Tips to Negotiating Your Commercial Lease

Every business encounters expenses along the path towards success. One of the largest expenditures that can obligate the owner for years into the future involves your business location!

There are many things that can enter into the decision-making process as I've discovered from some of the experienced professionals with The Lease Coach.

Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. is very pleased to provide you with the following tips and suggestions from The Lease Coach, and look forward to future contributions for our audience. 

Thank you for sharing these very helpful things for our Business Success audience!


Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals For Dummies

Commercial Leasing Tips for Commercial Tenants

By: Jeff Grandfield – The Lease Coach 

For many business-owners, negotiating a good lease or lease renewal against an experienced agent or landlord can be a challenge. While an entrepreneur focuses on marketing and managing, savvy real estate agents and brokers are specialized sales people. Their job is to sell tenants on leasing their location at the highest possible rental rate. 

As explained in our new book, Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals For Dummies (co-written with my colleague, Dale Willerton), tenants may go through the leasing process only two or three times in their entire lifetime – yet they have to negotiate against seasoned professionals who negotiate leases every day for a living. Negotiating appropriate leasing terms is vital for an entrepreneur as the amount of rent he pays will directly affect the business’ financial bottom line.

Whether you are leasing a new location for the first time or negotiating a lease renewal for your business, these are some money-saving tips for tenants:

Negotiate to Win: All too frequently, tenants enter into lease negotiations unprepared and do not even try winning the negotiations. Often, tenants will set their sights on just striking a fair deal – this usually plays right into the leasing agent’s hand as he is most certainly negotiating to win the best deal for his boss … the landlord. If you’re not negotiating to win, you won’t. Negotiate assertively!

Be Prepared to Walk Away: Try to set aside your emotions and make objective decisions. Whoever most needs to make a lease deal will give up the most concessions. A good business in a poor location will become a poor business.

Ask the Right Questions: Gathering information about what other tenants are paying for rent or what incentives they received will position you to get a better deal. Consider that your landlord and his agent know what every other tenant in the property is paying in rent, so you must do your homework too.

Broker … Friend or Foe?  Real estate agents and brokers typically work for the landlord who is paying their commission. It is not normally the agent`s role to get the tenant the best deal – it is their job to get the landlord the highest rent, the biggest deposit, etc. The higher the rent you pay, the more commission the agent earns. If you are researching multiple properties, try to deal directly with the listing agent for each property, rather than letting one agent show you around or show you another agent`s listing. Your tenancy is more desirable to the listing agent if he can avoid commission-splitting with other agents.

For a copy of our free CD, Leasing Do’s & Don’ts for Commercial Tenants, please e-mail your request to DaleWillerton@TheLeaseCoach.com.

Jeff Grandfield and Dale Willerton - The Lease Coach are Commercial Lease Consultants who work exclusively for tenants. Jeff and Dale are professional speakers and co-authors of Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals For Dummies (Wiley, 2013). Got a leasing question? Need help with your new lease or renewal? Call 1-800-738-9202, e-mail DaleWillerton@TheLeaseCoach.com  or JeffGrandfield@TheLeaseCoach.com or visit www.TheLeaseCoach.com.

What are your comments or additional helpful suggestions for entrepreneurs? 

* Have you included your business location plans into your Business PLAN? 

     TIP: Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. can help you with that!


Let us know your thoughts and please share this with those in your circle of contacts!

Develop Your Business Plan Now - We can Help!

We recognize that starting and growing a business can be both challenging and rewarding. Increase your confidence in going forward and the confidence others place in you with solid plans for your business! We can assist select clients who are both ‘ready and able’ to move forward with their business planning and growth. 

Here's a quick look at a few OPTIONS that we trust will be helpful:

Our “Business Plan Coaching” services (Options 1, 2 & 3) provide you with a cost-effective ‘D.I.Y.’ (Do-It-Yourself) approach!  Our role consists of guiding and reviewing your progress as you move towards your objectives, using one of our three helpful business planning frameworks. (These are described in more detail below.) You proceed at your own pace and develop your own business plan. We’ll check in with you throughout the entire process with valuable input and suggestions. Where necessary, we can also provide limited research, directing you to resources we believe you’ll find helpful.

Our “Business Plan Writing” service (Option 4) takes a more consultative approach and works more closely with you, particularly in the early and latter stages of the process. First, we help you outline your business concept and objectives. From there, we gather information into a first draft of your business plan for you to review. Following your review, further refinements are made and presented in a second draft of your business plan. Your feedback will be used to fine-tune the plan, which when presented to you, completes this valuable service. At this stage, you have the finished business plan document that you’ve requested.

Our "Other Services" - We'd be pleased to speak with you regarding our: "Business Plan Review" (Option 5) or "Business Coaching Services" (Option 6) to help you prepare to present your plan to funders and stakeholders.

So whether it’s our more involved “Business Plan Writing” service, the more flexible “Business Plan Coaching” service, or one of our "Other Services", it all begins with a conversation, and taking the next step.

 

Want to Register Now for any of our Service Options?


Simply CLICK on the title above, or any of the Six (6) "Option Titles" below to go to our WEBSITE Registration Page. Feel free to review the descriptions seen there (and as noted below) and then "click" on the BUTTON to reach our Eventbrite page menu and complete your registration! 

Need MORE details?

RE: Options 1, 2 & 3 - “Business Plan Coaching” 

Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. (PVS) has developed a number of helpful approaches to assist you. While we do not write your business plan for you with the following "Business Plan Coaching" options, our interactive process helps you develop many of those important elements, covering each of them at your own pace, within a dynamic process. Whether you’re going ‘solo’ or have your own ‘team’ to assist you, we’ll be there with you to help facilitate the development of your business plan. You’re not alone in this!

Option 1 – “PVS –Exploring Business” 
For any business to succeed there are a number of fundamental questions that need be answered. We’ll help you explore those questions and discover the answers you need before investing significant time, energy and resources into your business venture. Regardless of the stage of your business development, our objective perspective will help you quickly explore these critical aspects at this important point of your entrepreneurial journey.  Your answers to these questions will allow you to focus your resources where they will produce the greatest results for your business!

Here are just some of the areas we’ll examine together:

· What is your value proposition?
· How does your current menu of products or services fit in the market?
· Who should your business be targeting?
· How will you effectively reach your market?
· What changes in your operations, marketing & management are needed?
· What priorities should receive your attention?

(This service takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete, and should be completed within 1 month from registration.)

 

Option 2 – “PVS – Business Modeling” 

Whether you’re a new or existing business, choosing this option introduces you to a powerful suite of strategic management components. Flexible to adapt to a wide variety of situations, the insights you gain from the “PVS – Business Modeling” will be most valuable in the development of your business plan.


Our process examines the following key business areas:

· Your Value Proposition
· Approach to Customer Relationships
· Target Customer Segments
· Channels to Market
· Revenue Sources
· Key Business Activities
· Key Resources Required
· Strategic and Operational Partnerships
· Associated Costs

(This service takes approximately 7 to 9 hours to complete, and should be completed within 3 months from registration.) 

Option 3 –“PVS – Facilitated Business Planning”
Choose our “PVS - Facilitated Business Planning” and we’ll ‘walk with you’ through many of the key concepts you’ll need to address within your business plan. This package will provide you with helpful direction, insights and practical exercises to assist you in completing each major section of your business plan. Each step is introduced in a way that facilitates your growth and development as we connect with you throughout the entire process. The things you learn through this process will allow you to bring all the pieces of your business plan together and equip you for the changes you’ll want to make in the future.

Here are the key points we’ll cover with you in this service:

· Your Vision & Mission
· Your Target Market
· Your Company & Management
· Understanding Your Industry & Market
· Marketing Your Product or Service
· Your Business & What's Unique About It
· Operating Realities, Competition and Overcoming Challenges
· Identifying and Minimizing Risks
· Your Financial Prospects and Health of Your Business
· Customer Service & Satisfaction
· Social Responsibility, Social Media & Exit Strategy
· Your Business Plan Package

(This service takes approximately 10 to 13 hours to complete, and should be completed within 6 months from registration.)

RE: Option 4 - “Business Plan Writing” 

Option 4 –“PVS – Business Plan Writing”
Over the years we’ve found that there is great value for an entrepreneur to put together their own business plan, yet we also recognize that writing one can be a daunting task! Perhaps you’ve experienced some of the challenges faced in writing a business plan. We'll work with you and assist in the gathering of information that you'll need to have in your business plan to effectively describe your business opportunity. This service takes a consultative approach to gather information from you and works with you to craft a business plan that's tailored to your needs. 

Our process requires your input to outline your business concept and objectives. From there, we gather information into a first draft of your business plan for you to review. Following your review, further refinements are made and presented in a second draft of your business plan. Your feedback will be used to fine-tune the plan, which when presented to you, completes this valuable service. At this stage, you have the finished business plan document that you’ve requested.

As every business and the needs of its owners are different, the time and costs involved will vary with the complexity of your business situation! 

(This service typically takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks to complete. A retainer is required to begin, with the balance of payments arranged during our initial consultation and the scheduling of this project.)

RE: Options 5 & 6 - “Other Services” 

Option 5 –“PVS – Business Plan Review”
One of the most common reasons for putting a business plan together is related to a requirement of funding sources. Simply put - virtually everyone you approach for funding your venture will want to see and hear how your business is going to move forward and achieve the results that you anticipate. Let us help you with our experience in guiding hundreds of entrepreneurs through the develop their business plans and the refining of their 'pitch' presentations. We'll review your plan, critique your presentation in our 'Pitch/Polish' session, and provide you with valuable feedback to improve both.

(This service takes approximately 8 to 12 hours to complete, and should be completed within 2 month from registration.)

Option 6 –“PVS – Business Coaching”
Our Business Coaching provides you with access to our individual guidance and expertise to work on your specific challenges. Typically made available in packages of three (3) hours, we'll coordinate times that work for your schedule and address the items that are most important to your moving forward with your business!

(This service is typically available in packages of 3 hours, however we are currently making it available with 4 hours of Business Coaching for those who register at this time.)

Please contact us directly for further information with respect to any of the above. 

We'd be pleased to speak with you regarding any of your specific requirements at any time.

Please feel free to get in touch with us by sending a "comment" with your contact information and asking us to connect, an email note, or by contacting us through any of our social media channels:

Feel free to connect and participate through social media with Jim Ewing: Twitter:    JimEwing_PVS Facebook:    facebook.com/JimEwingPVS Linkedin Profile:   www.linkedin.com/in/JimEwingProVision YouTube Channel:   www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship

PLAN to have a GREAT YEAR in 2015!

Why is it ... that we so often associate the preparation of a business plan with the start-up phase of a business venture? There’s little doubt on the value of having a plan at the front-end of the entrepreneurial journey, but what’s often overlooked is the value that a regular review and update to a business plan can have for the owner of an existing, growing business.

Think about it ... now that your business is up and running, and you’ve invested significant time, energy and money into establishing your business, a regular check on how things are going is a SMART investment. It’s one that will help you keep your business on track and headed in the right direction. Beyond that, it will keep you in a 'ready position' for the next opportunity that will be headed your way – and that’s likely one that you won’t want to miss!

* As much as we enjoy helping start-ups, it’s even more important for an established or growing business to regularly review and update their business plan.

For those who are already in business, here are a few questions we ask our clients, to help them review their business plan:

1. Have you taken stock of how you and your business are doing? Are things moving in the right direction?
2. What’s the current long-term vision you have for your business?
3. What changes are taking place in your business environment and how will they impact your business?
4. What are the ‘strengths’ that you and each of your team members bring to the business?
5. Have you identified areas where ‘improvements’ should be, and need to be made in your business?
6. What things will you continue to do in your business, and what things are you planning to change?
7. What attracts customers to your business, and how can you increase that in the future?
8. What resources and strategic relationships will be key for success in the year ahead?
9. Have you established SMART goals (short-term, mid-term, and long-term) for your business?
10. How will you stay on-track and keep yourself accountable for what you’re trying to accomplish?

We’d be pleased to help you in assessing any of the above and more, as you prepare your plans for Business Success!

“Plan to have a great year in 2015!”

  From all of the team at Pro-Vision Solutions Inc.

Our Gift to You – To celebrate the new year and thank our customers, 'Click' on the graphic below for an instant 15% discount on our “PVS – Exploring Business Options” that you may find helpful in January 2015.  

(Alternately, 'scan' the QR Code, and enter the promotional code: 15-IN-2015

 

8 Questions Going into 2015

As we come to the close of another year, many of us will use the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to reflect on where we’ve been with our businesses, and consider what we’ll plan to accomplish in the year ahead.

Here are a couple of questions I’m hoping you’ll take some time to think about over the holidays. I’d be pleased to have you share your thoughts in a short reply or comment to any of them. Alternately, you may feel more comfortable discussing some of your answers with us within a more confidential setting. Please contact us directly by email if you’d like to do that, and we can make appropriate arrangements with you.

Here are our 8 questions to ponder:

1. What are the major business accomplishments that you’ve had for the most recent year?
2. What changes are taking place in your business environment, and are they now signalling a need for your attention?
3. Of the things you’ve been doing in business, what will you continue to do, and what are you planning to change?
4. What do you want to achieve in business for the year ahead?
5. How have you quantified and/or qualified your goals for the next year?
6. What is it that makes your business attractive to your customers, and how can you increase that in the future?
7. What resources and key relationships will be important for success in the year ahead, and how will you further build these for your business?
8. Have you prepared plans for your business for the new year?

If you’ve thought about your answers to the questions we’ve raised, are you putting your responses and your action steps into your business plan? The first step to achieving business success is to plan for that success. And those plans belong in your business plan.

The year ahead will be filled with many opportunities for business. Opportunities continually emerge as things change around us. The key is to recognize and respond to the opportunities that appropriately match any one of us. That’s why a regular review of the business plan is such a constructive step. Revisit your plan! It can be a valuable guide into your future.

For 2015 and beyond, we’ve found walking step-by-step with entrepreneurs and their team of business professionals to be key to maximizing opportunities. Please let us know if you’d like some help with this, as we have a number of valuable business planning processes, tools and resources available to help entrepreneurs as they start and grow their businesses.

All the best in 2015!
- Jim & Myrna Ewing

Pro-Vision Solutions Inc.

A GREAT START ... to a Great Start for NEW Entrepreneurs!

We had a great start and a full room on Wednesday evening with the first of four sessions in our most recent Business Start-up Seminar Series. This one is taking place in St. Albert, Alberta and it's running throughout the month of November. 

In the first half of our program, Dar Schwanbeck, Managing Director for the Northern Alberta Business Incubator and Marie Anstey, Registry Operations Manager for Drayden Insurance Ltd. provided attendees with some very good insights. And then, following our refreshment break and some getting to know each other a little better, Rob LeLacheur, Publisher of the St. Albert Leader weekly newspaper added some great value with his perspectives on starting and growing a business. This, together with a few thoughts on business plans that we provided on behalf of Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. has really set the stage to help our keen group of entrepreneurs as they move forward with their businesses.  

The "Business START-UP Seminar Series" provides participants with a great introduction to starting a business - in this instance, in the City of St. Albert. It will also help them to connect with a variety of helpful strategic partners, business owners, service providers and sponsors. Feedback from attendees has been positive and as has been experienced in other locations, the series will again prove to be an invaluable investment as they work their way through their business start-up and early-stage growth.  

Pictured to the right is Rob LeLacheur, Publisher, St. Albert Leader. Rob offered up some very practical tips related to business start-up. "Money can hide a lot of problems," he said. "So in whatever you’re doing, focus on where your resources can be best used." 






CBC Radio provided opportunity for Jim Ewing to speak with Mark Connolly, host of Edmonton AM. As mentioned in that conversation, we’re looking forward to providing similar events elsewhere. In fact, there's already been positive responses & interest from other communities.  A copy of the interview is on our YouTube Channel and can be seen at: http://youtu.be/0JDaMeJVakA
 

Small Business Week in Canada - Do we Need to Encourage Entrepreneurship?

It's "Small Business Week" in Canada, and there are many activities taking place to celebrate and encourage entrepreneurship. (Note #1)

 

If you're in business, or work with entrepreneurs, you'll likely be speaking with those who are wondering what’s involved in starting a business of their own. 

Do we need to encourage people to explore entrepreneurship? I think entrepreneurship is a part of an individual's career-path planning that shouldn't be ignored. More importantly, for those wanting to 'be their own boss', I think it's critical that they gain a solid perspective on what's ahead of them!

BTW - Let me quickly mention that in November I'll be facilitating a “Business START-UP Seminar Series” in St. Albert, Alberta. This is modelled on the very successful series I’ve done in Sherwood Park (Strathcona County) for the past 8 years. The St. Albert series is a collaborative effort that’s being supported by the City of St. Albert Economic Development, the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Alberta Business Incubator (NABI), ATB Financial and MNP LLP.  It's great to see the cooperation being provided by these community leaders and so many others!  If you know of someone who’s considering starting a business in St. Albert, more information and registration is available at: goo.gl/r2AJir

In a post seen on the website EconomicDevelopment.org Stephen Daze says, 

"It’s no surprise that global leaders are increasingly looking at entrepreneurship as a way to grow jobs and stimulate economies.  In Canada, approximately 68% of net new jobs are created by small and medium sized enterprises (Statistics Canada) and from 1980 to 2008 all net new job growth in the USA came from firms five years or younger (Kauffman)."

There's good reason for encouraging entrepreneurship. As we've seen in the recent past, many large firms and organizations are trimming their payroll numbers and it's new businesses that generate job growth.  Daze notes a Kauffman-funded study of youth aged 8-21 where 40% of respondents expressed interest in entrepreneurship as a career option.  He rightly asks: "What are we doing to stimulate interest in entrepreneurship and provide support to young entrepreneurs?" (Note #2)

So let me ask: "What (if anything) should we be doing to stimulate entrepreneurship, for anyone?"

ALSO - In a post to the "Provision Exploring Mentorship BLOG" on this same day, we provided some important information related to encouraging the growth and development of entrepreneurs, and the role a Mentor can play in that process. Learn how to improve the quality and results you experience ... and gain some insights on developing your business plan as well!

What are your thoughts on this topic? 
Please feel free to add your comments below.
 
Note #1: See a short video clip from the Business Development Bank of Canada regarding Small Business Week by clicking HERE.


Note #2:   Source of the Stephen Daze quote noted above was from the website URL: http://economicdevelopment.org/2013/05/canadian-universities-receive-near-failing-grade-for-campus-entrepreneurship-support/

St. Albert "Business START-UP Seminar Series"

PLAN TO ATTEND

on the evenings of 

November 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2014
(6:30 pm to 9:30 pm)

 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Starting a Business in St. Albert?

Plan to Attend this Outstanding Series!

The City of St. Albert Economic Development, the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, and the Northern Alberta Business Incubator (NABI) are pleased to collaborate in this upcoming dynamic seminar series.

Gain valuable insights, information, and perspectives to help you move forward in the right direction. Learn from business professionals and owners who are committed to supporting new business growth. Get to know some of the important business organizations and service providers in the community who can help you on your path to success! A valuable resource book will be included with your registration for this series.

Nov. 5th – Exploring Ideas and Your Business Plan

·       What does a good business opportunity look like?

·       Do you need a plan, and what goes into it?

Nov. 12th – Starting Right, Tax and Accounting Basics

·       What’s needed to start; should you incorporate?

·       How do you handle income taxes, GST, and payroll?

Nov. 19th – Operating, Managing & Legal Perspectives

·       How will things work and who’s doing what?

·       What aspects and risks need to be managed?

Nov. 26th – Financing, Growing and Your NEXT Steps!

·       Where do banks fit; how do you build the relationship?

·       What about creative options and Crowd Funding?

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND TO REGISTER NOW:

Brought to you with the support of:

Thank you ... “Entrepreneur Training Camp”

Here’s a ‘Shout-Out’ to our wonderful Promotional Partners for their support in sharing awareness of the “Entrepreneur Training Camp in Edmonton” on September 11, 2014.

 
And thank you attendees!  

We had a great group of early-stage business owners gather for a full day of learning. 

Not only did they take away some valuable information to move their businesses forward, several walked away with some fantastic door prizes!


Door prizes at this event were generously donated by our friends at MNP LLP, Valpak Edmonton and DEXIO. Greg Gazin also provided a copy of his newly released book, “Corey OutSMARTs the Butterflies”. 

Door prize winners include: Greg Gazin - the Gadget Guy, Tim Brown - Blue Rose Ventures, Martin Cheng, Rachel Groner - Hub Cigar, and Dena Gillies - Capital HR Solutions.

Thank you to all of our Promotional Partners:
Capital Ideas, The Business Link, TEC Edmonton, Valpak of Edmonton, DEXIO, the 124 Street Business Association, the Kingsway District Business Association, Alberta Avenue Business Association, Old Strathcona Business Association, North Edmonton Business Association, Jackson & Associates Global Marketing Inc. and Everyday Entrepreneurial Community.

We wish to also extend a special thank you to our friends at The Business Link - our venue for the day in downtown Edmonton. Thanks for looking after us!

Entrepreneur Training Camp in Edmonton - Thursday, September 11, 2014

SUCCESS in business, as in life, is a MARATHON, not a SPRINT.

Success is ultimately found by those with the PATIENCE and ENDURANCE to bravely face each challenge, dust themselves off after a set-back, and continue to move forward.

Entrepreneurs know a lot about experiencing and overcoming set-backs! It’s interesting that many of them also started their business ventures because of other career challenges. Now they can take the experiences they’ve had along their career path and apply that to work that they now create for themselves.

My friend, Garland Coulson asks the question: 
  "ARE JOBS OBSOLETE?" 

Garland and I will be facilitating a one-day Entrepreneur Training Camp in Edmonton, Alberta on Thursday, September 11, 2014.

Garland notes that traditional “work” wisdom is to get an education and experience in your field, work hard and you would have job security - a career for life. But traditional jobs are under attack from downsizing, outsourcing, wage freezes and even robotics. Instead of being the safest, most secure way of funding your life, a traditional job has been shown to be a case of “all your eggs in one basket” with people being put tossed to the curb after years of hard work and loyalty. Job security is dead and jobs are becoming obsolete.

That’s why we’re pleased to be helping people adapt to the changing job landscape, and showing people how to create their OWN jobs.

    Statistics Canada states that 68% of new jobs are created by entrepreneurs.

The one-day training camp is an excellent opportunity for those thinking of starting a business or for existing Edmonton entrepreneurs to learn how to get to the next level.

Edmonton Entrepreneur Training Camp topics include:
•    Success Planning for Entrepreneurs (Jim Ewing)
•    Marketing Magic for Entrepreneurs (Garland Coulson)
•    The Perfect Pitch  - Find the Money (Jim Ewing)
•    Time Hacks for Entrepreneurs (Garland Coulson)

Location and details:
•    Date: Thurs, Sep 11,2014
•    8:30 am to 4 pm (light lunch served)
•    Location: The Business Link – 10160 – 103 St NW. Edmonton, Alberta
•    Registration is $175 – Register at Entrepreneurtraining.ca

EntrepreneurTraining.ca believes in entrepreneurs and focuses on providing professional development for business owners by organizing Entrepreneur Training Camps in Western Canada.


For more information on the Entrepreneur Training Camp and to Register, please visit the registration website at: Entrepreneurtraining.ca

Robert Louis Stevenson - on "Success"

When I think of what it truly means to be SUCCESSFUL, I sometimes think of the words penned by - Robert Louis Stevenson:

“Man is a success who have gained the respect of intelligent men, and the love of children, who has fulfilled his niche - accomplished his task, who leaves the world better than he found it whether by a perfect poem or a rescued soul, who never lacked appreciation for earths beauty or failed to express it, and looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.”

I think that has to come very close to hitting the mark. 

PLEASE feel free to add some comments on what SUCCESS means to you.

Thank you in advance ... Have a great day friends.

Defensive Driving on the Road to Success (Part 5)

Entrepreneurs like it when things are going smoothly and nothing seems to be getting in their way. Life is an open road and the prospects for the future look great. 

Well ... that's the dream. The reality is often a little more complex and there will be challenges that continually put you and your team to the test.

These things may slow you down, but they don't need to keep you from ultimately reaching your destination. Just take things 'one step at a time' and work your way through the process. That's just one of the many valuable business lessons we can learn as we travel the challenging road toward BUSINESS SUCCESS!

This is the final installment in the series of articles that's been kindly provided by my friend, Scott Sheris from Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA). Thanks once again Scott! We've appreciated the insights you've provided through your "Defensive Driving" series.  Please feel free to add your comments and/or reaction to the ideas that these stories have generated.

Scott's contact information can be seen at the end of this post.

Best wishes on your entrepreneurial journey ...
- Jim, for the Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. TEAM.

Here's Scott's fifth post in this series ...

Today’s thought: Defensive driving (5) - “Make Sure They See You”

The last tip for defensive driving is to “Make Sure They See You”.  It’s all about communication on the road.  Some may not know this, but one of the reasons why all these ‘fancy cars’ have all these different types of ‘flashy gadgets’ (called signal lights), is so that drivers can let others know their intentions on the road. It provides other drivers with fair warning, so they can react accordingly.

I know, it would also be much easier on our travels if others would actually read their owners manual, if only to learn how to operate said signals.  How many times do we get upset because someone weaves in front of us without a signal, or they do signal but they just make it past us, barely providing enough space?

I also realize what’s next on your list of questions.  "How many 'cars' have to ignore my signal before someone lets me in to the lane I need?"  The object is to not get into an accident.  Inevitably, one of two things will happen. A) Someone will let you in, or B) everyone will hurry and pass you, only to switch back right in front of you a few moments later.

In some cases, the section of road we are travelling is multiple lanes and some folks, as is the law in many states, will actually change lanes to the left and so allow you the space you need to get into the next lane.  They don't lose their momentum, while still allowing for you to get into the space you need to make progress.  You can do this too, if there's room.

This final tip, “Make Sure They See You”, combined with all the other tips, should help you to get where you're going with minimal disruptions on the road to success.  However, just like on the real roads, some things will be unavoidable. That’s likely because someone, somewhere up the line ahead, has created a traffic jam, and just like everyone else, you wait. Life can be like that at times, but take some comfort in knowing that YOU were not cause of the delay, or involved in an accident.

Safe journeys, and hopefully some or all of this was helpful, as you travel on your road to success!

Scott Sheris is a writer from Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA) who’s primary focus is personal core development. His mission is to (H)elp (O)ther (P)eople (E)xcel – helping to bring HOPE to others as they begin to change their lives in new ways.

To contact Scott, or see more of his work, please visit his website at:
https://sites.google.com/site/pcdspecialties

PLEASE ADD your comments regarding this topic - we'd love to hear from you!

Defensive Driving on the Road to Success (Part 4)

Life can get very busy and at times it may feel like you're trapped with no place to escape!   

For the entrepreneur how do you go about 'recharging' your batteries and finding 'balance' between the demands of your personal life and those of the business? Finding that balance is one of the keys to BUSINESS SUCCESS!

My friend, Scott Sheris from Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA) provides some good thoughts for our consideration. Thanks once again for providing this Scott! We've been featuring Scott's articles as a series this month and invite you to add your comments and/or reaction to the ideas that the stories generate.

Scott's contact information can be seen at the end of this post.

Thanks once again for allowing us to share your series with our audience, Scott!

Best wishes on your entrepreneurial journey ...
- Jim, for the Pro-Vision Solutions Inc. TEAM.

Here's Scott's fourth post in this series ...

Today’s thought: defensive driving (4) - “Always Leave Yourself an Out”

The fourth tip in defensive driving is to “Always Leave Yourself an Out”.  Always leave space for you to maneuver. Don’t get trapped in a situation where an accident is inevitable.

This includes space on the side, and learning how to discourage tailgaters, as well as leaving a good following distance (1 second per 10' of length of your vehicle is average).

My bus weighs 25,000 lbs empty and is 40'.  This means I need 4 seconds to stop the bus safely.  That should be my following distance (varies by speed of course).

If we aren’t paying attention and find we need to change lanes, if we didn’t leave ourselves an out and can’t create a new space, we have to stop and wait for traffic to clear.

Of course, I'm going to say life is the same way, but "space" in relationships is far more challenging to define and get right.  What is emotional space?  How much do we need?  How often do we need it to feel safe?  And so on.

If we have an idea where we are going, the route we want to take, and we have the big picture, then it may not be as difficult to decide what types of connections we will need to help us get there.

Other drivers on the road may not necessarily be strangers, and there are likely other helpful people we’ll meet on the road to success.  Consider – and this may seem like an odd question, but it will get you thinking ... Where, or who (as the case may be), is the next ‘emotional gas station’, or the next ‘rest stop’, or the next whatever you may need on the road?  You wouldn’t necessarily drive from LA to Chicago in one shift, so make sure you are taking time to refuel, and reconnect, and recharge, or whatever it is you need, to make sure you are safe on the next leg of your journey.

If we remember to “Always Leave Yourself an Out” we maintain our speed and progress on the road to success!

Scott Sheris is a writer from Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA) who’s primary focus is personal core development. His mission is to (H)elp (O)ther (P)eople (E)xcel – helping to bring HOPE to others as they begin to change their lives in new ways.

To contact Scott, or see more of his work, please visit his website at:
https://sites.google.com/site/pcdspecialties

PLEASE ADD your comments regarding this topic - we'd love to hear from you!