...Does Clean = Calm

Life is too complicated not to be orderly. – Martha Stewart

So I decided to channel Martha Stewart this morning after leaving my house via my wonderfully clean, organized garage.  My husband and I have been doing a lot of work around our house and the garage has been the main place to drop off everything from paint cans to bags that go to donation.  So we (really I) decided we should clean out the garage this weekend (I admit my husband did the lion’s share of the work)  The result?  Clean floors, bags off to the donation center, bag of garbage ready to go out and mostly a huge sigh from me when I left for work this morning.

I’m not sure what it is about a clean, organized space but it really makes me feel calm inside. I actually sighed last night when I went out to the garage for something and again this morning when I left for work.  It’s the same way with my office. Sometimes we are in the middle of a really busy time and my desk and table just get piled up and I have a hard time thinking. There are times I have to stop and put papers in piles and throw some things in recycle to feel like I have a little more control over things.

What gives you that sense? What makes you sigh with relief and satisfaction for a job well done?  Think about your work space- does it help when you are clutter free or do you thrive on clutter? Everyone is different so it’s OK either way.  Today take a look around your space and decide if it’s what you want it to be.  You might just be rewarded with a huge sigh (I love those).

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

...How Hard Do You Work To Keep Existing Customers?

Do you work hard to keep existing customers or spend all your money and energy looking for new ones when the old ones leave you?  My recent experience with two cable companies has me asking this question.  Wouldn’t you think it would be cheaper to take care of the customers you already have as opposed to letting them go and having to spend money to acquire new one?

Example, our cable bill kept going up after our contract ran out with a cable company.  We called and asked if they would consider lower the bill, they really didn’t have much in the way of offers for “existing customers” only new customers.  So, after a while we decided to switch providers to lower our monthly bill.  That experience with the other provider has turned out to be a nightmare with their customer service. I am hoping it will get better.

Now think about what that costs our cable company?   They have to pay someone to take our old equipment, which has to be checked, and then returned to them. Plus they sent me a box by Fed Ex to return the equipment after I told them I would take it directly to them- that cost money to send to me. 

Wouldn’t this have been a whole lot easier if they had just given me a discount of helped me reduce my monthly bill?  It’s amazing to me that the two companies I have been dealing with stay in business at all. 

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

...The Shutdown

I guess this year will be known for THE SHUTDOWN. Our government was shut down, causing a ripple effect across our country and all over the world.  I have no desire to discuss politics (like the democrats or republicans are at fault) but rather look at this like a business. 

It’s pretty safe to assume that if any of us who work regular jobs or own our own businesses could not balance our budgets, or could not negotiate or work with people we did not like, we probably would not keep our jobs or businesses for very long.  So how is it that the people who are elected by us and supposedly work on our behalf are not held accountable when they don’t do their jobs?

It has been amazing to me to watch the blame go back and forth and with no talk of solving the real problem and in this case just delaying it for a few more months. It’s as if one side gives in to something they lose- no I think that’s called compromise.  All of us compromise on a daily basis. We have to work with people we don’t like or we work with people who drop the ball and don’t do what they promised, yet none of us refuse to work or make sure our businesses stay up and running.  

Washington could learn a lot from spending some time with real people- people who run their own business. When you are the one making sure that everything is done in a small business- then everything gets done.  You don’t have time to sit around and fight with others or refuse to work on the issues.  If our politicians could only think like a small business owner and be held accountable, then there would never be a SHUTDOWN.  

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

...The Dreaded Business Plan

How it can install the feeling of dread in most people.  When you mention a business plan the majority of people look at you with that glaze in their eyes.  But is it important and worth the work?  At BizWorks we think so.  

We work with a lot of people who come in with a range of ideas and at every stage of development.  From the “I had this great idea yesterday for a business to the “I’ve been in business a while but feel like I’m stalling” people just need to have a road map.  That’s what a business plan provides.  It helps you figure out which way to go and what to consider along the way.

When you plan a major trip do you make plans ahead of time? Hotel reservations, car rentals, maps, plane tickets?  You have to know where you are going in order to get there.  It’s the same thing with a business.  We love working with all sorts of people in various stages of development.  But all of them need a plan. It really is true, if you don’t know where you’re going you may not get there.  

If you make no plans for your business, it’s hard to figure out where to go.  Benchmarks and goals- they do matter especially in the beginning when money is short and time is precious.  It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in business, if you are either starting out, or having issues with your business a business plan can help put you on the road to success. 

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Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter

,,,The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

People are definitely a company’s greatest asset. It doesn’t make any difference whether the product is cars or cosmetics. A company is only as good as the people it keeps. – Mary Kay Ash

So just curious, how do you treat your employees?   Are they a valued part of your company?  Do you treat them like you don’t want to lose them?  Or do your really not think about them at all?    I watch many business owners and boards interact with their employees, many on a daily basis.  I’ve seen great examples of how to treat an employee and some great examples of how not to treat an employee.  So here is the good, the bad and the ugly. 

The good:  I’ve seen employees treated with respect and valued for their contributions.  I’ve seen employees be given a lot of leeway in their jobs to perform those jobs.  I’ve seen employees be taken on an individual basis and then given tasks to reflect their skill set.  I’ve seen some great reward systems put into place for employees.  I’ve seen great leave packages put together so that employees feel valued. 

The bad:  I’ve seen bosses who blame every failure of the company on their employees instead of taking the responsibility themselves.  I’ve seen bosses who want to do the employees jobs instead of giving up control and allowing the employee to do what they were hired to do.  I’ve seen bosses continually be poor communicators, but always blame their employees for the miscommunication. I’ve seen bosses take credit for the hard work an employee did instead of allowing that employee to shine.  

The ugly:  I’ve seen bosses sexually harass employees.  I’ve seen bosses who very rarely show up for work, but still get paid.  I’ve seen a boss show up to work in cut off shorts and flip flops in the summer (when he actually did show up for work).  I’ve seen boards cover for bad bosses time and time again.  I’ve seen board members try to take employees jobs.  I’ve heard of bosses who are robbing companies blind and their board refuses to discuss it with any of the employees and the employees are so afraid of losing their jobs that they keep their mouths shut. 

This is just a short list of the things I’ve seen. So, what have you seen? What kind of boss are you?  

Suzanne Cormier

Executive Director

BizWorks (Small Business Incubator)

Follow Suzanne Cormier on Facebook and

Twitter @BizWorksCenter