By: Joel Harrison

Watch the free training video below where Joel discusses a few strategies to contain healthcare costs in light of healthcare reform. Enjoy the free training! 

Our Team's {Monday Motivator} today was on the topic of time management, which is relevant to both individuals and businesses. In life or business, if we don't manage our time well, we find ourselves stressed, stretched too thin, and unorganized. Some tips shared with the team were to try to do phone meetings rather than in-person, so you avoid 'down' drive time. Also, be respectful of your own schedule. But first, you must prioritize and schedule your time accordingly. 

By: Kandi Mensing, SPHR, MBA
A new year is time for new strategies. You should continually strive to improve your business. Whether that means keeping up with changing market trends, trying a new promotion, or rethinking the best way to serve your customers, your business needs to be open to change.
Mensing Consulting Solutions is changing our name! In January 2014, we will become Elite HR Team. Stay tuned for a new website and a new logo! 

By: Dan Cozzi

There were once two painters who were each hired to paint exterior walls of a two-story building with the exact same dimensions. The first painter was motivated and energetic with a “get it done” attitude. He jumped into painting right away using the agility and ease of a ladder. Grabbing his paint can and his brush, he started the job on the ground and began painting the building, climbing up each rung and reaching out to the sides as far as he could safely reach.

The second painter sat down in his office and thought out how he could best accomplish the job. He knew the wall was wider than he could reach, and he identified that he would have to paint the trim separately from the main coat of paint. He realized he’d have to be able to move both vertically and laterally to allow areas of paint to dry while he returned to previous areas to mask and paint the trim. He decided to construct scaffolding that would allow him the freedom of movement needed to cross the surface of the wall laterally and vertically at the same time. He began to construct his scaffolding.

Meanwhile the first painter made his way quickly about halfway up the ladder and came to the bottom of his paint can. He needed to refill his can, and he now needed to climb back down, but returning down the ladder was much more difficult than going up the ladder. He couldn’t look where he was going and he had to reach for each rung with his foot rather than look where he was going.

The second painter finished his scaffolding and placed his supplies at the center of the structure so he could access them while accomplishing the job. He started painting the wall covering just enough area to ensure where he started was dry enough to return and do the trim work.

Each time the first painter reached the top of his ladder, needed to move to the area at his side, or was ready to do his trim work, he had to descend the ladder, move it over and climb back up, a tedious and time-consuming process.

Although the second painter got started later, he finished the job sooner due to his forethought, and he was much safer while painting because he could see where he was going and could more easily maneuver across the full area of his exterior wall.  

Just like these painters, leaders who take the time to think, plan, and invest strategically will develop organizations that transition more smoothly between life-cycle stages, develop engaged workforces, and improve their business's "health" by developing and implementing processes that result in the right people and tools at the right places and times. They essentially build themselves scaffolding instead of using a ladder.  

Which painter are you running your business like?