Business and Finance

Dear Wendy,

My boss made me to join this association, and I hate it. They meet early in the morning, they don’t like me, and I skip as often as I think I can get away with. How can I assert my independence and tell my boss that I’m not going to go any more?

Dear Unhappy Ms. Independent:

We’ll come to several forks in the road on this journey, so keep both hands on the wheel at all times.

First: Why did your boss “make” you join the association?

a: If she wants to brand the company within that organization, then either find a certified morning person who would love to trade you for the evening networking group she yawns through, or find a new job. (You might also see if there is a different chapter of the organization that you could transfer your membership to.)

b: If your boss used to be a member, and liked it, and she thought you would too, you can come to her with an alternative – suggest a particular luncheon meeting and tell the why the people you meet there will be better prospects and GateOpeners. (But be respectful of this group, because if your boss liked these people that means you would be complaining to her about her own friends.)

Continue reading ‘My Boss Made Me Join’ »

Let’s see, where do I start when naming business challenges unique to the wonder metropolis called New York City? Let’s begin with competition. You’re definitely not the only one doing what you’re doing. Especially if you’ve drawn attention to yourself with that thing called success. What about our beloved friend Taxes? New Yorker’s may earn good money, but no one’s fatter than a starch-suited politician. They suck it all up! Then there’s the great and infamous Transportation. Have you ever driven in New York City for anything at all? $10.00 tolls, two miles in two hours, no parking (or standing in Yankee lingo), maniac taxi drivers and relentless NYPD ticket junkies. Lacking for dramatic memories? Get behind the wheel in The Big Apple.

Then there’s one challenge that is seemingly inescapable… Space. It’s either too small, too expensive or not the right fit. Businesses in New York City pay more for office space than anywhere else in the world. Demand is high, supply is low and employees are intimate due to extremely tight quarters. So what do you do when you need more space but can’t afford a bigger office? The following scenario is frequently played out.

The Scene

A start up finds new space in Manhattan. After three, six, eight months the office is piled high with inventory, supplies, furniture, tech equipment, records, anything and everything. Business is growing at a steady clip and the Owner decides to hire an additional sales person. What’s the problem? Where to put them? Here’s what happens next:

Boss: “Susie (receptionist/assistant), look up storage online and find the best price. Make sure it’s close enough to drive back and forth.”

Susie: “Sure boss. The cheapest one I found is on 16th Street and 10th Ave for $$ per month.”

Continue reading ‘How to Reduce an Unavoidable Expense and in Turn Better Your Company – New York City Business’ »