By James Pruitt, Senior Staff Writer

Giving and receiving criticism is inevitable in the workplace. Remember that feedback is not an attack on your identity. When people criticize your work, they are not attacking you personally. For small businesspeople, feedback may come from employees, partners, clients, or any of the inhabitants of your business environment. 

Part of your business strategy should involve designing pathways for criticism that lead to a productive resolution, and don’t threaten the health of your workplace. For example, a starting point might be ongoing, routine one-on-one sessions. This strategy could nip developing problems in the bud

Inevitably, problems will move past this stage. In response, managers can strive to integrate healthy strategies into the company culture to ensure all parties have a realistic understanding of their performance and the requirements of their role. Prioritizing these behaviors may nurture the type of healthy environment that the productivity of the institution depends on.

1) The First Step When a Problem Arises May Involve an Apology. Handle Apologies Well

In cases where an apology is necessary, both employers and employees should handle the situation in a way that conveys an understanding of the issues. Apologies must be sincere. However, remember that a sincere apology may incorporate ownership of the person’s role in the situation, instead of the person taking on all the blame themselves. 

Of course, insincere apologies only throw kindling on the situation. Before considering what to say at the outset, all parties should ponder the complexity of the situation before digging in their heels and refusing to budge.

2) Maintain Professionalism

A manager should tread discretely with their criticism, even when tempers flare. Mistakes are inevitable. Additionally, from an employer’s perspective, accurate coaching means the difference between a successful business and a failure. From a worker’s perspective, keeping management happy advances their careers and keeps them out of the employment line. 

However, delivering criticism can be almost as painful as receiving it. No one likes awkwardness. Additionally, managers like to defend their hiring decisions. Hence, on both ends handling criticism can be a tightrope.

Mindfulness and introspection can ensure that all parties keep the wheels greased. For example, sometimes someone’s day has just not gone well. Some discussions can wait until cooler heads prevail. Managers can wait, and workers can often reschedule. Both handling conflict and delivering feedback require a good degree of emotional intelligence. 

3) Prepare a Course of Action

Remember that in some cases an employee has perfectly good reasons for their actions or behavior. In others, a manager may need to initiate a disciplinary process. Unfortunately, many times the course of action may result in the employee’s or colleague’s termination. However, often a new procedure or policy change can address the issue. Maybe even a change in the workplace environment can appease the unsatisfied parties. 

It is crucial to remember to contemplate healthy pathways before the environment becomes toxic. Everyone’s goal from feedback should be productive growth on all sides. Every institution needs to practice honest self-evaluation. The more Veteran Business Owners and their partners prioritize these strategies, the greater their success. 

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association hope that this article has not only been valuable but provided some unique perspective.  We work hard to bring you important, positive, helpful, and timely information and are the “go-to” online venue for Veteran and Military Business Owners.  VAMBOA is a non-profit trade association.   We do not charge members any dues or fees and members can also use our seal on their collateral and website.   If you are not yet a member, you can register here:  

https://vamboa.org/member-registration/

We also invite you to check us out on social media too.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/vamboa

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VAMBOA

By James Pruitt, Senior Staff Writer

Small business opportunities are endless. You may have your own idea, but depending on your circumstances, there are so many potential opportunities. There is no limit to them. Some small business ideas require little overhead or almost no startup costs. Others do require a strong emotional commitment. 

Remember, many of these fields require licensure. In some cases, such as accountants or lawyers, jurisdictions mandate these licenses to practice your profession. In others, the state or jurisdiction may offer a license that could step up your game as a small businessperson. 

1. Home Organizer

Working in this field takes a special kind of expertise. Home organizing is an art form. As with many artists, home organizers should create a portfolio to demonstrate their skills. There are even companies that specialize in training home organizers as independent contractors. At the same time, sprucing up a messy house is in a field all its own. Professional organizers need to know what they’re doing before asking someone else to pay for their services.

2. Landscaper

Again, landscaping is an art. A portfolio might get you far. It helps to have experience or a special interest in the field. A green thumb can net you income on many fronts. A landscaping business may keep you busy with both residences and businesses. Also, growing your own plants can supply you with the stock for your own produce market! A talent for plants and landscaping can launch you on any of a series of trajectories as a small businessperson.  With current water shortages, there are opportunities for creative, cost-effective low-water landscaping.

3. Moving Service

Management skills and a good means of transportation can suffice for a decent small-scale moving company. A local operator can employ two or three individuals part-time and serve their clients well.   Perhaps contact a few furniture or appliance outlets to offer your services to their clients.

4. Music Teacher

Who said you can’t make a living off your musical talents? If you can play an instrument well, you can make over $50 an hour sharing your talents. To get started, you can connect with local music schools to find leads and get started. Again, music is a risky business to get into. For any artist, your heart needs to be in it.

5. Notary Public

A notary public verifies the legality of certain documents and bears witness to their signing. Once a notary has met certain licensing requirements, they can work from their own home or affiliate with a small business.  There is a big demand for mobile notaries too.

6. Opening a Repair Shop

Whether computers, cars, bicycles, or electronics, the market for repairers is inexhaustible. Depending on your talents and interests, any of a range of endeavors can make a successful living for a talented repairperson.

7. Photographer

Weddings, headshots, family photos, and event photography can provide a skillful photographer with a steady income. However, the field is competitive, so a background in the field may help you stand out from the crowd.

8. Ride-Share Driver

Uber and Lyft have both provided opportunities for independent contractors. However, the status of these contractors is still up in the air. Cleaning up your car and creating a Lyft or Uber account may very well suit you well. However, a little creativity can get you further.

9. Personal Trainer

Fitness enthusiasts can have fun and make money at the same time by helping others on their fitness journey. Personal trainers can help their clients to avoid injury as well as get the right results in a reasonable time frame. Just consider any licensure requirements, depending on the jurisdiction. Certification in this field may increase your employment prospects.

Conclusion

Once you’ve made the decision to go out on your own, look to your own interests and talents. People who start small businesses may do so for many reasons. Small business opportunities may come naturally to you, or you may look to any of several ideas that might help you hang out a shingle. 

In some cases, you may not be able to imagine doing anything else. In others, you may have obligations that restrict your ability to commit to a career where you don’t have flexibility.  You may have your own idea for a small business. In other cases, you may need to start a small business because of your personal circumstances. In any case, the above leads can place you on a path and allow you to take your first steps toward an independent work life.

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association hope that this first article of this two-part series has not only been valuable but provided some unique perspective.  We work hard to bring you important, positive, helpful, and timely information and are the “go-to” online venue for Veteran and Military Business Owners.  VAMBOA is a non-profit trade association.   We do not charge members any dues or fees and members can also use our seal on their collateral and website.   If you are not yet a member, you can register here:  

https://vamboa.org/member-registration/

We also invite you to check us out on social media too.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/vamboa

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VAMBOA

By James Pruitt, Senior Staff Writer

The Secure Act 2.0 called RISE and Shine passed in June of 2022 in the Senate. The bill had already passed in March of 2022 in the House of Representatives and introduces new responsibilities on employers for providing for their workers’ retirement. 

Legislation already exists that establishes standards for employer-funded retirement programs. ERISA regulates existing pension, benefit, and retirement plans. ERISA does recognize the increased burden of retirement plans on small businesses. 

The law imposes certain requirements for businesses with 1 – 99 employees, and additional requirements for employers with 100 or more employees. Among other responsibilities, under ERISA employers need to provide a “summary plan document” for each benefit and notify employees regularly of their rights and responsibilities. In other words, ERISA requires that employers keep employees informed about the status of their pension and benefits while setting out the responsibilities of plan administrators.

Enter the Secure Act 2.0, which covers employers who offer 401k and 403b plans. The Secure Act changes the game by incentivizing the wider use of retirement programs, especially by small businesses. Currently, relatively few smaller companies offer these plans. Hence, the difference between ERISA and the Secure Act is the following: while ERISA predominantly imposes additional requirements on companies that administer these programs, the Secure Act compensates by reducing the burden on smaller companies. 

The original Secure Act became law in 2019. This legislation streamlined the duties of benefits administrators while incentivizing wider enrollment in retirement programs. The second version seems due for enactment at the end of 2022.  

The new Secure Act will impose some additional responsibilities. One new rule may require businesses to automatically enroll employees. Exceptions might include:

• Small businesses with 10 employees or fewer,
• New businesses that have been in business for less than three years,
• Religious organizations,
• Governmental bodies.

On a positive note, the legislation also provides incentives to offer a healthy benefits package. These incentives may include: 

• Tax incentives for establishing retirement programs,
• Significant among these tax incentives, businesses with 50 or fewer employees will be eligible to claim 100% of the benefits paid. This added benefit enhances the existing benefit, which allows companies with 100 or fewer employees a credit of 50% of expenses. Hence, the existing tax benefits for small businesses will include even greater benefits for still smaller companies
• Increased starting age for distributions, up from the current 72 years for relevant plans. The minimum starting age would increase yearly to 73 in 2022, 74 in 2029, and 75 in 2032. These increases in the minimum age would make retirement plans viable for a larger group of businesses.

Remember the difference between an IRA and a 401k. The prospective retiree opens an IRA on their own, although employers can sometimes contribute. 401K programs, however, are employee sponsored. The new Secure Act legislation affects both. Veteran Business Owners who choose to provide benefits or pension plans need to verse themselves in the relevant legislation in order to take advantage of these valuable new opportunities.

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association hope that this article has not only been valuable but provided some unique perspective.  We work hard to bring you important, positive, helpful, and timely information and are the “go-to” online venue for Veteran and Military Business Owners.  VAMBOA is a non-profit trade association.   We do not charge members any dues or fees and members can also use our seal on their collateral and website.   If you are not yet a member, you can register here:  

https://vamboa.org/member-registration/

We also invite you to check us out on social media too.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/vamboa

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VAMBOA

Do not forget that VAMBOA members receive significant discounts on technology needs.   Check them out here: https://vamboa.org/dell-technologies/ 

By James Pruitt, Senior Staff Writer

The past few years have brought an intense transition in the face of new challenges, such as the Pandemic. These challenges have also brought opportunities for productivity in a wider range of contexts. The Pandemic didn’t create this new era of remote work. The events of the past few years simply hastened a trend that had been long in the making. 

We have seen new management challenges now that the physical workplace is no longer the default work setting. Trust has never mattered more. At the same time, individual responsibility has gained new importance. Countless shifts have occurred in a relatively brief period, which presents new challenges for business owners but may also provide management freedoms to direct their energies in new directions now that workers hold greater autonomy. 

Below are only a few ways to shift workplace culture to allow greater flexibility in these changing times.

1.Prepare for the New Era of Hybrid Workplaces

As we’ve discussed previously, remote work is here to stay. Employers should adapt their workplaces to accommodate those workers who, for whatever reason, might prefer to perform some of their tasks outside of the office. Fortunately, technology is now widespread, so the modern workplace should prepare for an online presence whenever possible.

2. Communicate With and Counsel Employees

One idea for improving communication may be the implementation of regular feedback sessions regardless of performance. Such a policy might ensure appropriate facetime while allowing both employees and management to raise any issues that need to be addressed. Managers should integrate these sessions into the workplace routine. A “call to the office” should not feel ominous for the worker. Regular, standardized feedback can do wonders for improving the channels of communication.

3. Find Appropriate Ways to Communicate for the Hybrid Era

The popularity of Zoom and similar forums provides boundless opportunities to expand the reach of new businesses. At this point, a business would be lax to ignore these innovations. These new forums afford flexibility that has become crucial for retaining good talent in many industries. 

4. Implement New Technologies

Remember, if you don’t keep up with the times, your competitors will. Small Veteran Owned Businesses should always stay in touch with any emerging trends. Recently, applications like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom have expanded at warp speed, but also stay in touch with the different technological offerings specific to your industry.

5. Maintain Flexibility

If there’s anything the past few years have taught us, it’s to expect the unexpected. A business’s bottom line should always account for the unknown. Whenever possible, businesses should prioritize in a fashion that minimizes the burdens on employees. Adjusting a company’s priorities helps employees stay motivated with the tasks at hand.

Remember, the Pandemic has permanently changed the business landscape, in many ways for the better. Businesses that don’t adapt may have a hard time competing in the new economy. The physical workplace is no longer by default the home base for a business’s operations. Hence, managers need to innovate to ensure the work gets done and gets done right. However, effective management does not preclude trust. In fact, trust is the basis for any solid business relationship.

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association hope that this article has not only been valuable but provided some unique perspective.  We work hard to bring you important, positive, helpful, and timely information and are the “go-to” online venue for Veteran and Military Business Owners.  VAMBOA is a non-profit trade association.   We do not charge members any dues or fees and members can also use our seal on their collateral and website.   If you are not yet a member, you can register here:  

https://vamboa.org/member-registration/

We also invite you to check us out on social media too.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/vamboa

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VAMBOA

Do not forget that VAMBOA members receive significant discounts on technology needs.   Check them out here: https://vamboa.org/dell-technologies/ 

By James Pruitt, Senior Staff Writer

As we’ve gotten the COVID-19 pandemic more under control, we’ve noticed an acceleration of existing changes in business practices. In-house employment is still the norm, and we all still depend on brick-and-mortar stores. However, an escalating trend toward online ways of doing business has become more conspicuous.

Obviously, many businesses simply can’t go online. Imagine if Caterpillar decided to go completely remote when its business relies on producing construction vehicles. Furthermore, imagine life without the local thrift store. Finally, we’ll never forget the trials of the “essential workers” in our local grocery store during the Pandemic.

At the same time, most businesses these days do need some sort of online presence just to establish their legitimacy. Potential clients may not trust a company, even a home business, without an online footprint.

Business owners should always put themselves in their customers’ shoes. We’ve all grown dependent on the Internet and on our phones. That first Google search may give prospects their first taste of the services your company offers. Also, remember that customers expect more now than ever. Some guidelines for new Veteran Small Business Owners might include:

1. Assuming you have a website (which you should), make sure multiple channels are at your prospects’ disposal. Many small business owners don’t want an overwhelming amount of business. However, all small businesses do need a certain degree of marketing. 

These days, an Internet search often gives customers the first glimpse of your company’s offerings. Business owners should keep this in mind and consider a “multichannel” approach when possible. “Multichannel” involves multiple routes to contact representatives of your business, whether by phone, chat, or email.

2. Customers now a day are more demanding than ever. We all know the “Karen” phenomenon. Of course, most of these “Karens” (or “Chads”) have been totally out of line. However, most new small business owners often can’t afford the drama of talking back. It’s not fair, but best practice is insulating your business from these kinds of complaints before they occur. 

To stay on the safe side, business procedures should go the extra mile to ensure a seamless experience for the customer. Satisfying that demanding customer before an issue arises could save a lot of time, energy, and heartache, as well as lost business. Generally, the best approach is in fact to make sure your product is, for example, perfectly packaged, or that your advertising is absolutely consistent before your product or service enters the stream of commerce.

3. Empathize with the Customer and Remember the Importance of the “Customer Journey.”

Today, the small “corner store” is not behind us. Customer service matters, possibly now more than ever, especially as we emerge from the isolation of the Pandemic. In fact, you can see a revolution in small businesses, since the Internet allows business owners to cater to far more niche groups. 

From start to finish, your relationship with your clientele matters. Remember the importance of establishing a friendly relationship. Also, consider getting creative with novel promotions and marketing opportunities. Your company’s charisma should help draw your prospects down a pleasant ride through the “sales funnel.” Smaller companies often can’t afford to come off in the same ways as huge corporations.

In conclusion, a few closing thoughts: Remember these principles still apply to “business-to-business” relationships. Finally, remember that your online presence will show up differently on your phone than on a desktop, so make sure everything shows up effectively on mobile as well as on other media. 

Small Veteran Business Owners should never forget traditional customer relations practices. At the same time, entrepreneurs do need to respect the changes to the economy that have only accelerated over the past few years. The Pandemic (or the Internet) hasn’t changed who we are, but both have changed aspects of how we conduct business.

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association hope that this article has not only been valuable but provided some unique perspective.  We work hard to bring you important, positive, helpful, and timely information and are the “go-to” online venue for Veteran and Military Business Owners.  VAMBOA is a non-profit trade association.   We do not charge members any dues or fees and members can also use our seal on their collateral and website.   If you are not yet a member, you can register here:  

https://vamboa.org/member-registration/

We also invite you to check us out on social media too.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/vamboa

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/VAMBOA

Do not forget that VAMBOA members receive significant discounts on technology needs.   Check them out here: https://vamboa.org/dell-technologies/