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I just ordered my new machine to make bigger and better banners & signs. Stay tune for pricing and our discounts.

John Pinnington
Owner
AA Printing Service
702 527 7474
http://www.aaprintinglasvegas.com/

Think It Over

Spring has sprung!

Well, technically, according to the calendar, not just yet, but in my heart it has.

Spring signifies a time for renewal and optimism and as a business owner I see it as a time for the development of new ideas and new relationships.

What I mean by that is during the colder months when the sun sets sooner, everyone as a tendency to go on autopilot. As long as things get done correctly there’s really no reason to think of anything inventive or creative. The goal during this time is to keep everything going at an even keel.

As some birds fly south for the winter, and bears hibernate during the colder months, you should also take a break.

Give yourself a time to rest and reassess your professional and personal wants and needs. It’s good for the revitalization and restoration of your mind, body, soul and business! Write down your plans – what your goals are for the rest of year; think about them occasionally as to how you can begin to put your thoughts into action.

And when that weather turns warm, the skies are blue, and the sun is shining, pull out that list and start your journey by making this year even better than the last!

There's No "I" in Team

You may be the owner of a business; you may have your name on the business cards, the legal documents and the like, but more than likely, you haven’t done everything on your own.

In fact you may have a trusted but small group of people who have your back on things that need to be done on a day to day basis, whether it is answering phones, making coffee or organizing your schedule. All of these parts are important to whole of the machine that is your business.

Each staff member has talent – that’s why you hired them. Eventually, you will find out that your employees all have certain gifts, which may overlap or not. Some are great at writing, some are great at customer service, and some are good doing everything, which is a rare but pleasant treat.

The key is to mesh this wide assortment of talents into a cohesive whole that can operate interconnected like the pieces of a puzzle. It’s all about finesse – figuring out who does what best and capitalizing on that, along with pointing it out to each team member their specific strengths.

However, while it is important to praise, it is just as important not to criticize if one employee’s strength is another one’s weakness. It only serves to make everyone on your team insecure and perhaps jealous and competitive, and possibly losing that “all for one” camaraderie that has made your business successful.

Always remember that every member of your team is valuable and should be treated as such.

It's Your Thing!

When you reach the top of your profession, it’s tempting to think about how it would just be so easy to coast along in life. Your income is secure, your base is secure, and your life is secure. What else is there to do?

How about trying something new?

It doesn’t have to be something new regarding your career or business.  If you are happy with your job, trying a new activity or hobby! It doesn’t have to be extravagant or costly -- just something that you could possibly enjoy and use as a means to decompress.

I will try any sort of new activity – kickboxing, target shooting, skydiving, rappelling, and rock climbing. I’ve tried a lot of things and have enjoyed them immensely. The reason why I do it is to get out my comfort zone and stimulate my mind all over again. As a business owner it’s easy to get stuck on one train of thought: work, work, work. And as you work, sometimes it is very easy to become acclimated to the same surroundings, situations and people.

Trying something new expands your horizons. And engaging in new experiences gets your mind back into a fresh mode where your brain is creative, impulsive and full of new thoughts, which in turn adds value to your business by seeing things in a new perspective.

Too many people think they have to spend an extravagant amount of money and time to pick up something new. You don’t.

Even if you do something only one time, you can still say “I did it.”

And that’s the thing about life – it never hurts to try!

I Network, Therefore I Am

There are days when I long for an on/off switch in my brain.

There are days in which I wish to only plop down on the couch and watch television all day, or play video games, and not move a muscle.

There are days in which I would love to completely ignore my texts, emails and phone calls for just a short period of blissful silence.

However, I own a business. A successful one, and for that I am grateful; and with that comes the importance of staying close to those who can help and who have already helped.

I network, and I network constantly. I am an inveterate networker, and it is something that now is in my body, like a nasty case of the flu, which no medicine will cure, even if I desired such a thing.

People sometimes ask me, why I network so much, and why it is so important. The answer is a bit of a paradox because it is simple, yet complex.

The easy part to explain is that nothing beats face to face contact to describe who you are, what you are, and what you do.  Despite all the technology that we have, nothing beats a good, old fashioned handshake and conversation. Ask yourself, who would you want to do business with: someone you’ve never met, or someone that you’ve had one-on-one experience with?

The more complex part of networking involves the constant rush of attending parties, mixers, concerts, charity benefits, churches, mentorship meetings, etc.  There should be a certain strategy behind what events you attend in regards to business development, the client you hope to attract, and in some instances, location – an element that sometimes falls out of consideration. Driving all over town without a travel strategy in mind will only give you a case of road rage and a migraine when seeing gas prices after those frequent fill-ups.

So, remember, think before you network.

Cash vs. Conscience

If you are a business that prides itself on delivering quality goods, it’s important to remember that even when a potential client is throwing tons of cash to produce substandard work.

You know the drill – someone wants you to do something – and quick. They use lines such as “It’s only one time,” “Oh, no one is going to see it,” or “I’m not going to tell anyone YOU did it.”

If you hear anything like that, run and run far away. 

Why? The scenario will go like this:

Say you decide to help the client out and offer a service that is substandard and runs contrary to your modus operandi – they are begging, crying and whining so much you can’t stand it. Your instinct is telling you not to go ahead with it, but you do.

The product is ready and you cringe, and cringe a lot, waiting for you client to see it. They arrive and they say they everything is fine and they pay above the usual just to get what they need. However, what inevitably happens is that words gets out that you did it. People are perplexed. People are shocked. People start talking about the poor quality and rush job that your company just did. All that chatter gets back to you and you now have to defend your business’ reputation.

All for a few extra bucks.

Next time, when someone wants substandard work done at a steep price, consider the consequences.

Toot Your Own Horn…No One Else Will

As a small business owner, the primary concern is keeping the organization afloat and in the black. Receivables, payables,  invoices, estimates, cash register receipts, taxes, payroll and human resource concerns, etc. are always at the top of the list.

However, there is an interesting conundrum in that yes, one needs to take the most efficient steps business-wise, but how is anyone going to know what a great business you have in the first place if marketing your company is at the bottom of your priority list?

It’s a delicate balance – the blending of sound business practices with more “trivial” issues such as spreading the word about your enterprise – but alas, if you don’t publicize yourself and your business, who else will.

Here at AA Printing we have an employee who is always on Twitter, Blogger, Facebook and other social media websites doing research and reading in addition to their other front desk, administrative and clerical duties. The obsessive reading and social media watching is a skill well utilized as our company is publicized frequently through these tools – pictures and links are posted, ideas taken from them are given to me to approve or disapprove, and most importantly referrals are made and new business is drummed up – leading to positive cash flow and positive good will between our clients and us.

For the business owner who is uninformed about getting the word out in a positive manner, the key is to ask for help. There are many people available who are skilled in social media who will gladly answer any questions. If you know a teenager, young adult, a friend, or someone who enjoys social media, don’t be afraid – ASK FOR HELP. There's no shame in that!