Month: May 2020

Man, oh man – things have been completely upside-down, topsy-turvy so far this year. It’s no wonder that we hear more about the topic of mental health than we ever have in recent years. While the mentions may be piling up now and people are becoming more candid about their journey through mental health, this is by no means a new issue. Many more of us are experiencing it openly together as we are all struggling through this uncharted territory, so now is the best time to address it in your workplace. 

The value of mental health awareness in the workplace is incredibly vital to your productivity and success as a business, so start evaluating how you currently handle those conversations and education and where you can improve your process. Does you team feel comfortable coming to you about these struggles? Are you centered on not only being aware, but being capable of providing resources and tools to help your team manage their work and mental health as best they care? The following list can help act as a guide for getting that conversation started in your workplace. 

1. Demonstrate Compassion

Above all, bring compassion and empathy into the workplace. When co-workers see that you’re motivated by profit only, they don’t feel like their mental health is valued. On the other hand, when people feel free to be their best selves, profit and productivity are often positive side effects.

As we’ve become more affluent, we’ve separated ourselves from one another, building bigger houses and leaning into isolation. It’s easy to stay in our bubbles — cubes and offices — and then go home and sit in our apartments alone. But the more we can encourage human connection within the workplace, the more we can regain that healthy tribal mentality.

2. Bring in Experts

Speak up and suggest to invite a guest who can speak to mental health, or someone who has gone through similar issues, whether in a training capacity or on a weekly basis. Even the most high-functioning people suffer sometimes, especially in creative industries. And when they do, companies face consequences. To encourage mental health discussions, consider calling in a therapist four days a month to hold confidential discussions with employees.

3. Set an Example, Discreetly

When talking about mental health in the workplace, it’s important to know that it’s not about airing dirty laundry. It’s about setting an example — simply raising your hand and saying, “I’m struggling, too.”

4. Share Resources

From the National Suicide Prevention Hotline to apps like Talkspace that provide options for people to discuss mental health issues, there are many additional resources to turn to, and it’s important that employees know about them. App-based communities like Huddle, are available for people to post questions and get answers from the community about personal topics.

Above all, remember that these are universal struggles. So open up, raise your hand and make the first move, because you’re not alone.

Why Support Is Key to Working Through Struggles

Within the work environment, there’s a pressure to perform, to excel, and to be perfect. And all of that is simply not realistic. It’s not about making excuses; it’s about helping people feel supported and safe so they can excel at their jobs. There is a need for a space where you can throw your hand up when something isn’t right and get help. As a business owner, every day provides another unique opportunity for you to do that. 

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Start Dreaming Your Next Business Move

Maybe you haven’t started a business just yet, but you are taking all the steps to build on a firm foundation. Congratulations! We love to be a resource for small business owners, and pass on the knowledge we have in the business world. In these uncertain times, many people are starting over or starting a new business for the first time. If that is you, we are here for you. We work with small business owners to improve their financial face to the lenders and assist in getting you the most funds that are available to you. 

Thinking of Starting a Remote Business?

Of course there are more options, which we will share on our next blog, but the key is to start exploring now. Don’t just sit at home watching Netflix and letting this opportunity go by. If you have the dream, we can help you get the funding to take the next step. 

It’s becoming all the rage now, with people looking for opportunities and creating new business ideas. If you are one of the bright new entrepreneurs looking to weather this storm by building a strong boat, we can help you find funding options that are right for you. Why wait another moment?

Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

We are living in the midst of uncertainty right now. If anything, this year has made that perfectly clear. So as a business owner, you have to take into account anything that could become an obstacle in your path to success. Already in this year we have had to struggle through a pandemic that appeared so quickly that most small businesses were not properly prepared. As we get closer to “normalcy” don’t forget the lessons we’ve learned in regards to business thus far. Create a plan to navigate disasters, whether they are hurricanes, earthquakes or pandemics. Follow the 3 Step Plan below for guidance:

Step 1: Identify the Risk

Let’s take a moment to think about any “disaster” that could affect your business. Let’s see, we have; hurricanes, winter weather, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and pandemics – to name the basics. What is most likely to happen in your area, or has happened within the last year? Do you have a central location, or are you spread about nationally or globally? That is the place to start. Depending on the crisis, it may take different steps to prepare, but most everything will have the same foundation. 

Step 2: Create Your Plan

The first step is to designate a “POC” (Point of Contact) for your disaster plan. As the boss, this should not be you, it needs to be delegated. Your involvement is important, obviously, but as a business owner you are the project manager of them all. When it comes to disaster preparedness plans, if it were all on your shoulders along with everything else you have your hands in, it would deter from the focus you need to execute the plan. Choose a reliable team member that has steady focus in times of stress. 

Collaborate with them on what is important to include, but let them develop the plan. Ask questions; Does the plan coordinator need a supporting committee? Do you ship hundreds of packages a day? Do you need a list of vendors to contact in case of an emergency? Do you have the proper communication tree for your team, clients and vendors? Think about all your processes and make sure to plot out the vital aspects to consider. 

Remember that the goal of a disaster plan is to help ensure the well-being of your employees, the stability of your location’s environment and, last but certainly not least, that you can keep your business running.

At its simplest form, the plan should address: 

• An evacuation policy, including maps and routes
• Who employees should contact, inside and outside the company, for additional information about what to do
• Who is required to stay on site to perform essential functions or shut down important items
• Who is responsible for rescue and medical duties
• Employee emergency contact information, plus information about unique medical needs.
• Special instructions regarding hazardous materials and equipment, if necessary

Step 3: Implement and Train

Transparency and communication are key. Your team needs to know what to expect before any disaster occurs. This will minimize the amount of stress, anxiety and confusion at the time a crisis hits. Let’s just use the first half of 2020 as a fantastic example. How has the crisis affected your business? How did you respond? How did your team feel, react, etc. This will serve as a learning guide of what worked and what didn’t. Learn from that and use it to develop your plan and reinforce the importance of training to your team. 

Create a guide or package for your team to use as a reference for important information regarding the disaster policy. Hold regular meetings (once a quarter) and be open to any feedback that their perspective can offer. Remember that an important reason for this disaster policy is to provide a safe and secure environment both physically and mentally for your team. Their perspective is vital. 

Start Dreaming Your Next Business Move

Maybe you haven’t started a business just yet, but you are taking all the steps to build on a firm foundation. Congratulations! We love to be a resource for small business owners, and pass on the knowledge we have in the business world. In these uncertain times, many people are starting over or starting a new business for the first time. If that is you, we are here for you. We work with small business owners to improve their financial face to the lenders and assist in getting you the most funds that are available to you. 

Thinking of Starting a Remote Business?

Of course there are more options, which we will share on our next blog, but the key is to start exploring now. Don’t just sit at home watching Netflix and letting this opportunity go by. If you have the dream, we can help you get the funding to take the next step. 

It’s becoming all the rage now, with people looking for opportunities and creating new business ideas. If you are one of the bright new entrepreneurs looking to weather this storm by building a strong boat, we can help you find funding options that are right for you. Why wait another moment?

Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

As restrictions begin to lift across the country, every small business owner is thinking the same thing.  How do I re-open?  While each industry varies, here are some things to consider when creating your reopening plan.

Start Fresh

Start from scratch… sort of.  No it isn’t necessary or practical to start from scratch, but realize this is an opportunity for you to have a fresh start.  Before businesses began shutting down, you may have been too busy to make changes that you knew would improve your business; well the time is now.  As you begin the slow process of reopening, use this time to evaluate employees and procedures.  You may find that what you were doing before was not efficient or maybe one of your employees was better suited for a different role.  Do not approach this with the mindset that everything needs to change; it doesn’t.  What was previously successful will likely continue to be in “life after COVID-19”, but as an owner, maximize this time to ensure your business is running as efficiently as it can.  

Give Yourself a Pep Talk

Remember that you have been here before.  As a small business owner, you hold one tremendous advantage over large corporations and perhaps some of your competitors.  Whether it was recently or decades ago, you remember what it was like when your business first started.  You know the hardships you will inevitably go through only this time you know what worked and didn’t work when you first opened.  Take time to reflect on this and discuss it with your staff who also might have been there from the beginning.  Together you can create a plan to maximize the successes you experienced when you originally first opened your business.

Reevaluate your budget

It is naive to think that your business will return to the same, or even close to, the revenue you were making before the lockdowns just now as restrictions are being lifted.  Be frugal about your spending or the conditions of funding or loans you may be seeking.  Understand that you will, in all likelihood, be operating on a reduced budget and reduced revenue.  The key here is the long haul; ensure you can make it to the time where business and customers are back to normal.  Looking back on the previous point, remember what it was like when you first opened.  Revenue is initially going to be slow and you need to have that built into your budget.

Collaborate

Put your head together with other small business owners.  If you are in the service or hospitality industry, look to partners in your immediate area where you can team up to create events, share marketing avenues or package deals together to bring customers in.  For owners with product or service based businesses, seek non-competitors within your industry, potentially outside your area, to collaborate on best practices.  Everyone is in the same boat and will be eager to share their successes if they too can learn from yours.     

Thinking of Starting a Remote Business?

Of course there are more options, which we will share on our next blog, but the key is to start exploring now. Don’t just sit at home watching Netflix and letting this opportunity go by. If you have the dream, we can help you get the funding to take the next step. 

It’s becoming all the rage now, with people looking for opportunities and creating new business ideas. If you are one of the bright new entrepreneurs looking to weather this storm by building a strong boat, we can help you find funding options that are right for you. Why wait another moment?

Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

Evolution is the name of the game – growing, becoming. Your business should always be looking for new ways to reinvent and build. That includes your team. For many businesses, they are scrambling to figure out what to do with this time we have, and how to utilize it to the best of their abilities. Offering learning resources for your workforce is incredibly important, but especially at this time. If they need some extra motivation, something different, or if you just want to add to the value of their role, now is the best time to get on that learning train! How do you do this? Well, there are many ways, and we’ll outline a few of our favorites. 

Group Learning

Maybe you’ve noticed a collective opportunity for growth within your business. Is there something your team could all benefit from as a whole? Getting in on the action together is a great way to foster communication, camaraderie and teamwork! Depending on what that opportunity might be for your team, you could purchase a group learning tool, or even curate a playlist of great videos on YouTube for everyone to watch together and then discuss. You can plan other group exercises around the content you choose, and give your team a break from the daily grind. 

Individual Learning

Sometimes, especially with social distancing and bigger teams, it’s just too chaotic to conduct a group learning session. If that is the case, then you can still choose a topic that everyone could collectively benefit from, but let them watch the videos and complete the materials on their own. You can still facilitate a discussion board based on the materials, but this will allow them to complete the activities on their own terms and without the pressure of a large group. For some businesses, this is a better suited method. 

Tailored Plans

Have you noticed that a particular team member is struggling with something? Or perhaps they are a high performing employee that is quickly outgrowing their current role? In each of these situations, tailored learning plans are the best fit. You can zero in on what would best foster growth in those team members and help them along their career path and at-the-end-of-the-day it will contribute to the success of your business. 

Essential Courses

What topic should you focus in on? Take a step back and examine where there are holes in your business performance. Is it technical skills? Is it interpersonal savvy? It is understanding of the industry as a whole? Maybe it’s just motivation. Whatever you decide, there are so many options for resources. You can do simple searches on YouTube for tutorials, or even Ted Talks. If it’s more in-depth types of courses, Lynda.com has a fantastic library covering a multitude of topics. The bottom line is that you are offering some type of learning resource to keep everyone moving, challenged and refreshed!

Thinking of Starting a Remote Business?

Of course there are more options, which we will share on our next blog, but the key is to start exploring now. Don’t just sit at home watching Netflix and letting this opportunity go by. If you have the dream, we can help you get the funding to take the next step. 

It’s becoming all the rage now, with people looking for opportunities and creating new business ideas. If you are one of the bright new entrepreneurs looking to weather this storm by building a strong boat, we can help you find funding options that are right for you. Why wait another moment?

Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

It may be an absolute struggle to keep your team positive. You may have had to furlough and lay off part or even most of your workforce, and maybe your biggest struggle right now is keeping your own chin up. We get it, we really do. These are trying times, but all these rough circumstances are going to break us, re-mold us and we are going to emerge a stronger and more motivated community, with our priorities readjusted and our resolve stronger than it’s ever been. That is what you have to focus on. That is what you must remind your team. That is what will drive you forward through the storm. 

We often forget to look at the mental implications in the business world. Long hours, scrambling to meet deadlines, resolving conflicts, finding solutions for obstacles both big and small… There are a number of stressing factors throughout any given business day (even weekends), and in a situation like this, you can just multiply it by 100 (maybe even more). You have to recognize the effect that it has on your mindset, as well as your staff. You have to be intentional about how you navigate your mindset around the negative clouds that approach you at every turn. Because your mindset determines how you weather the storm. It determines how you survive. 

So how do you keep morale up during these times? There are many ways, and the important part is that you do something. Consistently. We have chosen a few of our favorites to help you get started.

1. Visibility

Being present is the most important way to boost morale for your team. Stay connected. There is so much fear and uncertainty infiltrating our workforce, and silence is the greatest antagonist. Set up consistent communications, updates, meetings. Zoom is our friend right now, it gives everyone who is chained to their home office an opportunity to remember that we’re all in this together. In these meetings, make sure to be encouraging, informative and make certain to give everyone tasks and keep them accountable by checking in on benchmarks and goals. 

2. Transparency 

Everyone is looking for answers to a multitude of questions, and that includes your team. Maybe they are asking questions that you couldn’t even possibly know the answers to, but you have to give them the information that you do have access to. However, during this dark and uncertain time, it is up to leaders to take a calm and consistent tone coupled with measured actions when it comes to longer-range plans. Be straightforward, but kind. Remember that transparency is the key component to trust from your workforce – think like a reporter and provide constituents the who-what-when-where-why, so they don’t fill in the blanks themselves with rumors.

3. Confidence

Your team will look to their leaders and their response to any given circumstance. Think about when you were younger and you gauged a situation by the reaction of your parents. How you carry yourself and react, along with how you communicate information will be analyzed down to the bones. Understanding the importance of how you remain calm and confident influences your team morale. 

4. Flexibility with Expectations

Be clear on essential daily productivity benchmarks, but be empathetic & flexible with company policies. Crisis WFH conditions present logistical and emotional challenges. Tensions can rise quickly where any combination of family are all in the home during work (spouses, younger children, or college-age students who have returned from campus for the semester, and elder care concerns are all stressors). Keep in mind that we are all humans, and not everyone is accustomed to this new working environment and all the new distractions and stressors that come along with it. Kindness and compassion must be factored into this new work environment, but that does not mean that expectations should fall by the wayside, they just need to be tailored to the reality of the situation. 

5. Resources

Keeping with the theme of “being human”, it is no secret that mental health is a vital issue in this crisis. Because that’s what we are dealing with, a crisis. Along with that comes so many issues that will complicate your workforce’s focus in individual ways. Take time to check in on people individually and provide resources should they be experiencing more anxiety than normal. Connect them with therapists, someone to help guide them through their struggles. Provide them with resources should their family be struggling to put food on the table, a list of local pantries offering free food or reduced pricing. Perhaps you could even start your own community pantry for your workforce, collecting food, toys and hygiene essentials that some members of your team may be in need of. 

Keep Your Chin Up

We know that the most important way to provide this example is also through your own mental strength. Make sure to take care of yourself as the leader, not only to set the example, but also to influence the success of navigating these tough circumstances and remember… we’re all in this together!

Thinking of Starting a Remote Business?

Of course there are more options, which we will share on our next blog, but the key is to start exploring now. Don’t just sit at home watching Netflix and letting this opportunity go by. If you have the dream, we can help you get the funding to take the next step. 

It’s becoming all the rage now, with people looking for opportunities and creating new business ideas. If you are one of the bright new entrepreneurs looking to weather this storm by building a strong boat, we can help you find funding options that are right for you. Why wait another moment?

Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans and No Doc Loans are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!

Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.

Apply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584

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