Forward Looking Business Training

  This week on The Beancounter Series we will talk about selecting the ‘Right Fit’ employee, and then ensuring we set them up for Success!  ‘Ability is nothing without opportunity.’ (Napoleón Bonaparte) ***Note: In our blog we only touch on the concepts; at the end of the week please consider our Forward Looking Guide: Select for Success .  The hiring process is often considered a one-sided equation; however, selecting the ‘Right Fit’ should work both ways as the team must have the right members, and the member must have the right team. For those who question the two-sidedness of this, you can be assured the most talented will only stay when the work environment is congruent with their own values, needs and desires. Selecting the right team member consists of two primary phases: the first being choosing the right candidate, and second, taking the appropriate steps to ensure they are successful. Selecting the team member includes: - Determining what the ‘Right Fit’ is for ...

  This week on The Business Blunders Series we will be talking about Business Continuity Planning.  What is Business Continuity Planning and why is it important? First of all, it is not about impending doom! It is about continuing operations during unfavourable circumstances! Contingency Planning is critical in any organization: fire departments will map out hydrant locations for every building and home, they will visit each commercial establishment and become familiar with the contents, alarms, and fire suppression systems, and they will place all this information into computers on the trucks so that crews have it at their fingertips as they roll down the road. Businesses will back-up their data, secure their facilities, maintain their equipment, and carry insurance as a last resort. Some will take additional steps such as generators, emergency lighting, and even secondary locations in the event they must vacate the primary.   However, there is far more to Contingency Pl...

  Have you struggled with making the transition from being an employee to becoming a business owner? Are you finding out the hard way it is not as glamorous as it looks from the outside? Becoming an entrepreneur means going from one boss to hundreds or even thousands of bosses, and keeping them happy means the difference between eating or not. I have personally known many small business owners who make it past the getting customers stage to then struggle with concepts such as managing cash flow including remembering all of the factors they must consider; in fact I was entertained when I was in the shop while a client took twenty minutes to explain rent, equipment, utilities, insurance, advertising, benefits, and finally salary hours versus billable hours and warranty returns to an employee who questioned charge out rate versus his wage. But here is the thing; many others have done it, and many of them are willing to help! Not only that, there are many resources available to help yo...

 Not everyone learns the same way nor can all subjects be taught in the same manner. While many people focus on university education there are others who are interested in the trades. While some subjects are taught in a lecture hall, others required a hands on approach. Some require both. Once formal education is complete the learning has only just begun as experience is the other side of the coin. Moving on to learing environments, while classrooms, labs, and tradeshops are common, so has become online courses, virtual classrooms, and books including digital and audio. Forward Looking Solutions is combining formal education and experience in accounting, human resources, engineering, and emergency services to provide clients with a unique approach to problem solving. Although we are certainly available for in-person training both in the class and remote, we are also providing online courses, books, and guides. We are excited to announce we are currently in the process of converting...

  Do you feel like you are spinning your wheels? Are you one of those who are trying to recreate the wheel? When someone experiences an event which others learn from, we call this history.  There are many people out there who have tried it, failed at it, and done it! Why not draw on their expertise? It is a small price to pay! There are an unlimited number of consultants who may be available to help you solve almost any problem. There are also many platforms for learning including ebooks and short on-line courses. At Forward Looking Solutions we offer on-line training, ebooks, and are available to work with you one-on-one. http://forwardlookingsolutions.ca/

Business requires many people from different walks of life where each is a link in the chain. You cannot sell your product without the marketer, you cannot deliver it without the driver, there is nothing to sell without the fabricators, the machine does not run without the mechanic, and the chain goes on and on! Find your place in the chain, and excel at it! As many push university education we cannot forget there is more to the world than doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Even though I am a CPA a day does not go by where I wish I could rewind the clock thirty years and become an electrician. Why, because the work they do fascinates me and their roll is essential to everyone in every corner of the world. The trades are in need, and many tradespersons make more money than many university graduates. Don’t overlook the opportunity. The third book of The Beancounter series will be dedicated to the trades; if you are a tradesperson and have some stories to tell, drop me a line at forwardlook...

  Travel, like meetings, can be either productive or ineffective depending on the how and why; this has been an issue long before, and will continue long after the Pandemic. While touch base discussions and information sharing on video is quick, effective, and efficient, events such as strategic planning, team building, and leadership development are far more effective when in person. I have experienced these types of situations both on video and in person, and can say for certain many critical issues were resolved during physical presence, and some during the hours after the office was closed. I believe we will return to times of physical presence, but with a better appreciation of the how and why. What do you think?