Biz Bits
Gear Up
Netgear Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype
www.netgear.com $199.99
Tap into the newest technology without leaving the landline behind. Th e SPH200D allows your regular phone service and Skype VoIP calls to be received from one handset. Calls can be made without interfering with Wi-fi networks, and the bill for keeping in touch with contacts worldwide can be kept at a much more aff ordable cost.
Mobile Office
Cingular 8525
www.cingular.com $549.99
The Cingular 8525, the first 3G-enabled PDA, allows users to reference files while out of the office using Microsoft Windows, and to access multiple email accounts. Th e phone includes Wi-fi capabilities, which can be used as a high-speed modem for laptops. Th e 400 MHz processor will keep you one step ahead, allowing time to tinker around with the 2MP camera with video and flash. You can even grab some popcorn and watch a movie on this multifunctional gadget.
Stay Connected
Samsung Q1B Ultra Mobile PC
www.samsung.com from $899
Bill Gates believed there should be a computer on every office desk and in every home—Samsung’s Q1B Ultra Mobil PC off ers a chance for more: a computer in every hand. Th is handheld device allows you to stay connected wherever you go, and the system comes with built-in stereo speakers, Bluetooth and a wireless LAN antenna. Th e sleek design is matched by its high performance, and with its size and a battery that can last up to five hours, you can even stay connected while sipping a drink by the pool.
Pick Your Color
NOVOGO S Series Portable Car Navigator
www.novogo.com $549
You’ll no longer need extra time for finding the location of an out-of-town meeting—the GPS technology and digital maps in this portable navigator will tell you exactly how to get there, out loud. Th e turn-by-turn voice instructions are given through a two-watt speaker, and color 3D navigation can be viewed on an anti-glare LCD panel. Not sure about which station to check for a traffic report? Th e Navigator off ers optional real-time traffic information to avoid delays. Arrive confident, knowing that the NOVOGO S Series knows where you are going and will get you there on time.
Secret of My Success
With 35 years of entrepreneurial achievement, Ty Freyvogel, the founder of EntrepreneursLab.com and operator of Freyvogel Communications, has some tips. Having published Seize the Century! and It’s Not Your Smarts, It’s Your Schmooze, Freyvogel has a lot to say about running a company. He believes that being a good business owner is all about forming good habits.
Ty Freyvogel’s 10 Business Management Tips to Ensure Success
1. Review all systems from top to bottom.
“Don’t assume that just because you have had a certain system in place from day one that it is adding value to your business or your customers.”
2. Determine who your best customers are.
“Just because you always seem to be doing something for certain customers doesn’t mean they’re the most profitable. I often find that my needy customers and my most profitable customers are two different groups.”
3. Touch base with your best customers.
“I send letters to my customers. It is a quick and easy way to let them know we care about their needs and to encourage them to give us constructive feedback.”
4. Hold annual performance reviews.
“I’ve always found that performance reviews are a great time to ask my employees, ‘What can I do for you?’ Be honest with them and take the time to listen to their concerns, one-on-one.”
5. Engage your employees as partners.
“Listening to and implementing your employees’ suggestions is a great way to make them feel like valued business partners.”
6. Review your marketing campaign.
“It can be disappointing when you realize that something you have been doing simply isn’t working. Stay positive, and come up with a better way to spend your marketing budget.”
7. Review professional magazine subscriptions.
“Cancel magazine subscriptions that aren’t valuable for you. It will help you save money—and yes, every little bit helps—and keep your office tidy.”
8. Consider technology upgrades.
“A new computer, phone system or other technology upgrade can make a huge difference in the daily lives of your employees.”
9. Review insurance policies.
“Taking the time to make sure you have adequate coverage could save you a lot of money down the line. This is especially important if changes have taken place in your company during the past year that affect your liability.”
10. Meet with your accountant.
“Before tax time, meet with your accountant to plan taxes. Discuss with your accountant what you should do with excess cash and take a look at anything that you can write off.”