HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As many of you noticed, we did not send out a newsletter in December. We had great intentions, but… there’s just not enough time to do everything and I truly believe in work/life balance. December to me is family time, so I did what was absolutely necessary for work. The rest of my time was dedicated to family.

I don’t want to bore you with all the details, but on December 17^th, my son Cameron graduated from the University of Wisconsin with his BA in Journalism. So Bill & I were in one of the coldest parts of the country during the holidays, but it was definitely worth it. 

Last April, Cameron’s identical twin, Jason, graduated from Eastern Michigan University with his BS in Psychology. He immediately went into the US Army as a Second Lieutenant. He is currently stationed in Ft. Benning, GA. 

Bill & I still have one more in college. Brian is in his 2^nd year at the University at Arizona studying Business. But the good news is – there’s only one in college now. Having 3 in at the same time for the last two years has definitely been a challenge. We are excited about the “pay raise” we should see this year since we have 2 down and 1 to go. But on the other hand, we also are losing 2 dependents for tax purposes. Go figure! 

Anyway, we’re excited about 2001! Our website is currently being re-done and will be launched next month with new exciting products and lots of valuable information. We would love to hear from you. Please send your thoughts, ideas and questions to debra@tgassociates.com.

 All of us at TG & Associates want to wish you a fantastic 2001.
May it be filled with happiness, prosperity and lots of love.

Planning for Success in 2001

As you look forward to an exciting new year, now is the time to establish the results you would like to see by the end of 2001. Once you have thought about what you want to accomplish, you need to devise a written plan of action to make it happen. This is the time when you should reflect upon your life and honestly evaluate what it’s all about.

 Having balance in your life is very important to your personal success and ultimately to your business success. Many people get so busy “doing” that one day they realize they are mentally and physically exhausted. They are feeling burned out and not having fun anymore.

 If you are still having fun and are still excited about life, great! Make sure you focus on keeping it that way. But if you’re not, it’s never too late to get your life back on track. 

Below are some questions for you to ponder as you reflect upon your life.

1. When your alarm goes off in the morning, are you anxious to get up and go to work?

2. Are you excited to be in your current profession?

3. Do you “love” what you do? (Notice I said “love” not “like” — there is a big difference!)

4. Do you feel like you are spending enough quality time with family and friends?

5. Do you get enough quiet time so you can meditate, read, be creative and plan?

6. Are you able to exercise and take care of your health?

7. Are you looking forward to work, at least four out of five days each week (80% of the time)? 

If you answered YES to all seven questions you are doing a good job of cretaining balance in your life and are probably a happy person. If you said NO to any of the above, now is the time to focus on ways to turn them into YES.

 It’s important for you to remember that you have a choice in everything you do. You need to pick your priorities and create a plan of action to succeed at what is really important to you. You must also remember that you cannot do everything.

If your work is becoming all-consuming, then it’s time to look at how you can delegate more, empower your staff, develop trust, manage your time better or restructure your priorities. 

The year has only begun. take the time to figure out a way to make this your best year ever. remember, life is Not a Dress Rehearsal. this is the real thing. Now get out there and Just Do It!

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Hiring Tip: WOTC

Finding good employees in today’s workplace is definitely a challenge. If we are willing to think out-of-the-box, there are opportunities out there to find good help. I’d like to share what one of my customers has done.

Howard Kack, owner of Mojave Copy & Printing in Victorville, CA has developed a dynamite team over the last two years. He has created an internal culture that is diverse, motivated, dedicated and happy. By thinking out-of-the-box he has brought on board employees who are hard working and proud to have their job. 

The one example I want to share is Howard’s hiring of two individuals from the Welfare-to-Work Program. The first person began as the delivery person and doing bindery. Now one year later, she is a Customer Service Representative and operates the High Speed Copy Machine. The second person has been on board 4 months now and is doing a fantastic job as the delivery and bindery person. 

The biggest obstacles centered around training because neither one had ever been employed. Training was needed in two particular areas: job-specific functions and workplace etiquette. 

Howard’s manager empowered herself to spend one hour every single day working side-by-side with each of the individuals until they were up to speed in their job functions. Not only did this show true team spirit; it gave the new employees a sense of confidence. Finding the time to do this was not easy, but the payoff has been fantastic.

 I have personally spent time with each of these individuals and they are very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to create a life for themselves and their children. They are proud and they love their jobs. 

Besides having two dedicated employees, Howard has been able to take advantage of the WOTC – Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This benefit has resulted in a tax credit of approximately $5,000 - $7,000 for each of the employees. Check with your individual state to find out more information. I think it’s definitely another avenue to check into.