to blend in?
They may not be good for high school survival, but turns out there may be a thing or two we can learn from them to stand out and get more clients:
1. Channel Your Geek for Client Care & Acquisition
The cool ones pretend they don't care. They pretend they've so many friends that they don't give a crap about anyone.
The geek remembers everything and brings you exactly what you said you want for your birthday. Even if he had to do the uncool thing like, visiting 5 stores to track it down.
If you're selling something more than a "commodity," especially services of a highly personal nature such as coaching, healing or consulting, trust and relationship plays an important role in conversion.
Your clients feel vulnerable in such relationships. They need to TRUST you enough to open up and work with you.
TRUST happens between one human being and another human being.
Trust cannot be automated.
Trust doesn't happen when you isolate yourself on a pedestal and hoping this autoresponder or that funnel will get you a premium private client without lifting a finger.
Someone who purchases a $17 eBook can very well turn into a $10k client, if you continue the conversation and build the relationship.
Building trust takes time and genuine interaction. Humanity.Vulnerability. Honesty.
Pay attention to people, faces and names across your mailing list, social media and customer list. E.g. Make your peeps feel warm and fuzzy by mentioning something they post on Facebook when you send them a personal note to check in.
Say hello to customers who purchased your digital products. Send them a personal email to see if they have question about your product and whether you can help with anything.
(Yeah, like, you actually copy and paste the email address, type something and hit send. People can tell automated email from personal email. Most appreciate a personal touch in this age of impersonal automation.)
Check in with potential clients you had conversations with in the past and mention specifics about those interactions. See how they've progressed since, and what you can do to help.
Keep tab on your correspondences. Take notes and GIVE A CRAP.
Some relationships are "slow cook." Not all interactions need to end with a sale right away. Some one can become a client a year or two after an interaction if they leave the conversation with a good impression.
It's people, not easy-bake oven.
Interact like a human being, not a drone clone sales funnel.
There's no need to pretend you're making 10,000 sales a month (if you aren't) and you're so damn busy that you can't check in with your peeps like a human being (at least with a strategically selected handful.)
When your peeps reach out and know that they're getting a response from the person they want an answer from, you lower the "barrier" erected by virtual interaction.
You build trust and relationship essential for them to further engage with you.
Take note on little things about past clients, potential clients, customers and "random" names on your list. Like all geeks worth her salt.
Mention these details in your correspondences. I use a simple spreadsheet to keep track. I search my email folders to make sure I get the facts straight. I give a crap about my peeps as people, not numbers.
Taking the time to give a crap is what sets YOU apart, not a sparkly sales funnel with a dozen of permutations on up-sell, down-sell and cross-sell.
2. Channel Your Angry Misfit for Unique Positioning
We often regurgitate what other people are already saying in our industry to make sure we're not being offensive or controversial. That's human instinct to blend in; to make sure we don't get kicked out by our caveman tribe.
This isn't good for marketing. You sound like everyone else and why would people want to buy your stuff or work with you?
Blending in doesn't make economic sense. The more you sound like everyone else, the more you'd be treated as a "commodity" and the less price elasticity you can get.
You can't define your positioning by just doing research either. Your positioning is uniquely YOU, and how can you define YOU just by looking at data - aka, other people's world view?
I've seen people trying to define their positioning by drawing lines and plotting dots in quadrants, finding a gap and backing/squeezing themselves into it. Sounds very passive and reactive to me - what do you think?
Staying "straight and narrow" so you don't stick out, or blending in with the cool crowd so you don't get picked on can be good for high school survival.
But let's get rid of that fear of being criticized now that we've our big boy/girl panties on.
When I help my clients who've struggled for years to nail their unique positioning, staying "level headed" often doesn't work.
Really good stuff comes out of their mouth when I get them super riled up.
When they throw caution into the wind and just tell me what piss them off - without worrying about putting what they say into marketing-kosher materials, we find the gems that define who they are and why they're different.
Here's ONE simple exercise to find your unique positioning without ~What riles you up about your industry?
~Why aren't people who work with your competition aren't getting results?
~What frustrate your peeps most about your industry and competition?
~What do you do differently that create results and avoid the frustrations?
(Some people are better at getting riled up when they speak. If that's you, record your rant and then come back to it for the gems.)
Write down 5 - 10 titles for blog posts you'd write based on the stuff that came out of the brain dump... no fear, no doubt, no compromise.
Write them down as statements. Like they're the truest truth for you.
Somewhere in there are your unique POVs.
Map those POVs back to the problem you solve and your ideal clients' desired outcome... you get your unique positioning.

Ling is an Intuitive Brainiac. Through her unique blend of Business + Marketing coaching with a Mindset + Psychic Twist, she helps the multi-talented and multi-passionate maverick solo-entrepreneurs distill ALL their big ideas into ONE cohesive Message, nail the WORDS that sell and design a Plan to cut the busywork and do what matters, through her intuitive yet rigorous iterative process born out of her Harvard Design School training and 10 years of experience in the online industry.
Ling helps her clients optimize the space between individuality + originality vs. "tried-and-true" marketing so they can express their WHY unapologetically and profitably without reinventing the wheel.

BUSINESS GUIDE:Finding a Suitable Warehouse For Your Company Products

Questions You Must Ask
Whether you are a distributor or a manufacturer, stock happens to be the most important aspect of the trading business that you are in. To secure a warehouse premises that is just perfect for your needs there are things you must put into perspective first. Just because a warehouse is spacious enough does not usually mean that it is what your company needs. There are so many other factors that should be considered before the final decision is made.
What commodity specific facilities does it have?
Products are not the same. If you are in the food industry, then you must be extra careful with the warehouse you choose because food items are usually perishable and they can go bad without the best facilities in place. If your products require frozen, refrigerated and conditioned storage, then this is what you need to make sure the warehouse has for you. Consider your products and the perfect storage conditions for them and then choose a warehouse that will not disappoint you at the end of the day.
Apart from storage, what other services can I enjoy?
Warehouses are so competent today that they offer much more than just storage to make the process even more convenient for you the client. Apart from co-packing, and trans-loading, you will actually find warehouses that offer distribution and fulfillment services. With such a warehouse, you will have peace of mind with things such as orders because you simply need to instruct and guide distribution even without the need to be present. Some make it even easier by devising supply chain proposal that can be customized to match your needs to get the perfect solution for your goods.
How sizeable is the warehouse and its impact?
The size of the warehouse can determine the storage options that you have. Remember that most warehouses stack up products in metal racks from the floor to the ceiling to save space and this might not always be a good option depending on the products you have. Organizing the inventory on the floor could be a more suitable option, although this means taking up more space and could limit the amount of stock you can have stored in one go. Also important to remember when looking at the size is that you can find warehouses that are sizeable enough for your company needs only, but others are too large that the empty space could end up being shared by other customers. Consider if this is something you would be okay with or you would rather pay even for the empty space when you choose a warehouse that's bigger than your needs.
When looking at the best warehouse for your needs, always think long term, so that you do not end up choosing one you are likely to outgrow too quickly. Think about potential expansion of the warehouse if you intend to hire, storage for a considerable length of time, so you can be sure you are covered.

The best city right now for business-to-business warehousing and distribution in North America is St. Louis Missouri. St. Louis offers location, stable labor force, cost effective real estate and warehouse facilities and a stable, conservative economy without the peaks and valleys found in many other cities. Midwest contract warehousing might be all your company needs.

BUSINESS GUIDE:Steps for Starting a Carpet Cleaning Business

How to start a carpet cleaning business
Why Start A Carpet Cleaning Business?
First of all you have to ask yourself why do you want to start your own business? Many people start businesses because of circumstances such as when they have been made redundant. Other people just get to the stage in their lives where they want a change from what they have been doing for years. Some people like the idea of being their own boss and in control of the business. Now that you have made your decision you have to decide on the type of business you are planning to tackle. In this article we are going to discuss the starting up of a carpet cleaning business so you can become an expert carpet cleaner.
Budget
As with most businesses you will have to acknowledge what your budget will be. You can use your redundancy money if you are lucky to have any or you can go to the bank for a business loan. with your budget determined you can now go shopping.
Choosing the right carpet cleaning equipment
There are many carpet cleaning types of machinery out on the market but the one common piece of equipment you will need is a van to carry everything. A small van will normally suffice. You can purchase a carpet cleaner for a few hundred euros but as we all know, you get what you pay for. Carpet cleaners can range from a small wet and dry vacuum suction cleaner to a specialised water extraction push or pull unit. There is also an option of a truck mounted unit which could set you back €20,000 or €30,000. You also have consider your market when buying a carpet cleaner. If you are only going to be attending household carpets a big industrial cleaner won't suit but if you are going commercial an industrial cleaner is a must. When you think you have the selected the right carpet cleaner Google is great for finding a review of the cleaner so you know what you are getting. Your choice of cleaner could be the difference between a successful business and a failed one.
Training
Everyone thinks that carpet cleaning is just a matter of obtaining the correct equipment and going at it. Think again. I would recommend attending a carpet cleaning course if there is one in your area. You won't believe how intricate it is when you get in to it. This training will also show you how to clean upholstery and also rugs and mats.
Cleaning solutions
Carpets are made from various materials which can range from man made plastic materials to pure natural materials such as wool. Some carpets are a mixture of both. In saying that before you attempt to clean a carpet you need this information but after a while you will be able to make an intelligent guess. If you get it wrong the consequences could be huge. Imagine cleaning a pure wool carpet with the wrong solution and a customer informing you that the whole carpet has shrunk!!!! There are many companies out there that will supply you with the information you require.
Go and do it
Now you have all of the equipment and the training all you need now are customers. You can have a website built or you can just distribute flyers or advertise locally. But most of all when you are called to clean a carpet do it right first time. A business such as carpet cleaning will have a lot of word of mouth and people do talk. If you are a bad carpet cleaner your business will suffer. We have successfully cleaning carpets for over 10yrs.

BUSINESS GUIDE:Types Of Breathing Apparatus That Need Training

When it comes to consideration of breathing apparatus training, it's important to first be aware that there are two main types of self-contained breathing apparatus. They are used in a variety of conditions, but especially in the fire service. They are open circuit and closed-circuit.
The open-circuit SCBA is more commonly used than the closed. Open uses compressed air while closed uses liquid oxygen. Air that's exhaled with an open circuit vents to the outside, while in the closed circuit it is reused. Regardless of which is used and for what purpose, training on the equipment is super important.
Open-Circuit SCBA
There are many sources from which a company in need can obtain open-circuit SCBA. The design and construction will vary, but as long as the equipment meets all safety standards then it will be perfect for both practice and use. Here are the most common types of breathing apparatus for training and use:

• Backpack and harness assembly - The backpack and harness assembly typically goes on the back, is adjustable and should fit comfortably. Waist straps are important for weight distribution and effectiveness.
• Air cylinder assembly- Comes in various sizes, capacities and carries many different features.
• Regulator assembly - The regulator assembly can change pressure so low-pressure air can flow into the face portion. Control valves are present for various situations. There is less chance of failure due to bypass controls.
• Face piece assembly - The face piece assembly can be mounted to harness or helmet, this type protects from burns and keeps air within cool. It's made of clear plastic that is surrounded by a flexible and comfortable mask. It should fit securely and also has adjusted straps for comfort.

Fit is Important!
A face piece that doesn't fit right willy typically create a clouded lens and can lead to a dangerous situation for the person wearing the mask, as they won't be able to see clearly. With a good fit, the cool air from the cylinder of the assembly will remove condensation as it goes over the lens.
If the mask fogs on the outside, it can be wiped off easily without removal. Therefore, external fogging is never much of a problem. Other options include:

1. A nose cup - deflects exhalations
2. Antifogging chemicals - applied to the lens, this liquid keeps it from fogging.
3. Proper storage - store so as not to encourage distortion, in a special case, pouch or bag that usually comes along with the product.

Closed-circuit Breathing Apparatus
Closed-circuit breathing apparatus are not used as often as the aforementioned open-circuit breathing apparatus. Usually, they are used for hazardous materials accidents due to their longer supply of air. The closed-circuit SCBA are offered and include lengths of 30 minutes up to 4 hours. Another benefit to this type is that it usually weighs less than other units that are similar. They weigh less simply due to the smaller cylinder that has a supply of pure oxygen.
Who Should Conduct the Breathing Apparatus Training?
Both styles of breathing apparatus require careful and thorough training for anyone who will use them. This instruction can be provided from other workers that are knowledgeable to their operation, or a professional training company can be hired. While using an existing employee is more cost-effective in the short term, hiring a professional to train means that every aspect of training will be covered with ease.
In addition, there will be no extra time commitment from the employee that would take them away from their typical daily duties, and the entire process is seamless and likely less costly than one would imagine. It is worth looking into both options and the expenses associated.

Breathe Safety is a UK based company that is the top choice for all industries including healthcare, manufacturing, labs, builders, government and so many more when it comes to securing the necessary equipment to keep the lungs safe in a variety of environments. From assessment to set up, training and more they'll handle every aspect necessary to ensure the workplace at hand is up to code and safe for every worker. Confined space and breathing apparatus training are just some of the services they offer, along with only top quality products that are industry approved.

BUSINESS GUIDE:Bring In More Bucks for Your Business By Hiring A Credible Ocean Freight Shipping Company

Technology has made the world a smaller place. Regardless of which corner of the globe you are, you can easily do business with another individual on another end of the planet. You can close deals in a matter of minutes, have the item you fancy purchased in an online store and delivered at the most convenient time. It is in this aspect that international shipping goes into the picture.
If you have an online store or an import or export business wherein goods need to be delivered domestically or abroad, you'll find that an ocean freight shipping company is an indispensable business partner. You'll have to make a wise choice about choosing the right company to do the delivery of your items to your customers, though. Ocean freight shipping companies offer diverse sorts of services to their clients in terms of sending cargo and other goods to a designated location and as scheduled. Distribution companies, production companies and movers and packers, among others need the services of international shipping companies so that their businesses can thrive and make good. The international trade business can only come to life if the international shipping industry is active. The recent years have seen its development.
Nonetheless, there are also complexities in the way ocean freight shipping companies go about in providing services to their customers. Other than ensuring the safety of the shipment, they have to follow the rules of the countries wherein the goods have to be taken. When choosing an option for a company to ship your items, primarily check the past record of the company. Have ample knowledge about ocean freight, and in this case you have to do your research. The industry has grown competitive so you have to compare quotes for each of the company on your list. See to it that your travel and insurance documents are in place.
The cargo has to be packed properly because the loading and unloading of the container is tricky. It is complicated and it involves a specialized process. High tech equipments are typically used to handle this task. When sending cargo via ocean freight, it should be meticulously checked on the inside and the outside. The positioning of the box should be accorded so that it suits the container accurately, too.
Negotiate on the price before you hire the services of an ocean freight shipping company. Be clear about the terms and conditions and make sure that you have agreed on the specified time when the shipment should be delivered. You always have an option to send your goods via air freight and it is indeed faster, however, if you're an exporter, air freight companies will not allow to transfer your items in bulk. It is, by no doubt, more expensive as well. If your budget is limited, your best alternative for a more cost-effective shipping is therefore via ocean freight. If you hire a trusty and credible international shipping company, you'll skip the hassles of the shipping process and have your goods delivered safely and on time.

BUSINESS GUIDE:How to Plan a Successful Hotel Grand Opening?

If you're planning to have a grand opening of your hotel grand, you must make sure it gives an amazing impression for all the right reasons. Here are the top 3 tips to make sure a successful launch event.
Tip1: Share your vision
This may look to be obvious, but getting the answer- "What, Who, When, Why, Where" cannot be more crucial to the launch of a successful event. The question- "why" is particularly vital because, in the end, if you don't know the reason for organizing the event, you are much less probable to achieve your goals.
Good events don't happen by themselves; it takes a strong army of partners & vendors to get the "wow factor". Share the clear vision with your team, so that they can help you increase the overall experience and eventually assist you achieving your goals.
Tip 2: Highlight the existing features of your hotel
In several instances, event planners concentrate on fully transforming a space to build an impressive event experience which your guests will remember. For a grand hotel opening, you should look for a fine balance between developing an exceptional brand experience, while at the same time encouraging the existing features of the hotel without overriding them with lighting, decor, etc. The main goal is to have guests leave your event with a positive impression of the hotel itself; not merely a good time at a cool event.
If you are not skilled in organizing events, you must take assistance from a professional hotel consultant to make your event grand and successful.
Tip 3: Expand the existence of your event
Many people may think that once the event gets over, your opportunity to make an impact on your guests and customers ends as well. In contrast, the post-event follow up is a potent tool in your armory to continue to cultivate your business relationships from the hotel opening. Just when your guest or customer thinks that the event has ended, have valet surprise them with a bottle of sparkling water or coconut and a thank you note on their car.
Giveaways- don't forget them! Give your existing and potential guest some small giveaways with your hotel name printed on it, so they remember your hotel. It lets guests take a piece of the hotel home with them and memorize the positive experience that they had at your hotel.
Conclusion
An effective hotel grand opening doesn't have to break the bank. Most of the hoteliers have a fear of spending too much on a luxury hotel's grand opening won't get a big ROI, so they choose a very apathetic tour with a simple cocktail reception. Rather, follow some of the above-mentioned steps to make a highly impactful event choice exciting guests and leaving a long lasting impression of your hotel. Connecting your brand (hotel) to your people in an unforgettable way is the most crucial thing to consider when planning the opening of your hotel. Or, the other best way is to hire a professional hotel consultant to look after everything on behalf of you

BUSINESS GUIDE:Secrets of Bonding 121: Are Court Bonds Like Fruit?

Mostly we issue contract surety bonds (Performance & Payment) for contractors and our insurance agent / colleagues. However, we are also an important provider of Court and Probate bonds. We issued a number of interesting court bonds recently so here is some info on this subject.
What Are Court Bonds Are Why Are They Needed?
Generally, court bonds serve three purposes.

1. They provide required protection for the other party in the litigation (opposite the bond applicant)
2. They guarantee the payment of related court costs
3. The court likes them

An Injunction Bond is a good example. In these legal actions one party wants to limit or prevent the actions of another. An insurance agency may request an injunction to prevent a former salesman from soliciting their clients. The court requires the plaintiff (insurance agency) to provide a bond for the protection of the defendant (salesman) in the event it is found that (s)he has been wrongfully restrained.
A Replevin Bond is similar. These are required when the plaintiff (a bank) wants to seize an asset (your private jet) for failure to pay your finance charges. The bond will protect you if it is later found they wrongfully seized "Wings Over Yonkers." See how these work? In different situations the bonds provide the same type of function. The name of the bond identifies the underlying legal action.
Why Do Courts Like Them?
You may think "what's not to like?!" That's true. But the court may require a surety bond for a practical reason. If the litigation involves a financial matter, they could require that an escrow deposit be placed with the court for the benefit of the other party. They would hold this money until the case is decided.
This works, but is not convenient. Where will the funds be held? Who is responsible for their safekeeping? Will there be periodic accounting if the case runs for years? Who pays the expenses associated with this? What if the money is misplaced or stolen?
Compare this to a surety bond: Get the bond, throw in the file. Done!
Even though the court may have the option to take cash in lieu of bond, they may demand the issuance of a surety bond simply for its convenience.
Other Court Bonds
When a money judgment is rendered, the defendant may want the matter heard by the Appellate Court. Let's say Maynard sued Dobie for money and wins a $10,000 judgment. Maynard figures "OK here comes 10 big ones!" However, Dobie wants to dispute the decision so now Maynard has to wait.
In order to bring the Appeal, Dobie must obtain an Appeal Bond which protects the interests of the court and guarantees prompt payment if Dobie loses again. To get this bond, he'll have to give his personal financial statement, his indemnity, and put up maybe $11,000 for the surety to hold. Oh, and pay the bond premium! Why is all this necessary?
Bond underwriters know that most defendants lose at the Appellate level. They also know that the court will simply claim on the bond to pay off the judgement. This means that underwriters expect full penalty claims on defendant's appeal bonds - which is why they normally require full collateral for the judgment amount plus interest and expenses.
Conclusion
Hopefully it is apparent that there is a thread of similarity between these different types of court bonds. This can make it easier to understand them when a client comes a-knockin'.
So why are court bonds like fruit? Because they have appeal!

Steve Golia is an experienced provider of bid and performance bonds for contractors. For more than 30 years he has specialized in solving bond problems for contractors, and helping them when others failed.
The experts at Bonding Pros have the underwriting talent and market access you need. This is coupled with spectacular service and great accessibility.

BUSINESS GUIDE:Effective Meetings Require Time

Do you find that your organization faces the same problems and challenges year after year, with no resolution? Do you discuss the same issues concerns, people, and customers month after month? Do you find that right when you are getting to the heart of the matter in the middle of an important debate or topic, your meeting is over, and you have to postpone to some later date? Do you create goals and plans that do not come to fruition? Do you see this trend every meeting? These are typical results when you do not spend enough time meeting with your leadership team.
Cons of Not Properly Setting Aside Time for Effective Meetings
Have you considered the amount of time, productivity, and growth you have lost by not setting aside enough time to properly make decisions, to debate and resolve issues, to align priorities and to hold leaders accountable? By avoiding meetings, critical decisions do not get made or are made poorly. Meetings give you a time to discuss priorities. Failure to debate priorities and work through issues can bring organizations to a standstill. Leaders wait until the next meeting or for a final decision, allowing your competition the opportunity to thrust forward. Setting you far back in the competition. If you do not make time to meet how will these issues get resolved. While it is counterintuitive to most leaders, spending more time in meetings could actually double or triple company productivity.
Proper Time Blocks
The key is a commitment to setting aside enough time. Time to really focus on the topics that need improving. Assuming you know how to run an effective meeting (and experience says you probably need help), the executive team should be allocating the following time blocks to work on the business, to debate issues focused on strategy, accountability, setting priorities, new opportunities, evaluating your people, challenging the business model, etc.:
• 10 minutes a day for a huddle with your direct team
• Weekly Meeting - 1 hour per week
• Monthly Meeting - 1 full day
• Quarterly Meeting - 2 full days (1 day is Strategic)
Are you following this system? If not it is time for a change. Try it out and see how much success you accomplish at your meetings.
Failure to have these meetings and to focus on the right topics robs you of significant growth and profits. Don't get set back on what could be helping you achieve growth and success in your organization.