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Financial

 
When the Going Gets Tough
September 2009
| under
  • Miscellaneous

Despite the dire predictions and handwringing surrounding you, it is possible to prosper during tough times. Be aware of the most common events that lead to contractor failures, and you can adjust your business strategy to avoid them. Watch for these warning signs: Relationships Financial

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Is the Government Hear to Help?
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| July 2009
| under
  • Your Business

In the first column of this three-part series, I discussed the relative value of money. Last month, we looked at the effects of changes in value, such as inflation and deflation. Now, let’s look at how the government attempts to manipulate the economy.

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The 'flations
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| June 2009
| under
  • Your Business

Last month, we defined money and its relative value in the marketplace. This month, we’ll analyze who benefits when the value of money changes. Keep in mind that the laws of physics also apply to the value of money: what goes up must come down. Inflation

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Money and Value
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| May 2009
| under
  • Your Business

Are we headed for another great depression or simply working through an expected blip on the recession radar screen?

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The Electricity of Hope
by
Rex A. Ferry
| April 2009
| under
  • Miscellaneous

The National Electrical Contractors Association's standing policy on energy independence acknowledges the electrical industry’s important role in advancing economic stability and growth. It’s a fact proven through more than seven decades.

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Vault or Shoe Box
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| April 2009
| under
  • Your Business

When stock market investments and property shrink in value, it is tempting to convert them into safer vehicles, such as bank deposits. Is the banking system still safe, or is it a house of cards that will collapse under pressure? Fractional banking

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What's Fibonacci Got to Do With It?
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| March 2009
| under
  • Your Business

There is no question that we are in a severe bear market. From a record high of more than 14,164.53 on Oct. 9, 2007, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell to 8,777.67 on Dec. 31, 2008.

READ MORE
 
Enjoy the Ride
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| February 2009
| under
  • Your Business

As the new presidential administration implements its economic recovery program, no one knows how your electrical contracting business will be affected. It’s like waiting in line at the amusement park, with one big exception. At the park, you choose the rides you enjoy the most.

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Watch the Pennies
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| January 2009
| under
  • Your Business

The holidays are over, and you are facing a new calendar and a tough economy. When money is tight and the market is down, it’s time to look for waste. When you start a business, you are conscious of every purchase and monitor cash flow.

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Arrogance, Ignorance, Greed—Oh, My!
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| December 2008
| under
  • Your Business

Even with a new administration coming to Washington, D.C., next month, electrical contractors will struggle to accept the recent bailout and its effect on the economy. What can we learn from the factors that created the debacle? Arrogance

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Breaking up Is Hard to Do
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| November 2008
| under
  • Your Business

You probably spend 80 percent of your resources serving 20 percent of your customers. Sometimes, breaking up with your most difficult clients is the best way to improve employee morale and your bottom line.

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Pricing to Compete
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| October 2008
| under
  • Your Business

Oil prices are affecting everything, from transportation costs to commodities, and you may be tempted to alter your pricing to increase your backlog as a cushion against future uncertainty. Maintaining your sales revenue is like a game of basketball: most games are won by just a few points.

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3-2-1, Blast Off
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| September 2008
| under
  • Your Business

Last month, we explored the first three steps of FRICTO, a framework for analyzing asset-financing alternatives. As a reminder, FRICTO is difficult to apply to privately held electrical contracting firms in its entirety, since it relies on market-driven stock price for some calculations.

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Promises to Keep
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| September 2008
| under
  • Your Business

As electrical contractors face an uncertain marketplace,it is tempting to cut marketing and advertising expenses.

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Six Steps to Success
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| August 2008
| under
  • Your Business

Regardless of the economy's health or electrical contractors’ profit margins, lost assets must be replaced. There are several ways to obtain asset financing, such as incurring more debt in the form of loans or issuing shares of stock to raise capital from investors.

READ MORE
 
Time Savers for Tough Times
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| July 2008
| under
  • Miscellaneous

Time is money, and the uncertain economy demands that you reduce overhead and improve efficiency. Here are some strategies to streamline routines and improve the flow of information by removing wasted time from your systems and routines. Routine tasks

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Trend Analysis
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| June 2008
| under
  • Your Business

Ratios are useful as both snapshots and video clips. For example, the cash on your balance sheet is a snapshot of your bank balances at one point in time. By the time you generate your financial statements, the cash balance has shifted.

READ MORE
 
Efficiency and Productivity
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| May 2008
| under
  • Your Business

Managing a profitable electrical contracting business demands a high level of efficiency and productivity. You push your office staff members and field employees to use their time wisely, but how well are you using financial information to gauge the results?

READ MORE
 
A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
by
Joe O'Connor
| May 2008
| under
  • Your Business

In 1989, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued voluntary guidelines for safety and health program management. The guidelines were based on the elements common to all programs used by successful participants of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program.

READ MORE
 
Inside the Walls
by
Denise Norberg-Johnson
| April 2008
| under
  • Your Business

In the first two parts of this series, we looked at external communication and meetings. In this final article, we’ll focus on reducing the cost of internal communication.

READ MORE

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News and Announcements

IDEAL Gives Away First of Four SignalTEK II Cable Qualifiers
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