Business Sustainability: Business Card Etiquette

Posted on August 6, 2012 by crttipster

A major part of keeping your business viable can often be found in your pocket or purse. Proper etiquette dictates giving one business card to each person in a group, up to six people. For larger groups, set some around the table so those who wish to, can take one. Never toss your card across to anyone, or toss a stack of cards onto a meeting table. The way you treat your card demonstrates how you want others to treat your card and therefore the relationship.

The business card must identify you, your title, your qualifications, the organization, and contact details. Good quality paper is a must, as well as clear, easy to read font. If you are dealing in an area where there is more than one language being used, the card should be in the language of the recipient. Many situations can call for the card to be printed on both sides, each in a different language.

Business cards must be offered and received with respect. Read the card as soon as you get it, making sure to fully note the name, title, and qualifications – Don’t just carelessly toss it around! While it may seem at times insignificant, your business card is an extension of you and your company. It is often the only tangible thing left after a meeting is over, so never be caught without one and don’t be stingy with them.

Ever found yourself scrambling for a pen during a meeting to write down someone’s information, or embarrassed when asked for your card and not have one to offer? Feel free to leave your stories below.

Patricia Burkhart is the executive director of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc., a research, development and manufacturing firm based in Shelby, North Carolina.  CRT is an IFMA CSP, EnergyStar Partner and manufacturer of independently-certified Green products for HVAC maintenance. Since 1986, CRT has been creating leading edge HVAC maintenance products that have become industry standards, used in thousands of commercial buildings world-wide. CRT employees are members of BOMA, ASHRAE, ASHE and the American Chemical Society. www.cleanac.com (800) 766-9057.

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Tips From “The Girls”: Uplift, Encourage, Appreciate, and Be Thankful!

Posted on May 29, 2012 by crttipster
 Recently, I received an email from one of my Distributors. Keep in mind this was not just any email, this email was the best of the best! The emails of all emails! Who knew that five short simple words could change my day as well as CRT’s day.
 
Stay with me as I share some statistics from an article on Forbes website entitled, “A Happy Employee is More Productive.”  
 
After conducting surveys, filling out questionnaires and compiling results, Forbes and Pryce-Jones proved that happiness has a large advantage over unhappiness. They found that happier employees are 180% more energized, 155% happier with their job, 150% happier with their life, and 50% more motivated! Not only that, but happy employees are 50% more productive. 
 
They also found that less happier employees only spend 40% of their entire work week actually working. Yikes! If an employee is wasting 60% of their time, they are actually only working two days during the week, but still getting paid for five. Happy workers spend 80% of the work week actually working, and not only working, but being more productive, taking less “sick” days, achieving goals, being creative, solving problems, and expanding business. 
 
That leads me to ask the following questions: 
 
To The Manager - Are you the “scrooge” of your company? Are you making it easy for your employees? Do you have a happy work environment? Are you encouraging and helpful? Do you applaud the good that your employees do? Are you cheering on and being helpful? Do you see your employees getting along? 
 
To The Employees -  Are you cheering on your co-workers? Are you making it easy for others to work with you? Are you doing all that you can for your client? Do you compliment your vendors, your clients, and your co-workers on their hard work and efforts? Are you applauding yourself for the goals you accomplish? Are you thankful for the help you receive from upper management? 
 
I now realize in many of my past employments I was unhappy. I would go so far as to say there was at least one issue a day between co-workers. Business doesn’t thrive when you can’t get along. Everyone needs to be in-sync and working together for one common purpose. Be the company that succeeds in business by being thankful, encouraging, uplifting, and most of all by being happy!
The email I mentioned earlier was from Robert Smith at Nova Tech International. It simply said: “Kristen, you are the best. =)” Robert is always extremely nice and appreciative of the small things I do. When I asked if I could use his email to write this blog, his said he would be honored. It doesn’t get much better than that! Everyone can learn something from just those few words Robert sent my way, as it only took him five seconds to turn around my day.  
 
Are you up to the challenge of complimenting your boss, co-workers, clients, and vendors? Go create a happy environment in your work place and in your life and see how far it takes you. Let me know in the comments section below of any successes you’d like to share.
 

Kristen Davis, Client Services Rep., and Shandi Maddox, Marketing Assistant of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc., a research, development and manufacturing firm based in Shelby, North Carolina.  CRT is an IFMA CSP, an EnergyStar Partner and manufacturer of independently-certified Green products for HVAC maintenance. Since 1986, CRT has been creating leading edge HVAC maintenance products that have become industry standards, used in thousands of commercial buildings world-wide. CRT employees are members of BOMA, ASHRAE, ASHE and the American Chemical Society. www.cleanac.com

 

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Case In Point: How Vendors Strengthen Our Business

Posted on January 24, 2012 by crttipster

While businesses tend to devote much of their attention towards clients, it is important to remember another group that plays a significant role in strengthening the organization. That group is vendors.

At CRT, the past few years have been monumental for us. Between restructuring, organizing and planning, it has been a struggle to stay on top of things. Luckily, the following companies have always been there for us.

Print Management USA
Dave at Print Management USA is all too familiar with the last minute print jobs we send him. Whether it is requesting orders to be shipped overnight to a trade show, expedited to our office, or requesting 20 different quotes, he has been handling our promotional printing needs for the last 5 plus years. Dave always comes through, not only with the best-looking materials awaiting us, but also the best prices.

Jamy Labels
Jeff at Jamy Labels laughs each time he answers the phone and hears me say hello. I don’t even need to tell him who I am. He knows I am calling to find out how I can nudge our order, or at least part of it, out quicker because we unexpectedly came up short. While we sometimes haven’t planned correctly, he has consistently picked up our slack and been able to meet our product labeling needs.

Business Consulting Group
Then there is Robbie at Business Consulting Group, who basically has been working miracles. He has worked tirelessly, rallying us all together and getting us on the same page. Thanks to him, a 25 year old company that never had any kind of budget, now has more direction that ever before.

Now that you’ve read what our vendors have helped us accomplish, what are your thoughts? Let us know below how your vendors have helped strengthened your business.

Rachelle Tinley is the assistant executive director of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc., a research, development and manufacturing firm based in Shelby, North Carolina.  CRT is an IFMA CSP, an EnergyStar Partner and manufacturer of independently-certified Green products for HVAC maintenance. Since 1986, CRT has been creating leading edge HVAC maintenance products that have become industry standards, used in thousands of commercial buildings world-wide. CRT employees are members of BOMA, ASHRAE, ASHE and the American Chemical Society. www.cleanac.com

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Business Survival and Sustainability: THE PASSWORD RAT RACE!!!

Posted on January 12, 2012 by crttipster

Business Continuity Plan

Passwords, user ids, log in names, on and on and on they go.  How many do you have?

Sure there are numerous articles on the subject and this is NOT going to be one.  No advice from me on this.  I know it is a rat race, and I admit that there are times when I am behind the eight ball in this area.

So, I’m calling on you for suggestions.  What do you do to remember those passwords?  How do you make certain employees don’t leave and “lock you out” of your system?  Where do you keep all of that precious data organized for you business?

Patricia Burkhart is the executive director of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc., a research, development and manufacturing firm based in Shelby, North Carolina.  CRT is an IFMA CSP, EnergyStar Partner and manufacturer of independently-certified Green products for HVAC maintenance. Since 1986, CRT has been creating leading edge HVAC maintenance products that have become industry standards, used in thousands of commercial buildings world-wide. CRT employees are members of BOMA, ASHRAE, ASHE and the American Chemical Society. www.cleanac.com (800) 766-9057.

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Tips From “The Girls” Make A Resolution to Achieve Your Goal.

Posted on January 4, 2012 by crttipster
We have said goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012, and you know what that means! Another year to make a list of resolutions. What if you decided to make a resolution to simply achieve all your goals? That is what we’re doing at CRT. Our resolution is to achieve our goals for 2012, and here are the 7 steps we are following.
  1. Review your goals set for the previous year. Did you accomplish all your goals set? If so, fantastic! If not, can you add the goals not accomplished to your list this year? Also, evaluate how you accomplished the goals you did reach. In what ways were you successful? Where did you lack in the goals you were unsuccessful with? What held you back from topping each individual task set?
  2. Make a plan for 2012. What do you want to celebrate accomplishing by the beginning of 2013? Set forth reasonable, reachable goals. You want to set forth tasks that you or your company fight to reach, but not so much that the task is unattainable. Develop your plan then write down these goals because you are more likely to achieve them.
  3. Have the “Same Vision.” At CRT, we consider ourselves “One Big Happy Family.” We all work together to reach the same goals, and we do so in a positive manner. We each have our own job, and each bring something different to the table, but always strive towards the “Same Vision.” Is everyone in your company reaching for the same goals? Work as a team to reach them, stay focused, positive, and remain as one unit. Remember, “There is always strength in numbers”
  4. Set a timeline in order to achieve the goals set forth. By doing so, you should be able to adequately reach the task in a timely manner. Give yourself a date in which you wish to have your goal accomplished. Let’s not procrastinate this year!
  5. Monitor your success and failure throughout the year. Keep a record of what goals you reach throughout this year. It may not be the end of 2012 yet, but if you have already achieved a goal, you should definitely celebrate your success! Also, keep track of your failures. Perhaps you set a date for a goal and didn’t reach it. You want to learn from your mistakes, figure out what held you back from reaching your target and strive to achieve what you didn’t reach. Hopefully, you can fix/reach the goal before the end of the year.
  6. Re-evaluate your goals, it’s “Crunch Time.” When the end of the year approaches, you may be in slump about your goals, or may have just forgotten about them. We want you to re-vamp your goals! Remember how excited you were at the beginning of the year. Remember that you gave yourself these goals and YOU ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE THEM before 2013. Keep yourself motivated and remain focused! Everyone knows things change throughout the year. If you have to add/take away goals, do so. Remember, you don’t want to take away anything that is attainable.
  7. Let’s Stay Devoted and Committed. Stay devoted to what you are trying to reach. Make your goals that have not been met a priority. If you’re anything like us, it is easy to get busy and side-tracked with your regular job requirements. Things will come up that you did not have planned and you will have to complete immediately. However, you are still committed to reaching the goals you made at the beginning of the year. Make sure you set aside specific time for the things that need to be done to achieve your goals. Keep devoting/committing that time until you have your task completed. Guess what? Your almost there! Picture your success! Soon you will have everything accomplished.
We have made a firm decision to achieve something that requires determination and hard work. Will you do the same for 2012?

Kristen Burgess, Client Services Rep., and Shandi Maddox, Marketing Assistant of Controlled Release Technologies, Inc., a research, development and manufacturing firm based in Shelby, North Carolina.  CRT is an IFMA CSP, an EnergyStar Partner and manufacturer of independently-certified Green products for HVAC maintenance. Since 1986, CRT has been creating leading edge HVAC maintenance products that have become industry standards, used in thousands of commercial buildings world-wide. CRT employees are members of BOMA, ASHRAE, ASHE and the American Chemical Society. www.cleanac.com


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