Wednesday, December 29, 2010

What is your New Year's resolution

2011 brings about the opportunity to correct the things which are keeping us from full success in our business. What resolutions do you need to make? And more importantly, how are you going to successfully implement these changes? WE CAN HELP!

The current economy has had a major impact on all of us. The question becomes, what are we going to do about it? WE CAN HELP!

How? By offering you a FREE one hour telephone consultation! ... During this consultation we will discuss those things which are most concerning and are having the biggest impact on your business. We have thirty-one years of experience in small business and management. Let us put our experience to work for you!

During the phone consultation we will help you identify the specific areas where you need to direct attention and give you advice on how to get started. Some of the areas you may consider are:

Managing your business in a poor economy

Debt management

Creating marketing which works

Understanding the numbers

Profitable pricing structures

Time management

Or there may be something else?

This consultation is valued at $250 and is yours free with no further obligation. If you choose to continue to work with us we have a variety of consulting packages and services to assist you.

So, now is the time to get those tough questions asked and let us help you find solutions which will bring you more success in 2011 and the future.

What do you have to lose, an hour of your time? What do you have to gain? A more profitable and productive future for your business!

You must fill-out the web form to get started .
http://www.SpeSend.net/itsc.staceyf60/SurveyIniitalBusinessQuestionnaire/Survey.aspx

Please answer the questions fully so we can make the best use of our time on the phone.

Call us today at 208-595-4234

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Make 2011 Great!

Market Planning Retreat!

Its time to get away and get a plan

Spend an entire day one-on-one with Stacey and your staff. We will work with you to create a comprehensive twelve-month marketing plan tailored specifically for your business. Stacey will come to you, simply select a site away from you business location and we will be there to walk you through creating your plan....This package will include:

A review of your current marketing efforts prior to the retreat
Creation of an overall vision for your business
A calendar of promotional marketing
Creation of ongoing promotions
A time-line for implementation of your program
Selection of advertising methods for each promotion
Creation of ad copy and marketing material layouts
A system for reviewing the success of your marketing efforts
Work on specific needs you may have for implementing this program

Creating the proper environment for your annual planning is very important. We recommend you do this away from your place of business. Contact us for more information on how to make this time the most productive.

Bonus! You will receive one-hour of telephone follow-up and review of your plan per quarter for the next twelve months.

Retreat must be scheduled between January 5 and March 31, 2011.
All retreats must be booked by December 24, 2010.
Hurry; there are only a limited number of retreat dates still available.

Request more information http://www.spesend.net/ITSC.staceyf60/SurveyCurrentSpecials/Survey.aspxOr contact us today at info@inthespiritconsulting.com or by phone at 309-962-8143.
Cannot be combined with other offers

Monday, November 29, 2010

Cyber Monday Specials all week long

Offer #1

One Day Only—Wednesday, December 1

Financial Health Profile

So how is your business doing? Profitable? Able to meet payroll? Current with your bills? Paying yourself?

NOT SURE?

Let us help

We can do a review of your profit and loss statements and provide you with a written summary of your revenue and expense lines. We will also give you a written analysis of each line item and where modifications can be made to improve your cash flow and your bottom line.

We will do all of this for you for just $295*

*A current YTD and previous year P&L statement must be provided

Fees paid may be applied to a full consulting package

You don’t have to wait until the end of the year. We will work with your current year-to-date information, by doing it now you will have a jumpstart on 2011. Managing your business finances can be tedious, overwhelming and frightening. Let us help you get back on track and put you back in control of your business.

Contact us today at info@inthespiritconsulting.com or by phone at 208-595-4234

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Offer #2

We Can Help--Let Us Prove It

We are offering 45% off our 5-hour consulting package Time can be scheduled in one or multi-hour sessions. All time must be used within six-months.Fees paid may be applied to larger package.


Promotion ends December 3, 2010

Visit our website at inthespiritconsulting.com for full details. May not be combined with other offers. Total package must be pre-paid.


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Offer #3

50% off any of our consulting packages.

This is by far the best offer we have ever made and may not be repeated.

We will give you half off the regular price of any of our consulting packages. To take advantage of this special simply send us an e-mail before 6pm MST on Friday, December 3.

"Cyber Monday Offer" must appear in the subject line. Include your daytime phone number in the body of the message. We will then contact you to get started helping you maximize your business success. Send e-mail to stacey@inthespiritconsulting.com

Please note we will be doing follow-up calls so be sure to include a daytime phone number. We will also send you an e-mail confirmation that you have qualified for this offer.

Some restrictions apply. May not be combined with other offers

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Simply fill out this form

http://www.SpeSend.net/itsc.staceyf60/SurveyCurrentSpecials/Survey.aspx

or call 208-595-4234 to get started with any of the above.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

1000 Followers

We are pleased to announce we have surpassed one thousand followers on this blog. Thanks to everyone for your interest. Be sure to watch for more original content coming in the near future.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

UPDIG for photographers

The UPDIG guidelines aim to clarify issues affecting accurate reproduction and management of digital images. These guidelines were created to establish photographic standards and practices for photographers, designers, printers, and image distributors. The guidelines cover Digital Asset Management, Color Profiling, Metadata, and Photography Workflow.

Version 4.0 of the guidelines represents the industry consensus as of Sept 22, 2008. The guidelines were prepared by the UPDIG Coalition, with the help of many digital imaging professionals, software vendors, and hardware manufacturers. The UPDIG Coalition is dedicated to promoting standards for photographic digital imaging.

www.updig.org/pdfs/updig_photographers_guidelines_v40.pdf

Friday, March 26, 2010

Government controlled healthcare

I made the following statement on my Facebook page the night the Healthcare billed passed the Senate and it began a firestorm of comments which I wanted to share on my blog.

"To all who voted for and supported the federal healthcare bill may God have mercy on your soul."

Carolyn Jarmon Jones
Over dramatic much?

Dave Russell
what a hateful, disgusting sentiment.

Roger Mathis
You think socialism is the answer, Dave? Freedom, slowly slipping away, so goodbye to the UNITED states.

Chris Humphreys
I'm sure God is pissed that we took a little bit of power from a for profit insurance industry.

Stacey Friedlein
Read more on the subject of maintaining the free enterprise system here.
http://inthespiritconsulting.blogspot.com/2010/03/socialist-society-cannot-live-as-free.html

Stacey Friedlein
Be happy we live in a country where companies are allowed to make a profit.

Michael Smith
And this is the problem with the country ... 2 sides against each other.

Mitchell Burt
Stacey, I understand that you disagree with what our nation has voted to attain, but this is simply inappropriate and offensive and I'm frankly embarrassed for your lack of control. I ask you , what does it profiteth a man to lose the world AND his soul in the process? Perhaps you should go to your room and pray on it...

Dan Baiotto
I have to agree with you Stacey.... I for one have been part of a high risk insurance pool.... not fun, couldn't afford to see my regular doctors let alone get sick. I am all for reform...getting rid of pre-existing conditions. I am all for tort reform.... I am not for government funded abortions. The president executive order is only as good as ... See Morethe paper it is written on. Law is law , executive orders don't trump law. Just wait..... the first time it comes up and goes to the Supreme Court....they will have to stand on the law, not a promise from a president. Sad day indeed. What about the catch 22 that says all must have insurance or you pay penalty.. that law goes into effect immediately. and to those who have a pre-existing condition and can't get insurance...but will in 4 yrs.... What do they do Pay the fine for the next 4 yrs?????????

Jen Hester
I doubt I need God's "mercy" for supporting a bill that will give healthcare to those that go without. I think He would appreciate us taking care of each other.

Jim Wilson
God does not show mercy to communist.

Dan Baiotto
I think the representatives will need God's mercy for supporting a bill that supports and funds the death of the unborn, the old who can't afford or the sick who will suffer from the decrease in health care. Show me one other nation that has a successful socialistic health care program that has better health care than what we are getting now or used to get.

Roger Mathis
Jen, your are correct, and if this were a motto that we HAD lived by there would be no need for reform......but moving on......Stacey, I appreciate the stand that you have taken, if you stand for nothing you'll fall for anything-You Stood!If you had a chance to read www.healthreform.gov and all the propoganda put in this sight to make us think we need THIS particular bill, it's insane.

Andrew McDavid
Yes Jen, we will take care of each other, but does it have to be at the point of a gun, or a fine, or an agent of the govt. putting his hand in my pocket?I am all for taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves; the unborn are a perfect example, and they have been dealt another death blow with this legislation.I think Stacey's statement might be better said; God have mercy on us all.

Stacey Friedlein
I rarely let my political views known on a public forum. However, this is such a critical issue to the future of our country and to the future success of small business I felt I needed to comment.

Stacey Friedlein
I don't disagree that those who cannot get health insurance or other help don't need assistance. I just do not believe it should be the job of government to provide it to them.

Danielle Goodman
Great Quote by Dr. Adrian Rogers......You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthly out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The goverment cannot give to anybody anything that the goverment does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people... See More ... See Moreget the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot mulitiply wealth by dividing it.I believe in charity, but I believe that I should be able to give it by choice. I believe that all Americans should have a reason to work, not take a hand out. Even in my college days, I worked 1 sometimes 2 jobs, paid my rent & utilities & paid for my health insurance. Of course it was alot of money for me, but I did without things that I would have like to have had in exchange for being responsible. It is still this way today. I have 3 kids, we are on one income (for all practical purposes) and we pay for our health insurance. We don't go to the doctor unless we are really, really sick. Unlike people I know (a relative) who runs to the ER everytime she coughs & doesn't pay for it. BTW, she sits & chooses to watch TV all day. Unlike some of us, working hard. BTW, Insurance is a business. Yes, I think that there are a few things that need to be fixed, they should not be able to just cancel you if you get sick (I don't know anyone who has had that happen & I know several cancer patients) But at the end of the day, if Insurance does not make money, they will not stay in business. How many of you want to run a business just for charity? They have to keep a certain ratio or they can not guarentee to be able to pay claims. I just think, if you don't have insurance & you can't pay for it out of pocket, then you don't get treated (except for kids) I mean if your house is burning down, you can't run out & get insurance.

Stacey Friedlein
So everyone understands. I do not oppose the idea of healthcare for everyone. I just do not want the government running the program.

Danielle Goodman
I think everyone should have healthcare & .....health insurance. Perfect world, huh? I don't want the goverment stepping in & controlling any more of my life than they already do. The people who want insurance, have it, the people who can't or won't afford it, still won't & we just gave more power to goverment.

Jan Sexson
Stacy, thanks for having the guts to take a stand. Considering this country's current deficit, and even more, the predicted future deficit, the passing of this bill frightens me. Social Security and Medicare are already in trouble, consequently I don't have a lot of faith in the government to run our health care. Being self-employed, I have no ... See Moreinsurance. Every cent I make is going to support my son who is too ill to work, yet it will take several months at the least for him to be approved for Social Security Disability. Consequently, I can not afford insurance and certainly can't afford to pay a fine for being too poor to afford insurance! Possibly, in four years, the government might supply me with health care, but what quality? Time will tell. Like you, Stacy and Dan, I am also upset that this bill allows payment for abortion. So much for protecting those who cannot protect themselves. I need insurance, and I don't pretend to have the answers, I'm only voicing my concerns about whether this health care bill is the answer.

Nina Miller
If there was a God and if he was any good, he'd make sure people wouldn't get sick in the first place. Seriously.

Ernie Baiotto
You need to look at the hidden things in the bill--For instance Harry Ried has a clause that say no future congress can change this section of the bill. Also the the buying of votes from Conneticut, vermont, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Lousianna. Is this the way our government was meant to be run? Our forefathers are probably turning over in their graves this morning.

Stacey Friedlein
I am not a fan of dividing democrats and republicans but am more interested in defining idealogy without labels.

Jeff Delaney
Excellent point Danielle....in light of this marked legislation, you'll begin to see the face the "business" of health care change drastically, and my guess is that you won't like it. I am constantly amazed, (I really don't know why) and the things that our government comes up with. I understand their motivation (to keep their jobs) but really. We ... See Morespeak of keeping drunks off of the road, but then allow their charges to be reduced to non-moving violations if you have the $$$. We speak of the atrocity of the taking of an unborn life, yet dare not to find a solution to the problem, even though it beats you upside the head. We reform health care without addressing one of its major facets, malpractice, for medical professionals (who are human beings) in the event that God forbid they make a mistake. Let me see if I can find a tie there.....Attorneys sue doctors and get huge settlements for their clients, lining their pockets with dollars that could other wise be used to lower health care costs for everyone and extend coverage to those who cannot afford it. How many "Lawmakers" are Attorneys? Hummmm? Perhaps it's time to elect people who aren't so familiar with the law, and more familiar with the real needs of people.

Jeff Conrad
Thank You Stacey for your comment. I've been roaming around today in a great void feeling like I was alone. Now may GOD have mercy on us all and overturn the demise that has been set forth by the forced legislation on us all. Some representative government. Lets go back to pre-revolutionary times.....oh wait a minute we already have.
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The good and bad in health care reform for small businesses - USATODAY.com

The good and bad in health care reform for small businesses - USATODAY.com

Sunday, March 21, 2010

A socialist society cannot live as a free society

A socialist society cannot live as a free society. In order to be truly free a society must become reliant on their individual selves. This is not to say individuals do not need interaction with other people. It needs to be understood that we cannot rely on government to provide for our needs and enjoy the freedoms which we all value. To a certain degree they are mutually exclusive.

It is difficult to imagine we can live in a society and enjoy all of the freedoms on one hand and on the other expect the government to provide for our needs. Allowing the government to make decisions about how, who and when we receive services such as healthcare takes the very freedom we desire away.

The expectation of relying on government is a dangerous path to follow. Unfortunately we have become a lazy citizenry and feel we are too busy to get involved in the process. It is this laziness coupled with apathy which has allowed our government to take us so far down this path.

It is time for those of us who are in the middle, who stand for reason and compromise, those of us who are willing to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work of creating an environment of fair and open dialog to push our agenda ahead. This agenda should be led by the desire to create a smaller government with local control.

Government should provide the tools and support for the free society to function successfully. It is not their responsibility to intervene in the free enterprise system. Allowing free commerce to work through the ebbs and flows of economic trends is far more effective than having the government putting themselves in the mix.

There will always be times when the economy needs to be corrected. Allowing it to self-correct is the best way for that to happen. Allowing bureaucrats and politicians to interfere with these corrective periods is precisely why we have large swings in the stability of the economy.

There are many out there who would like to see government take control. Those who are self-employed or business owners who have this mindset seem to be at odds with the reasons they may have become self employed. The independence which may be a primary reason for following such a career path disappears when we look to the government to provide things like health insurance, business bailouts and job creation.

More to come…

Friday, February 19, 2010

Pricing Lessons from the Airline Industry

Pricing Lessons from the Airline Industry
Small business consultant Gene Marks uses airline fees as an example of what not to do when establishing prices for products and services

read it here:

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/feb2010/sb20100212_273018.htm

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Small businesses tout Web-driven 'buy local' campaign

The following article re enforces the message I was trying to convey in a previous post on supporting small business.

Small businesses tout Web-driven 'buy local' campaign

The original post is:Helping Small Business $ucceed: Value of small business