REIB LAW
SHATTERPROOF NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2019
WWW.REIBLAW.COM | 940.591.0600
the rest of the week with my family, mentally preparing to dive into this new, unexpected reality. Once I got back, I got to work. Since I had a speaking event the next day, I called a friend from my church who came in to answer the phones. It was an extremely humbling experience, but slowly, thanks to the support of family and friends, my own tenacity, and a solid foundation, I began to rebuild the business. I traded spaces with a client and cut costs as much as I could, even in payroll. With some stability, thanks to my subscription model, I slowly regrouped. One of the most valuable takeaways came in learning our firm’s systems. I got to know them really, really well, and I saw what my employees had been dealing with. In some cases, it was a wake-up call. No wonder that attorney had left; some of our systems were inefficient and ineffective. I wouldn’t have wanted to use them if I were in their shoes. I worked to overhaul everything and make it better.
THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES
NAVIGATING SPEED BUMPS IN YOUR BUSINESS JOURNEY
What happens when you reach a speed bump in your business? Is it time to turn and run, or do you go all- in, fighting for what you’ve built? It isn’t easy, but if you believe in what you’re doing, it’s worth the fight. I’ll take you back to my own experience with this. Five months into 2014, I was having the best year yet. I had three full-time lawyers, six administrative staff, a growing Access plan, and an overall active, busy firm. I’d booked a family vacation for the last week of May. I would be gone for a full week — the longest vacation since I’d started the business. Halfway into the trip, I opened up my email for the first time. Standing in Universal Studios, I saw a message from my senior attorney, someone I’d had a relationship with for 20 years. He was resigning, and he had a long list of staff and clients he was taking with him. Here was the worst of times, hitting all at once. I was back to square one, faced with the crucial decision: fight for my business or give up.
By spring of 2015, things were turning back around.
Hitting that speed bump was, in many ways, the worst of times, but I learned a lot. Since then, I’ve streamlined our systems. With every system or procedure, my goal is to build it better for the next person. I get there by asking three questions.
What can I simplify? What can I eliminate? What can I delegate?
These questions guide me when I’m making important business decisions. They help me “build it better for the next person.” Getting to the answers improves things for my team and makes it better for our clients because we can serve them in the most effective, efficient way. I share this story with you because I want you to know you can get past the speed bumps. They may look different for you, but any business owner will face them. It’s all about what you do when you get there. I’m happy to connect and share some of the additional lessons that got me through this time. Give me a call, and we’ll talk.
I chose to fight.
Instead of cutting our vacation short, I chose to stay with my family. I knew I would need their support, and rushing back wouldn’t solve much. I contacted my best friend, asked them to change the locks at my office, and spent
– Scott
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DEFEATING THE SUMMER SLUMP 3 WAYS TO KEEP UP PRODUCTIVITY DURING THE SUMMER
June 21 marks the official beginning of summer and the productivity slump most businesses experience. The sun’s tantalizing rays draw your eyes from computer screens or conference room meetings to the outside world. A weekend of fresh air, sunshine, and cool evenings on the back porch infiltrate your mind. Your productivity is sapped, but you’ve still got work to do. So, what can you do? Here are a few ways to combat the summer slump. RELAX THE WORK HOURS If you’re in a management position, consider tweaking the standard 9-to-5, Monday through Friday schedule a little bit. Some businesses will implement a 9/80 schedule, meaning employees work 80 hours in nine days instead of 10, so they can get every other Friday off. Some businesses will let employees work half days on Fridays during the summer, and others will let employees work remotely on certain days. GET MOVING Sitting at a desk for eight continuous hours can stagnate productivity at any point during the year, but during the summer, there’s an easy way to remedy it: getting a little exercise. Since the sun is shining, why not take advantage of it while you work? Try scheduling a “walking meeting” outside, or implement exercise breaks every couple of hours. Moving around boosts productivity, and doing it outside can be a great change of scenery. Your business can take a big hit when an employee leaves. It might feel like the worst thing that could happen as you’re left scrambling to pick up the pieces they left behind. Instead, think of it as an opportunity — an opportunity to find room for improvement in your business. If you take the time to evaluate the systems this employee used, and even your systems as a whole, it can reveal how well things work and what problems are present. Three questions reveal a lot about how well something is functioning in your workplace. Through answering them, you’ll begin to see how a number of areas can improve. WHAT CAN YOU SIMPLIFY? Just because you’ve been doing a process one way since you opened your business doesn’t mean it’s the most effective. Look for places where steps can be simplified. Does that system need 10 steps? If not, streamline it.
DRESS DOWN If shirts and ties are the norm at your business, you might want to consider embracing the laid-back vibe of summer by relaxing the dress code a bit. It’s a small way to ensure employees don’t feel like they’re missing out on all the perks of summertime without losing productivity. Plus, who wants to wear a suit in July? It’s tough to compete with the allure of a warm summer day, but sometimes those days can work to your advantage if you make a few simple swaps in your everyday work routine.
DO YOUR SYSTEMS NEED A FACE-LIFT? THREE QUESTIONS TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS THE REBOOT IT NEEDS
WHAT CAN YOU ELIMINATE? What’s redundant, and what can be automated? Look to where you can eliminate or automate a system that isn’t serving your team, clients, or you. WHAT CAN YOU DELEGATE? Sure, you’re capable of creating that landing page, but could your marketing intern take care of it? Use your time, and your employees’ times, wisely. Where is it most appropriate and valuable? Ask yourself these questions over and over for each scenario. Start with your own workflow. What are you doing that you shouldn’t be? Can you eliminate, automate, or delegate? Today, so much of what we do can be automated. If you haven’t looked at your systems and processes in a while, it’s worth careful vetting to determine if something fits into one of these categories and can be streamlined. You’ll save yourself time, money, and stress in the process.
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WHEN IT’S TIME FOR AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE
TURN TO A COACH
“Scott gave me the nuts and bolts and pointed me in the right direction. He’s great at that. I’ve been running my business for almost 30 years, so I was at the point where I wasn’t putting out fires, but I needed help planning for the future. I used Scott’s guidance in a proactive way that set me up for security and protection. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, turn to Scott Reib. Scott brings his unique perspective to his clients and the people he coaches. He believes in finding creative and innovative solutions to your business challenges. As Joseph adds, “He’s different than most attorneys. You can relate to him, and he’s easy to speak with. He’s not speaking a different language; he gets what you’re asking. When he shares information, it just makes sense.”
We’ve all been there: treading water instead of moving forward, unsure why our business isn’t growing when we’ve been putting our all into it. We hit a plateau, and we’re not sure why. Maybe you’re just beginning your entrepreneurial journey, or maybe you’ve been at this for a while. You know what you’re doing, but you still find yourself struggling to get to the next level.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as turning to a business coach and getting together with a group of like-minded business owners. Even owners who feel like they’re in a relatively good place with their businesses benefit from input and feedback from those who’ve experienced and overcome similar challenges. This is why experienced business owner Joseph Corcoran of Kleening Made Affordable turned to Scott Reib for help taking his business to the next level. Take a look at what he had to say.
If you’re ready to learn from America’s Legal Coach, call today at 940.591.0600.
BLT DOGS
INGREDIENTS
• 4 strips bacon • 4 hot dogs (ideally Boar’s Head Beef Frankfurters, but any all-beef variety will do) • 4 hot dog buns • 1 tbsp mayonnaise • 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded • 1 large tomato, seeded and diced • Salt and pepper, to taste
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
'5 PROVEN STRATEGIES TO SHATTERPROOF YOUR BUSINESS' Fact: 1 in 3 businesses have been hit with a lawsuit or threatened with a lawsuit over the past three years. This book lays out five proven strategies that, when implemented properly, will absolutely protect you and your hard-earned assets from any possible legal action. Visit ScottReib.com/books to order your copy today!
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a skillet to medium and fry bacon until rendered and crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to drain. 2. Fry hot dogs in bacon drippings, creating a crust, and cook until warmed through. 3. Using a dry skillet or oven, toast buns. 4. Spread mayonnaise on buns, place hot dog and bacon inside, and top with tomatoes and lettuce. Serve.
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REIB LAW
WWW.REIBLAW.COM | 940.591.0600
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Defeating the Summer Slump INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 2 3 3 4 Do Your Systems Need a Face-Lift? Take Your Business to the Next Level BLT Dogs Become a Pillar in Your Community
How I Got Past a Business Speed Bump
MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT 3 STRATEGIES FOR GENUINE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
JOIN A PARADE This sounds unconventional, but sometimes it pays to think outside the box. Most towns put on a Fourth of July parade in the summer, so why not join in? Building a float could be a great team-building exercise, and a lot of people will turn up and see your mobile advertisement in the parade. Being in the parade shows that you’re part of the community, and when you top it all off by tossing candy to the kids, you’ll really make an impact. WORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS Your company could donate school supplies or even sponsor a program. Art and music programs are often the first to suffer from budget cuts, so support from a local business could make a huge difference. Donate art supplies to the classroom, sponsor high school theater productions, or offer scholarships to help young musicians pay for new instruments. Keep the arts alive by helping the kids in your community do what they love. These suggestions require time and resources to pull off, but making the effort can transform your company from just another business in a sea of many to a pillar in your community.
Even if most of your clients are located in other parts of the globe, the place your business calls home is a huge part of your identity. When a company makes a point to get involved locally, it’s doing more than making new connections and getting its brand out there — it’s also making a positive impact on the place it calls home. Most companies experience a slowdown in the summer. Here are some strategies to take advantage of that lull and create a plan for your business to get involved in the community and be a good neighbor. SUPPORT A LOCAL CHARITY Every town boasts its share of charities and nonprofits looking to make a difference. Find a cause you believe in, then help out. This could mean donating a portion of your revenue to a local women’s shelter, volunteering as a company at the soup kitchen, or sponsoring a gala that raises money for a children’s hospital. Supporting charities demonstrates your values and attracts the kinds of customers who share them.
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