Comments for Complete Innovations http://www.completeinnovations.com Complete Innovations Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on The Art and Importance of Networking by Denise Buchman http://www.completeinnovations.com/2012/02/06/the-art-and-importance-of-networking/#comment-57 Denise Buchman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2827#comment-57 Hello Rick....Our paths have crossed many years ago when I was President of Maryland Messenger, a regional same day courier company based in Baltimore. You could not have said this better! Kudos! I have been networking, connecting and leveraging for years and honestly is how I turned the biz around in the late 90's. I left the small same day industry and have been consulting for the past 2 years. Most of my clients have been fearful to be innovative during this economic downturn...which as an innovator, entrepreneur and relationship guru..I find a bad business decision. The key is finding leaders of companies who want to change the culture and create value in the relationship leading to increased marketshare their respective industries. Courier peeps have always had a difficult time "letting go" sharing, connecting ethically and for a strategic purpose.....the ones that continue to do business the "old" way will soon be under! Hope you are enjoying 2012! Cheers, denise Hello Rick….Our paths have crossed many years ago when I was President of Maryland Messenger, a regional same day courier company based in Baltimore. You could not have said this better! Kudos! I have been networking, connecting and leveraging for years and honestly is how I turned the biz around in the late 90′s. I left the small same day industry and have been consulting for the past 2 years. Most of my clients have been fearful to be innovative during this economic downturn…which as an innovator, entrepreneur and relationship guru..I find a bad business decision. The key is finding leaders of companies who want to change the culture and create value in the relationship leading to increased marketshare their respective industries. Courier peeps have always had a difficult time “letting go” sharing, connecting ethically and for a strategic purpose…..the ones that continue to do business the “old” way will soon be under! Hope you are enjoying 2012! Cheers, denise

]]> Comment on The Art and Importance of Networking by Debra Mathias http://www.completeinnovations.com/2012/02/06/the-art-and-importance-of-networking/#comment-55 Debra Mathias Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:18:13 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2827#comment-55 This might be one of the best postings I have ever read on networking and it's importance. We have taken the name of Best Courier, Inc. out in the market place by doing just that. Networking is truly being in meetings, events, etc. with CEO's, janitors, purchasing, receptionists and anyone who could help our company grow through innovative ideas. However, networking is a two way street. You have to give to get and I think you are right by saying you have to REALLY LISTEN to what is being said! Most sales people forget this. Thank you for sharing. Debra Mathias, Sales and Logistics Manager, Best Courier, Inc. This might be one of the best postings I have ever read on networking and it’s importance. We have taken the name of Best Courier, Inc. out in the market place by doing just that. Networking is truly being in meetings, events, etc. with CEO’s, janitors, purchasing, receptionists and anyone who could help our company grow through innovative ideas. However, networking is a two way street. You have to give to get and I think you are right by saying you have to REALLY LISTEN to what is being said! Most sales people forget this. Thank you for sharing. Debra Mathias, Sales and Logistics Manager, Best Courier, Inc.

]]> Comment on Employees vs. Independent Contractors by Elizabeth Carroll http://www.completeinnovations.com/2012/01/24/employees-vs-independent-contractors/#comment-48 Elizabeth Carroll Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:44:00 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2803#comment-48 My business has grown and is now to much for myself and hubby. I need help, so am in search of independent contractors. However, I do not know where to start this process. Surely there are some types of forms to sign in agreement with the IC. If you can in anyway help me with this please do. I am currently talking to insurance companies and trying to determine what I need to do to make sure my cargo insurance covers these types of drivers. So knowledge of a reliable courier insurance company would also be appreciated. Thanks Elizabeth Carroll My business has grown and is now to much for myself and hubby. I need help, so am in search of independent contractors. However, I do not know where to start this process. Surely there are some types of forms to sign in agreement with the IC. If you can in anyway help me with this please do. I am currently talking to insurance companies and trying to determine what I need to do to make sure my cargo insurance covers these types of drivers. So knowledge of a reliable courier insurance company would also be appreciated.
Thanks

Elizabeth Carroll

]]> Comment on Employees vs. Independent Contractors by Robert Day http://www.completeinnovations.com/2012/01/24/employees-vs-independent-contractors/#comment-47 Robert Day Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:50:56 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2803#comment-47 And what about advice for those of us that run an employee based operation? The companies that typically run I/C operations are always trying to under bid, forcing rates downward and reducing profit margins. All the time knowing that their operation is technically illegal. And what about advice for those of us that run an employee based operation? The companies that typically run I/C operations are always trying to under bid, forcing rates downward and reducing profit margins. All the time knowing that their operation is technically illegal.

]]> Comment on Metrics by Natalie http://www.completeinnovations.com/2012/01/12/metrics/#comment-43 Natalie Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:04:38 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2758#comment-43 Cool blog! Cool blog!

]]> Comment on Employees vs. Independent Contractors by Laine Sloan http://www.completeinnovations.com/2012/01/24/employees-vs-independent-contractors/#comment-35 Laine Sloan Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:56:43 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2803#comment-35 This is a very excellent and important article Rick! As an owner of a start-up courier company, the employee contractor issue was one of the main reasons I decided to actually start my own business. As a bicycle messenger, working for the competition was difficult as I was labeled a contractor yet was not given the opportunity in the work environment to actually operate as an independent business. As a recent worker feeling like an employee labelled as a contractor, this is essentially the issue with the Contractor/Employee argument in the industry; the contractor relationship is not there. These companies, in an effort to maximize profits seem to have lost touch with what a contractor actually is, demanding a more employee-like relationship with their workers without paying them as such. I have heard of a Mis-Classification Act put forth by Obama regarding this issue, not only in the courier industry but construction as well. In Canada, there have been few cases won by the contractors but these workers seem mostly apathetic to the issue. In Calgary, where we do business, the trend among Local Same Day couriers is to hire contractors. In fact, your former company, Dynamex, is our only competitor in Calgary hiring employees! -Laine Sloan This is a very excellent and important article Rick! As an owner of a start-up courier company, the employee contractor issue was one of the main reasons I decided to actually start my own business. As a bicycle messenger, working for the competition was difficult as I was labeled a contractor yet was not given the opportunity in the work environment to actually operate as an independent business.
As a recent worker feeling like an employee labelled as a contractor, this is essentially the issue with the Contractor/Employee argument in the industry; the contractor relationship is not there. These companies, in an effort to maximize profits seem to have lost touch with what a contractor actually is, demanding a more employee-like relationship with their workers without paying them as such.
I have heard of a Mis-Classification Act put forth by Obama regarding this issue, not only in the courier industry but construction as well. In Canada, there have been few cases won by the contractors but these workers seem mostly apathetic to the issue. In Calgary, where we do business, the trend among Local Same Day couriers is to hire contractors. In fact, your former company, Dynamex, is our only competitor in Calgary hiring employees!

-Laine Sloan

]]> Comment on What Driver Shortage? by Chris http://www.completeinnovations.com/2012/01/10/what-driver-shortage/#comment-26 Chris Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:16:04 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2739#comment-26 Great points Rick and very true. I would add one more crucial part of retaining and attracting good drivers, engagement. Drivers are the largest touch point customers have with the company, each time they pick and each time the deliver they leave an impression on a current or prospective customer. Yet they are often treated as a separate group from the rest of the company. They too need to be engaged with the company, understanding the vision of the transportation company, the brand, customer expectations and understand their role in providing great service. When they understand how that fits into their own behaviors and their financial return you have a great driver who stays with the company. Great points Rick and very true. I would add one more crucial part of retaining and attracting good drivers, engagement. Drivers are the largest touch point customers have with the company, each time they pick and each time the deliver they leave an impression on a current or prospective customer. Yet they are often treated as a separate group from the rest of the company. They too need to be engaged with the company, understanding the vision of the transportation company, the brand, customer expectations and understand their role in providing great service. When they understand how that fits into their own behaviors and their financial return you have a great driver who stays with the company.

]]> Comment on Planning To Succeed by rc helicopters http://www.completeinnovations.com/2011/12/05/planning-to-succeed/#comment-23 rc helicopters Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:28:49 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2616#comment-23 This is cool! This is cool!

]]> Comment on Business Dashboards by Fitness tips http://www.completeinnovations.com/2011/12/20/business-dashboards/#comment-17 Fitness tips Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:56:00 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2685#comment-17 I really liked your blog! It helped me alot… Awesome. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! I really liked your blog! It helped me alot… Awesome. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Growth by Kevin Morris http://www.completeinnovations.com/2011/12/08/growth/#comment-8 Kevin Morris Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:09:43 +0000 http://www.completeinnovations.com/?p=2622#comment-8 Enjoying the blog posts, Rick. Keep up the great work! Enjoying the blog posts, Rick. Keep up the great work!

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