My family loves inside jokes. Spend an hour with more than three of us and you'll likely be left wondering what we're laughing about half of the time. It's not that our jokes are private--they're just those "you had to be there" moments.

This article in a recent WSJ blog says inside jokes like that can be good for business. One company took the concept so far that they've created a fictional character, Bob Archer, who they refer to as the founder of the company. Not wanting to name the business after themselves, the real founders chose the name the Archer Group because it sounded creditable. "Bob Archer" was always thanked for paying the tab for client lunches. He even has own voice on the company's blog.

“When you’re in on a joke, it’s kind of like you’re special,” says Lee Mikles, one of the founders. “When our clients are able to feel like they’re in on this Bob Archer joke, and they can play along with it, you really feel them kind of light up, and that’s kind of neat.”

Though inside jokes are often thought to be exclusive, if you can come up with one inclusive enough for your entire client base, you might find yourself laughing all the way to the bank.

Posted by Shannon McRae on March 17, 2008 01:11 PM

Shhhh. Listen. What do you hear in your office? If you're a smaller company, business might be humming along quietly. But is that the image you want to project to customers on the phone? If you'd rather sound like Grand Central Station, just pop in the "Thriving Office" CD. Filled with noises heard at the typical bustling office, the CD helps home-based business who are trying to sound (pardon the pun) more professional.

Even if you're not trying to drown out the sounds of dogs or kids, try using the CD to boost productivity. There's no scientific proof that it will grow your bottom line, but working in an office that sounds busy might make your employees pick up the pace.

Via TP Wire Service

Posted by Shannon McRae on May 7, 2007 11:04 AM

When the phones go offline, who makes sure every one of them is back online? When there’s a birthday to celebrate, who makes sure there’s plenty of cake to go around? Do you need more hints, or can you figure out where this is going?

Tomorrow is National Administrative Professionals Day, so make sure you take the time to thank all of the people who keep your office running smoothly.

According to the Staples’ My Real Job survey, office managers are now performing the tasks that used to be accomplished by eight or nine people. “More and more, workers are required to wear many hats to fulfill their workplace roles,” says Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire, a recruitment services firm. “This incredible range of duties can create significant challenges with managing time effectively and achieving work-life balance.” In fact, 53 percent of administrative professionals perform such a wide range of tasks that they describe themselves as the “chief operating officers” of their workplace.

Despite the difficult range of jobs covered by these workers, most say that hearing a simple “thank you” is the best part of their day. Check out the My Real Job Web site for more information about the survey and how to show appreciation to the backbone of your office tomorrow in honor of National Administrative Professionals Day.

Posted by Megan Pacella on April 24, 2007 02:25 PM

Do you ever wonder if your employees have "fun" at work? For old-school business owners and managers, having "fun" must mean that employees are goofing off and wasting company time. But that's not true, according to human resources experts. An article in a recent issue of Fast Company points to research at California State University Long Beach that showed that people who have fun at work are more creative, more productive, work better with others and call in sick less often. Check out these 10 (often crazy) tips for bringing fun to your office.

Sometimes it's easier to be light-hearted when the weather is nice. If cold weather and sunless days have you feeling cheerless, this article from the latest issue of MyBusiness magazine might help. Try implementing these creative ways to brighten spirits and beat the winter blues. Who knows, it may be fun.

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 20, 2007 03:02 PM

Steve Martin’s “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is one of my favorite movies of all time. If your travel plans have ever gone worse than expected, you can relate to this movie. But instead of losing it at the ticket counter like Martin’s character, USA Today’s Business Traveler columnist Joe Brancatelli offers 12 tips for effective complaints when the airline, hotel or car rental company provides less than stellar service.

The first hint is to try to resolve it in person at the time of the problem. If that doesn’t work, try Brancatelli’s tips on writing a letter that will get read. The hardest piece of advice to follow: Be nice. Even though you’d rather use this time to vent and threaten and call the company a monkey’s uncle, doing so won’t help your case (even if it does make you feel a smidgen better).

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 5, 2007 08:28 AM

Belt-tightening at the pump takes on a whole new meaning thanks to a study released by the University of Illinois. Researchers found that Americans are using nearly 1 billion more gallons of gasoline each year than they did in 1960 because of expanding waistlines, according to this AP article. More weight makes for lower gas mileage, so your arteries aren't the only thing you'll save if you pass on that super-sized burger combo.

"The bottom line is that our hunger for food and our hunger for oil are not independent," says study co-author Sheldon Jacobson. "There is a relationship between the two."

Recent trends in consumer-driven health plans have some small businesses looking at the value of promoting wellness habits among employees. As gas prices continue to rise, healthy eating habits might not only affect your insurance premiums--they could affect your fleet's fuel bills as well.

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 26, 2006 01:04 PM

Is the other 25 percent really telling the truth? That's the first thing I thought when I saw this new Gallup poll that found 75 percent of American workers say they'd be happier if they made more money--exactly $33,000 more, according to the study. So what about the other 25 percent? Are there really employees out there who would say they wouldn't be just the slightest bit pleased with more money?

One of the study's more comforting finds for small-business owners: Though they might want more money, 63 percent of employees don't think they'd be happier in a different job. A more positive way to look at that stat? Employees are pretty satisfied. NFIB.com's Business Toolbox has an entire section on how to motivate and inspire employees. Check out the articles for ideas on how to maintain a happy (and productive) staff. And if the survey offers any insight into your workers, might as well browse the Business Toolbox category on employee compensation too.

Posted by Shannon McRae on August 7, 2006 11:02 AM

Here's some fun for your Friday: An Ohio entrepreneur is cashing in on bat droppings--and not just any bat droppings. His bat waste (or guano, if you want to be technically correct) comes from bats who hang in attics and bell towers in area churches. Customers pay $2 a pound to use it as fertilize, and some swear by it: "Those bats were sleeping through all that church singing and praying, and it's in their droppings," says a retailer who sells the bat waste.

Posted by Shannon McRae on July 7, 2006 11:27 AM

A novelist I know says all stories worth telling have a failure to overcome. And so, when I talk to small-business owners and hear about their great successes, I often ask about their failures, too. I want to hear about a low point in their business-how they handled the experience, and what they learned from it. Almost every time I ask, I hear an inspiring tale told from the heart. As a small-business owner myself, I learn more from the conversations about failing than from hearing about the chain of fortuitous events that led to someone's success. For the April-May issue of MyBusiness Magazine, we talked with small-business owners around the country who have journeyed through failing without letting the experience label them a failure. Their stories will sound familiar. We hope it will help you realize such experiences can make your small- business story much more interesting to tell.

Posted by Rex Hammock on March 31, 2006 11:35 AM