January 26, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
During my career I have found that most succession plans fail. The plan itself might or might not have achieved the family’s objectives for family business succession and transition to the next generation, but it ran out of gas before it was ever completed.
It ran out of gas because there was no one in charge, no one without an axe to grind that is, who was willing to ask the hard questions and push for the answers so the plans could actually be created and implemented based on good information.
Most succession plans or estate plans or whatever you choose to call them are sold. That is, someone sold you or your folks or whoever is in charge on the idea that planning for the future succession of the business is a good thing to do and they are just the person to help you do it.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, often we must be “sold” in order to break the inertia that surrounds us. When we were kids we had to be “sold” on taking a bath, brushing our teeth, and putting our toys away. It’s human nature it seem, that the things we know down deep we really ought to do won’t get done unless we’re sold on the benefits of doing them right now.
The challenge is that we we’re sold something we either have to stay sold or we’ll lapse into whatever “someday it will all work out” frame of mind we feel comfortable in. To keep the family business succession process moving then means staying focused on the goal and requires, if it to be successful, that someone is anointed as the person to keep pushing the rest of you forward!
For us to stay sold on family business succession planning we’ve got to have someone in charge of the process who’ll collect the information the advisors require. When no one is in charge the data received, if it ever is, by your advisors will probably be inconsistent and/or inaccurate.
Family business succession and ownership transition planning are too important to be left to chance, to the prejudices of others, or even to the pulls and pushes of our personal loyalties. Naturally your professional advisors want to help. They most likely have the competence necessary to help you work through the technical and planning issues – once the personal goals and wishes are clearly identified.
But your advisors need your help too. They need for you to take charge of the process – it’s your company after all – it’s your responsibility – gathering the answers to what’s important is your role – by putting somebody in charge. Somebody who’ll do the leg work. That somebody we call the “planning coordinator”, the person appointed who will make things happen.
When it comes succession and planning the role of the planning coordinator is to act as a sounding board – listening to everyone, and I mean everyone. They must also make sure the word gets through to everyone – whether it’s good news or not.
They must push for answers to their questions always asking for decisions and actions! And they set and keep the planning schedule – keep the heat on – focus on results. The good news is, it does not require any experience to be the planning coordinator – in fact common sense is really all you need.
That and a desire to be part of the solution.
January 25, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
You can make everyday items personally in the comfort of your own home. From natural home cleaners to cookie cutters to even glass coasters, all of these items can now be made using ordinary materials. Glass coasters are functional and stylish items that you can make at home using old materials. The materials can be found readily at your home as well and making them requires only a few minutes. You can use these homemade coasters as gifts or you can use them as spare coasters if you get tired of the usual coasters you find at the local home store.
Whats best is you can show your creativity and make these as a creative expression that the whole family can enjoy. When you have guests, unique homemade coasters can be great conversational items as well. Homemade coasters can either be frame coasters, floppy disk coasters, tin can coasters, wooden coasters, or vinyl. Here are some tips, suggestions, and ideas for making your own homemade coasters.
-Frame coasters are cute and classy coasters that are actually small picture frames. Because of the size, they can easily fit into the dining table and their glass material makes for a complimenting piece. Use frames (whether new ones or old ones) that have a thin frame border so the glass can easily fit in the center. You can also have photos or any images laminated and make these as coasters.
-The inside of a floppy can make as great alternative to the classic coasters. Because of their round shape, the insides of an old floppy disc can be laminated and made into a classic black coaster. Discard the square outer shell as their size will not be appropriate for average table sizes.
-If you have discarded or placed your floppy discs in the attic, use old CDs instead. You can put cloth borders on the CDs or place carton material on the bottom so the CD coasters will not slip on the table.
-Tin can covers make for great coasters as well. Cut out the cover into a round shape and put cloth or cork material on the edges or border as the sharpness of the tin can easily cut through someones skin.
-Get a plain board of cork and cut them into round shapes for another classic coaster. You can be creative with its border and other details or design that you want with it as the material is already flexible.
-A spare vinyl item can be cut into coasters and they can be durable and non-slip as well.
You can also experiment with other materials but just make sure to use material that is waterproof in case of accidental spills. Also use material that is not too slippery when placed on the top of your table. Remember that no matter how beautiful or unique your coaster is, safety should still be the top most consideration. With a the right materials, a little creativity, and some patience, you can make almost any item at home. Using old or recycled materials, your creativity can truly shine with different arts and crafts.
January 24, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Buying gifts online can be nerve racking. Once you buy the gift, the owner will ship the gift to your home. After this, you will have to wrap the gift. Package the gift again and spend precious time getting the package mailed or find an UPS store to send.
When looking for gifts for faraway friends and family, check out shipping instruction. Will the package arrival in time to reship? Will the product be in stock? What discounts does the store offer for shipping? What type of shipping does the store offer?
Some stores online can help with all these questions and more. Most sites will tell you ahead of time before ordering approximate shipping time. This can give you an idea if you will have enough time to reship the gift to a faraway friend or family member. Some stores online will give free shipping or reduce shipping rates during the holiday seasons. Remember free shipping or reduce rate is not always the best way to go. Some storeowners will increase the price of the product to cover the cost.
When shopping online look for the type of shipping the store offers. Some will have a flat rate, regular mail, UPS, Federal Express, and other types of shipping. Make sure the shipping you choose is in your area when shopping.
Stores will tell you when out of stock items before ordering. This helps to continue your search for the perfect gift for family and friends that live faraway.
Look for online stores that offer shipping address to faraway friends and family members. This will save you time and money with reshipping the package. Some sites offer free address book in your account to help with shipping address.
Shopping online can save you time and money. Shipping charges can replace the gas price at the pump and save you money with not having to reship.
January 23, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Sylvanian Families is one of the leading brands of collectibles that include a number of interesting figures. Basically the figures have their own homes, features and accessories. Each of them belongs to different families and they stay in the Sylvania. Thus, these toys have a very serious message to deliver to the young kids. They teach the kids the traditional family values in a way that the kids would love. In fact, the figures are so attractive and the world is so brilliant that the kids soon lost in it. They can collect these figures individually or as set.
Now, the great thing with the Sylvanian Families is that each of the families here has its own characteristics. For example, the Forrest and Preston are the exclusive members of Grey Bear Family. Similarly, the Duck family includes Wanda and Bill Waddlington. They happen to be the Mayoress and Mayor of Sylvania. Thus, each of the families has its own characters and they have specific roles in the context of Sylvania where they live happily. Now, if you are fascinated by the concept of the Sylvanian families, you will find its history even more attractive.
Sylvanian Families trace its origin in Japan where the range was launched by Epoch in the year 1985. In the USA and Canada, the models were launched soon after by Tomy. However, the brand took another couple years to spread in the markets of the Ireland and the UK. Very soon, the brand became very popular. The Sylvanian cartoon was selling like hot cakes in 1988. In fact, for three consecutive years starting from 1987, the Sylvanian Families won the Toy of the Year award. Soon, the Sylvanian Families became quite a familiar name for the kids.
However, the 1990, the brand was not available in the Canada and USA. Yet, they are being sold in other countries across the globe. Once again, Tomy took the initiatives to reintroduce this brand in the USA and Canada. However, this time, the brand was renamed as Calico Critters. Once again, distribution stopped in these two countries in the year 1996. In 1998, the Sylvanian Families stopped its business in Ireland and UK. This time, Flair introduced the brand back in Europe. Though the distribution of the Sylvanian Families has not been very smooth, the demand for these toys has always remained very high.
At present Sylvanian Familiy is one of the leading manufacturers of the toys for kids. They produce as many as seven hundred different types of Sylvanian figures. However, if you consider all the figures manufactured by them, the number will exceed 1400.
January 22, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
great family cruise tips!
Cruising is no longer reserved for the rich and famous.In the last ten years family cruises have become an ever-popular choice. More cruise liners than ever are competing to offer you the best facilities. Whats more, with cruising, your meals and entertainment are included in the price.
Before booking your family cruise:
To ensure that you book the most suitable cruise for your family, researching the different cruise liners is vital.
Tip 1: Sign up to websites, like Travel Zoo, to receive the latest cruise deals picked by a global team of travel deal experts searching for the best deals some of which are relevant to family cruising.
Tip 2: Check the requirements expected of your family when on board. Most ships providing activities for very young children insist that an adult accompany them, and all ships insist that children over 3 are fully potty trained to join the kids clubs.
Tip 3: Check the facilities offered so that you can enjoy some quality time as adults. Most ships offer babysitting, but some only look after children of a certain age and until a certain time at night.
Tip 4: Check what medical services are available on board. If your child has a specific medical need, check that it can be tended to. Some ships do not allow heavily pregnant women to travel.
Tip 5: Double-check that the facilities offered will definitely be provided when you embark on your family cruise. Some cruise liners provide more facilities during school holidays.
Tip 6: Consider what cabins are available for families. On some cruise liners you can get free places for children under 18 but you still need to pay port taxes.
Tip 7: Book early to ensure that you get your desired accommodation. You are more likely to get a better value family cabin whilst demand is low. The majority of cruise liners provide 4 berth cabins at a good price, but these are popular. There are more luxurious, but expensive, options. The largest family suite encompasses 5,750 feet of concierge class opulence.
Tip 8: Consider a balcony cabin if you plan to take a baby or young child cruising. A cabin with a balcony would be a great way for a couple to spend quality time whilst their baby has a nap.Cabins with a balcony are popular, so booking early is a must.
Tip 9: Finally read online reviews to survey the experiences of other families.
Before you sail:
After you have booked your cruise there are several things youll need to research and book to ensure a smooth family cruise.
Tip 10: Shore excursions, can be purchased after booking your cruise. Some are specifically for children. If you are planning to do your own excursions and leave your children on board, check that this is possible. A fee is sometimes charged for children to remain on board and some cruise liners insist that if young children are left on board, at least one parent stays with them.
Tip 11:It is important to book travel insurance which can be provided by your travel agent upon booking. Its important to have a comprehensive insurance policy that covers the whole family. What with babies and young children being so venerable to illness, a good policy will cover the whole family pre cruise as well as during.
Tip 12: Check any cancellation fees and fees for changing your cruise dates.
Tip 13: Some cruise liners offer special drinks packages at the time of booking, after booking, and onboard the ships. These vary in cost but they can enhance your cruise experience and help to control costs. Your children can choose from an array of juices and soft-drinks for a fixed price, and you can purchase wine packages for yourselves!
Tip 14: Make sure you know what documentation is required for your children. For example, there are special procedures if you are crossing a border whilst on board with only one birth parent accompanying the children. Its also very important to remember that all passports for all members of the family must have more than six months remaining from their expiry date. If you dont have six months or more then your family will not be able to travel.
On your cruise: