Think hard before suing

Ah, law.  It is an imporant institution, but there are often better ways to handle a dispute.  I'm not trying to disuade you, but please be aware of the following items when deciding to take someone to court.

Its super expensive

I hope that everyone knows about how expensive it is to hire a lawyer.  Their rates are notoriously expensive, and can sometimes be measured in 5-minute increments.  Unfortunately, there also may be court costs associated with your suit, costs to pay off in the case of a loss, and the costs that may be passed on to you to pay for the other party's defense, if your lawsuit is frivolous.  In all, bringing a court case can cost tens of thousands to millions of dollars in fees alone.  

It will take forever

Another thing that lawsuits are notorious for is the time it takes to have them processed.  The courts are overworked, and they often have difficulty getting cases through their tight workload.  And schedule problems aside, there are a number of different motions you can make in court to get more time.  One example is the Motion to Extend Time, which allows a someone three weeks to submit an answer to an allegation.  

You have to put complete faith in a stranger's judgement

There are likely very people reading this who have a lawyer on retainer.  And hopefully very few who have so much contact with a lawyer that you would trust their judgement without a second thought.  For those of us who don't spend our time in court, we often have to trust that a lawyer has our best interests at heart and that we can trust their judgement when it comes to law matters.  I am terrible at accepting things I don't understand, so this is one of the strongest issues that might prevent me from executing a lawsuit.  

Any prospective business relationship is ruined

Lastly, there is a long-term consequence.  If you pursue a lawsuit, it is unlikely that the defendant will ever do business with you again.  You may even be on such poor terms that they begin to dissuade others from buying your product or service.  A lawsuit can be one of the most effective ways to burn bridges in history, so be sure before you do so.  

Why NOT to use business jargon

Jargon, basically, is a set of words used primarily by specialists for discussing a specific field of study.  Jargon is supposed to be made up of words that have very specific meanings to define exactly what you are trying to say.  But business jargon is often meant to confuse and mislead.

Bad reasons to use jargon

1. To sound smarter.
2. To cover that they don't know a better word.  
3. To make other people feel stupid.   
4. To fit into a group.
5. To evade difficult topics.

Why they're all terrible reasons

Because none of them is the reason jargon exists - to make things clearer!  Each of the reasons above is hiding truth for different reasons.  In one case, it is a weapon, in another a shield, and in another a white flag. Thankfully, I can keep using those metaphors because their use is too wide spread for them to become jargon.  

Words to Avoid

You can find a good list here.  Or here.  Or here.  Or any number of other places on the internet.  Personally, I despise the phrase touch base.  I think it has something to do with my dislike of baseball, though I'm not even sure that's where it comes from.  It gets more difficult when you try to avoid words that you learned had specific meanings, like I did in grad school, but don't have perfect synonyms.  ><

What you should say instead

Say Exactly What You Mean!!!  That's not so hard.  Putting your thoughts into easily understood sentences was something we learned before we entered junior high school.  Then, in the years of schooling since, we learned to be indirect when writing.  I, and everyone else, appreciates it when you say things succinctly and clearly.

Meeting Etiquitte

Meetings are a fact of life, unfortunately.  No matter what business you work in, private or public, for-profit or non-profit, people have to get together and talk.  That's all it is.  But in the business world, there are many unspoken rules about how a meeting runs and the etiquette surrounding it.

Deciding to have a Meeting

This is the most important step.  Meetings are formal requests to use someone else's time, and often require them to perform some work prior and after - making them a drain on the person.  A meeting also takes time away from other activities, so there is a very real opportunity cost to holding one.  Finally, you have to be sure that the topic of your meeting can be addressed best this way.  Not everything requires, or even benefits from, having everyone involved.

Setting up your Meeting

So you've decided to have a meeting.  There are x things you need to consider.  The attendees, time, and place.  

Choosing who you will invite involves both planning and politics.  First, be sure to invite the people who you absolutely need, such as contributors or approvers.  Without at least a portion of them attending, there is no purpose for your meeting.  The second group is determined by the interpersonal relationships and power structure.  Anyone who isn't a stakeholder and doesn't have the clout to get in the door can be overlooked.  But there may be people who may be offended if you don't invite them, even if they likely won't attend anyway.  Remember, meetings over nine people tend to be for communication, not work.  

The time and place will be determined by your attendees' availability.  When setting up meetings, first find out if someone else controls the calendars, and, second, have two or three time frames (2-3 hours) in which you can make it.  Be more flexible with your schedule the more important it is to have a certain attendee.

The Meeting

First, show up on time!  It is not hard to do, if you schedule properly.  And, in the USA at least, it is impolite to be late.  For me personally, it is one of my biggest pet peeves, and will sour me on a first impression.  

In the meeting, if you are in charge, be in charge.  Make sure to tell the group what the purpose of the meeting is.  Have an agenda, to make sure you address important points. Moderate discussions to make sure they don't run too long.  Respect the thoughts of those in the room.  Respect everyone's time.  

And if you're the attendee, be helpful and productive.  Try to be familiar with the meeting topic and agenda (if available).  When the meeting is called to order, sit down and give your attention to the moderator.  Respect the thoughts of others.  Be helpful when asked questions.  Give your best when asked to address a problem.  Don't be rowdy.  Just be well-behaved!

Post-Meeting

Responsibilities after a meeting really depend on the culture of the organization.  An emailed thank you may be appropriate.  Many attendees appreciate minutes.  Agreed action items should have timely follow-up.  At the very least, thank the attendees for their time.  Time is so valuable!  

Defining your customer

For some companies, the question "Who is your customer?" strikes them as too simple.  They sell to everyone. They sell to people with two feet (everyone).  They sell to people concerned with money (almost everyone).  People with a home (everyone).  People in the United States (not everyone, but still pretty big).  You should definitely have something more substantial than that!

Benefits of a Defined Customer

• You can really get to know exactly what your customer wants.  This applies to all of the marketing concerns - price, product, promotion, placement.  
• You can reduce spending on advertising and promotions by targeting where and when your customer is most receptive.  
• Your employees have a clear idea of who will buy, making them better able to focus.  
• You can calculate the value of a customer, and decide how much you want to spend on each. 
• Your people will have a better idea of what you do.  
• If you do it well, others may gravitate to your offering just because it has a strong, desirable image.  

Creating Segments

The key is to segment the total market into chunks you feel you can serve well.  I'd suggest starting with a geographic region, such as the USA or New York City.  Then you can further subdivide that group into smaller segments that fit your product.  You can use combinations of the following factors, or any other way of distinguishing people that makes sense.  They generally fall into two categories.

• Demographics - age, sex, race, income
• Psychographics -  personality, values, attitudes, interests, lifestyles

There have been many text books and business books written about the customer. I suggest you give your customer some thought, and if you want to get deeper into talking about your customer, start by reading the wikipedia page about Market Segmentation.  If you really want to get deep into it, the book Market Segmentation: How to do it, how to profit from it by Malcolm McDonald is a great, thorough text.  

What is money?

Money, of course, is why most people are involved in business.  At its basest level, it is anything that represents the value of a person's actions.  In the case of the USA, that means green slips of paper.  Canada, it was multi-colored slips of paper.  In Yap, they use giant stones.  Seashells, silver, food.  What makes thedollar, yen, and euro special is that they don't have any purpose beyond representing a person's value to society - and money allows people to exchange it.

Power

To some, money represents power.  It has long been known that the people who have the most money tend to have everything they want - even things that are not for sale.  It can get people to do things they wouldn't normally do.  The phrase "Everybody has a price" refers to the cost required to get people to do something they wouldn't normally by paying them enormous sums of money.  And with enormous wealth, often comes the ability to break the law and receive a reduced punishment, even for such heinous crimes as murder.  

Living

While money does sometimes bring out the worst in people, it is a strong means to the end of living in our society.  The capitalist system works under the assumption that every action should receive a reward based on the demand for that.  Companies pay people for their services in the form of employment.  Employees pay companies for food from a store.  Each person, in theory, receives money from the market that is comparable to what the market will pay for their services.  So you need to use and be familiar with money to live.  Caves in the woods are no longer prevalent in North America.  

Side-item

Then there is the concept that you should do what you love.  If you find something that the market will reward, and that you love to do, you will do your job for pure enjoyment, and the money will be just a side benefit.  This represents the ideal strategy because it reduces the severity of the word "work" to the fun of the world "play."  

Tool of Oppression?

The problem with money is that it tends to accumulate over time.  And that means that people who have made a lot of money, and are prudent, can continue making more and more money, passing it on to their descendants.  And where there is no money, it is difficult for people to achieve.  Which is one reason why the black minority in this country isn't making drastic financial steps, even 40+ years after what some consider the "end" of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.  

I like money.  From what I've learned, I believe that it enabled the world to grow beyond a few small city-states through trade.  We just have to make sure that it isn't also our downfall.  

Challenges

Challenges in Business

There are many different definitions of challenges, and it is amazing how many apply to business.  In my mind, it is the single most important word you can have in your vocabulary when dealing with business.  First, it is:


A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking

Welcome to a job that offers a challenge!  The zest of a tough fight, well fought!  It is exhilarating and energizing.  It reminds you of your own strength and the power of your will.  And the definition above is certainly descriptive of today's business arena.  With improved efficiency, large corporations, and cost-cutting, you may be challenged every day to keep yourself employed and the company on the track to success.  For some, it is more... It's: 

A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition

Business challenges you to succeed.  It beckons you with the promise of the fun you can have testing your skills.  That test of skills can be decided, with a winner and a loser.  And best of all, it doesn't have to be decided by you!  The market will act as the referee and you can really bare you teeth.  And you'll need everyone behind you, so challenge is also: 

To summon to action, effort, or use; stimulate

Challenge your people to do their best work, and you will likely get it.  People revel in the knowledge that they can do something great, and are united in the cause to do something great.  Make sure they don't let the stimulus slip.  Keep pushing, and your company will grow big and strong.  You'll be a challenger!

One who competes against the holder of a title or championship

Personal motivation, leadership, management advice, goal - Challenge is a huge part of business.  Remember that as you lament the difficulty of your job.  And also as you seek to improve it.  

Your Workspace

I'm sorry for the lapse, all.  I have a strategy for not letting that happen again.  ><

Now, on to something truly important to a businessperson - the office.  Your office is any work space that belongs to you.  It can be a traditional four-walls-and-a-door office, a cubicle, a desk sitting in the warehouse, or a room in your home.  The key is that it is yours.  You spend your time there, it reflects on you as a person, and you should make sure others perceive what you want them to.  Below I've given you some tips on how to furnish your office to best effect.  

Keep your office tidy

No one likes to be neck-deep in unfiled papers and folders.  For many, it makes it more difficult to get work done because things are getting misplaced.  Or, if you're naturally untidy, it means that four months from now a coworker is going to ask for a report from today, and you'll have to dig through three inches of papers to find it.  But more importantly, people perceive a tidy desk as indicative of a tidy mind.  When your office is organized, people believe you are as well.  It doesn't take much time to maintain, once you've done it, so make it a regular part of your end-of-day routine.  

Picture say 1000 words... about you!

The pictures, paintings, photos, printouts, etc. of your office will tell people a lot about what you value.  If you have an entire wall covered in pictures of heavy metal bands from the 80's, you won't get much respect.  On the other hand, if you cover the entire office area with work memorabilia, charts, and graphs, people will think you have no life outside work.  You want a balance represented in your office.  Consider adding a few photos of your family or friends.  A couple nice prints of your favorite painting are good conversation pieces and make the walls less bare.  My personal favorite is to dedicate one wall to drawings of important concepts.  A mix like that will show both your professional and personal side, while still remaining modest.  

Furniture Arrangement as Personal Feng Shui

The furniture in your office may be nailed to the floor or otherwise immovable.  But there are things you can change to suit your self.  Putting the couple chairs far away from your desk suggests you welcome visitors.  A potted plant can make the place warmer with its life.  And if you can move your furniture around, all the better! Then visitors can see how independent and creative you can be with your space.  And how strongly you can exert your sense of control!  

Room use sends a message, too!

So far I've talked about how you set up and decorate your office.  But you also have to think how you'll use it. If you are always busy with individual work and can't (don't like to be) bothered, you can keep your door closed and/or turn you desk to face away from the door.  If you like to have everything printed out and at your fingertips, your desk may be completely full (but still tidy!).  If you want to have lots of visitors, put a candy dish just inside your door - everyone will stop to say hello and eat M&Ms.  

Just as your appearance says volumes, so does your work space.  A person's office is their sanctuary and their fortress, providing a safe anchor spot at work.  Treat it as if it is a part of you, and it will reinforce your message with power.