From the monthly archives:
Over at 37Signals, I noticed a post linking back to Cooper’s new office phone and a question.
” If you were tasked with redesigning the corporate office phone system from scratch what would you focus on ? What’s key ? What’s not ? What’s overlooked ? What’s missing ? What stays and what goes ? What annoys you most about the office phones you’ve used ? ”
Head over there and throw some freaky phone feature suggestions their way. If we can’t give them great advice, who can ?!
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I’ve always wanted to start my own business. I’ve had a few false starts and setbacks, but in the next two weeks I’ll finish up work at my current job and move into my new offices as co-owner of my new start up. I’m thrilled, excited and terrified, all of which are good things. I’ve worked for plenty of start ups and dot coms in the past and hope that experience helps me this time around. I’ve also been a manager before my tech career and I know those experiences will come in handy too. But nothing really prepares you for running your own business like running your own business.
The first thing we had to do was to get our business plan put together. A business plan is just that, a plan for how you want your business to go. It is not a list of things to do, it’s a broad over view of how you think this will go. It’s a summary of your ideals, beliefs and mission. It’s a break down of projected costs and income. And if you don’t end up doing it 5-10 times then you aren’t doing something right. Even after you finish it, you aren’t really done with it. It is very much a living, breathing document that you’ll revise as your business grows and changes.
We had to get one ready for our business and we’ve never had to do one of these before. But don’t worry, there is help. One of the places we looked at was Bplans.com which has a large selection of sample business plans. We must of have looked at dozens and dozens of them. There’s so much that goes into a business plan that you won’t think of on your own, so following these examples is a great start. But seeing examples wasn’t enough.
We could have put our plan together in Microsoft Word or Excel but we ended up using a program to make sure we got everything right. My partner Steve did most of the work putting it together and he used a program called Business Plan Pro. Using a program helps you get everything in the right order and format. Presentation is a big part of a business plan. It shows you care about what your doing, that you’ve thought things through and that you know your industry. As you move through your business plan you’ll identify your weak spots and strengths as well as think about things you might not have.
Having a solid business plan is very, very important. You might be tempted to skip putting a plan together, but I highly recommend you go through the process. You’ll discover so much about your business and you’ll see potential problems and proper planning is just smart business. A new business has a very high chance of failure. More than 50% fail in the first 5 years. Give yourself every advantage you can to beat the odds and succeed.
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I’m all about jewelry - it’s one of those things that I just can never get enough of. Especially bracelets. I have well over 100 that I love like kittens. Okay, maybe not as much as kittens, but I am quite fond of them.
The BLACK AND WHITE TYPEWRITER KEY BRACELET above is from Uncommon Goods and is begging, in its own cute little way, to join the masses. It’s handmade from the round keys that were featured on old typewriters. That was insensitive of me….they’re handmade from the round keys that were featured on classic typewriters.
Fiesty and elegant at the same time, it’d be a total hit around the office. The website also has a matching necklace - with one key. You can choose which letter you want - an initial, maybe?
Never let it be said that I overlooked or slighted the male population. Check out the cute cufflinks - also handmade from the classic round keys.
From the website:
“Pick two of the first letter of a name, or go with two different letters to form initials - either your own or those of someone you love, so you can really wear your heart on your sleeve.”
They’re also from www.UncommonGoods.com.
“….wear your heart on your sleeve…” How UnCommonly clever.
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I know none of you even think about surfing the web while at the office. But if you WERE to ever recover from workaholism and want to cruise the net without your boss being the wiser…check this out:
WorkFriendly.net transfers your favorite site into a Word file…..so if anyone were to peek over your shoulder (some people are just straight nosey), it looks like you’re hard at work.
Too slick.
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Below are the Hot Offers Office Depot is serving up in August. If there’s anything you need (or want)to add to your office, Office Depot would be the place to turn and this would be the month to do so.
Save $30 off any $150 purchase from Office Depot in August!
Bijour Microfiber Manager’s Chair $89.99 after $10 Instant Savings! Expires August 12th.
Save $10 to $20 Office Depot® Brand Traditional Bookcases! Expires August 12th.
Everyday Low Price $49.99 & Under Office Depot® Brand No Tools Furniture! Expires August 12th.
Everyday Low Price $49.99 & Under Office Depot® Brand No Tools Furniture! Expires August 12th.
Linksys® WRT54G Wireless-G Router $49.99 after $20 Instant Savings!
Expires August 12th.
Everyday Low Price $49.99 & Under Office Depot® Brand No Tools Furniture! Expires August 12th.
Everyday Low Price $49.99 & Under Office Depot® Brand No Tools Furniture! Expires August 12th.
Ativa™ DQ60M Diamond-Cut Shredder $29.99 after $15 Instant Savings! Expires August 12th.
Office Depot Supervalues! Click here to check out this week’s sizzling hot deals & steals!
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I saw this little guy for the first time today while on the Solutions website. I was looking at a “Cat Tower,” until my eyes landed on $289. There it was - 289 reasons to browse around in another department. My cats don’t have that kind of money.
I browsed through the kitchen section, the Halloween and Christmas departments, and then capped it all off in the Home Office goodies. The Halloween and Christmas sections were a little sparse - convenient stores carry more holiday decorations, but the Kitchen and Home Office sections were quickly bookmarked.
I’m really smitten with the Screen Cleaner (pictured above/detailed below). It’s a unique dual microfiber pad that’s safe for computer screens, TV screens, scanners, copiers, and even plasma TVs. I don’ t even have a plasma tv, but I’m impressed nonetheless. I HATE fingerprints and smudges on my screens with a passion - nothing like Joan Crawford’s disdain for wire hangers, mind you, but I’m not tickled by them. This little gadget could stay handy enough that even the husband would maybe possibly one day use it once.
The Facts:
From the Website:
“In addition to cleaning virtually any kind of glass screen or monitor, this handy pad reduces static build-up so the item stays clean longer. The one-piece cleaner has two different pads—one for dust and another with a revolutionary non-liquid cleaning compound that won’t spill or dry out. The tray base keeps it clean and the whole unit is compact enough to store in a drawer or within easy reach on your desk.”
I love the fact that it can be kept in the desk - that’s a lot more than I can say for my rag and can of cleaner. We might just have to try this one.
When you get to the other side, search Computer Screen Cleaner. Voila.
Smiles,
Joi
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