Also see: NUMARK TURNTABLES
Festucada Business Journal
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK2
Monday, August 14, 2017
Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD Hybrid Trail Camera Review
Bushnell is a world leader for a reason, and this sleek looking Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD is another reason why. The company didn’t take any shortcuts in introducing the product to the general public to much fanfare. Besides being one of the most powerful on the market, it is one of the better high cost trail cameras that can be purchased and relied on for years. Buyers can expect to get a lot of mileage out of this camera, and all without ponying up an extreme amount of money. For a cost vs. performance option, it is very good and well worth the money.
Style
It’s about as professional looking as you can get, and uses a very dark brown that works for all home security or trail hunting. It will blend into virtually any environment without any extra help on your end. The camera was made to be universally used, so going with the dark brown was a perfect choice for all involved. The casing has a loop on the end so that you can get creative with the placement. Expect to spend a lot of money for another brand with this styling of case. This is about as low priced as you’re going to get without getting into the collector’s edition for this style.
Recommended Level
This one is an interesting mix since it leans more toward intermediate and up, with advanced users being the bread and butter. Advanced users more than any group will be able to maximize the features of the camera. Intermediate users can catch up in time, and will get user out of many of the great features of this Bushnell. But where does that leave beginners? Although the camera isn’t geared toward beginners in a way that is user friendly, the device is still useful as a trail camera (for example: MOULTRIE PANORAMIC 150I ) hunting and home security tool for beginners. If they are willing to learn the advanced features of the camera over time, then things will progress normally as if they were an intermediate user.
Durability
Bushnell had no choice but to make the case on this camera strong, due to the expensive components on the inside. It is a fine case that is very well made. There are no problems opening it, and it only requires a little force. Drops won’t bother the internals, and your camera won’t go flying to the other side of the forest even if something or someone knocks it down. Weather doesn’t bother it and it is just an all-around great case, which is very important when purchasing an expensive camera. Expect this case to continue to amaze those that have never owned a Bushnell before.
Pros
A high definition 8MP camera that can take 1-3 solid images per trigger. Full HD video of 1280×720 with audio that can be recorded up to 60 seconds. The length of the video is completely programmable, so you can define it based on how much space is left. Hybrid capture mode lets you take pictures and video at the same time, a feature found only in Bushnell devices. Geotag data is automatically added to each photo and video you take, and on 8AA batteries the camera works up to a full year. With the extensions to the PIR system, media is crisp whether it is taken in the daytime or
the nighttime.
Cons
The price may be out of reach for the common customer, as others may opt to go to the next tier down. The unit can run on 4AA or 8AA batteries, but in order to get the full power out of the unit you want to get name brand. Going with a generic set of batteries will cause the power to fizzle out a lot sooner than expected. As one of the high end products in their lineup, it is still only 8MP total. Bumping it up to 10 or 12 would have been the better option since this is one of the better reviewed models.
Included Accessories
With an adjustable web belt and included ¼ socket to tighten it, this bad boy is ready to go out of the box. You can hang or position it anywhere, and with its ideal weight of only 1 pound, expect for your creativity to go wild. The web belt is on the same quality level as the camera, and will hold up well over the years even under heavy abuse. The unit is also external power compatible, which saves a lot of money on purchasing batteries year round. External add-ons are cheap and won’t break the bank, so it is recommended to buy it together with the camera if you need it.
Value
Powerful and fully featured, this is a tremendous value out of the box. It has everything you need to get started with HD photos and videos. The design makes it ideal for home and outdoor use, with the perfect balance between the two. All the parts of high quality and will do wonders when taxed to their limit. And years from now the value of the camera will remain largely the same, do the how much futureproofing was put into the product. While the 8MP camera could have been tweak further to predict industry standards, it is still a very powerful resolution that will fetch you some great media.
Lasting Appeal
It will be around for a long time in your arsenal, and won’t fade in quality. HD cameras are hard to come by that are this fully featured, and since it is a Bushnell product it has longevity just based on name alone. You won’t get any better than this unless you go to a wireless camera or 12MP camera. So for all of your needs this will pretty much meet them over the years, keeping you from having to replace the camera for at least a decade of use. You won’t need another camera for a very long time.
Best Comparison
The collector’s edition of the Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD is made pretty much the same with a different casing and similar price. Also some of the features of the original have been tweaked to perform better. The collector’s edition is the superior version component wise, but the casing of the original may be preferred by those that want an indoor and outdoor camera. Either one works fine, but the most universal one is going to be the original Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD. If you strictly want an outside trail hunting camera, then go for the collector’s edition that blends in well with the environment.
Personal Opinion
This is an upper tier camera that deserves all of the great reviews it gets. Expect for the company to really get gains on this camera even years after its introduction. There is a reason that they made a collector’s edition, and even with new trail cameras being built everyday it remains one of the best.
Cons
The price may be out of reach for the common customer, as others may opt to go to the next tier down. The unit can run on 4AA or 8AA batteries, but in order to get the full power out of the unit you want to get name brand. Going with a generic set of batteries will cause the power to fizzle out a lot sooner than expected. As one of the high end products in their lineup, it is still only 8MP total. Bumping it up to 10 or 12 would have been the better option since this is one of the better reviewed models.
Included Accessories
With an adjustable web belt and included ¼ socket to tighten it, this bad boy is ready to go out of the box. You can hang or position it anywhere, and with its ideal weight of only 1 pound, expect for your creativity to go wild. The web belt is on the same quality level as the camera, and will hold up well over the years even under heavy abuse. The unit is also external power compatible, which saves a lot of money on purchasing batteries year round. External add-ons are cheap and won’t break the bank, so it is recommended to buy it together with the camera if you need it.
Value
Powerful and fully featured, this is a tremendous value out of the box. It has everything you need to get started with HD photos and videos. The design makes it ideal for home and outdoor use, with the perfect balance between the two. All the parts of high quality and will do wonders when taxed to their limit. And years from now the value of the camera will remain largely the same, do the how much futureproofing was put into the product. While the 8MP camera could have been tweak further to predict industry standards, it is still a very powerful resolution that will fetch you some great media.
Lasting Appeal
It will be around for a long time in your arsenal, and won’t fade in quality. HD cameras are hard to come by that are this fully featured, and since it is a Bushnell product it has longevity just based on name alone. You won’t get any better than this unless you go to a wireless camera or 12MP camera. So for all of your needs this will pretty much meet them over the years, keeping you from having to replace the camera for at least a decade of use. You won’t need another camera for a very long time.
Best Comparison
The collector’s edition of the Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD is made pretty much the same with a different casing and similar price. Also some of the features of the original have been tweaked to perform better. The collector’s edition is the superior version component wise, but the casing of the original may be preferred by those that want an indoor and outdoor camera. Either one works fine, but the most universal one is going to be the original Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD. If you strictly want an outside trail hunting camera, then go for the collector’s edition that blends in well with the environment.
Personal Opinion
This is an upper tier camera that deserves all of the great reviews it gets. Expect for the company to really get gains on this camera even years after its introduction. There is a reason that they made a collector’s edition, and even with new trail cameras being built everyday it remains one of the best.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
The Advantages of Using a Check Stub Template
In the company world, every minute matters. This is why we hear jargons such as output signal efficiency, savings and so forth. Fundamentally the emphasis will be on working smart. Employing a test fake-paystub.com comes as just one such clever move that's needed for the business. Keep reading to understand how it can empower you.
Do not Reinvent the Wheel
It is not just working hard that makes you money but working smart that things. It is a solution which could assist you in your day to day task. Money transactions are a regular occurrence in business. In actuality, the pay check that's given out to every employee is a classic instance of how advertising we will need to use the test fake-paystub.com. In all such circumstances, finding the right template and filling it in each time is a great way to speed up your work.
Better Record Keeping
The cash moving in and out of your company is to be kept track of. Though not on a daily basis, all this information will come to use while you have to file your taxes. The template that you put to use each time that you make your payment to your clients are going to be a great reference point for these while filing taxes. This easy manageability and record keeping will be a motivating factor for them to come back to you for more company. You will benefit a lot with record keeping in the event you've got a fantastic template to use.
Bring in Transparency
In organizations in which you make payments to employees, fake-paystub.com template is best to bring in transparency. Many organizations opt for variable cover wherein the employees will be rewarded according to their performance. In order to reveal transparency to prevent unnecessary questioning by workers, using fake-paystub.com template would be the best. It may carry details of this break up in wages helping the employees get more clarity.
Easily Available
fake-paystub.com templates are easily available online. You can download free templates by browsing through several websites. With this, you will have the ability to acquire the template with the right format and break up as you expect.
With solutions to do smart business, you can save yourself energy and time on mundane tasks. It will also aid in reducing unnecessary labor and help in saving costs. The time saved by using templates can be employed to make roadmaps for the future of your company which holds the secret to its success.
Do not Reinvent the Wheel
It is not just working hard that makes you money but working smart that things. It is a solution which could assist you in your day to day task. Money transactions are a regular occurrence in business. In actuality, the pay check that's given out to every employee is a classic instance of how advertising we will need to use the test fake-paystub.com. In all such circumstances, finding the right template and filling it in each time is a great way to speed up your work.
Better Record Keeping
The cash moving in and out of your company is to be kept track of. Though not on a daily basis, all this information will come to use while you have to file your taxes. The template that you put to use each time that you make your payment to your clients are going to be a great reference point for these while filing taxes. This easy manageability and record keeping will be a motivating factor for them to come back to you for more company. You will benefit a lot with record keeping in the event you've got a fantastic template to use.
Bring in Transparency
In organizations in which you make payments to employees, fake-paystub.com template is best to bring in transparency. Many organizations opt for variable cover wherein the employees will be rewarded according to their performance. In order to reveal transparency to prevent unnecessary questioning by workers, using fake-paystub.com template would be the best. It may carry details of this break up in wages helping the employees get more clarity.
Easily Available
fake-paystub.com templates are easily available online. You can download free templates by browsing through several websites. With this, you will have the ability to acquire the template with the right format and break up as you expect.
With solutions to do smart business, you can save yourself energy and time on mundane tasks. It will also aid in reducing unnecessary labor and help in saving costs. The time saved by using templates can be employed to make roadmaps for the future of your company which holds the secret to its success.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Pipes Treatment: Benefits For Your House Sewer System
Pipes for smoking is really a new herbicides blend put in sewer lines as foam using a unique function. The target being to get gone roots and avoiding any potential further destruction for the sewage pipes for weed brought about by expanding tree roots.
Simply these roots which are within the tube and those very near the pipes for smoking get affected. That timber which can be immediately above the bottom level doesn't get damaged.
Why Use Pipes For Smoking?
Individuals who operate or contract while in the supervision of water and sewer tasks know how roots inside the sewers choke your sewage system. For a long time, they will have probably been replenishing your affected pipes and bongs however now it's hitting new levels. You now have to take care of overflows and a lot of obstructions.
You have gone to try slicing the pine roots which will be costly, frustrating and will actually make matters worse. You might have tried several kinds of substances, improved companies, all to no avail. The answer to your circumstance might currently lie-in pipes for weed.
How Can pipes and bongs Treatment Work?
Scientific research-backed by the extensive application has proved that pipes for smoking weed is perhaps one of the most effectual approaches to freeing your sewer system of roots.
Until as recently as 40 years back, efficient chemical control of sources inside the sewage systems was truly considered near the difficult. However, a clinical study has since found that dichobunid and metam sodium combinations produce that feasible.
Those two substances when put together produce disastrous effects on these bothersome beginnings.
1. Metam sodium penetrates deep into the origin tissues, eliminating the root without damaging these trees and flowers above ground.
2. Dichlobenil has been built to connection to your tube joints, fractures and walls to eliminate new growth which could stop the pipes for smoking weed for several years to come.
Advantages of the Therapy
This foam combination is one of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) number of accepted herbicides which-when well-placed within your underground sewer lines gets rid of sources and prevents further sewage pipes for sale deterioration due to pine sources which might be live.
1. The devastation of origins by pipes for smoking weed is really as quickly as contact is created. All origins present in your tube wall, inside the tube and the ones only outside your tube will rot, die and disappear. This may permit the pure floor force to close up the holes and chips while in the tube that had been caused by the expansion of sources.
2. Being a nonsystemic herbicide signifies that it just influences the main material that it gets to contact. It moves just an exceptionally transient distance upwards to the origin.
3. Protected for an application while the fundamental substances are generally found in marijuana development handle on food plants.
4. Having more than 40 years of continuing consumption, it's received a proven and reliable track record of great achievement. What therefore is that your sewage system becomes resilient with fewer repair needs.
Numerous well-documented reports demonstrate the pipes for smoking effectiveness when found in strictly in accordance with the directions about the brand. It's absolutely registered and certified from the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for sewage origin handle application.
Simply these roots which are within the tube and those very near the pipes for smoking get affected. That timber which can be immediately above the bottom level doesn't get damaged.
Why Use Pipes For Smoking?
Individuals who operate or contract while in the supervision of water and sewer tasks know how roots inside the sewers choke your sewage system. For a long time, they will have probably been replenishing your affected pipes and bongs however now it's hitting new levels. You now have to take care of overflows and a lot of obstructions.
You have gone to try slicing the pine roots which will be costly, frustrating and will actually make matters worse. You might have tried several kinds of substances, improved companies, all to no avail. The answer to your circumstance might currently lie-in pipes for weed.
How Can pipes and bongs Treatment Work?
Scientific research-backed by the extensive application has proved that pipes for smoking weed is perhaps one of the most effectual approaches to freeing your sewer system of roots.
Until as recently as 40 years back, efficient chemical control of sources inside the sewage systems was truly considered near the difficult. However, a clinical study has since found that dichobunid and metam sodium combinations produce that feasible.
Those two substances when put together produce disastrous effects on these bothersome beginnings.
1. Metam sodium penetrates deep into the origin tissues, eliminating the root without damaging these trees and flowers above ground.
2. Dichlobenil has been built to connection to your tube joints, fractures and walls to eliminate new growth which could stop the pipes for smoking weed for several years to come.
Advantages of the Therapy
This foam combination is one of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) number of accepted herbicides which-when well-placed within your underground sewer lines gets rid of sources and prevents further sewage pipes for sale deterioration due to pine sources which might be live.
1. The devastation of origins by pipes for smoking weed is really as quickly as contact is created. All origins present in your tube wall, inside the tube and the ones only outside your tube will rot, die and disappear. This may permit the pure floor force to close up the holes and chips while in the tube that had been caused by the expansion of sources.
2. Being a nonsystemic herbicide signifies that it just influences the main material that it gets to contact. It moves just an exceptionally transient distance upwards to the origin.
3. Protected for an application while the fundamental substances are generally found in marijuana development handle on food plants.
4. Having more than 40 years of continuing consumption, it's received a proven and reliable track record of great achievement. What therefore is that your sewage system becomes resilient with fewer repair needs.
Numerous well-documented reports demonstrate the pipes for smoking effectiveness when found in strictly in accordance with the directions about the brand. It's absolutely registered and certified from the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for sewage origin handle application.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Most common problems with automated gate openers
Installing automatic electric gates ( for example: MIGHTY MULE MM560 ) is not that easy. It is a really complicated process and this is why it is extremely important for the future owners to know what they will use the gate for. They should thoroughly explain to the technician what the purpose of that gate will be so that the technician could recommend the most suitable gate for them. The future owners will also have to choose between different materials, styles, colors, types of automation and ways of opening. There should be a safety check done by the technician before the gate is installed so that the technician could know if the gate is suitable for the given conditions.
There are several problems your gate might experience when the low temperatures strike. You might notice some delay in opening of your gate, or even the inability to open at all.
Metal components will contract as the temperature drops and unless you are using grease specially intended for lower temperatures, the grease will thicken, too. All this makes it harder for the gate to move and open since it requires more power.
Another problem is the battery since it is inside a metal box. Due to this, as the temperature gets lower outside, the internal temperature of the battery will also drop and this will make it harder for the battery to start because of the reduction of the electro-chemical reaction. This reaction is meant to produce the electrical current which allows the gate system to operate. You may have noticed that if you try to open it a couple of times, it will finally work.
What happens here is very similar to what happens to your car when it is cold outside. When the engine won’t start because it is too cold outside, you can turn on your headlights for half a minute or a minute and then the engine will start. The same thing happens when you repeatedly try to start the engine. These actions create an internal resistance in the battery causing it to physically warm up from the inside, just enough to start the engine.
If you hear a clicking sound coming from your gate, that is the indication that the battery solenoid switch is trying to close, but it can’t because the power is too weak.
Luckily for all of us, there are several corrective steps that a person can take. If you follow the order of these steps, you will get an inexpensive solution to your problem.
Disconnect the cables from the battery and then clean the ends of the cables, as well as the battery terminals.
If your battery box is made of metal, then you should take some Styrofoam insulation and apply a thin layer of it onto the bottom and the sides of the box.
ce Lead acid batteries emit Hydrogen gas during the charging process, the top part of the battery and the battery box MUST be vented to eliminate the hydrogen and prevent a disaster such as an explosion.
Look at the solenoid switch and its electrical connections. You should look for corrosion and if you happen to find any, you have to clean the terminals.
Take care of the rollers and bearing surfaces. You will have to clean them and then apply grease which is specially meant for cold weather. You can find this type of grease in any store for automotive parts.You should check the trickle charger and make sure that it is charging properly.
If all these steps did not help you and you still notice problems with the working of your gate opening mechanism, then I suggest you to take your battery out and take it to an auto parts store to be tested under load. There they will tell you if you need to buy a new battery or not. If it happens so that you need a new one, make sure you buy a battery which is rated for “High Cold Cranking Amps” and not the “Deep Cycle battery” because these “High Cold Cranking Amps” batteries are designed to provide maximum amperage for a short period of time, even when the battery and the weather is cold. “Deep Cycle battery” is meant for long continuous small amperage loads. This battery could be used on electronics on recreational vehicles or on boats and for lights
Friday, March 17, 2017
Guest Post: How to Quilt Tips for Beginners
In "How to Quilt Tips for Beginners," you are going to discover some helpful tips that not only will make learning how to quilt more enjoyable, but also will shorten the learning curve. Keep in mind, though, that merely reading these tips is not going to magically transform you instantaneously into a skillful quilter. It is going to take dedication, persistence, a willingness to learn the quilting basics, and practice.
If you are willing to put forth the effort to discipline yourself to learning how to quilt, you'll find that it's not only an enjoyable craft, but it also can be a very profitable one. The process of learning to quilt in many ways is comparable to learning to walk; You start out crawling, then taking a small step or two, then a larger step, and all of a sudden you are actually walking.
It's the same way with learning how to quilt: You start out slowly, build momentum, and before you know it - you are actually quilting. I remember how difficult it seemed when I was learning to make my first several Handmade Amish quilts. I kept having to re-read the same instructions and re-ask the same questions over and over. I was almost ready to throw in the towel and give up; A very frustrating experience. Fortunately, though, my mother persuaded me to keep going. I am so thankful she did because the day finally arrived when I realized that I was actually quilting - without having to read instructions and without having to ask questions - and it felt just as natural as learning to walk.
The same will happen to you, if you make up your mind that you are going to learn to quilt and do whatever it takes to make it happen. It's true that you will have to learn what seems like an incredible amount of things and will sometimes experience disappointments when a quilting project doesn't turn out the way you intended. But I promise you that learning to quilt is not at all difficult; And if you persist in the following five tips, the day will come - in the not to distant future - when you realize that persistence will spell success for you in the quilting craft.
Okay, lets take a look at the four helpful quilting tips that have guided me in becoming a skillful quilter; These tips can do the same for you:
Tip 1. A quilter needs to develop imagination. Now you may be asking, what in the world does imagination have to do with quilting? Let me explain. If you can picture in your mind a particular quilt design, you can make it. Of course, to achieve and become proficient in creating unique quilting designs, you will first have to master some basic sewing skills and familiarize yourself with the various quilt patterns that are already available.
Since the imagination forms pictures from words, it behooves you at the outset to begin learning the quilting jargon and terminology. In any trade, to reach your greatest success, you have to learn the terminology. When you enter the world of quilting, you are going to encounter unfamiliar words. Don't skip over these, but pause and look up the meaning. Eventually, mastery of these new words will not only spur your imagination into creating unique quilt designs, but also will enable you to more rapidly follow quilting instructions and communicate with fellow quilters.
Tip 2. Reflect back to what I said in comparing learning to quilt to learning to walk. Just as you wouldn't start out running when learning to walk, but instead would start out taking baby steps, the same is applicable in learning to quilt. You do not start out attempting to sew complicated patterns. Start, instead, with simple patterns and leave the intricately designed, more complicated patterns until you've mastered the basics. Your goal is to build on basic skills, so you can work on more complicated patterns.
There is nothing, perhaps, more frustrating to beginning quilters than tackling a quilting project that's above their present skill level. Start out with the less complicated, smaller projects, like pincushions, pillowcases, table runners, and place-mats. Gain the experience and satisfaction of being able to complete these more simpler projects. This will develop your quilting muscles so that you can more easily move on to completing the more complicated quilting projects.
Tip 3. As a quilter, you have the option to choose hand quilting or machine quilting. Ultimately, it's a matter of preference as to which one you choose. Both have their pros and cons. Hand quilting is the oldest method of quilting and preferred by many quilters because of its traditional and recreational appeal, and perhaps, more importantly, because it provides an ideal vehicle for socialization among extended family and community members. I can still remember sitting in front of the fireplace hand stitching a quilting project with my mother and sisters. The special feeling of love and togetherness provided by these hand stitching sessions will forever be imbedded in my memory.
Nevertheless, machine quilting is the fastest method. Not only is it the fastest, but it also is the easiest way to create identical, consistent stitches and to enhance a quilt with creative and intricate designs. Of course, just as there are pros and cons in using hand stitching versus machine-stitching, there are also times when using one method over the other is appropriate. For instance, as pointed out above, hand stitching provides an ideal platform for family togetherness. So if that is your goal - to spend more time with family - then hand stitching is the way to go. On the other hand, if your goal is to make a quilt as quickly as possible, then machine-stitching is the one you should choose. Most quilters, actually combine both hand stitching and machine-stitching in creating a quilt.
Tip 4. Just as you will need to learn the jargon and terminology of quilting, you will also need to learn the different stitches, styles, and techniques that are used in quilting. Lets start with some of the basic stitches you will use in hand stitching. There's the regular rocking stitch, the buttonhole stitch, the compact zigzag stitch, the satin stitch, the counted-thread stitch, the free embroidery stitch, and the big stitch; And in machine-stitching, there's the straight stitch and the stitch in the ditch. I cover these different stitches as well as the styles and techniques in more detail in other articles.
In "How to Quilt Tips for Beginners," I have provided you with four helpful tips that will shorten the learning curve and make learning how to quilt more enjoyable. Refer back to these tips and read other free quilting lessons at Amish Quilters Ethridge Tn. If you are willing to put forth the effort to discipline yourself to learning how to quilt, you will become a skillful quilter and discover for yourself that quilting is not only an enjoyable craft, but it also can be a very profitable one.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
10 Tips to Improve Business Efficiency
Your company is running smoothly enough, but you know things could be better. Sometimes, a project gets hung up a few days too long, or meetings that once felt productive and useful now seem to drag on for hours. It can feel like wheels spinning in the mud, and it’s hard to get that traction back.
How can you fix these kinds of issues? By focusing on improving the efficiency of your business. I asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council for their tips on how they keep their businesses running efficiently, which in turn helps them be more productive.
1. Automate whatever tasks you can
Whether it be sending out pay stubs to employees or sending receipts to vendors, automate whatever you can. “Business automation is not just a luxury; it is a necessity in today’s competitive environment,” says Sathvik Tantry of FormSwift. “Automating monotonous tasks saves your employees time and allows them to do more productive tasks that require critical thinking or a human touch.”
Sathvik adds that while it might be pricier to implement automated processes in the beginning, in the long run it will cut costs, as well as increase business efficiency.
Whether it be sending out pay stubs to employees or sending receipts to vendors, automate whatever you can. “Business automation is not just a luxury; it is a necessity in today’s competitive environment,” says Sathvik Tantry of FormSwift. “Automating monotonous tasks saves your employees time and allows them to do more productive tasks that require critical thinking or a human touch.”
Sathvik adds that while it might be pricier to implement automated processes in the beginning, in the long run it will cut costs, as well as increase business efficiency.
2. Encourage your employees to chat face-to-face
While sending a quick email or chat message to a coworker might seem like a more efficient way of getting an answer, oftentimes it can have the opposite effect, as the subsequent back-and-forth can take longer than a quick face-to-face. “Skype, Google Chat and other online communication tools are always helpful when trying to shoot over a quick message to your colleagues,” says Miles Jennings of Recruiter. “However, face-to-face interaction really speeds up the process of solving a problem, answering a question, or getting something important clarified.”
How can you make sure your employees balance the two for optimum efficiency? “Encouraging employees to openly talk with each other when they need to will create a steady flow of information,” says Miles.
While chat and email have their place, by making sure your employees are comfortable communicating face-to-face, you’ll keep your business moving efficiently, and a problem that could have been solved in a five-minute face-to-face chat won’t end as a 20-message-long email thread.
While sending a quick email or chat message to a coworker might seem like a more efficient way of getting an answer, oftentimes it can have the opposite effect, as the subsequent back-and-forth can take longer than a quick face-to-face. “Skype, Google Chat and other online communication tools are always helpful when trying to shoot over a quick message to your colleagues,” says Miles Jennings of Recruiter. “However, face-to-face interaction really speeds up the process of solving a problem, answering a question, or getting something important clarified.”
How can you make sure your employees balance the two for optimum efficiency? “Encouraging employees to openly talk with each other when they need to will create a steady flow of information,” says Miles.
While chat and email have their place, by making sure your employees are comfortable communicating face-to-face, you’ll keep your business moving efficiently, and a problem that could have been solved in a five-minute face-to-face chat won’t end as a 20-message-long email thread.
3. Limit interruptions
Staff meeting at 9am, department meeting at 11am, lunch at noon—if your employees are having trouble completing tasks efficiently, it might be a result of constant interruptions. “We try to schedule multiple meetings on the same day rather than scattering them throughout the week, and we block out time on our calendars for actively working,” says Alexander Moore of Boomerang. Blocking out chunks of time for uninterrupted work may help your employees focus better, and work more efficiently as a result.
But, meetings aren’t the only offenders—constant email alerts, chat message pop ups, and notifications from your in-house project management software can all serve as distractions that interrupt the flow of work. “In general, it takes about a minute to resume working effectively after an interruption,” says Alexander. “For that reason, we use tools like Inbox Pause to reduce email notifications.” There are plenty of tools and apps to keep your work distraction free, which may help you work more efficiently.
Staff meeting at 9am, department meeting at 11am, lunch at noon—if your employees are having trouble completing tasks efficiently, it might be a result of constant interruptions. “We try to schedule multiple meetings on the same day rather than scattering them throughout the week, and we block out time on our calendars for actively working,” says Alexander Moore of Boomerang. Blocking out chunks of time for uninterrupted work may help your employees focus better, and work more efficiently as a result.
But, meetings aren’t the only offenders—constant email alerts, chat message pop ups, and notifications from your in-house project management software can all serve as distractions that interrupt the flow of work. “In general, it takes about a minute to resume working effectively after an interruption,” says Alexander. “For that reason, we use tools like Inbox Pause to reduce email notifications.” There are plenty of tools and apps to keep your work distraction free, which may help you work more efficiently.
4. Hold a daily, 10-minute company meeting
While meetings are generally considered a necessity, they can carry on to the point where they eat away at the work day. David Ciccarelli of Voices.com suggests shorter, more efficient meetings, that cover the basics in 10 minutes flat.
“Each day, we gather as a company for a 10-minute meeting called the Daily Huddle,” he says. “The meeting serves as a firehose of information that keeps everyone in the loop, including a roundup of our key performance indicators, the celebration of accomplishments, and the identification of opportunities to improve.”
Not only is it a good way to keep all employees up to speed on any new developments within the company, keeping meetings short and sweet forces a streamlined meeting process, and reduces time wasted. “This process keeps us running efficiently, as unnecessary meetings are eliminated,” says David.
While meetings are generally considered a necessity, they can carry on to the point where they eat away at the work day. David Ciccarelli of Voices.com suggests shorter, more efficient meetings, that cover the basics in 10 minutes flat.
“Each day, we gather as a company for a 10-minute meeting called the Daily Huddle,” he says. “The meeting serves as a firehose of information that keeps everyone in the loop, including a roundup of our key performance indicators, the celebration of accomplishments, and the identification of opportunities to improve.”
Not only is it a good way to keep all employees up to speed on any new developments within the company, keeping meetings short and sweet forces a streamlined meeting process, and reduces time wasted. “This process keeps us running efficiently, as unnecessary meetings are eliminated,” says David.
5. “Single-task” to get more done
We all think that we’re excellent multitaskers; I currently have 11 tabs open on my laptop—and that’s a conservative number compared with some days. However, it’s thought that while people can potentially multitask, they’re not necessarily being more productive. So, here’s where the idea of “single-tasking” (or focusing on one task only until completion) comes into play.
“Our entire company is currently working on upping our ‘single-tasking’ game and not moving on to the next project until the current one is complete,” says Laura Roeder of Meet Edgar.
She goes on to explain: “‘Single-tasking’ allows you to get more done quickly by not letting projects rot on the vine when they’re almost complete. It’s easy to falsely feel productive when you have 10 projects going on, but nothing actually getting out into the world.”
Focusing on “single-tasking” until a project is complete helps you actually execute, rather than chipping away at so many different projects that nothing ever gets finished.
See Also: 10 Time Management Tips
We all think that we’re excellent multitaskers; I currently have 11 tabs open on my laptop—and that’s a conservative number compared with some days. However, it’s thought that while people can potentially multitask, they’re not necessarily being more productive. So, here’s where the idea of “single-tasking” (or focusing on one task only until completion) comes into play.
“Our entire company is currently working on upping our ‘single-tasking’ game and not moving on to the next project until the current one is complete,” says Laura Roeder of Meet Edgar.
She goes on to explain: “‘Single-tasking’ allows you to get more done quickly by not letting projects rot on the vine when they’re almost complete. It’s easy to falsely feel productive when you have 10 projects going on, but nothing actually getting out into the world.”
Focusing on “single-tasking” until a project is complete helps you actually execute, rather than chipping away at so many different projects that nothing ever gets finished.
See Also: 10 Time Management Tips
6. Discourage “Got a minute?” meetings
“One of the most common and inefficient uses of time and energy are frequent ‘got a minute?’ meetings,” says Kristopher Jones of LSEO. “These meetings are the ones that are unscheduled and typically distract from productivity.”
Why are these meetings bad for office efficiency? “The reality is that almost nothing important can be accomplished in one minute, which means one minute turns into 15 minutes or longer and ends up being a terribly inefficient management of time,” says Kristopher.
Instead, try to schedule quick meetings with a designated time span, and stick to the topic you need to discuss. Even a simple email asking, “Can we meet for 10 minutes at 3pm to discuss the completion of project X?” accomplishes the goals of keeping the meeting short, scheduled, and face-to-face.
7. Stick with the established process
If you have a project that is already underway, trying to speed things up can result in cutting corners. “Stick with the process that is established,” recommends Angela Harless of AcrobatAnt. “If we try to cut corners to speed up the process, something gets missed, which must be fixed later and costs time and money. Things go more smoothly if we stick to the process we started with.”
Does that mean never change things up? Of course not—that would probably render most of our earlier suggestions useless! But, if you’re changing a process, do so deliberately, not just on a whim or because you’re behind schedule. “Processes can be changed, but they should be changed intentionally and with communication to the full team after the potential change has been approved,” says Angela.
If you have a project that is already underway, trying to speed things up can result in cutting corners. “Stick with the process that is established,” recommends Angela Harless of AcrobatAnt. “If we try to cut corners to speed up the process, something gets missed, which must be fixed later and costs time and money. Things go more smoothly if we stick to the process we started with.”
Does that mean never change things up? Of course not—that would probably render most of our earlier suggestions useless! But, if you’re changing a process, do so deliberately, not just on a whim or because you’re behind schedule. “Processes can be changed, but they should be changed intentionally and with communication to the full team after the potential change has been approved,” says Angela.
8. Use a task management software
“Email isn’t an ideal method of communication or collaboration on teams,” says Dave Nevogt of Hubstaff. “We use task management software like Trello so that our communication and work progress is all in one place.”
A task management software for designated teams can help everyone work together more efficiently, track progress, and stay on task. “It saves everyone the time of having to go back and forth on emails, and it also lets us track progress more efficiently,” says David. Here at Palo Alto Software, we agree—and we’re also big fans of Trello, too.
“Email isn’t an ideal method of communication or collaboration on teams,” says Dave Nevogt of Hubstaff. “We use task management software like Trello so that our communication and work progress is all in one place.”
A task management software for designated teams can help everyone work together more efficiently, track progress, and stay on task. “It saves everyone the time of having to go back and forth on emails, and it also lets us track progress more efficiently,” says David. Here at Palo Alto Software, we agree—and we’re also big fans of Trello, too.
9. Promote a culture of open communication
Just like in tip number two, encourage your employees to communicate openly. But, that goes beyond the idea of communicating face-to-face to solve problems; do your employees feel comfortable voicing their concerns, or giving feedback on how your company is run?
“The main reason for our explosive growth is due to the fact that we have a culture of open communication,” says Raymond Kishk of Interstate Air Conditioning & Heating. “The best way to improve business efficiency is to encourage feedback, ideas, and communication between departments.”
You can’t be everywhere at once, nor will you see everything. Your employees may be able to spot an area of your company that could be made more efficient, or a process that could be streamlined. Make sure they feel comfortable voicing their opinions, and offering feedback, especially when it comes to improving efficiency. “By encouraging coworkers to be part of the efficiency process, it will result in a more productive and efficient team,” says Raymond.
Just like in tip number two, encourage your employees to communicate openly. But, that goes beyond the idea of communicating face-to-face to solve problems; do your employees feel comfortable voicing their concerns, or giving feedback on how your company is run?
“The main reason for our explosive growth is due to the fact that we have a culture of open communication,” says Raymond Kishk of Interstate Air Conditioning & Heating. “The best way to improve business efficiency is to encourage feedback, ideas, and communication between departments.”
You can’t be everywhere at once, nor will you see everything. Your employees may be able to spot an area of your company that could be made more efficient, or a process that could be streamlined. Make sure they feel comfortable voicing their opinions, and offering feedback, especially when it comes to improving efficiency. “By encouraging coworkers to be part of the efficiency process, it will result in a more productive and efficient team,” says Raymond.
10. Know when to stop
While it’s important to smooth out as many kinks as possible to help your company run more efficiently, you also need to know where to draw the line. Not every process can—or should—be automated, just like not every meeting will always end at its scheduled time.
“Efficiency is important—no question,” says Neill Feather of SiteLock, LLC. “But for startups and entrepreneurs, focusing too much on efficiency can distract from what is really important for our businesses: growth.”
Neill has experienced this with his own business: “At SiteLock, we do focus on efficiency in key areas: hardware utilization, service-level agreements, etc., but we always remind ourselves that our most important goal is growth. This includes customers served, products offered, and brand strength.”
It’s important to strive for efficiency, but don’t let the goal of running a more efficient business overshadow other goals. Through trial and error, and by getting feedback from your employees throughout the process, you’ll be able to monitor what is working and what isn’t, and improve your business efficiency—all the while continuing to grow and strengthen your business.
While it’s important to smooth out as many kinks as possible to help your company run more efficiently, you also need to know where to draw the line. Not every process can—or should—be automated, just like not every meeting will always end at its scheduled time.
“Efficiency is important—no question,” says Neill Feather of SiteLock, LLC. “But for startups and entrepreneurs, focusing too much on efficiency can distract from what is really important for our businesses: growth.”
Neill has experienced this with his own business: “At SiteLock, we do focus on efficiency in key areas: hardware utilization, service-level agreements, etc., but we always remind ourselves that our most important goal is growth. This includes customers served, products offered, and brand strength.”
It’s important to strive for efficiency, but don’t let the goal of running a more efficient business overshadow other goals. Through trial and error, and by getting feedback from your employees throughout the process, you’ll be able to monitor what is working and what isn’t, and improve your business efficiency—all the while continuing to grow and strengthen your business.
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