Watching out for Value Parasites.

Business owners beware of people who seek to steal the value out of your products or services.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zmtndmfgnnv

BIG MOUTH!!!

I am probably not like many of you I don't make a large amount of purchases through the year of products or services. I have my up years and then I have my lean years. However, I do have a BIG MOUTH! When I like a product I tell everyone. When I like the customer service I tell everyone. When the service is bad - Yep! I tell everyone.

Take for example my cell phone carrier. I had just about tried all the major carriers before I landed in the house of Verizon. You guessed it! Before landing in the house of Verizon everyone I knew in the market for a cell phone heard my opinion about the carriers I had to leave. Ironically, one of them is trying now to treat me with good customer service. OOOPS! To late. I am in the house of Verizon and as long as they keep having great service and friendly customer service I will stay with them. Of course, I will tell everyone.

Microsoft just recently surprised me with good customer service on a return. Granted I thought the product was overpriced but that is another issue. However, I must admit this subsided by the time I finished with customer service regarding my return. No problem and they understood my issue. I ended up downloading a free version and then ordering my own copy. You see business people. At times some of your customers just want to know you care and hear their issues.

Apple is another story. I think most of the items I have purchased from them the warranty must expire when I cross the threshold of my home. To extend the warranty you have to purchase Apple Care. It's not cheap!

I wonder how many business executives calculate the cost of a dissatisfied customer versus a satisfied customer. It seems there is a very small population of business owners and/or executives that understand the concept of taking care of the customer and it's long term affect on the bottom line and cash flow.

However, like I said earlier. I don't spend a tremendous amount of money on new products or services today. BUT I DO HAVE A BIG MOUTH!!!

The Big Picture is Colored Outside the Lines

During our elementary school years we were taught to color in between the lines. If we went outside the lines it was a mistake. We were to conform to a set pattern that had been proven to work and deliver an end result. So why rock the boat. Ironically, it seems we tend to look at many things in life from the same perspective even how we operate our businesses.

We attend various coaching and training seminars with the newest great way to achieve quick success. Each telling us how so and so made it and now if we do just what they did we will get just what they got. Success!

Is there any point in time we stop and evaluate our business to see what factors are equivalent? What things are different? Many times we are led to believe we are doing everything wrong or otherwise we would be holding the training sessions. Therefore, we must saturate our entire organization with their methodology and then we shall see success.

In reality no two business entities are alike; therefore we can’t just stay within the colored lines of dictated methods. Let’s try to go outside the lines in some situations. Let’s start evaluating some of these programs and see what really fits and toss out the rest. Something that works for one organization may cause disaster in another. Be brave! Go outside the lines! Mix and match colors. Try crazy patterns because this may actually work for your market. Have fun and enjoy coloring your organization outside the lines.

When the Thrill is Gone

It is the New Year and many are pretty excited about the unknown of the road ahead. This excitement is good but very short-lived. Around the end of the month the cheers start fading, less people are wishing you a blessed New Year, and the days at work seem longer. Now what?


Do you just sit back and drive down the road of life with no true destination or is there a purpose for you being on the road? If you are just on the road with no purpose then you are just causing congestion. Extra traffic with no purpose but to slow up those who are going places. So why are you here?

What if the answer is not as cumbersome as finding a needle in a hay stack or trying to solve a calculus problem. Perhaps it’s no even rocket science but just a simple truth you just keep ignoring. What if that truth comes forth within the rhythm of your life and the heartbeat of passions weaved into your character? Would you recognize it?

I wonder if you recognized this sound and began to move to it’s beat would you then find purpose. Would you then begin to flow with direction into your destiny? Perhaps as you began to move, a beat would be created that could merge into a sound that could help another find their rhythm and thus flow. Congestion only happens when we are out of flow.

Your Business is Not Your Island

Not sure when this philosophy started but after so many bank failures, major corporations dissolving, and tons of small and medium size business doors closing; the reality we are connected should have birthed a light bulb over our heads. “Hey! Perhaps I need to think broader then the walls of my firm or my stockholders portfolio.”

The reality is when a decision is made in one organization it has an impact on a number of people, groups, and cities. Strangely the budget of a major car dealership in the mid-west has an impact on a small business in California where they don’t even use their product. Imagine that! What about vice versa? The closing of a number of small businesses located in Texas has an impact on a major International company and its budget.

Today, our companies are not our own small islands in which we can afford to make consistent bad management decisions. We must begin to think on a broader level and ask ourselves constantly how my company will affect the global market. Then ask ourselves how will the global market affect my business?

If Cash is King…The Cash Flow Statement is His Wife

In a good marriage the husband and wife have good communication; understand one another’s character, and a good understanding of who rules the house.

If you are going to have a successful business today you had better make sure the marriage between your cash and the cash flow statement has not filed for divorce. In other words, you need to understand how money is flowing through your organization and the impact on operations. Basically, how they are talking to one another. If not, lack of good communication can cause the house to crumple and your only customers are lawyers.

It doesn’t matter the size of your organization make sure you know the exact profit for your organization and if it has already been allocated. Owners should know the true character of transactions – is money actually flowing into the business or is it just a paper entry. (Ex. Change in Accounts Receivable.) This will give you a clear path to plan for the future and make necessary adjustments.

Lastly, it is not the balance in your checkbook but the balance at the bottom of the cash flow statement that truly rules the house.

Eating to the Edge of My Bread

There is an ancient farming philosophy which states you do not harvest your field to the very edge but leave the edges for the poor and needy so they may be fed. Farmers would instruct their staff to harvest only the main sections of the fields and leave the edges alone. The harvest of the farmer would be enough to meet their needs, provide revenue from what was sold, and provide additional seed to sow for the next season. After the land owner would finish harvesting, the poor would come along and harvest the edges of the field to feed their households and provide for their needs.

In my opinion, I believe this could be a secret for having great success in the midst of troubles and prospering when everyone else is struggling especially for business owners. Yes, a business strategy that could actually move you from being in the red to being in the black.

Think about this. How are most of us trained to run our businesses today? How have we seen most corporations manage their cash flow, today? Now, what has been the end result?

Today more organizations run their businesses with a ‘me mentality’. Most believe, “I take care of me and the rest of the population can just try to make it the best way they can.” We can see from our current worldwide situation that this methodology does not work.

On the contrary, we are not supposed to set up systems in which people can sit around and just be taken care of as others produce. This system has also proven it does not work by the example of Africa. Over the years, billions of charity dollars have been poured into this nation yet it still remains one of the poorest nations in the world.


Operation of the Strategy

To implement this strategy you have to think different then you have in the past about what it means to help another. Helping others does not mean I do everything for them and thus rob them of the incentive to work. Nothing destroys a man and a culture faster then the loss of the incentive to create and produce.

To institute this strategy in a business you must first outline it in your business plan and see it as a policy for the entire organization. Set up budget line items specifically focused on developing the widows, poor, and orphans. What service or skill set can this group bring to your organization that will take care of small task (which represent the edges of the field) and how much money can be allocated to pay for these services?

Note, in the example of the farmer he has already harvested the main harvest for his livelihood and operational budget. The edges of the field have not been factored into the equation for regular operational needs. Consequently, the overall organization will not suffer if the task is not completed. In our example, if the harvest is not picked by the widows, poor, or orphans then it will simply dry up and return to the ground to nourish the soil.

A few things to notice in the illustration of the farmer: First, he has proper financial projections to know how much grain is needed for the current season (how much for personal needs, how much to sell, how much to reinvest for a future harvest). Secondly, the vision is properly planned and communicated to their entire staff for proper execution. Thirdly, he understands that as he prospers he has an obligation to take care of those who are less fortunate and give them opportunities. Fourth, he has control over where his wealth is allocated and he can define how others can be helped without putting a strain on his companies operations.

Perhaps you may feel as a business owner trying to survive that you can’t afford to give much less add one more line item into your budget to care for others. Honestly, you can’t afford not to give and take care of others who are less fortunate. Let me put it this way! You may not pay at the moment and you may not pay directly but at some point in time you are going to have to pay and it will cost you much more. Additionally, someone else will be making the decision on how you will give and how much. It’s your choice. You can control the bottom line of your company today or you can hand it over to someone else for them to control it tomorrow. Be mindful that hand may be the government.

For more information on this strategy or help implementing it into your organization please contact EDALS Consulting.

All Eggs in One Basket – Are You Kidding Me!!!

A recent article on banking was released regarding a strategy Commercial banks may adopt to determine who will make a good credit card customer. No longer will your credit score determine who gets the prize credit card but now let’s see how much money you have in our wonderful bank vaults.

Are you kidding ME!!! Let me see if I can grasp this thought process through my non bank owner mind. You want me to take all my hard earned money, place it into your bank thus giving you access to do more of your wise and profitable projects like sub-prime lending. In return you are going to give me a credit card with outrageous interest fees in exchange for the use. Consequently, continue a lifestyle of living on credit and beyond my means. WOW!

Now I will admit I am not a rocket scientist nor am I banker but does this sound like wise money management to anyone except the guy in the big office making all the money. I must admit when I shift and jump over to the other side of the desk it sounds like a sound idea. But then again I am not at all concerned about the customer, their lifestyle, their future, nor their assets being safe. I am merely focused on my bottom line and how I can generate income for my bank and shareholders. No, I don’t want to give people who don’t make payments on time more credit. Nor do I want to give little Sally who has very little cash savings any credit. I certainly don’t care about Mr. Small Business Owner who used the credit card to keep the company flowing between invoice payments. Who cares that Mr. Small Business could not possible keep a large balance in his account because he uses the cash to actually run the business – what a concept!

We are entering into a new era and how we function, do business, and run our financial affairs is going to have to change. Each family and business owner is going to have to look at their individual situations and make tailored plans that will meet the needs of short and long term goals.

Does it make sense to put all your eggs in one basket or better yet all your resources into one bank. In my opinion diversification has always been the best strategy for hedging against bad times and the poor business decisions of others. Today people are going to have to search for ways to get outside the box and develop strategies to meet their needs and objectives. If this makes you nervous or overwhelmed then stop trying to do it yourself. Look to find people who can help solve your problem. In other words, look to build a team with people who are strong in areas where you are weak. If you build houses and you are the best builder in the world then focus on building. But you had better pray and find someone who is as good at business strategy as you are at building houses or your future at building could be shorter then you plan.

Yes, the news may make you sick to your stomach or even temp you to yell at the announcer. In the end big bank presidents and big corporate owners can make decisions that could have a negative affect on your business and lifestyle. However, there is always a way of escape which means you can always find a way legally to get the job done. It will probably take some uneasy adjustments, perhaps a budget, and good partnerships. But you can do it!

This is not the first shift the American economy has gone through since the first day the boat landed. The World just keeps making the necessary adjustments and the people who move make the money the people who wait serve those who moved.

The Faint Sound of Success

Reading a number of articles and watching the news it seems as if there is more information and reminders of the issues then direction or resolutions. Can this really be? Can we really be in a time where there are absolutely no answers but more and more problems?

In my opinion!!! NO WAY! In fact I would even go so far as to say that we are in the best of times even now. Think of it this way. Over the years many things have been done behind closed doors or along the dark corridors of the transaction world. True, some things that are illegal today where OK to do yesterday; it all depends on who is running the ship. Then again there are other things that were never legal and wouldn’t be legal or righteous even to a 3 year old child.

But despite all of this I want you to step back and see the big picture. These cancerous issues that were in hiding are suddenly being pushed to the surface. Who knows how much more damage would have occurred had they continued to be hidden. Not to mention, people who were afraid to step out on dreams are now being forced to take action and seeing their lives bigger and more opportunities coming forth. My dreams are bigger because I can’t depend on the way things use to be neither can I stand on my old comfortable foundations. I am forced to pray and seek something bigger and greater for my life. At times I have to shut the noise of the loud circumstances and listen for the faint voice of Opportunity and Success.

I may have to step into something totally brand new but BLESS God suddenly I have come alive in ways I would never have imagined. Indeed change can be a little scary and seem immense especially compared to the past. BUT! Thank God for the BUT! The blessings and rewards are bigger and better and I never would have known had a not heard the faint sound of success calling me forth.

Will Your Most Valuable Asset be Your Grave?

Each day at least 80% of the World’s population probably thinks of something they could have done but never got around to doing it. An idea that woke them up in the middle of the night but they just tossed it to the side. A passion that haunted them for years but now they can hardly hear it’s faint voice.

How many of you know people with books of ideas or better yet thousands of pieces of paper lying around the house with great ideas. When they explain the ideas their eyes begin to light up, their voice begins to dance, and they seem to suddenly grow younger with each word as it flows poetically. Grace seems to have held back the years, steadied the mind, and strengthened the body.

But reality comes forth as a crashing wave upon a shore. It’s voice overtakes the serene dreamy voice of imagination telling you time has not been held back and all that holds true of your dreams is the ink upon the paper. Tears stream down your face and a question chokes the joy from your heart – Why?

Regardless of how we package the story the reality is most don’t act on their dreams because of FEAR. Fear of Failure! Fear to be ridiculed! Fear of becoming an outcast!

As a Business Consultant my most difficult task is fighting with people as they deal with their inner fears. As much as we fight to admit the truth people, things, and yes even money are not our limitation. Many of us have build up these walls into our minds with these various labels convincing ourselves that is why we can’t produce the dream. I don’t ignore the fact we can’t do things on our own and we will need resources at some point in time. But I can tell you most people never take one step towards their dream rationalizing they need help, they need money, they need whatever. The truth is they need courage to take a step and they need to be delivered from the fear of people.

I would like to ease your mind today just a little. If some of your reason for not stepping out in your dreams is the thought people will talk about you, people will reject you, you will make a mistake, you probably will not have enough money. I just want to ease your mind and let you know all the above will happen; sometimes all at once; sometimes at different times. But I can guarantee that at least two of them will indeed happen.

So then why step out. Your dreams were given to you to help others and the only way for us to benefit is for you to transfer the dream from paper to reality. Don’t die with your dreams still unfulfilled. The cost is to great for those who have been waiting. There is no benefit to anyone if your grave is the most valuable thing your life produces.


© 2009 EDALS Consulting. All Rights Reserved. Please visit for more information or to contact EDALS Consulting.

New Economic Systems for Today's Success

Christmas Blessing

Hello All,

We at EDALS Consulting wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Just wanted to send you some information that we pray will be a blessing.
Feel free to pass it on to others. Be sure to give us a call or send an email with feedback.
Look Below!!

Take care and God Bless,
Denise D. Johnson

Please click on the GoldMail link below to play the message I made for you, or copy and paste it into your browser.

Your speakers must be
http://play.goldmail.com/dbr0kje4rfia

Prisoner of Hope

A copy of the Message on Planning (becoming a Prisoner of Hope).

Please enjoy

http://play.goldmail.com/yqjcplf9zcna

Denise

Pads of Life

Initially, at a glance the pads in this photo look as if they are standing alone. However, a closer look reveals they are indeed connected. Our lives are much the same way. The people we meet. The events in our life all seem like things that just happen and have no relevance to one another. What if we dared to take a closer look.

I bet we would find out that the major events in our lives and the people we have met along the way all connect in some shape are form to bring us to where we are today.

Prison Dreams

Have you ever had a dream that just would not leave you alone. In fact, the more you tried to ignore it the tighter it seemed to get around your mind. We at EC (EDALS Consulting) call these Prison Dreams.

Why Prison Dreams...Great Question! I know intially your mind went negative because of the term Prison. However, in the Webster 1828 addition it defines Prison as 'something that confines in any manner'. Now imagine being confined by any matter to your dreams and they would not let you go until you acted upon them. This is not such a bad thing because it means that even excuses could not stop you from moving forward.

Nonetheless, these kinds of dreams can be a little uncomfortable if you don't know how to act on them or get into some type of format others could help bring it into existence. Let's see if we can help you get a good start. Take a piece of paper and write out your dream, sketch it out, do whatever you must to get it on paper. Don't try to make it pretty because that is not the objective at this moment. You can hire people to make it look and sound pretty. The primary objective is to get it out of your mind into something more tangible. You will be amazed just how much better you feel doing this step. Then begin jotting down ideas of the types of people you will need to pull it off successfully and the funding.

Spend a little time each day working on this project until you begin to see things happen. If you don't have all the resources initially just begin to set a little money aside in your budget. No! Stop that negative thinking. You can do it! It may take a little time or it may happen quickly you really don't know until you begin do you.

Let those dreams hold you in bondage tightly until they come breaking out in every area of your life and inspire others to grab ahold and help bring it to pass. Remember passion is contagious.

For more information on Business Consulting or to refer a friend contact Denise D. Johnson at denise@edalsconsulting.com. We are never to busy for your referrals.

2008 © EDALS Consulting. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be used without the written permission of EDALS Consulting.

Schools Back - Now What?

Even if you don't have school age children I guarantee this season is affecting your life one way or another. In some ways it may be happening without your knowledge. Think about the last few stores you just happened to venture in to pick up a few last minute items. How much extra advertising did you see? What types of items were being advertised?

What does this have to do with your budget. Great question! Some of those items you have been putting off purchasing for the big shopping day may be better deals today. Flip through some of those Sunday advertising we tend to toss to find some great deals. Scan the internet to see if some of your favorite stores are having a real SALE. BUT!!!! BUT!!! Stay Focused!

Make a list of the things you need that fit into your current budget and only purchase those items. No matter how good of a deal it seems. Stay on Your budget and the fullness of your life with Peace shall come.

For more information of Business Consulting or to refer a friend contact Denise D. Johnson at denise@edalsconsulting.com. We are never to busy for your referrals.

2008 © EDALS Consulting. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be used without the written permission of EDALS Consulting.

Walk the Narrow Way

Walking the narrow way through to your goal may seem difficult and challenging at times. Nonetheless, if you stay focused and don't give up you will make it up the path and accomplish your task.



This picture was taken during a walk through the Smokey Mountains in TN. By the time I got to this point following the trail me and my hiking buddies were tired. Just before this path appeared the trail had gotten really narrow and covered with all kinds of weeds, rocks, and mud which made it very difficult to see the places to step. But we just kept walking believing we were going to make it and our footsteps would not slip. Then low and behold our reward was a clearer path.



My point..Just keep walking down the path you have set before you no matter how tough it seems to get. Yes, even in the area of finances. Set a plan and stick with it no matter how difficult or how often you think you heard a little voice tell you it was OK to make that last little purchase.



If you need more information on Money Management or Business Consulting feel free to contact Denise D. Johnson of EDALS Consulting at denise@edalsconsulting.com .



2008 © EDALS Consulting. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be used without the written permission of EDALS Consulting.

Current Seminar: Joseph Principles of Success

Imagine being disowned and cast out by family and close friends. Imagine being under estimated by just about everyone around you - yet you know there is success somewhere but you just can't seem to connect the dots.

Now imagine suddenly understanding who you are and how to use the giftings specific to you in order to get ahead and be recognized by even the very elect.

If you felt something in the pit of your stomach get excited then you probably want to hear this seminar, "The Joseph Principles of Success".

"Thank you - I appreciate your open easy way of passing info in an understanding way."
(D. Munson - business owner)

"This was excellent and the references to Joseph's life cemented these principles."
(S. Royston - lawyer)

"You have helped so much with my family and cash reserves. May God bless you."
(A. Oliver - Grandmother)

"Excellent Seminar."
(B. Felix - Pastor)




Seminars will include such subjects as:

• Preparing for Financial Famine
• Positioning Self for Promotion
• Teachable - the roadmap to hidden success