EE Logo  

Mar/Apr 2013
Executive Errands eNewsletter
What Really Matters... 
In This Issue
Our Favorite Things - SwingPointMedia
Your Home Matters
Your Time Matters
April Dates That Matter
Money & Time Saving Apps
Your Employees Mater
Charity Matters
Visibility Matters
Helping Others Matters
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Quick Links

Greetings!    

 

matter least What really matters? Money? Fame? Family? Success? Does more = better? How much is enough? How do we know? If we listen to the barrage of media propaganda to which we're exposed day in and day out, we must 'keep up with the Jones', we must have more, be more, do more.  

 

I don't know about you, but just the constant mental gymnastics of trying to decide if I'm 'good enough' in this society is enough to wear me out.

 

I'm not a feminist. I've always believed if you're honest and you have integrity and you work your butt off, your gender doesn't matter. And this comes from a woman who worked under the bullet-proof ceiling of the male-dominated Aerospace industry in the 1980's and 1990's.  

 

anything possible It was possible to advance and make your way, even in an old boys' club as thick as that one was, but you had to work harder, accept more responsibility, make fewer mistakes and stay longer hours than your male counterparts.

 

I tell you this not from a complaint perspective, but from an 'anything is possible' perspective.  In my experience there is so much that matters. In business, your integrity matters most. If you let greed or ego or spite into your daily routine, you may find success, but it will be temporary.

 

tenacity Hard work and tenacity also matter in the world of business; especially when you are brave enough to start your own. From the outside, being a business owner looks easy, but inside it is really difficult - more rewarding than you can possibly imagine - but so difficult; especially keeping yourself motivated to continue moving forward day after day.

 

Being seven years down the road as an entrepreneur (can you believe it?) we are, by anyone's definition, a rousing success. I feel so blessed to be in this place, able to support myself and the people who work for me, able to be an integral part of several community service organizations, and to have friends and acquaintances from all different service markets.  

 

gratitude for others Given we knew absolutely no one when we started this company; it is amazing to acknowledge not only how many people we now know, but how many know us. It is, to this day, always a thrill when someone says 'oh I've heard of your company' during an introduction.

 

What matters to me is honoring the people who work for me and who do work with us and to give back into the community where there are people we want to utilize and promote our services.  It matters to have gratitude and to be humble and to be confident. 

 

It matters that we provide high quality services, to have rapid response times and to do more than someone else would do in the same situation. Not because that makes us better, but because it is better for the client.

 

intangible The things that matter most, I suppose, are intangible. You can't see them, but they are obvious to everyone around. Integrity, tenacity, hard work, honesty, quality, honor, gratitude, humility and community service - and you, our clients, service providers and employees.  

 

In business, those are the things that matter most. The next time you're faced with your own mental gymnastics, think hard - what really matters?

 


Executive Errands� offering YOU creative solutions to help simplify your life! 760.898.9604 www.executive-errands.com

 

Our Favorite Things..SwingPointMedia


swpm Are you interested in making a video to promote your business, a charity you work with, video your golf swing, need a memorial montage, need an instructional training video, to capture a webinar, or perhaps you just want a family video keepsake? 

SwingPointMedia can create a video for you quickly, inexpensively and with great care.  We just had them make a video for us that was technically a slide show of our services.  We plan to use it on our soon-to-be-revamped website and we also use it in a video badge for events.

Jeff We picked all the photos and wrote the text and Jeff and his team put the video together.  They are professional, courteous, meet their commitments and best of all, nice people with whom to work.

If you're looking for a reasonably priced promo piece, give Jeff a call at 760.413.3508 or [email protected] or you can visit their website at SwingPointMedia website 

 

SwingPointMedia, one of our favorite things...

 
["Our Favorite Things" gives us an opportunity to share people, places, events and things that we truly love and that you might too.  We have no business affiliation with any company or individual featured here.  We just want to share good things with you and if our recommendations help build business for someone else or saves you time or money, GREAT!!!]
Your Home Matters...summer

Top Ten (10) Tips
to
Prepare for Summer Absence...

 

As you put away or cover your outdoor furnishings and empty your refrigerator in anticipation of leaving to avoid our harsh summer weather, here are 10 tips to help keep your home up to par while you're away:

 

1.  Have your AC serviced - sand and dirt will reduce the performance of your AC system and a clogged condensate line is one of the primary causes of home flooding 

 

sun for summer 2.  Leave the thermostat at 85 degrees or less - your woods and artwork need moisture.  Keeping the thermostat here helps keep them hydrated.  

 

3.  Clean your windows - dirt and sand combined with 100+ degree weather can cause etching to the glass

 

4.  Adjust the hot water heater? - your choice - gas is inexpensive in the summer so leave it alone or set to 'vacation' - your call 

 

5.  Adjust all timers for the longer hotter days - irrigation, low voltage lights, pool pumps.

 

6. Have weekly absentee home checks - your home is a huge asset - why not protect it?  Having someone check weekly for water management, for security breaches or damages from things that go wrong can save a lot of money in the long run. (blatant shameless plug for our services) 

 

happy summer 7.  Have a local 24/7 emergency contact - you never know what might happen.  Having someone local, with a key, provides immense piece of mind. 

 

8.  Golf cart / automobile battery - the heat ruins batteries and you'll be lucky to get two full seasons - unless you come up with a plan (run the motors? trickle chargers?) 

 

9.  Have your roof inspected - to keep rodents and pests outside, you must be sure all crevices, vents, and other access holes are sealed.

 

hot summer nights 10.  Pest control service - bugs and rodents love quiet, cool homes.  They will take over if you let them.  Continue your monthly pest control throughout the summer.

 

If you take these simple steps, you can enjoy your time away knowing your home is properly prepared and being faithfully tended.  Enjoy your summer!!

 

Executive Errands� - is your local resource to hold your keys, check your home, resolve any issues and to be YOU when you aren't here.  Feel at ease - leave us your keys!

 

Your Time Matters...

love life We deal in 'time' which, as everyone knows, is a very precious commodity.  

 

Many people say they don't have enough time to exercise or take a vacation or do any number of 'wishful thinking' activities. However we would all do well to heed these six maxims of time:

 

First: Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time.

 

Second: Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us two percent of our results.

 

Third: Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use.

 

waste time Fourth: Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time... pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how you use it.

 

Fifth: Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone.

 

Sixth: Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities.

 

The only way you can get more time is to delegate tasks to a lifestyle management company like Executive Errands.  

 

time is money It's amazing how liberating it is to relinquish even a few hours' worth of tasks each week so you have the time available to do things that nourish your body, mind and soul.

 

Interested in having your own personal assistant? Call Executive Errands� 760.898.9604 and we'll create an account that fits your lifestyle. www.executive-errands.com 

April Dates That Matter...

sneakers April 5th - National Walk to Work Day - Always the first Friday of April, National Walk to Work day was established in 2004 to draw attention to the need for more physical activity. If you can't actually walk to work, at least take a walk during lunch. The goal is to get in 30 minutes per day of walking. Don't forget what the Sixth Maxim of Time says....

 

April 22nd - Earth Day - U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the "Father of Earth Day", proposed a National Earth day on April 22, 1970. It was to be the first nationwide environmental protest "to shake up the political establishment and force Earth Day this issue onto the national agenda".  

 

Even though Senator Gaylord had been promoting environmental concerns since 1962, it wasn't until April 22, 1970, that the timing was right and the first Earth Day protest received astounding support with more than 20 million activists taking part.  

 

Since this year is the 43rd Anniversary of this amazing effort to bring awareness to our environment and the earth's limited resources, find an Earth Day event near you and let your voice be heard.

 

April 25th - Take Your Daughter (or Son) to Work Day - Always the last Thursday in April and originally founded to help girls understand the vast amount of opportunities available to them, now Take Your Child to Work Day allows both boys and girls to see what their parents (or another kids sponsor) does during the day and to have what is often a first look at the real work world.  

 

This one is special to me as one year when I took my then 16 year old daughter to work with me, my boss told her 'your mom is like Rudy - no matter how many time we knock her down, she always gets back up and back into the game'.   Given Rudy (a movie about a tenacious kid who wanted to play Notre Dame football but was technically too small and kept at it until eventually he made it) was popular at the time, it made a big impression on my young teen.

 

Arbor Day April 26th - Arbor Day - Always the last Friday in April, Arbor day is the 'Tree Planters' holiday and has been celebrated since 1872 when trees were planted in the nearly barren state of Nebraska. The National Arbor Tree Foundation provides millions of free trees for planting. This Arbor day it is estimated that more than 18 million trees will be planted.

 

760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com 
Money & Time Saving Apps 
 
Your Health Matters....
and the ability to manage it quickly and easily is available at your fingertips via these helpful (and Free) apps...
 
iphone apps

Check out these apps, available from iTunes for iPhone, Android and iPad. Check it out!

Your Employees Matter...

 

burnout Have you ever given any thought to how tough it can be for your employees in this day and age? So many companies are asking their employees to do more, give more, be more loyal than ever before and often with no or very little financial compensation over the last few years.

So often an employer will say 'you should be grateful to just have a job' and ok, some types of jobs are few and far between, but the tide is turning and employees are soon going to be able to pick and choose where to work. Isn't it about time you give some consideration to what sets your company apart from other, similar businesses?

 

benefits When the economy stalled, many employers cut back on employee benefits programs in order to reduce costs.  

 

However, these days, employees are starting to look at benefits packages as one differentiating characteristic between jobs. Employees are tired of working themselves to death with little to show for it.

 

As an employer, do you know if your employees are happy? Do you care if they are able to manage a stable work/life balance? Do you even know whether or not they have children and if so, do you encourage them to attend school events or do you roll your eyes and think 'why can't they just tend to their job?

supporting work life balance  

When my kids were in grade school and junior high, I missed way too many events and award celebrations. There was always some crisis at work - a client coming to visit, a test to witness, some parts to order, units to build and shipments to make. Those childhood events never come back around and our employees should be encouraged to attend so they don't miss out on the life events that matter most.

  

If the warm and fuzzy aspect of employee happiness doesn't do it for you; then do you care about the dollars and sense of lost productivity? According to a survey by the Global Workplace Analytics, 78% of employees who call in sick, really aren't. They do so because of family issues, personal needs, and stress.

 

where are you Unscheduled absences cost employers approximately $1,800/employee per year; that adds up to $300 billion/year for U.S. companies. There are several more recent statistics that indicate the number lost due to unscheduled absences is more like $500 billion/year for U.S. companies and continues to increase year after year.

 

That's a lot of lost dollars. The National Council on Strength and Fitness in a report citing MetLife's 8th annual Employee Benefit Trends, states that 84% of employers report employee productivity as a very important benefits' objective.   

  

negative productivity It is believed that economic pressures confronting employees may be negatively impacting productivity. Interestingly, when asked, most employees believe that enhanced employee benefit programs could essentially neutralize these pressures.

 

A full 82% of employees surveyed stated that work-life balance programs would favorably impact their productivity. The Wellness Councils of America cited a $24 return for every $1 spent on a company wellness (work/life) program for small businesses.  That's no small return.

 

balance wanted Based on current economic conditions it appears that employees perceive work-life balance programs more beneficial than ever. These programs strive to create a flexible and productive work environment that allows a challenging career to be balanced with life responsibilities.   

  

Most people tend to forget that the number of women in the workplace has more than doubled in the last 40 years.

 

imbalance It isn't clear to me when this trend changed, but instead of staying home to be a full time mother (an extremely noble profession) most women remain in the workforce after marriage and bearing children; making work/life balance programs necessary for efficient workers and capable caregivers.

  

Executive Errands� offers simple and low cost work/life benefits program that may be subsidized in whole or in part by the company as an HR benefit.  

 

Or, we also offer an errands and personal assistance program that may be implemented with no hard costs to the company whatsoever - the employees pick up all costs on an 'as used' basis.

  

balance matters We believe in work/life balance. Happy employees are productive employees. Balance matters.  

 

For more information about our corporate solutions, please contact us at 760.898.9604. We'll meet with you and tailor a proposal to your particular company's needs.

Charity Matters... 

 

SHOH Logo new Many wonderful things have happened over the last few years for Soroptimist House of Hope (HOH) and 2013 promises to be an even bigger year with several major milestones.

First, the logo was modified to reflect how long we've been providing substance abuse recovery programs.

 

Second, we are in the process of revamping our website to showcase the programs we offer, our donors, the staff and the alumna program.

 

grants Third, we have hired a part-time grant writer who is creating an entire grant process and program that includes a standardized application format, a list of foundations to which we are applying, and with a goal of submitting at least two grants applications per month.

 

Fourth, we have increased the ways for donors to give generously to our agency. Donations are now accepted through our Facebook Paypal page at www.facebook.com/soroptimisthouseofhope via the Donate Now button.  

 

give monthly We are accepting one-time and recurring monthly donations made via credit card over the phone and soon via our updated website.

 

We accept gift cards to help defray the cost of office supplies, books for the clients, paper products, groceries and other daily essential needs.

 

donate clothes We also accept all gently used clothing - for men or women - especially that which is work appropriate.  

 

We donate all clothing to Desert Best Friend's Closet www.bfcloset.org and they clothe our graduates. It's a win-win for everybody.

 

If you would like to make a cash donation, a gift card donation or the gift of clothing, please visit our Facebook page or contact Oma for monetary donations at [email protected] or for clothing donations, us here at Executive Errands.

 

deductions For every donation, you will receive a receipt that may be used for tax purposes.  

And if you know of any foundations or grant programs that might be a fit for House of Hope, please let us know.

 

Thank you in advance for your generosity!


[Executive Errands� President, Leslie Spoor, sits on the House of Hope Board of Directors as the Resource Director.  Her primary responsibilities are to provide a face for House of Hope, increase Public Awareness and help raise funds.
Visibility Matters...

 

We have a dedicated Executive Errands page on
Facebook - www.facebook.com/executiveerrands - each day we post at least one service, helpful hint, charity update or other news.  If you haven't yet visited and 'liked' us, please do so today!

facebook

We also have a dedicated
Concierge Business Solutions
page on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/conciergebusinesssolutions
If you haven't yet 'liked' us, please do.  We post regular business, marketing, sales, and networking tips on this page. 

760.898.9604
Helping Others Matters...

 

ICLMACCA I am a Certified Concierge Specialist - one of a handful of people worldwide who hold that designation.  Having been in the Concierge and Lifestyle Management business for seven (7) years, we understand this service business and do our best to help other concierge companies find their way.

  

As a member of the International Concierge and Lifestyle Management Association (www.iclma.org) we participate heavily in the members-only Facebook forum and donate time to host webinars in such topics as Marketing for the Entrepreneur and Goal Setting and Motivation for the Entrepreneur. 

Iclma Executive Errands does its best to promote ICLMA so that this industry, which is currently estimated to be about $1 billion worldwide, can continue to grow.

Well, as it turns out, the ICLMA, which includes 100's of members across 24 countries, has a Member of the Year award and a few weeks ago, I was notified that the 2012 winner was me!!  I didn't even know they had such an award, which made it all the sweeter.

ICLMA award We shouldn't give of our time with the intent to win a prize.  In fact, I personally find myself extremely embarrassed when/if being acknowledged for any services I might offer, but it truly matters that we allow ourselves to receive the good when it comes and not to push it away or otherwise diminish it.

I feel so honored to receive this award.  It came out of the blue and as it happened, it came on a particularly difficult and busy day which, as you can imagine, lightened that day up considerably!  Thank you Katharine Giovanni, Chairman of ICLMA and the rest of the BOD for bestowing this amazing honor on me.

We will continue to do what we can to support and promote both ICLMA and this industry so that more companies can make their niche, blossom and grow. 760.898.9604  Executive Errands

what matters most I have a friend who successfully battled breast cancer for what seems like the entire last year. Thankfully she is cancer-free today.  

 

There is nothing that matters more than life and nothing reminds you how short and precious it is than when someone close to you endures this type of mortality check.

 

Earlier in this newsletter we talked about what matters in business and each of those characteristics matter too in our personal lives but what matters most to me is my family and my friends.  

 

matter yesterday I am, and have always been the consummate workaholic - over the years I have violated the Third, Fifth and Sixth Time Maxims again and again.  

 

I cannot go back and relive the missed grade school and junior high activities with my daughters, but I do try to be there now for my grandchildren.  And even though my daughters are now adults, if they want me to be there, I will move heaven and earth to accomplish it.

 

life balance As a person who nearly worked herself to death in her 20's and 30's and most of her 40's, I am sensitive to what makes employees happy and productive.  

 

Therefore, as contrary as it is to my own work ethic, I encourage the people who work with, and for me to be there for their own children, to take the time they need for life activities and to strive for a work/life balance.

 

Someone once said "you'll never be younger than you are right this minute". If that isn't enough to convince you that time matters, that it is fleeting and that you can never get wasted time back, I don't know what will. Nothing matters more than the people in your life. That's what really matters. 

 


Executive Errands� is a lifestyle management company.

love realtors
We want to send a big shout out to two of the real estate offices who refer to us and allow us to make presentations at their staff and client events:

 

Thank you Tarbell and Keller Williams both of whom have been extra generous to us this season - you are the BEST! 

 

Until the next issue - keep what matters most in the forefront of your mind...

 Leslie Spoor, C.C.S

President, Executive Errands& Concierge Business Solutions™
760.898.9604
CL #944447
We value our clients' privacy.  Therefore we do not, distribute your email address to anyone, ever.

Executive Errands is a Registered Trademark of Leslie Spoor  
(our attorney insists we say this)
  
  
    Find us on Facebook  Logo ICLMA
             
 
                        

Our Motto...


Any job, big or small.... Do it right or not at all.....   

EE Logo