• You give others the satisfaction of learning a new task
• You reward others with more responsibility
• You free up headspace to allow you to focus on other strategies
• You empower those around you to achieve more

Here are a couple of tips to help you delegate.
Trust people
One of the biggest reasons you don’t delegate is because you don’t trust other people to complete a task or activity your way. Once you accept people will not do things exactly like you (and maybe your way is not the best way…) you will be better equipped to trust others. Accept that sometimes 80% (not 100%) completion is better than 0% completion.
Trust yourself
Believe you will give people the best instructions on how to complete tasks, know that you are the best person to delegate activities. Trust what you know.
Try delegating small tasks first
To build your trust when delegating, start with small and less important tasks to build up your confidence that people can follow your instructions.
Create a template for task delegation
Write down specific details of the action, the date and time required, relevant documentation that relates to the task and the interested parties in the task. Explain this to the person you are delegating to, then check off the completed task against your template or written instructions.
Asks the person to repeat their understanding to you
Once you have delegated the task ask the person to describe back to you (in their own words), what the task is and how it is to be completed. At this point you can clarify any misunderstandings.
Communicate your expectations
People don’t read minds. Be clear if you have expectations, explain these in detail and once again get the person to repeat them back to you. If you have a certain way of doing something and you want that repeated – make that very clear.
Set clear timeframes
Be specific about when you want the task or activity completed. Be specific about the date and time and provide the reasons why this is required. Often when delegating we get frustrated because people don’t complete things in the same time we do, understand while people are learning it may take more time.
Give feedback
Once the task is completed let the person know how they performed according to your instructions, expectations and timeframes.
Reward the delegate and congratulate yourself
Take time to recognize their achievement through praise or an appropriate reward. Congratulate yourself for trusting someone else to complete activities or tasks you would normally complete yourself.
Release control
Recognize you can’t do everything all the time and you may benefit from the help of others – learn to delegate. Remember delegating will help boost your productivity and help you focus on more important tasks while still achieving results – challenge yourself to delegate something today.
Story by Neen James
Neen James is an International Productivity Expert. She demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing results. She is a dynamic keynote speaker, author and executive coach and business mentor with a unique voice, high energy, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense. Find out more at www.neenjames.com – P.O. Box 1764 • Doylestown, PA 18901 • 215-230-0835

Are my clients/customers there?

Here’s where you start…Your clients or customers, think about it, there is no point in being where your target audience isn’t. Now, you need to base this on facts not just if you think they are there or not. Too many people just assume that Facebook is for kids, when in fact the fastest growing demographic on Facebook is the 25-45 age group.
Start with a look at your target audience; are you selling to businesses or to consumers? If you are selling to consumers, then you have come to the right place. Define your ideal customer, their age, gender, what do they like to do, what groups would they be in, then think about where in Facebook (what groups or fan pages would they be on) and start to participate in those groups.
Businesses are really just starting to get involved, realizing that Facebook just recently opened the doors to businesses, so it’s just the beginning.

What’s involved in developing a strategic presence on Facebook?

Facebook in itself is NOT a marketing strategy, but how you use it is. This is not a place to truly sell, most people are not interested in your advertising, however they are interested in…themselves and their friends.
Networking has always been and will always be about the relationship you have with people. Just having a page on Facebook will not guarantee anyone will ever find it or become a fan of your business. You will need to be able to Attract attention, gain peoples Interest, get them to Desire your products or services and ultimately persuade them to take Action.
In using the time tested formula of AIDA, it will help guide you in creating a successful campaign to leverage Facebook to grow your business.
Just putting a page with your products and services on it won’t win you any points, determine how to add value to your connections and think about what’s in it for them.

How does Facebook work into the overall Marketing Strategy?

How do you currently stay in contact with your clients/customers, prospects, newsletter list, and employees? Think about the progression of communication over the past 10 years, from phones to cell phones, personal email to networks like Facebook. How will people like to receive communication from you?
The advertising industry has taken a massive hit with technologies designed to remove advertising messages. For TV there is TiVO and DVR, you can just fast forward through commercials, radio advertising was crushed by satellite radio and the iPod, newspapers almost wiped out due to free content online, and email marketing’s continual fight with spam filters.
So how does Facebook fit into your overall marketing strategy? Once you develop a presence on Facebook it is best to incorporate it throughout all of your marketing, just like your website, the more methods of communication that you can have with a prospect, or potential customer, the more likely they are to see your message.
Since this is not a sales environment, it is more suitable to become the expert in your industry and share information about what’s happening to position you and your business as the go to person for information on your industry.
The bottom line is that successfully marketing in Facebook is a long-term commitment, not something to try once in awhile. It is all about the relationship and not about getting a ton of friends and fans. Know who you are trying to target, figure out where they are in Facebook and how it will tie into your overall marketing plan.

Dan Beldowicz is the VP of Business Development with Single Throw Internet Marketing, helping companies attract new customers and generate new business through Internet Marketing and Social Media.
He has spoken about Internet Marketing and Social Media for groups including the Business Marketing Association, American Society of Media Photographers, MoveAhead One, NJAWBO, SCORE, Morris County Chamber of Commerce, Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, and Somerset County Business Partnership and is on the Faculty for the Association of Strategic Marketers.

People love their septic systems—or at least don’t mind them. When properly maintained, the lowly septic system is an efficient, if not especially glamorous, underground workhorse. The big selling point? No city sewer bills to pick away at the family budget. Do a load of laundry, flush a toilet, and empty a bathtub; everything just drains away to…somewhere else.
When people do not maintain their septic systems—and you know who you are—that’s another matter. A broken pump, blocked line or a poorly draining leach field is more than just a stinky inconvenience. The matter becomes a health issue, an odor issue and possibly a huge bank account issue if a leach field has to be rebuilt.
Fortunately, septic system owners have an ever-expanding array of monitors, safety screens and filters to help them keep track of how well and efficiently their systems are operating. With these high-tech devices, homeowners—from within the comfort of their own living rooms—can know instantly if there is a problem with their septic systems. Those on the go can get the messages sent to their cell phones, too. The excuses are gone.  There are several companies that are providing new and innovative solutions.
Dave Couture is pump division sales manager for PolyLok, a Wallingford, Connecticut, company that distributes an impressive array of accessories and equipment for those in the septic industry.  PolyLok, like others in the industry, offers alarms that are triggered when a filter or system is not working properly. Some alarms are wireless, using a device that is installed in the system and operated by a battery. Others require a bit more installation work such as running electrical conduit that connects the alarm to a buzzer in the owner’s home.
Couture said Minnesota is one of several states that have begun requiring new and retrofitted septic systems to have alarms and similar monitors installed before gaining approval. He sees the trend continuing. In many areas, regulations include requirements for alarms on filters, too.
In the past, Couture and others who make components for onsite systems have said that too many septic systems have endured years of little or no maintenance. Filters are especially important because they remove solids and protect the customers’ leach fields.
While PolyLok recommends that homeowners have a professional install the monitors to ensure they meet any local codes, he said it is a simple job that some people choose to do themselves. The cost of the alarms, filters and monitors is relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the alternative of rebuilding a leach field.
“It makes sense to use one when you have a very expensive leach field out in your yard. You would not want to redo that leach field if a couple-of–hundred-dollar alarm with a filter would keep that from happening. It is a protection of your investment.”
Unfortunately, unless localities require such monitoring systems, many people will continue to leave them out of their septic systems.
“A lot of people want to cut costs on everything, and if it is not mandatory, they will not do it. An initial little investment up front is definitely worth it in the long run,” he said.
Other accessories that have become popular in the industry have to do with safety—keeping people and animals out of septic tanks.
To that end, PolyLok and other companies make safety screens, screw-on lid covers and padlocked tops for tanks. Again, mandates for such obviously necessary safety devices are hit or miss, depending on the area.
One of these companies, the BrenLin Co. of Herman, Minnesota, is promoting its Seal-R Ring and Seal-R Lid, two devices aimed at making maintenance easier and cutting installation costs.
The Seal-R Ring is a lightweight, polyurethane sealing ring for septic tanks, according to the company’s website. The ring, which creates a watertight seal between the tank top and riser pipe, allows each to be installed easily and quickly with polyurethane foam sealant. The seal is a barrier to groundwater and prevents leaks into the tank.
The Seal-R Lid is a cover for plastic dual-wall riser pipes. The sturdy cover installs quickly with screws and has a gasket to prevent groundwater from seeping in. The lid is lightweight, so service can be accomplished without heavy lifting.
To work efficiently, septic systems need to be properly maintained and monitored. But looks count, too.  To that end, Couture said his company has several styles of artificial rocks—fiberglass and plastic decorative landscape stones—that help hide septic vents and well covers. He said the rocks have been well received. At a recent trade show, in fact, few people could resist touching the rocks that were on display; they look so realistic.
Gary Koteskey of Sim/Tech Filters in Michigan oversees another company that is an industry leader for septic components. The company is promoting a pump vault that can be used as a filter tower. The device also has applications as a step system for a septic-effluent pump.
“The big advantage we have is we can filter wastewater before it comes into the vault. We use standard filter tubes. The two-inch vertical standing pipes become our guide rail, and they extend above the water level in the tank. These are all exposed, and you can service the filter more easily,” Koteskey explained.
“Nobody else has done this in the industry. You can just slide these tubes off. We also make a maintenance tool, or stopper, that can slide into the two-inch pipe. The tool closes off the intake holes into the vault. It assures that no debris enters the vault when someone is servicing the filter tube or pump vault,” he added.
Sim/Tech also has brought to the marketplace a device for accurately determining the amount of sludge in septic tanks. Koteskey said those who maintain onsite septic systems have been hampered because they do not have tools that consistently and precisely measure or sample wastewater and other fluids. Sim/Tech’s TruCore changes that. The design permits a contractor to take a sample without creating excessive turbulence in the vault.
“Because there are no restrictions caused by valves, stoppers (or) flaps…fluid is allowed to flow freely and virtually undisturbed into the sampling tube, creating a true core sample of the contents of the tank,” according to Sim/Tech officials.
“TruCore also has a relatively large sampling capacity compared to other sludge core samplers on the market,” Koteskey continued.
Filters, alarms, monitors and similar controls—all of which are relatively inexpensive—are vital to the proper operation of septic systems. The best way to keep an eye on how well a system functions is to have someone else—or something else—do it for you.

Taxes are one of the most important issues facing small and growing businesses. And like a company’s profits, its annual tax bill will in part reflect the owner’s skills and knowledge. Business owners need to be sure that they are meeting all of their responsibilities to the tax man — and also seizing every opportunity to reduce their taxes. These tax tips will ensure Uncle Sam is not getting more than his due.

1. Writing It Off: Deductions
   Businesses can deduct all "ordinary and necessary" business expenses from their revenues to reduce their taxable income. Some deductions are obvious — expenditures in such areas as business travel, equipment, salaries, or rent. But the rules governing write-offs aren’t always simple. Don’t overlook these potential deductions:
   Business losses. Business losses can be deducted against a business owner’s personal income to reduce taxes. If a business owner’s losses exceed personal income for the year, some of the year’s business losses can be used to reduce taxable income in future years.
   Trips that combine business and pleasure. If more than half of a business trip is devoted to business, deduct the traveling costs, as well as other business-related expenses.

2. Employee Taxes
   If a business has employees, a variety of taxes will have to be withheld from their salaries. Among them are:
   Withholding. Social Security (FICA), Medicare and federal and state income taxes must be withheld from employees’ pay.
   Employer matching. Businesses must match the FICA and Medicare taxes and pay them along with employees.
   Unemployment tax. Businesses must pay federal and state unemployment taxes.

3. Quarterly Estimated
   This area trips up many an entrepreneur and is especially vexing for home-based businesses. Failure to keep up with estimated tax bills can create cash flow problems as well as the potential for punishing IRS penalties. Among the issues are:
   Who should pay? A business probably must pay quarterly estimated taxes if the total tax bill in a given year will exceed $500.
   How much should you pay? By the end of the year, either 90 percent of the tax that is owed or 100 percent of last year’s tax must be paid (the figure is 110 percent if a business’s income exceeds $150,000). Businesses can subtract their expenses from their income each quarter and apply their income tax rate (and any self-employment tax rate) to the resulting figure (their quarterly profit).

4. Sales Taxes
   Most services remain exempt from sales tax, but most products are taxable (typical exceptions are food and drugs). If a business owner sells a product or service that is subject to sales tax, he or she must register with the state’s tax department. Then taxable and nontaxable sales must be tracked and included on the company’s sales tax return.
   Having what is considered a "presence" in a state is the criteria used by the IRS to determine whether or not you are liable for paying state sales tax.
   If you do not have a physical presence in another state, but sell items via the Internet or by catalog in that state, you can be subject to a state’s "use tax," but typically not to their state sales tax. A "presence" in another state does not necessarily mean that you have a retail outlet in that state. If you have an office, warehouse, or employees working for you in that state, the IRS may consider you to have a presence in that state. Make sure you are aware of your sales tax responsibilities in all states in which you are doing business.

5. Keep Tax Documents for at Least Seven Years
   Good record keeping saves money. Some things like copies of business tax returns, licenses, incorporation papers, and capital equipment expenses should be preserved indefinitely. Keep any tax-related documents (e.g., expense receipts, client 1099 forms, and vehicle mileage logs) for a minimum of seven years.

6. Charitable Contributions
   Unless your business is a C corporation, charitable contributions typically "flow through" the business and are claimed as deductions on the individual tax returns of the shareholders of the company. That’s true whether you’re running a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability corporation, or S corporation.
   If you want to get the maximum tax benefits, you should know these basic rules:
   Only contributions to charities listed as "qualified organizations" by the IRS are deductible. Consult IRS Publication 78 for a list of qualified organizations or search online at the IRS home page.
   Contributions of more than $250 require a letter of receipt from the qualified organization. For contributions of less than $250, a canceled check is sufficient.
   In general, donations of property can be deducted for their fair market value at the time of the contribution. You cannot deduct a contribution that has already been written off as a depreciated asset.
   You cannot deduct the value of time or services that you volunteer.
   You cannot deduct the part of a contribution that benefits you. If you receive a gift in exchange for a charitable donation, for example, you can deduct only the amount of the contribution that exceeds the value of the gift.
   In general, you can deduct contributions only in the year you make them. Pledged contributions cannot be deducted until they are actually paid.

7. Important Tax Deadlines for Businesses
   April 15 isn’t the only important tax date for business owners. The following dates are important to keep in mind:
   Annual returns. Most annual returns are due April 15 for unincorporated companies and S corporations. C corporations must file annual corporate returns within two-and-a-half months after the close of their fiscal year.
   Estimated taxes. Estimated taxes are due four times a year: April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.
   Sales taxes. Sales taxes are due quarterly or monthly, depending on the rules in your state.
   Employee taxes. Depending on the size of your payroll, employee taxes are due weekly, monthly or quarterly.

8. Deducting Loans
   Most business loans are not considered business income. One notable exception is a situation in which you negotiate with a creditor or lender to reduce your debt. If any debt is forgiven, you will owe taxes on this amount.
   On the other hand, business loans can offer substantial tax benefits. The principal and interest you pay on your loan are business expenses, and you can deduct them from your taxes as such. In order to take advantage of a tax deduction, you must report the total amount of the loan, and the assets and expenditures financed must be necessary to operating the business.

9. Tax Audits
   The very thought of an IRS audit is enough to make most business owners break into a cold sweat. But not all audits are created alike: There are several different types of tax audits, ranging from simple requests for a particular piece of information to comprehensive reviews that cover every aspect of a business.
   Correspondence Audit This is a relatively simple procedure in which the IRS asks you to document an item on your return by a specified date. This is usually a routine test for compliance with certain items on your return.
   Office Audit The IRS may ask you to report to a nearby IRS office and document one or more items on your return. You may be able to send them copies of this proof in advance of the appointment and resolve the issue without actually going to the office.
   Field Audit This is the audit most people dread. The IRS will ask you to provide documentation of various items on your return and to meet with an IRS agent for a thorough review of your records. Be prepared to answer the auditor’s questions, but don’t volunteer information.
   Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program Audit This rather lengthy and detailed audit asks you to document and prove every single item in your return. The IRS and Congress use the data from these audits for research and statistical purposes. These audits are arbitrary, and anyone can face them regardless of how carefully they prepare their tax returns.
   Criminal-Investigation Audit If you are suspected of tax evasion, the IRS will conduct a criminal-investigation audit. If they prove that you have purposefully not paid your income taxes, you can face substantial fines and even jail time. Obviously, you should retain qualified legal counsel if you face this type of audit.

10. The IRS
    The IRS small business Web site (http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/) provides a wealth of information to small and growing businesses. There’s a section for businesses getting off the ground that includes a handing checklist and advice on choosing business structure. It’s particularly helpful on important topics such as employee taxes and business tax deductions. In addition, it has a list of small business resources with links to other government resources for small businesses.

*AllBusiness.com provides resources to help small and growing businesses start, manage, finance and expand their business. The site contains Forms & Agreements, Business Guides, Business Directories, thousands of Articles, Expert Advice, and Business Blogs. Material copyrighted by AllBusiness.com.

Susan Palmer, a certified public accountant in Paoli, Pa., has witnessed many of her clients using this financial tool. “The cost benefit is there. People use it for cash flow,” she explains. “In this economic era, it’s essential.”

A factoring company takes responsibility for accounts receivable, paying from 75% to 90% of total invoices up front. When they collect from your customer, they pay you the balance of the invoices, less their fee.

Not a Loan, Not Invoice Discounting

Factoring depends on the value of account receivables, not the credit rating of your company. A typical loan includes you and the lending institution, whereas factoring involves the customer, the factor, and your company. Rather than providing a loan, the factor purchases a financial asset. There is less documentation and no collateral required, and there are no interest payments.

Sometimes, factoring is mistakenly called “invoice discounting.” This term refers to using receivables as collateral for a loan; they are not purchased.

What Will This Cost?

To determine cost, the factoring firm evaluates your receivables based on industry averages and specific account risks. The fee is a percentage of gross accounts, rates being higher for greater account risks.  Other conditions used in determining terms involve monthly sales volume and individual invoice totals. Firms also consider time commitments to receivable sales. The factoring group may have a service charge in addition to interest fees, based on how long they must wait to collect payment.

Factoring groups offer varying arrangements. Non-recourse factoring is full purchase of accounts receivable, including the risk of nonpayment. Recourse factoring, on the other hand, means your company will be responsible for reimbursing the factoring company if the customer does not pay.

The Plus Side

There are several advantages to factoring. Factored cash is fast cash. It ensures consistent cash flow, especially important to businesses with cyclical sales. This facilitates financial planning by improving accuracy.

It’s also a viable financial tool for new businesses, since banks have stringent requirements for income history. Factoring is based on invoices from income already generated. For more established businesses, this method can increase capital available for growth without incurring debt.

Factoring accounts receivables removes bad debt from income statements; you can structure the arrangement so a third party assumes the risks of bad debt. Thus, business equity remains stable.

Another advantage is that you receive funds as soon as you invoice, as if the customer is paying cash at a discounted rate. In turn, your company can receive early-payment and volume discounts with your suppliers. You can offer credit terms as incentives to customers without impacting cash flow. Plus, it keeps debts current, saving money on interest and past-due fees. You also save time and labor costs that would be spent in collecting outstanding invoices, which can give you a substantial savings on overhead costs.

The Minus Side

There are also, however, some disadvantages to factoring. Since you receive a lower amount than the total revenue owed, factoring is more expensive than borrowing money, although it could be cost-effective in the long term. Since costs can run high, limit the amount factored to the minimum necessary for healthy cash flow.

There is the potential for customers to be upset about third-party collection attempts. Be clear when interviewing factoring firms about your expectations for customer communication, and understand the steps that the company will take to collect amounts owed. Reputable firms are professional about contact and can often encourage customers to pay faster than they might if they were paying you directly.

Additionally, customers may not want another company investigating their financial conditions and contacting them about amounts due. A factoring firm could require that the customer pay them directly, which could damage your customer relations. If you feel that your customers might react negatively to this requirement, consider negotiating against this practice.

Accounts receivables will not be available as collateral if you would also like to pursue a business loan, although having a history of consistent cash flow will help secure a loan in the long run.

How to Find a Factor

Palmer says that factoring has traditionally been used in manufacturing and wholesaling. “It hasn’t been used as much in services industries. People relate it to the manufacturing or wholesale process, when you have an inventory to maintain,” she explained.

Check with your commercial bank to determine if they have a division offering factoring services. Ask your Chamber of Commerce and other businesses in your area for recommendations.

Factors can vary in size, some operating locally and others dealing regionally or nationally. There are also companies that offer online quotes. Stick with firms that have good records and be certain to compare the terms of several different companies.

As you consider your options for increasing cash flow, contact the Small Business Administration, which offers workshops on factoring and other cash-flow solutions.

Factoring can free up your management and marketing team to expand your business and increase sales. In today’s volatile economic climate, factoring may increase your ability to profit from opportunities that might be missed due to lack of available cash. Check with your financial advisor to determine whether or not factoring makes sense for your business.

With regard to factoring, Palmer remarks, “I’m pro anything that keeps my clients floating.”

Story by Catia Whitmore

Make a date. Make time in your schedule to find a quiet, comfortable location where you can plan and set your goals. For example, I spend a morning at my favorite local cafe every January so that I can review my goals and set new ones for the year ahead. 

Take five. Create five categories for which to set goals: physical, educational, spiritual, financial, and relational. By setting goals for each of these areas in your life, you are taking a balanced approach and not neglecting any important aspects of your life.

Use it or lose it! I recently read that people who spend a thousand dollars or more each year on their personal development will increase their businesses by twenty percent. Read more books, attend workshops, listen to CDs in your car, take online courses, or enroll at a college or university. Keep your brain active.

Make time.  Eliminate time-robbers from your day—make a list of all the things you do that rob you of your time, such as watching too much TV, running errands inefficiently, checking and responding to your email too often, participating in long phone calls, waiting in traffic, and even being with or talking with other people.  Focus on controlling your time, organizing your day efficiently, and getting rid of the things in your life that are not a high priority.

Out of sight, out of mind. Remove your in-tray from your desk, or get rid of it all together, if you can! Keep it out of sight so the contents don’t distract you and so that people don’t drop new items into it without you noticing.

Unplug. Schedule one TV-free night each week. Switch off the TV and instead, listen to your favorite music, play a board or card game, read a book, enjoy a quiet meal by candlelight (alone or with someone whose company you love), or go on a date in one of your local restaurants. Start being aware of your television-viewing habits, make a point of only watching programs that you truly enjoy, and stop wasting precious time in front of the TV.

Manage your reading. Create a reading file, and put it in your briefcase. Carry it with you on your way home. You can get through a surprising amount of reading while on public transport to and from work, while waiting for appointments, or while waiting in a line.

Find a mentor. When you identify the person you believe would be a suitable mentor, spend some time watching him or her in action. Ask around to find out other people’s opinions of your chosen mentor, and find out all you can about this individual’s achievements, beliefs, values, and ways of operating. This will give you insight into your potential mentor before you approach him or her about mentoring you.

Schedule email time. Email messages popping into your inbox all day long can be an enormous distraction, particularly if your email is set to alert you every time new mail arrives. To check-in on your emails and respond to them as they arrive not only distracts you from whatever tasks or projects you are working on, but it can rob you of an entire day, responding to other people’s needs while your own are neglected. Schedule a specific time or times each day to check and respond to emails rather than constantly looking-in on your inbox or being bounced there by your email program with every new message.

Your signature. Use your email program to create an email signature block that will automatically attach to all of your outgoing messages; it’s a little like an email letterhead. It saves you the effort of including your contact information every time, and it brings a professional touch to your communications. You might simply include your name, company name, contact details and website, or you might also include a sentence or two about your business, a special promotion you are running with a link to your website, or even a favorite funny or inspirational quote.

Spring clean. Schedule time to clean out your email regularly; once a month should be enough to keep you on top of it. Empty your deleted items and copies of any unnecessary items that have already been sent, and go through any completed project or task folders and ensure that anything you are keeping is essential to your records. Cleaning out your email will ensure that you are managing your email files and disk space effectively.

Set up systems. When using filing cabinets, decide how you will allocate your space to make it as easy as possible to locate your files. For example, rather than mixing all of your files together, you might decide to keep current client case files in one drawer and potential client files and marketing information in a separate drawer; or, you might choose to store current projects in one drawer and research and reference information in another; or, you might decide to file everything in alphabetical order—you get the idea. Look at the type of files you have, and decide how to logically divide them into categories. Then, label the front of each drawer with the types of files it contains.

Choose to be amazing! It’s as simple as making a commitment to yourself every morning that you will have an amazing day. Remember, life is not a dress rehearsal—we only get one performance, so let’s give it our best! 

Everyone knows California has been hurting for years, but Florida is right behind.  Florida, think about that one for a minute; you have most of the state surrounded by water and what was the joke not too long ago, “I’ve got a deal for you on some (swamp) land in Florida.”  Finding land dry enough to build on used to be a tough one because a large part of the state was nothing but wetland.  And if you have ever been to Disneyworld you found out why they sell the cheap rain ponchos…those brief afternoon rain showers are common.  In other words they should be flush with H2O.    

But today they are in a world of hurt because they are running out of water.  Florida has long been a retirement state and in the 1990’s they really ramped-up building projects to house those 78 million baby-boomers that were going to be migrating to live out their lives in the fun and sun.  High-rise condos, gated communities and million dollar houses were going up at record rates. 

But now in many areas lakes are drying up, 300 year old trees are falling over (because the soil is so dry) and houses are starting to sink.  Why…because they developed without thinking.  They paved over so much ground that the rains can not penetrate the soil and replenish the ground water supplies AND to supply the population with drinking water they keep sucking it out of the ground, sending it to a treatment plant then pumping it out to the ocean. 

Opps…I guess we didn’t think this one through 

Of course people are getting a solution offered to them; desalination plants.  At first glance this sounds like a great plan.  I mean they have plenty of ocean water to draw from so where is the problem?  There are several. 

First those plants aren’t cheap to build; you are looking at a huge taxpayer funded price tag.  Then they are extremely expensive to run because salt eats everything so it means you are constantly replacing components.  But you also have the energy needed to run them.  In some cases building nuclear powered desal plants have been suggested.  Nuclear power to get drinking water?  Some have even theorized the oil/coal/gas companies that supply combustibles to the electric companies that supply juice to the desal plants have formed an alliance.  Big business at it’s finest.  

Then you have the environmental damage that starts right at the beginning…those intake pipes are sucking in plankton, fish eggs and the fish larvae that start life in the shallows.  This not only kills the little guys before they can get old enough to catch for fun, plankton are a food source for commercial fish.  Once they are gone it means the guys running those fishing trawlers fetching your shrimp cocktail and main course are forced to go further out to get the goods and that means you are going to be paying more for tonight’s chow. 

But then you have the highly concentrated salt discharge they need to get rid of and that means even more damage to the coastal areas.  And of course who pays for this entire process…we do.  Oh yes, this just keeps getting better and better. 

But California and Florida are just the beginning…at least 35 states are on the list to see major water shortage problems within 5 years.
Now to me it is not about the money; if people are too lazy to do their homework and are willing to allow them selves to get raped so some fat cats can put a few billion dollars into their pockets (because watching the big game on their 60” flat panel TV is more important) they deserve it.  Maybe after their property taxes and water bills start running more than their house payments they will wakeup, no, to me it is about the damage to those coastal areas that I hope to winter in sooner or later. 

Sure I want a good deal on whatever property I buy but I don’t want that dirt cheap price because the area has died out from a 78% tax rate and toxic beaches.

Now here’s a thought, maybe, just maybe we could/should start doing things smarter from this point forward.  I mean rather than building something that breaks something else and forces us to build something to fix that (and on and on) we should force our government leaders to think about us and our future…not them and their rich contributors. 

If we kept homes on properly designed septic systems instead of building more treatment plants we could put billions of gallons of water back in the aquifers everyday.  And the dough they want to spend on those treatment plants could go toward building (cheaper) rainwater diversion projects that would route those flows through a filtering system and into the groundwater supplies. 

Of course if you want to get this going in the right direction you need to take it to the streets…the people that will be paying today for these projects and paying the price tomorrow when they do it wrong.

And that is where I have a plan that could make you a lot of money while protecting our nation’s water future.  There are a few high profile areas of the country that I am starting to get involved with.  In Colorado there are numerous developments that went up in the building boom of the 1990’s that were built without proper septic systems and now are failing.  Currently most of the residents are asking for a treatment facility because they think this will be the answer to their problems. 

California developers are pushing for a treatment plant in celebrity areas so they can stuff in the high dollar, high-rise condos and Olive Garden restaurants.  Forget the fact that California is bankrupt and can not afford a single dollar for a public project, they are so dry they can not afford to lose one more drop of water to the Pacific, but the plant does have a few key supporters.

However each of these areas has a few people that are willing to fight the pipe and what I want to do by is start working with them to organize the remaining homeowners and expose the big-pipe for what it will really do to their future and how septic systems will not only be cheaper but a long-term benefit as well.  Once (and if) we can get enough people onboard we get the plan in motion. 

First off the people need to understand that they can not do nothing…if their system is failing it needs to be repaired.  If it does not meet current septic codes it needs to be brought up to speed.  Once they have a proper and functioning system it needs to be maintained with a maintenance agreement. 

Then we come up with a list of approved systems that can replace the failing and noncompliant systems.  I have already been negotiating with the manufacturers of these systems and they are willing to provide discounts for bulk purchases.  Then contractors will be needed to install them and provide ongoing maintenance (that would be you).

Then I have a secret weapon, his name is Bob Eichinger that owns Green Septic Solutions.  Bob is a financial wizard that can find grant money and low interest loans like a bloodhound going after a cheeseburger.  If it is there he can find it.  He is in high demand from several industries but he likes the septic business and if I can swing it he would be coming in to find that cash for these communities (part of selling this program to the homeowners is there will be financial incentives for them).         

But there are a few catches:

• The systems and components we use will need to be reliable…we can not have systems that keep breaking down because it will give all system a bad name (and septic systems already have that label, thanks to the competition). 
• They need to be reasonably priced, but if we are buying dozens/hundreds/thousands of units at a shot only an idiot would try sticking to “suggested list” pricing. 
• The contractors involved will also need to agree to abide by professional business standards, but if you are getting enough work to keep you busy until you are ready to retire I think you can manage. 

Once we have these steps accomplished we will approach the people in charge at the city or county level with this plan of action and instruct them to insert that pipe where it will look good. 

But this doesn’t mean you have to haul it out to California or Colorado to get in on this gig, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Ohio, Iowa…these projects are being proposed all over the country including where you live and work.  Give me a call; let’s see if we plug the leak in this system. 

And per the article; “The Myth of Sewage Treatment Facilities.”  I had several contractors and city engineers call me and ask permission for reprints to hand out to customers and city councils.  If you haven’t got it yet you may want to contact me again because I broke the laptop I had those names on.  Sorry about that.       

Jim vonMeier performs educational programs directed at homeowners teaching them the health and environmental need for proper septic systems and how to find a certified septic professional to inspect/design/install/maintain their systems.  He has also represented homeowners in their fight against public sewer projects and speaks at contractor programs around the country on the subject of customer service. 

1-763-856-3800  jvonmeier@septicprotector.com        

But had it not been for a change in policy by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Fort Mill-based Alternative Septic Solutions would probably not exist.

"Five years ago, the state agreed to allow the installation of aerobic septic systems in cases where conventional systems couldn’t be used," said Glen King of Alternative Septic Solutions. "We saw that as an opportunity."

According to Sal Vicari, company founder, the idea went back even further than that.

"We had hoped to purchase a beautiful piece of property from a former neighbor," he wrote on the company Website. "However, the property had soil issues and would not perk. We decided that we would not take ‘no’ for an answer and began the search for a solution. After much research, we found that the problem we were experiencing was not unique to us – it is an ongoing issue in many areas of the Southeast."

Like a number of states that sprawl from the Atlantic to the Appalachians, South Carolina has a wide variety of soils — some of them hostile to standard onsite methods. In the coastal Lowcountry, for instance, high water tables often pose a problem. On the other side of the state, Appalachian rock or steep slopes can complicate installation.

"One of the good things about alternative systems is that they don’t have to be buried as deep," said King. "Our drainfield is basically a length of 1/2-inch plastic tubing with vents every two feet. You can run that pipe around trees and on either side of driveways, so you don’t have to do as much damage to the property."

The Alternative Septic installers also use a ground saw, which permits a shallow excavation.

Basically, their system is of a type that is becoming more prevalent across the country. As explained on the Alternative Septic Solutions Website:

"The extended aeration process is a unique treatment that depends primarily upon the use of air that is introduced by passing from the blower to four air lines located around the perimeter of the mixing chamber.

"Aqua Safe plants are made up of outer mixing tanks and a settling chamber called a clarifier. Raw unsettled wastewater from your home enters directly into a mixing tank where simple hydraulic displacement is accomplished.

"The introduction of air promotes the growth of aerobic organisms in much greater amounts than would naturally occur, thus breaking down the organic solids in the wastewater.

From the outer mixing tank or aeration chamber, mixed liquid enters the cone shaped settling chamber, better know as the clarifier, from the bottom. No mixing occurs in this quiet zone where solids separate from the liquid and settle to the bottom of the clarifier and re-enter the mixing chamber. The liquid that separates from the solids in the clarifier continues to flow upward to the discharge pipe."

King claims the liquid that emerges from all this is "98 percent pure."

This would have obvious appeal to environmentalists, but they make up a small percentage of Alternative Septic Solutions customers — in part because alternative systems are more expensive. Generally, the company deals with homeowners and businesses who have no other choice.

"I’ve had people say that if it weren’t for us, they’d just have to let that piece of land sit, because they wouldn’t be able to get a permit for a conventional system," Fisher said.

For that reason, South Carolina has proved a rich fishing ground for Fisher and Vicari and partners Sandy Vicari and Nancy Deal.

"We’ve put in around 40-50 systems," King said, "and we’ve got a list of those that are waiting approval."

The company has subcontracting agreements with a soil scientist and an engineer, because they represent two pre-installation steps that South Carolina law requires.

"Otherwise," King said, "homeowners would have to find those people on their own."

Ironically, Fort Mill is only a few miles from Charlotte, NC, a potentially huge market, but it’s one that Alternative Septic solutions is reluctant to try.

"They’ve had these systems for a lot longer," King said, "and it’s gotten to be a very competitive market. In South Carolina, we have hardly any competition at all."

When it comes to managing employee overtime hours there has to be good communication between the staff and the management. It could easily be the case that the managers just don’t realise that the staff member is working extra hours to get their work done. The fact that the management is not aware of the extra hours is still not going to alter the fact that the worker may be feeling put-upon. It is vital that those responsible for managing employee overtime hours are aware about what time people come to work and what time they go home again. This way any problems can be nipped in the bud quickly.

If it comes to attention that staff are working a lot more hours than they are getting paid for then it is worth investing why this is occurring. It could be due to the employee having poor time management skills or it could be that there is just too much work and paid overtime will be required. If the problem is that the employee has poor time managing skills then staff training can be provided to remedy the situation. Managing employee overtime hours in this way will stop a small problem developing into a big problem down the road.

It is important that when it comes to managing employee overtime hours that your business has policies for this. One policy could be that no staff member is allowed to work overtime hours unless it is approved by management. This is an effective way to spot any issues early on and to stop any problems developing in the first place. It should also be policy to have a compensation package for overtime hours; this could involve such things as double-time, time and a half, or time-owed. It is a good idea that you insist that staff are not allowed to work overtime just because they want to be helpful; this feeling of helpfulness can quickly lead to resentment when they realise they are not being rewarded.

When managing employee overtime hours you will want to keep careful records of who has done what. If you have a clocking in and clocking out system then this will make this easier to manage. If you take all these things into consideration then managing employee overtime hours should never become a problem for your business.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Fyfe is the owner of http://www.shiftplanning.com/ – an information resource for all things related to Schedule Management.