Compartmentalize Since a significant amount of time is spent sitting behind a desk or in front of a computer, design your work area so that there's a place for everything and that the telephone, note pads, pens, pencils and appointment book are at your fingertips. Place additional resources – but only those that are essential – within easy reach. This will minimize movement and allow you to be more productive.

De-clutterize

To prevent unnecessary clutter - and wasted time - limit the amount of items on your desk. Also, keep only current files on your desk, placing all others in a Desktop File Box and note deadlines from meetings and telephone conversations on a calendar or in a personal organizer. This will prevent little scraps of paper from piling up on your desk.

Categorize

Categorize files into two categories: active and inactive. Keep active files accessible and store inactive files in a labeled storage box. This will reduce time spent rummaging through a huge stack of files that may not be current.

In reading a local paper recently, I saw an ad from PepsiCo seeking a Market Development Manager.  I started thinking, why in the world would that company need to develop a market today?  What market would that be?  They already spend an enormous amount of money in advertising and a lifetime marketing the brand.  They have brand managers innovating the brand all the time, I thought, what market in the US is left for them to conquer?

This is by no means an endorsement of PepsiCo or any of their products.  However, when we want to change the way we think in business, we have to study the successful models and brands.  In the same way, when some of us want to change how we live and how we think (personally), we read and study the bible.  It is good to go to the source.

Anyhow, we have to examine this company’s relentless pursuit of excellence and the way in which they settle for nothing less.  These firms take risks all of the time.  Whether the risk is in hiring a “new grad” or in entering a new market or even making the decision to remain in a challenging market...The difference is they are constantly changing things, hiring new people, paying attention to new ways of doing, thinking differently and taking risks.  You will NOT hear, as many Caribbeans and small business owners proudly say: “we’ve been doing it this way for the last thirty years and as you can see...we are still around...” No.  You won’t hear that!

Credit scores range between 350 and 850

Possible effects of lower credit score (Poor credit)

Higher cost to borrow money

Lower credit limit

Credit denial

May affect employment opportunity in some industries

Factors that lower your credit score

Payment history

Missing three or more payments consecutively

Missing payment on several accounts

Missing payments on accounts with high balances frequently

Pattern of late payments

Part 1 of this article in the last publication surely enables us to better understand the intricacies of Globalization as far as ethnic markets are concerned and how quite a few of these markets have successfully sold their practice to US-based firms seeking BPO services.  It should also enlighten us on how uneducated a lot of folks are with respect to the advantageous offerings of the region.  We should not assume that the same people who vacation in the region will outsource projects to the islands...

The barriers need to come down with education.  Yes, indeed, we need to educate our business friends, government officials in Florida, Software firms based in Florida, Credit Card companies and so many service-based firms of the opportunity to outsource to countries within the CARICOM bloc.   

US-based companies should seriously consider CARICOM as an exciting market to explore in many areas.  Have you really thought of the advantages there abound in doing business in the Caribbean Common Market?  Do a little research, contact the local Embassies, request to meet with the Consul Generals of those respective countries, hire a Caribbean Market Consultant...you won’t travel as far anymore for such limited returns.  Learn to replace anxiety with relaxation...

Alright techies, do not get all excited about this mention above.  I am on your side. Grab a cool glass of lemonade, relax, and let me share my thoughts with you on the people side of things.

Allow me to start with the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) process. ERP is usually heavy-handed by system integrators.  I believe certain companies implementing ERP turn too much of the process and power to the system integrators.  jost technical professionals will agree with me that clients are not usually aware of the specifics of the technologies implemented for them, which are needed to accomplish that which they seek to accomplish for their Enterprise.  Clients simply want their process automated in order to reap both, short-term solutions and some sizeable benefits in the future for their firm.  That is why Big5 firms usually deploy both functional and technical consultants on their projects.

Often, the technical team’s language is simply too technically engaging for the client to comprehend how 1 will tote up to 10 at some point in the process.   Technical folks develop a lot in their minds which usually do not come out of their mouth in laymen’s terms for the client to really understand 1 plus 3 plus 2 plus 4 will tally up to 10 and here is what 1 means, here is what 3 means etc...Further here is why we have to do it that way in order to reach the goal you have set before us.  And some technical professionals might even want to explain the scalability benefits of one procedure versus another to the client.