Tips and Advice
Business plan
The Bush administration has embraced the move toward a more corporate leadership structure in housing authorities, and the current HUD leadership has encouraged the trend. In a global sense, it is about standing the system literally on its head: Putting the bottom on top. Local housing authorities are typically on the receiving end of something that someone else starts, explains Rick Gentry, a past president of NAHRO. Programs begin on the banks of the Potomac and then filter down through a number of bureaucrats to the local administrators. Compared with this traditional, trickle-down system, the private-sector model has more of a focus on active, creative development.
Beyond the business plan
Wallace discusses the need for painting industry and contracting professionals to create and incorporate a business plan. This plan should take into account not only the financial needs of the company, but also the personal needs of the owner and employees.
Where have all the business plans gone?
Many companies today have not been able to adapt to the changing marketplace for one significant reason - failure to create a dynamic business plan. To be strategic, a company needs relevant, realistic and measurable goals that chart its course.
Business advice: a minefield of uncertainty
Mentoring on higher and more formal levels is provided by the NZ Institute of Management, which scrutinises, trains and accredits mentors drawn from its senior ranks of Associate Fellows and Fellows, who invariably have a broad knowledge base to draw on, are widely experienced and in many instances hold formal qualifications. In the formal advisory sector, the Australasian Institute of Enterprise Facilitators is a generic source of competent advice and intervention.
Creating a business architecture
A good business architecture creates a flexible, modular set of business capabilities, which can make integrating acquisitions easier and even make divesting go more smoothly. Starting new lines of business also becomes easier with reusable process, data and systems definitions. The result is a more consistent approach to building and managing business capabilities and allocating resources.
In general, specialize
Property managers all know property management requires someone with skills in everything from financial analysis to marketing to building systems, and on and on. If you want to be of real value to your employer or client, become the go-to-guy for something. Become someone people seek out for a key skill or experience you and no one else brings to the table. You must discover your talents and interests and develop the underlying skill sets. After investing the time and effort learning your area of expertise, continue honing these skills. Having a niche on top of being more than competent in all other areas will make you uniquely valuable to the profession.
Picketing union actually good for business in Boise
Union members stood in front of High Desert Harley-Davidson in downtown Boise Feb. 16, handing out neon yellow flyers with pictures of Kim Jong-Il, Fidel Castro, and Dave Thomas, the owner of the Treasure Valley Harley dealership.
"Which of these Dictators is helping drive down wages in Boise?" is the question posed in bold letters on the flyer. "If you guessed Dave Thomas, owner of High Desert Harley Davidson then pat yourself on the back!" The flyer asks recipients to call Thomas. "Tell Dave Thomas to use a contractor that pays Standard wages and Benefits in the Boise area."
Meanwhile, in front of heavy traffic at High Desert's dealership on Chinden, three people held up a long yellow banner that said, "High Desert Harley Davidson - Shame, shame, shame on you!" The three people, Hal and Patricia Lemoyne and Ronnie Merritt, were recruited by the union. Hal Lemoyne said he was at the Boise Rescue Mission when he got a job offer for himself and his wife. He said he is paid $12.50 an hour.
Doing business in Pennsylvania: A rust-belt renaissance
Despite some outside misconceptions, Pennsylvania is a state with a thriving and growing business environment. Though not widely known, Pennsylvania's attractive business atmosphere has not gone unnoticed. The March 2001 issue of Site Selection magazine, for instance, ranks Pennsylvania No. 6 of its top 10 states in the nation, recording the highest total of new corporate facilities and expansions. The December 2000-2001 issue of Plants Sites and Parks ranks Pennsylvania as the No. 8 Bizsite Hot Spot in the U.S., and Business Facilities magazine ranked Pennsylvania as No. 3 of its top 15 states for growth in the biotechnology industry.
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