Plan B's with Technology

Having a plan B when it comes to technology

     Planning around technology is like trying to predict the future of a two year old. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get them to obey orders and recognize why you know best. Alas, having a back up to your back up plan is important to alleviate the pain when your business is inevitably interrupted. Most things are beyond our control but we must plan for them like we have some semblance of what needs to be done.

     Outside third party issues are nerve racking, a blizzard in Minnesota knocks out a satellite dish and now you don’t have internet in Southern California. A fuse blows in Texas and your phone calls won’t go through to your neighbor down the street. Both actual reasons why your business can be affected and you can’t do anything about it. Understanding the problem is the first step to getting past the issue.

     How long will the satellite be out? How long until the fuse gets changed? Find out and be honest with your clients about the problem. And even though it may not be your fault, take responsibility for it and reach a mutual understanding with the clients and the delay in helping them. Most clients will completely understand and for the ones that don’t you may have done yourself a favor in letting them go because they may be more trouble down the road.

     Take the time to set up a backup plan and back up your data in either the Cloud or some other alternative. Keeping valuable information secure in multiple locations will help if your main office gets destroyed and/or catches on fire. Connect your cell phone to your office lines and know how to forward calls anonymously before something happens to your provider.

     Whatever you have to prepare for, make sure you do prepare ahead of time. It doesn’t matter if your business is two years old or twenty you need to have a Plan B and C in case A is interrupted. And remember, it may not be your fault but it is your problem so be prepared so you don’t take your eyes and goals off taking your business Up One Level.

Cut Your Losses

Cut your Losses,

    In life, there are times we must admit our mistakes. In our personal life it may be saying we our sorry and buying flowers. In business, it can mean the difference of lost money or a company’s reputation. Sometimes, it is best for a business owner to cut their losses, admit they were wrong and find another way to keep their business moving forward.

    

     Face it, not all programs and systems work for every company. Ford’s assembly line doesn’t work in a Senior Home, and McDonald’s timing system doesn’t translate into an artist’s creative genius. For small businesses, experimenting to find the correct way of doing business along with hiring a good mix of support staff can be difficult and may require changing course. And the first step is admitting you were wrong.

     Is a business relying solely on computers for tracking information? Is the company a services business with clients or does it have a product to sell? How important are employees to the welfare of the company and does it have a key person it cannot exist without? Getting into the basics of functionality will not only help with the identity of the company but it will show where money should be used to improve the business.

     Remember the old saying, “Work ON your business, not IN it.” Take a good look from the company as a whole, do you have the right people in place? Do you have reliable systems with back up plans in case a computer is lost? Do you have enough money going into research and development? Most importantly, is your company turning a viable profit and are you a reputable company people are giving positive thoughts?

     It is OK to admit your mistakes, cut your losses and find something else that works for your situation. Victory can make us weak because we settle on our laurels and we must learn from our mistakes. Take that leap, admit your mistakes, buy those flowers and always strive to take your business Up One Level.

Afraid of Success and What is Next?

Afraid of Success and what is next?

     Often times we work very hard to produce a desired result and achieve greatness. We plan, organize, act and then look at our progress to make sure we are still aimed at our goal; only to pull up short of the finish line. Are we afraid of what will happen after we hit our goals? Are we able to continue progressing if we do not have a direction or course to take in our lives?

     I’m reminded of the story about the Apollo space shuttle and the mission to reach the Moon. The entire country was wrapped around the possibility of touching the Moon’s surface and returning a man back to Earth. This was on the mind of the country and NASA got to work. Everyone at NASA talked about what was happening and everyone worked harder so the mission would be a victory.

     The janitor mopped harder because he was doing it to help the scientists and engineers do their job. The Engineers tirelessly worked to insure the safety of the astronauts who would share the glory. Everyone from top to bottom stepped up their game and put in more effort. We reached the Moon, and after everyone celebrated they wondered, what next? They had done something spectacular and did not have further direction for the future.

     Sometimes businesses set their goals too low. They plateau and stop growing because they don’t know what to do next. If you find yourself in this rut without direction, do some daydreaming. Brainstorm what it would be like if… what you would do if you had… how you would act if you could only do… And then start to plan, organize and act towards achieving your new accomplishment. Set the bar high and you may just surprise yourself. With this, always continue to take your business Up 1 Level.

Reinvention

Reinvention.

 

     There are jobs and there are careers, a job is something you do and a career is something you think you will do for the rest of your life. You think this way until you do not think that way anymore and your forever plans turn into…

     The excitement builds as you train and throw your heart into the business you want to succeed in. You can think of nothing else because you are sure 30 years from now you will be doing the same great thing, only better because you will be an expert. Then the word reinvention comes to mind when what you wanted to do is not what you thought or something else comes along in life.

     At this point, do you leave the comfort of what you have been doing? Is it going well for you and what you thought it would be? Is the grass really greener on the other side? The answers can be scary as you move towards self-doubt and begin to wonder what it would be like to take a Left instead of the faithful Right.

     Today’s world is vastly different from 25 years ago, unrecognizable from 50 years ago. Times when a person worked in one place until retirement, left with a gold watch and a pension to go home and rest are long gone. The trend now is to find something you are passionate about and chase the dream only to sell the dream back to someone else at a later date.

     If you do not have a Golden Parachute you have to rescue yourself from the sudden stop at the bottom. Reinvention can be the wind current to change your sails and push you towards safety. Do not be afraid of the winds and be available to change course. Just know and understand, whatever you do, be prepared to learn and continue growing your knowledge. Besides, there is still time to earn the gold watch and still follow your dream as you take your life Up One Level.

Being Perfect?!

     I’ve been accused of worse, but when someone accuses me of being a perfectionist, should I be offended? The issue I see is everyone knows they are not perfect, and I don’t ask someone to be perfect but I expect perfection. Let me explain.

     Seems in today’s world, everyone thinks they are an island. With access to the internet and every answer imaginable only fingertips away, people forget to ask for help. Excellence can be easily obtained with teamwork but only if a person learns to ask. If you utilize another person’s strengths while admitting your weaknesses you may find perfection in your work.

     Speed is a lousy excuse for not achieving perfection. Cutting corners, skipping steps and generally not caring about a person’s work is becoming all too common. My thirteen year old son rushes to get his homework done so he can play video games. Then I took away his video games and he did not have a reason to hurry but still did because his mindset is he “just needs to get by” and that is enough to pass.

     ‘Just getting by’ will never lead a person to perfection. Some people quit before even trying to aim for perfection because they have decided to already fail. Then, the next best thing is to tear down someone who is doing more than getting by and actually aiming for perfection. So they call that person a Perfectionist in a bad way as though it is an insult.

     So go ahead, aim for perfection and make someone try to tear you down. We all know with help you can hit perfection if you really try and take your time. People commonly ask me what I know about the subject and I always tell them I talk to myself often about it. Because even I need to consult an expert once in a while and why not someone who is already perfect! (hope you are laughing) Up One Level!

 

Brian Walker

Finding a person's potential

Finding a person’s potential:

 

     Motivation leads individuals to greatness and gives them the ability to accomplish laughable goals and unbelievable accomplishments. The trick is finding out what type of motivation is needed to get someone to believe in themselves. Everyone learns and listens differently, match the needs and style and you can have monumental success.

     Over the years, I’ve hired many people; some were good, some were not so good but all had some motivation other than the primary needs of food and shelter. Most did want money but the successful ones strived for a higher form of pay then their check. Filling a sense of belonging, having a partnership and flexibility within the job kept most coming back to work on Monday.

     What do you offer your Employees? What have you asked your Employer for? We would love to hear your ideas and past experiences. Find us and comment on Facebook at facebook.com/RilynnCompany or add comments below this post. By sharing ideas and practices, we can make businesses employee friendly and hire the best and the brightest to give them what they want to succeed. In this way, we can all take our business Up 1 Level.

 

Brian Walker

The power of a Good Feeling

The power of a Good Feeling

 

Workdays can carry a natural routine if you let them; we get up, get ready and go to ‘work,’ sometimes without thinking. Sure, some of us stop by the local coffee shop or slam an energy drink to get a jumpstart but end up in the same place. We have time off with holidays while begging for that week of vacation that never seems to come and goes by too fast.

     Does the above sound like you and your situation or are you loving your job and getting up early to be at work? If you are early, you may have the power of a good feeling. Some say attitude, some say outlook, but when you walk into work, are people happy to see you or do they look away? Kinda scary to think about…are you worried now?

     Your situation is yours; own it as you own your most valued possession. Do what you will but you cannot get away from it so it may as well be positive for you. If you are still reading this, chances are you are already a Good Feeling person full of life possessing a drive to succeed in being happy. I’m speaking to you at this moment.

     Starting tomorrow, go out of your way to spread your good feelings with someone you care about or someone needing to be lifted. They are not hard to find. Share with them a new joke, a short story or famous inspirational quote to help them through their day. The change in them will change you and the proverbial ball will continue to roll as you move about your day. When the alarm clock sounds tomorrow, choose that opportunity to take your good feeling Up One Level.

 

Brian Walker

2015! The Year of Years

2015! The Year:

 

I’m not one to talk about the past, nor did I willingly participate in the previous ‘bad’ economy, but gosh darn it, 2015 is here!  So much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to this coming year; the possibilities are endless and the hope is growing.

     If you don’t know, I run the Rilynn Professional Building in Sun City near the corner of Sun City Blvd and Cherry Hills Blvd. We have executive suites, mailbox services, conference rooms and a large meeting room. So I feel I have a finger on the pulse of what is going on with the small businesses in the area. Take it from me, that pulse is getting stronger and the new blood is starting to circulate.

     More and more people have expressed their desire to start a new company and purchase a mailbox. This gives them credibility and doesn’t show the world where they live. Most of these businesses are second incomes and/or hobbies but it is a big step that could turn into their dreams of the future. To top that, every other day someone asks me about office space or we talk about getting their ‘group’ started in the meeting room. This flexibility allows them to break out of their house and get away from all the distractions while working from home.

     The excuses are fading, no elections this year, the housing market is picking up and the 215 Freeway is actually being completed. Add in the excitement of new restaurants, Wal-Marts, bowling alley and movie theaters going in and Menifee is the place to have a business. The transformation of a bedroom community will be complete in the next 5 years as developers come in and finish projects long forgotten during the recession.

     2015 will be the year, the year for what is up to you. Sure, do your New Year’s resolutions and set your goals and think positive, you’ll be amazed at what happens. Smile at people you don’t know, take a left instead of a right and continue to take your business in 2015 Up One Level.

 

Brian E Walker, MBA, LUTCF, DTM

I want to wait?

     “I want to wait...” So often I hear this statement coming out of someone’s mouth but really what they are saying is “I need an excuse at this moment.”

     2015 will be here momentarily, are you ready or are you going to wait? (Just kidding you can’t) Wait to hit your business goals? Wait to take the next step? Wait until…? It’s time to start preparing for the New Year and start by setting your goals. Not New Year resolutions, not someday when Jupiter, Uranus and Earth align, actual goals and rungs to reach for in your business.

     A quote going around Facebook today is: “Good things come to those that wait WORK THEIR TAIL OFF.” Fitting for current events and with all things considered going on in the world. The Economy is recovering (so ‘they’ say), gas prices are down, election season is over and it’s the dawn of a new year. Why not take advantage of your time and talents and start to put the pieces together for your life puzzle.

     Make the move today, physically or mentally, but take more than a moment to plan, act, and do your goals with no limitations to hold you back. The regular excuses don’t apply today, because tomorrow is a new day and there isn’t time to wait for the New Year. Take your business Up One Level.

 

Brian Walker

CEO, MBA, DTM, LUTCF

Hitting the Sweet Spot Month, Take Advantage of It!

September 12, 2014

 

     With the close of summer upon us and the kids back in school, September has the potential of being an amazing month for business. Very soon, the holidays will be here and we’ll get distracted by the excitement. These months are the ‘sweet spot’ for a final push towards your yearly goals.

     What are you going to do differently in the next 30 days? Go to a Chamber event? Schedule a meeting with a personal coach? Are you going to jump in and tackle that nagging problem you’ve wanted to solve? Whatever it is, the time is now before it is too late.

     The Rilynn Company has been busy putting together activities and seminars in the meeting room and around the building itself. Social Media Educationals, Toastmasters, TEAM Referral Group and Tupperware have been keeping the place lively and causing the doors to swing. Many people come to the building several times a week to learn something new from an expert.

     Open enrollment for Medicare starts October 15^th, if you or someone you know qualifies for Medicare, please consider talking with Nency Gonzales. She is becoming an expert in Medicare and truly cares about her clients. With her years of insurance experience, she not only helps her clients, she educates them as well so they know what they are getting before it is too late.

     Consider doing something new this month, out of the box and away from your comfort zone. The results may surprise you so enjoy the changing business season, the changing of the weather and enjoy the changing you!

Micro Managing

     The bad news is you can’t do everything by yourself; the good news is you can find someone else to help! Many self-employed people start a business with a dream and a goal. They have a product, they acquire customers, they make sales and everything is great in the business world. However, when the challenge of making enough product and finding or maintaining the client base becomes too much for one person it is time to hire employees.

     This article is not about how to find employees, rather how to manage an office. When you start a company, it is your child, your world and you put everything into it. Therefore, micro managing is common because you want it your way and your way only. Trust becomes a big issue and you need to stop looking over the employee’s shoulder and start managing.

     Personally, I like to give my staff a job to do and walk away from them. I have some of the best and brightest people around and they are very capable of handling anything thrown at them. Many times, they teach me things as they have become the specialist and I have remained the generalist. This would never be possible if I was still controlling their every move.

     If you trust yourself, trust your hiring skills and get the right people in place. Then, after a little training, step back and let your employees do their job. They may surprise you as you realize you are not the only person caring about the business. This will allow you to do bigger and better things by focusing ‘ON’ your business and not being dragged ‘IN’ your business. Don’t be afraid of success as the business grows; just know the good news will turn into you not being able to do everything by yourself.

To be or not to be...Appreciated

     It is great to be appreciated and it makes us feel good; no matter if you bask in the limelight or like to hide in the shadows. An extra handshake, pat on the back or public announcement of a job well done goes a long way for a person. Being appreciated isn’t the only reason we do things, but it helps us to want to do it again.

     If you have employees, the easiest way to show your appreciation towards them is to pay them more money. Buy them lunch, give them a bonus or raise their salary. However, if raising their wage is not financially possible, an employer needs to look for other ways to show they care.

     Simple things to ‘change’ up the week can catch an employee off guard. Have a casual Tuesday and let the office wear jeans, call them Thursday night and tell them to take Friday off for good behavior. Send their spouse a ‘thank you’ card in support for allowing their significant other to work overtime on an important project. These three things can change an employee’s outlook with only a little extra effort and rearrangement of the schedule.

     Business owners constantly think about ways to improve their business, however improving the happiness of their staff can make more of a difference than just tweaking the numbers. If you are unsure, ask your staff what they want and wait for an answer; it may surprise you. To be or not to be, the answer is always to appreciate, as the old cheer goes: Two, Four, Six, Eight…who do we appreciate?

CEO... Chief Everything Office or...?

     CEO…Chief Everything Officer or Chief Executive Officer; Are you working in your business or ON your business? Almost every day I ask myself this question as I get to the office early and leave late, first in, last out mentality. Do I get up for another cup of coffee or send someone else while I finish a task actually making me money? Is the gossip at the water cooler worth the 15 minutes and (most importantly) productive?

     Time management is important for goals, deadlines and priorities need to be set. Boundaries for how much TV watching, talking with friends and window shopping can be determined so more time can be devoted to positive projects and not time wasters. As we all know, even the richest people only get 24 hours in a day to be successful.

            The next time you are out playing a game on your cell phone, ask yourself, “is there something else I should be doing?” If the answer is yes, stop and take the correct actions to reach your goals. If you don’t have goals, put a slot of time into your day to think and daydream about the person you want to be. This can be for personal, work or whatever else you feel is necessary to make you smile at the end of the day. Because waking up knowing you are a better person can help you stay motivated to accomplish even more as the CEO, even if it means you are the Everything Officer.

RILYNN Company Inc. welcomes new team member

RILYNN Company Inc. Welcomes new team member

The Rilynn Company is proud to announce a new addition to the insurance team, Candice Samson. Candice has her Property and Casualty insurance license and has many years in sales training and in the home field. She worked for another insurance agent before coming to the Rilynn team and has also worked in property management.

    

Candice was raised in Menifee and has lived in the area since age four. She attended Paloma High School and lives 3 blocks from the home she grew up in where her mother resides. She has been married to her husband Brandon for over 11 years and has two beautiful children. Her daughter Jeweliann is ten and her son Christopher is nine, both of them have straight A’s and are doing fantastic in school.

   

While Candice is not working, you can find her in the garden, at the gym or spending time with her family. However, when she is working, she will be handling the Commercial and Workers Compensation Insurance for the Rilynn Company. If you have a question about your companies work comp or liability, give Candice a call 951-934-0630 and introduce yourself.

Networking organizations, Community Service & Hobbies,

     Throughout most communities, many clubs and organizations fight for attention and donation money. Some groups are for networking, some to help others, and some are used to keep one’s attention on something fun. All of them serve a purpose but it comes down to where a person feels comfortable and quite possibly, where they can contribute the most.

     Many people stereotype organizations from rumors or one experience they have had in the past. Make note, every club can be different, even if they share the same name. A morning club could be different from the evening club, a networking group or chamber could be different than the one in the next town. It all comes down to the people, time, and if they have specific goals for their organization.

     When selecting a club, recognize its strengths and your particular goals, if they are the same you could have a match. Then go and visit, at least twice to experience the environment, atmosphere and how everyone treats each other. This will give you some indication if you can help them as much as they will help you.

     I have been fortunate to be a part of so many groups in the past 18 years. Some were for growth, others were for networking but the service organizations were my favorite. However, everyone changes, and even though you or I may not be a part of one particular group anymore, they all hold a special place in our heart and we are grateful for being there. It is better to have loved and left then to drag out something, so continue to grow and your community will grow with you.

wait, what was that?

Sometimes you have to take a moment to relax and enjoy…wait, what was that?

     Distractions play a role in day to day life and most are unimportant, yet we focus on them instantly. Email bings, text alerts, phone rings, bathroom breaks and water cooler gossip cut into our important life activities because we let them.

     In sports, coaches always yell at the players to focus; focus on the ball, focus on the offensive player, and focus on the game itself. In business, you need a coach to tell (or yell at) you to focus on your work and finish what you started. Turn off the ringers of your phone, turn off any alerts you have for emails or texts and keep the gossip to a minimum. However, go to the bathroom often, drinking plenty of water is a good thing and bad things can happen if you hold it for too long!

     If you set an agenda for your day and have a plan, you are more likely to finish everything you need to get done. Take the time to do this and you will be happy you did, then thank your new coach for helping you focus. All the while when you are…wait, what was that?

Monthly Costs...but how much?

     While discussing insurance, the number one question is “how much is it per month?” The common response: “That’s too much!”

     No matter what the coverage, no matter what the factors are, no matter what the company, people feel insurance costs too much. So let’s look at a few things while you read this drinking your Grande Mocha Frappuccino Skinny Latte costing $4.80. You have your monthly costs, but how much CAN it really cost you?

     Most insurance companies have their target clients; number of assets, income, household size and location. The companies price their products based on these factors and some companies want the people willing to pay more for better coverage while others target the minimum payment customers. Next time you talk to your company, ask them how much it would cost to go to the ‘next level’ of insurance coverage, it may surprise you.

     Increasing your coverage may only cost you a cup of coffee or an HBO package per month and we are talking double or triple coverage. Like interest on a credit card, your purchase today could add up in the future if you were to cause a major accident. The attorney on the other side doesn’t care about your lifestyle or how you like your coffee or what shows you watch and they will go after your income.

     For a little bit more money per month, look at adjusting your insurance up and don’t always think the insurance costs too much. After an accident, you will be glad you have the better coverage and you can never have too much.

Minimum Insurance; The Dreaded Scenario

     Insurance, the dreaded word everyone doesn’t like to hear until something goes wrong.  Some people view insurance as just another bill, others think of it as some kind of government rip off while others consider insurance a valuable tool to protect their assets. It is true, if you drive a car on public roads or have a mortgage on your home you have to carry some kind of insurance coverage, however, the different types and limits can be confusing if you don’t know what to look for.

     If a person with limited assets gets insurance, they commonly buy lower limits of insurance. State minimum in California is 15/30/5 covering the driver for damages they cause up to fifteen thousand dollars per person, thirty thousand dollars for injuries per accident and five thousand dollars for property coverage (car you hit, fence, light pole, etc.). When was the last time you heard of someone going to the hospital and the bill costing less than 15 thousand (full price charged)? Also, I’m still searching for a 2-3 year old car costing less than 5 thousand. If you have not figured it out, a driver should have -more than the minimum for coverage, however, I get frequent comments like “just give me whatever I need to drive” when quoting an insurance rate.

     Insurance premiums can be a substantial part of the family budget but it is meant to protect the person hurt because of a brief lapse in judgment or careless mistake. Don’t let one accident ruin a lifetime of hard work. Review, understand and increase your coverage when necessary so when something goes wrong you won’t be dreading that word, insurance.

     Call Georgetta Gans, Nency Gonzalez (hablo espanol) or Brian Walker for more information and to get a quote to protect you against people with low limits. Multiple companies available to quote if qualified.  951-672-3476

New Toastmasters in Menifee; AM meeting!

     Are you one of the many people afraid of public speaking? Does your current level of communication hold you back from a better job? Do you want to improve your current skills to gain self-confidence?  If so, another Toastmasters Club is coming to Menifee and they are looking for new members so they can Charter in January.

     Toastmasters is known for being a ‘public speaking’ club but it offers so much more than being able to stand in front of people. You will gain self-esteem and learn how to listen better to other people along with having lots of fun. “The stories and information shared is so interesting while you learn about lots of topics” says Georgetta Gans who has been a member for over a year (in another club).

     Currently, there are two clubs meeting in Menifee; Menifee Toastmasters and The Leadership Connection, both meeting every Thursday at 12:05pm and 6:30pm, respectively. The new club will be meeting on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday’s of the month at 7:45am for all you early risers. Nothing starts your day like speaking and coffee!

     The location is the same for all clubs: The Rilynn Professional Building located at 27070 Sun City Blvd, Menifee 92586, near the corner of Sun City Blvd and Cherry Hills Blvd between Provident Bank and Stater Bros.

     Contact Brian Walker for details at 951-672-3476 or company@rilynn.biz for more information.

 

Rilynn Company Inc.: Carry Full Coverage...or Else

Rilynn Company Inc.: Carry Full Coverage...or Else:      Traffic slows down at the common rush hour times in Southern California daily and without fail. You can set your watch on it and I...