Posted on November 29, 2011
Workplace stress is a very real issue for employees and employers alike. While a moderate amount of stress is not necessarily a bad thing, an overwhelming amount can have devastating effects. Causing health issues like headaches, sore muscles, and even manifesting in sickness, stress has affected everyone no matter the job or position.
World Leader
The power, the money, the constant snickering, sneering, and insults of the very people that helped to put you in office world leaders have it rough. This is a highly demanding job requiring wits, charm, and the ability to put up with a constant barrage of inane comments and gross over exaggerations all designed to bring you down and make you appear lost and clueless. At least, that's the case with the President of the United States.
Emergency Response Personnel
Police officers, firefighters, and EMTs are tasked with the duty of protecting, serving, and saving anyone who gets into trouble. This is a mighty responsibility that taxes the nerves and even throws the idea of right and wrong into question.
The icing on the cake for these brave men and women is that they just do not get paid nearly enough for the services they provide and they certainly do not receive as much recognition as they should.
Stockbroker
Maybe for a time in the 80's the stockbroker was not under as much stress as they no doubt are currently. The stock market is a fickle mistress kind and loving one moment and absolutely toxic the next. While these professionals thrive on stress it cannot be an easy thing to keep losing and losing and losing money. Read more...
Posted on November 28, 2011
Most people outside the hospitality industry assume that jobs and careers in this service sector are easy to get and perform. But the reality is far more complex and most positions need a lot of training, hard work, experience and people skills. From hotel maids and wait staff to general managers and chefs, everyone needs to have an innate ability to anticipate and give customers what they want.
But let's take a few steps back to the education and qualifications required. There's a wide network of schools, colleges and universities supporting the industry. Aspirants for executive level positions can sign up for a hospitality management degree. It could be an Associate or Bachelor's Degree, and the candidate would be able to apply for high-paying jobs at brand name hotel groups and companies right after getting the degree.
Those who want to work in restaurants and hotel kitchens need to go to a culinary institution. This will be more of a hands-on education which polishes the skills and talent of prospective and future chefs and kitchen assistants. Note that chefs rank near the top in the hotel hierarchy, right behind the general managers of the hotel and the restaurant.
At the staff level, the hundreds of workers who keep the hotel operational need more experience than education. At the entry level, many are temporary or seasonal jobs that pay weekly and have no benefits. But employment is plentiful and the wages are good.
Anyone willing to work hard has a good chance of being made permanent with all the attendant benefits. Also note that many of the top executives in the hospitality industry today have worked their way up from the bottom. Regardless of their current position or education, everyone has the opportunity to grab hold of a long-term career in hospitality. Read more...
Posted on November 28, 2011
As a contractor, if you don't have a direct response system in place, you are leaving cash on the table. For absolutely every contact you have with any individual who could be a prospect or who might even know someone someday who might need your services, YOU NEED A DIRECT RESPONSE SYSTEM OR YOU ARE MISSING THE BOAT.
What is "direct response" you ask? It's pretty simple. You have to have a valuable offer, and a specific call to action. The worst mistake most contractors make is they hand new prospects their business card and then just cross their fingers. If you haven't noticed: Business cards and other marketing materials are very easy to ignore, lose, and throw away. And websites are even easier to escape. Just click away, right?
This is true unless you have a killer direct response OFFER, and a CALL TO ACTION. This works so well it's ridiculous. And it's so simple. Yet few construction companies use it. I don't know why. I just throw up my hands on that one. For example, a free report could be your offer. Then you could have more products and services available for sale to people who want more of what you have to offer.
Your call to action? Ask people to get on your email list to get more valuable info. Can you do a free report? Sure. Are there other options that might work better for a construction company? The possibilities are endless.
Let me share some examples of direct response techniques that have worked in the past:
One builder I know of has been offering a free hot tub with the purchase of a new home. This may sound like an expensive method. But the cost of this method can be justified by building some of it into the cost of the home. Read more...