Now is the time that people begin to analyze all that has happened over the past 12 months. The good, bad and ugly are dragged out of the closet for further inspection. As a result of this review, resolutions are made for the coming year.
While all this reflection and goal setting is good, only about 5% of those resolutions are actually kept one month later. There are many reasons why they don't stick. The Internet is full of articles on the psychology of this matter. To sum it up, people create a "false hope syndrome" by starting a new behavior on the first of the year. By waiting for January 1st to reinvent yourself, you set yourself up for failure.
Many of the resolutions that are made are not goals that simply appeared on December 31st. If your resolution is to lose weight, you have probably been thinking about doing so for months, or even years. The moment that you backslide on your resolution, the tendency is to admit defeat and vow to try again next year.
As you reflect on 2012, resolve to NOT make any resolutions for January 1, 2013. While goal setting is necessary for personal and professional growth, don't wait until January 1st to to begin working on those goals. Work on your goal when you are ready to tackle it....that can be any random day of the week, during any month of the year.
Once you begin working on your goal, do NOT become defeated if you are not perfect in achieving your goal. Remember, Rome was not built in a day. It takes at least 21-28 days to establish a new habit. Keep at it. Slow and steady always wins the race!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tis the Season...For Coughs and Colds
The holidays can bring longer hours, more stress and lots of good cheer. The time between Thanksgiving and New Year's can be the most hectic time of the year. When you mix more calls for service, holiday parties, family get-togethers and life in general, you begin to burn the candle at both ends.
Just as your professional and personal life are becoming chaotic, cold and flu season rears its ugly head. Since you are likely to be with more people than usual, your vulnerability to catching a cold is heightened. Here are a few tips to help keep you well through the holidays and beyond.
1. Though it may seem obvious, eating well and drinking plenty of water is a great way to stay healthy. Only drink caffeine, soda and alcohol in moderation.
2. Wash your hands!!!! Yes, your mother was right. Frequent hand washing with warm water and soap, especially before meals and after blowing your nose is scientifically-proven the most effective way to stay well. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your truck and/or bag for times you are not near a sink.
3. Get enough sleep. The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep each night. This allows the body to recover from the day and recharge for the next. It gives the immune system time to fight any nasty bacteria or viruses you encountered throughout the day.
4. Get a physical. Routine check-ups with your primary care provider will help you maintain your health. Any chronic conditions can be monitored and managed and new conditions can be diagnosed before they become an issue.
Your health is important to you, your family and your business. Go wash your hands and grab a bottle of water!
Just as your professional and personal life are becoming chaotic, cold and flu season rears its ugly head. Since you are likely to be with more people than usual, your vulnerability to catching a cold is heightened. Here are a few tips to help keep you well through the holidays and beyond.
1. Though it may seem obvious, eating well and drinking plenty of water is a great way to stay healthy. Only drink caffeine, soda and alcohol in moderation.
2. Wash your hands!!!! Yes, your mother was right. Frequent hand washing with warm water and soap, especially before meals and after blowing your nose is scientifically-proven the most effective way to stay well. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your truck and/or bag for times you are not near a sink.
3. Get enough sleep. The average adult needs 7-8 hours of sleep each night. This allows the body to recover from the day and recharge for the next. It gives the immune system time to fight any nasty bacteria or viruses you encountered throughout the day.
4. Get a physical. Routine check-ups with your primary care provider will help you maintain your health. Any chronic conditions can be monitored and managed and new conditions can be diagnosed before they become an issue.
Your health is important to you, your family and your business. Go wash your hands and grab a bottle of water!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Importance of Pulling Permits
Building permits are required for new buildings and substantial alterations to existing buildings in the state of Connecticut. There are additional requirements in each city or town. Some towns require building permits for air conditioning unit installations, specific plumbing work and sprinkler installations. While pulling a permit can be a hassle, it is a step that should not be skipped.
Building permits are not simply a revenue source for local municipalities. It is a safe guard for the homeowner...your customer. Building permits ensure the customer that the project plan has been reviewed by an outside source. Through this review it has been determined that the plan will be executed up to current building code. It also ensures the homeowner that work will be inspected at certain milestones for larger scaled projects.
Yes, this process can be costly not only for the actual permit, but for the time it takes for inspections. Yes, the homeowner may tell you that they don't think a permit is necessary. A rule is a rule and these rules are put in place for very specific reasons. In the end, it is worth the time, effort and expense.
Think of pulling building permits as a great customer service tool. Put yourself in the shoes of the homeowner. They hire you to install a new HVAC system in their home, which requires a building permit in their city. You proceed to do the work without a permit for whatever reason. The homeowner is very pleased until the City Assessor makes their rounds and sees an HVAC unit at a house that didn't have one in the past. Now the homeowner receives a letter stating that no only their taxes are going up, but they are going to be fined for having work done without a permit.
Sounds far-fetched? It happens more than you would think. Had the permit been pulled, this change would have been noted at City Hall and the new assessment would have been recorded. No fuss, no fines. Since that didn't happen, you now have a homeowner that is likely angry with you for not pulling the permit. Most likely you just lost a repeat customer.
While building permits can seen like a hassle to some, they are necessary. Don't skip this important step. It will benefit both you and your customer.
Building permits are not simply a revenue source for local municipalities. It is a safe guard for the homeowner...your customer. Building permits ensure the customer that the project plan has been reviewed by an outside source. Through this review it has been determined that the plan will be executed up to current building code. It also ensures the homeowner that work will be inspected at certain milestones for larger scaled projects.
Yes, this process can be costly not only for the actual permit, but for the time it takes for inspections. Yes, the homeowner may tell you that they don't think a permit is necessary. A rule is a rule and these rules are put in place for very specific reasons. In the end, it is worth the time, effort and expense.
Think of pulling building permits as a great customer service tool. Put yourself in the shoes of the homeowner. They hire you to install a new HVAC system in their home, which requires a building permit in their city. You proceed to do the work without a permit for whatever reason. The homeowner is very pleased until the City Assessor makes their rounds and sees an HVAC unit at a house that didn't have one in the past. Now the homeowner receives a letter stating that no only their taxes are going up, but they are going to be fined for having work done without a permit.
Sounds far-fetched? It happens more than you would think. Had the permit been pulled, this change would have been noted at City Hall and the new assessment would have been recorded. No fuss, no fines. Since that didn't happen, you now have a homeowner that is likely angry with you for not pulling the permit. Most likely you just lost a repeat customer.
While building permits can seen like a hassle to some, they are necessary. Don't skip this important step. It will benefit both you and your customer.
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