Your Public Relations Team
July 28, 2010
Does your business have a team of professionals poised to inform the public about your initiatives, beliefs; mission, climate and opportunities? 
If you have customer service representatives, receptionists, telephone operators, greeters, agents, salespeople, tellers, or other employees, you have a public relations team.
And, it’s almost impossible to manage what they are saying—or is it?
Late Thanksgiving night—just minutes before Black Friday—a friend and I walked in to Ecko for the first time. The crowd at the mall was steady with the promise of getting out of control as dawn approached. The store had opened early because as the cashier said, “the people are here.” It was close to midnight and the staff at Ecko was helpful, attentive and happy.
I’m now an Ecko shopper.
Championship Hearts Foundation, Free Screenings
July 26, 2010
On behalf of Championship Hearts Foundation we would like to forward on their July/August Press Release: 
Austin, Texas – As a community service, Championship Hearts Foundation, a Texas nonprofit agency, will offer free heart screenings for student athletes, ages 14-18, on Saturday, July 31st, 2010 and Saturday, August 28th at the Heart Hospital of Austin. Active students who engage in athletics, cheerleading, marching band, drill team, or other strenuous sports usually obtain physical examinations from their family doctor prior to participating in those activities, and many take the extra step of getting their heart screened.
This free event is made possible by the complementary use of facilities at Heart Hospital of Austin and the volunteer cardiologists from Children’s Cardiology Associates.
Over 10,000 students have been screened by Championship Hearts during the last ten years, with approximately 1% of those having been referred for further cardiac testing.
There is no charge for the screening, however, a (tax deductible) contribution of $25.00 is appreciated to help defray some of the costs and also to support the work of the Foundation.
Rumbles of Progress
July 23, 2010
Construction trucks rattle early in the morning; drills drone late into the night: The Landscape of Baltimore is changing.
I can remember when it changed in New Jersey too.
Tourists straggled the boardwalk, haunted the beaches, coveted seashells. Years later, syringes littered the dunes, beach umbrellas dotted the sand, and poverty was everywhere. 
The shoreline was gone.
More tourists came and went and came back in droves.
BusinesSuites Decor
July 21, 2010
When it comes to designing a space for many different businesses and many different personalities, our goal is to appeal to the majority of folks, i.e., designs that aren’t trendy and have broad appeal. In general, our goals in designing are: 
1.Keep it simple. Less really is more, especially when you are trying to appeal to a broad range of people.
Voyage Around the World No. 5
July 16, 2010
Dr. Gus Wilson is an office client at our BusinesSuites Harborplace location in Baltimore, Maryland. Gus is on an annual sail voyage taking him and his wife, Helen, around the world. When their journey is complete we expect to have him back at the office as a client again. Below is the fifth excerpt from his voyage journal. There is a couple more to come.
Zappos Mistake or PR Stunt?
July 14, 2010
Any news is good news in the world of PR, right?
I follow Zappos because I find their company culture fun and unique. I follow their blog and have bought a couple of books written by their CEO, Tony Hsieh.
You may have caught Zappos in the news recently where they made a huge mistake on one of their sister sites and for six hours all products were listed for $49.95, including high ticket items such as a $2000 GPS system.
All it takes is one person to see the error and then he can twitter it, facebook it, text message it to all of his friends and the news spread like wildfire. After all damage was done, Zappos was going to lose out on $1.
The U in Opportunity
July 12, 2010
“I’ve been thinking about starting a business,” she says.
My sister is talented, while I personally think there’s nothing she can’t do, professionally I wonder what she will choose.
“I’m not going to do it,” she adds.
Over the next ten minutes, my sister convinces herself—and me—that maybe now is not the time to start a business—for her.
Some things she gives me to think about:
1. When: Starting a business requires a lot of time.
Restoring Security
July 9, 2010
According to a recent article posted in the Wall Street Journal, receptionists, staff and guests are often accidental accomplices in office thefts. 
As a client service coordinator in a shared office center, I come in contact with new people every day: guests, prospective clients, vendors, people who are lost…
Part of my job is to get people where they need to be: letting clients know guests have arrived; giving prospective clients information; allowing vendors access to the item they are servicing; giving directions, etc…
With a blend of professionalism and personality, I try to create an aura of comfort by initiating and engaging visitors in conversation.
So, I was surprised to find polite conversation, interactions, and smiles may be if not invitations, but weapons used against my clients, my company, and me.
According to the article, staff often holds elevators and doors for thieves who eventually walk out with valuables. Possibly, the most valuable thing they walk off with is immeasurable: security.
How do we get that back?
I don’t want to begin viewing unfamiliar faces as potential suspects; or to stop engaging visitors in conversations.
Out-of-Network Networking
July 7, 2010
I tend to be idle on LinkedIn.
I update my profile, belong to groups, and accept Invitations to network. I rarely seek people out.
I’ve been thinking about Florence lately, I left music there.
In my quest to re-remember Florence, to see the terra cotta Della Robbia babies at the Hospital of the Innocents; to wander among the graves of the English Cemetery in Florence; to listen to strands of music in a crowded piazza, I am reminded about the nun who keeps the graves.
I Google her.
How to be a Good Customer
July 5, 2010
Customer service is a tricky thing. There are some people out there that say you should treat someone like you want to be treated. I personally think really great customer service comes from trying to wear your customer’s shoes. 
Not how do YOU want to be treated, but how do THEY want to be treated. This is very important as we have become more globally aware and the business we do crosses more than just state lines, but also cultural borders. Customer service should not involve politics or efforts to be politically correct, just simply listening to your customer and responding accordingly in a positive way.
Voyage Around the World No. 4
July 2, 2010
Dr. Gus Wilson is an office client at our BusinesSuites Harborplace location in Baltimore, Maryland. Gus is on an annual sail voyage taking him and his wife, Helen, around the world. When their journey is complete we expect to have him back at the office as a client again. Below is the fourth excerpt from his voyage journal. There is a couple more to come.
Become Our Fan
June 30, 2010
Become a Facebook Fan of BusinesSuites by clicking on the link below and then click the "Like" button.
First log in to your Facebook account and click on our Facebook Fan Page Link.
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BusinesSuites Values
June 28, 2010
In this short video, Connie Shortes discusses one of our core values, “Treat all people with respect and dignity.” Also among our values are “Use our freedom to suceed” “Conduct all business in the sunshine” and “Exceed the expected.” For our teams, these are not simply words we never think about, but instead we pride ourselves by living out our core values everyday.
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The Click Between Want and Need
June 25, 2010
I love a good sale.
Black Friday, the day after Christmas, a going out of business sale, EBay.
If I can save money, I’m willing to wake up early; wait in long lines; bid and outbid to more frequently than not get the item that I want.
When I need something, I expect to get it, even if I have to pay full price for it. If I can’t afford it, I expect to wait until I can.
I don’t ask for it.
Positive Cloud
June 23, 2010
How do you stay positive during a rough spot in life? This is a question that comes up often in life, both business and personal. At a recent team meeting I asked my team what they thought. We talked about some ways to stay positive during down times. Talking about it and holding each other accountable for contributing to our team outlook was both encouraging and insightful. 
We agreed that the following list is a great way to keep positive:
1. To stay positive, focus on something new, something you find exciting.
For Sale...Sort of
June 21, 2010
“For a limited time only, get a dozen tulips for only $19.99”
I like tulips.
“Mother’s day is around the corner…”
That’s true, I deserve flowers.
“…order now for the special mother in your life…”
Oh, that’s right, my mom, my sister…
Phones, emails, letters, papers, people: At any given time, there are a lot of things competing for my attention. Speed limits, traffic, signs, deer: When I’m in the car, there are even more.
I only listen to music when I’m in the car, and I only listen to music I like when I’m in the car alone.
Texas 4000 and Pepsi Refresh Project
June 17, 2010
BusinesSuites is a sponsor of Texas 4000 for Cancer, which is a group of University of Texas college students that rides from Austin to Alaska each summer to raise money for cancer research. This is a great organization made up of an impressive group of leaders, some of whom are cancer survivors themselves. 
Charity is just part of their mission; the other components are hope and knowledge. So, along their ride, they stop in hospitals, churches, schools, and community centers to visit with cancer survivors and create awareness about cancer prevention.
You may have heard of Pepsi’s refresh project. You can vote for your favorite non-profit and Pepsi will take some of its marketing dollars and donate them to that worthy non-profit, based on popularity.
The Virtues of Job Hopping
June 16, 2010
The days of lifetime employment are gone (did they ever really exist?) and for the most part, we have adapted as a society to the new rules. There’s not much argument these days that one’s professional loyalty lies with one’s own career, not with one’s employer. Particularly among younger workers, the insecurity of being in between jobs is not as scary as the prospect of stagnation and the risk of falling behind your peers because your skills have become stale. Penelope Trunk’s blog on the virtues of job-hopping is welcome reassurance that your strategy of moving on every 18 months or so could pay off. As an employer, when I look at resumes for an open position for our executive suite company, a resume that shows long job tenure (> 10 years with one company) is actually a concern. My experience supports Trunk’s point--those candidates often do have more difficulty learning a new position and adapting to a new company culture than candidates who have made a two or three job changes in that period of time.
This Way Up: Some Signs to Success
June 14, 2010
Lately, I have been driving to the Owings Mills Executive Suite Center a few days a week.
I pay attention to the vehicles behind me, the colors of lights, the lines on the road. Everything has its place.
Take signs. 
Stop signs belong where they are most effective: where I will see them and stop.
The stop signs around the center are painted on crème colored rectangles.
Voyage Around the World No. 2
June 11, 2010
Dr. Gus Wilson is an office client at our BusinesSuites Harborplace location in Baltimore, Maryland. Gus is on an annual sail voyage taking him and his wife, Helen, around the world. When their journey is complete we expect to have him back at the office as a client again. Below is the second excerpt from his voyage journal. There are several more to come.
Password Protected
June 9, 2010
My passwords have passwords.
You would think this would make them easier to remember.
For some reason, techs worldwide believe the best place for the many passwords that protect my life, are better stored in my head. Realistically, if my memory was that good, I wouldn’t need to keep many of the documents I have stored in various cyber locations in the first place.
There was a time I remembered my one or two passwords, but as I’ve acquired more, I remember them less. On a fairly regular basis I call or email a tech to request they reset my password, oh, and to tell me what it is.
Planning for the Future
June 9, 2010
No one ever plans to be sick or disabled; however, effective preparation can make all the difference in an emergency. A study in 2008 by the National Association of Home Care revealed that nearly 6 million people over the age of 65 received home health services. Many older home care patients have overlapping medical conditions requiring continuous or complex services. The following steps can ensure that your family and caregivers are well prepared to help when an unexpected injury or illness occurs.
Steps for getting your affairs in order:
Put your important papers and copies of legal documents in one place. You could set up a file, put everything in a desk or dresser drawer, or list the information and the location of papers in a notebook.
The Relationship of Relationships
June 7, 2010
Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about how things relate to relationships. Looking for a job, finding the right executive office suite, cooking food delectably all—or so it seems—relates to relationships. 
At some point, we need to remind ourselves that relationships relate to relationships.
When they work, relationships—no matter what their dynamic—have an equal balance of give and take; adapt and grow; learn and teach.
It is unrealistic to expect more from a relationship than you are willing to contribute.
I was recently in a writers’ workshop where one of the writers rarely commented on the others’ work.
Texas 4000 for Cancer Atlas Ride
June 7, 2010
This weekend, I rode in the 2010 Atlas Ride supporting Texas 4000 for Cancer and had a fantastic time. The Atlas ride offered cyclists an opportunity to ride with the Texas 4000 riders on the first leg of their 4,500 trek from Austin to Anchorage. It started in Cedar Park where over 400 riders joined the 55 team members and rode to Lampasas. 
Although I ride my exercise bike five mornings a week, I don't consider myself a "cyclist," because I rarely get out on a bicycle on the road. Because of that, I signed up for the 25 mile route (as opposed to the 50 and 70 mile routes), because I wasn't certain how far I'd make it. When I got to the ride Saturday morning, I learned that the 25 mile route circles back to the starting line and I'd need to drive myself to Lampasas for the post-party.
Introducing Your Competition: You
June 4, 2010
No matter what industry you are in, chances are you have competition. Competition challenges companies to provide better services, prices, products.
By now, you should recognize your competition. Maybe your competition is affecting your bottom line, costing you sales, clients and sleep.
But is the store next door really your worst competition?
Far too often I go to a nearby McDonald’s for breakfast or lunch.
While I always know what I want to order, I never know what I’m going to get.
Super Lawyer
June 4, 2010
James W. George: Prestigious, intelligent, super.
Mr. George, better known as Jim throughout our Austin executive office suite, jokingly claims to have been inspired to practice law by Perry Mason.
Over his career, Jim has been involved in several cases ranging from trial cases, divorces, personal injury, paternity verification, and arson.
Jim’s most memorable case lasted almost a year.
Can Do Awards 2010
June 2, 2010
BusinesSuites recognizes team members who solve problems, create solutions and overcome obstacles with what President Lyndon Baines Johnson, father of BusinesSuites’ co-founder Luci Baines Johnson, called a “can do” attitude. Each year, BusinesSuites recognizes exceptional team members with the CAN DO Spirit Award. 
When President and Mrs. Johnson left the White House, a small marble paper weight was given to Mrs. Johnson engraved with the words “CAN DO.” This monument sat at the front of her desk for over 35 years, and remains at the LBJ Library and Museum in Austin forever memorializing the “can do” legacy.
Advice for the Class of 2010
June 1, 2010
A New York Times editorial last week painted a very bleak picture for this year's college graduates. The piece talks about the difficulties of the current job market and the fact that these current difficulties may be pervasive, signaling long-term career and financial challenges for current job seekers. The piece goes on to focus on its real editorial point, which is giving opinions about actions that should be taken by the government to improve the job market, and, in doing so, I think it misses a real opportunity.
No doubt that the government should try to do the "right" things to improve prospects for jobseekers, but, no matter what the government is doing or not doing, each of us needs to take responsibility for our self, our career, and our own future.
For college students, I have some advice based on my personal experience as a college student, as an adjunct lecturer teaching at the University of Texas for six years, and as a business person: if you're serious about your future and career, get a job or an internship while you're in school. If the internship doesn't pay, look for one that will or take on both a paying job and a non-paying internship.
Putting a Name to a Face
May 31, 2010
Between company websites, blogs, Twitter accounts and Facebooks, there is a massive effort to make business more personal.
Strategies, plans, analysis, data…there’s a lot to be said for the benefits of creating an online presence; adapting an online persona: putting a face to your business name.
When I look for a contractor, I look for reviews: information on their work. I don’t look for their relationship status, party pictures, or Farmville situation.
Whether I’m changing banks, car insurance, or super markets, I look for the reputation of the company, rarely of the employees.
But that’s changing, not because I want it to but because it has to.
Home Office Bring Your Child to Work Day
May 28, 2010
Today is National Bring Your Child to Work Day so like many workers around the country, today my children and I are sharing an office space—my home office—for a few hours.
Twenty-four hours ago when my oldest son asked if they could stay home and work with me, I said no.
“What will you do all day?” 
“Watch you work,” he replied.
“What can I do to make your day better?” My daughter asked (she’s racking up brownie points for future requests).
Today, full on juice, ice cream sandwiches, snacks and lunch, I ask.
“What do you think I do all day?”
“You work!” My 4 year old answers, stretching for a hug.
Before You Write that Tuition Check . . .
May 26, 2010
Some very smart people are questioning the value of a college education. See the May 16, 2010 New York Times article: Plan B: Skip College Not only is the percentage of students who actually finish college and graduate with a degree pretty dreadful, many of those that do finish find themselves woefully unprepared for a professional career.
The article points out that employers in Washington State complained in a recent survey that they have a hard time finding college educated workers who can “solve problems and make decisions,” “resolve conflict and negotiate,” “cooperate with others” and “listen actively.” I recruit and hire for my company, an executive office suite based in Austin, TX. We are in the service business, and there is no such thing as a Bachelor of Arts in customer service, regrettably. None of our positions require a college degree.
Shared Office Space Professional Week
May 24, 2010
Copying, writing, faxing, emailing, scheduling, communicating, facilitating, organizing, typing, editing, billing… 
On any given day, I—like other executive suite office super heroes—extinguish flames, avoid eruptions, and traverse terrains so the people who rely on me can do what it is they do best: tend to business.
I am an administrative professional.
Yet, midway through Administrative Professionals Week and I had yet to thank the people who make what I do seamless.
Shared Office Space Professionals answer phones, route calls, greet guests, manage billing, provide services and anticipate the needs of a varity of clients--and they do it all so that each client feels like the only client.
I appreciate my colleagues for consistently researching innovative ways to update information, make processes easier, and make systems more manageable. Even more than their research, I appreciate that no matter where they are, my coworkers share tips through Wiki, emails, and conference calls.
Voyage Around the World
May 21, 2010
Dr. Gus Wilson is an office client at our BusinesSuites Harborplace location in Baltimore, Maryland. Gus is on an annual sail voyage taking him and his wife, Helen, around the world. When their journey is complete we expect to have him back at the office as a client again. Below is the first excerpt from his voyage journal. There are several more to come.
What Would Make You Happy?
May 19, 2010
While in Las Vegas for a marketing conference last year I heard a speech from Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos. If you don't know Zappos, it's a online retail website selling shoes. Ever seen a box shipped to your office and the women all start getting awing and ohing? It's probably from Zappos. 
The company Zappos itself is also pretty exciting. Tony, their CEO, was fascinating to listen to. He strives to make all his employees "happy" so that they can give the best customer service imaginable.
Networking in a Shared Office Suite
May 17, 2010
Location, Location, Location 
Recently, we at our Austin Texas executive suite we decided to take social networking offline and to make it, well, social.
Our clients represent many industries. During the business of doing business they often forget that some of the people they share space with our potential clients, investors, friends. The team at BusinesSuites Barton Springs felt it was important for our clients to get interactive.
We decided to hold a networking event.
We held our event in the comfort of one of our conference rooms.
Buy Plants Online
May 14, 2010
I have only recently become a regular online shopper. I definitely like to see and touch what I buy, but being a full time working mother and wife, time must be prioritized. Much to my disappointment my 17-month-old son does not like to spend hours shopping for anything unless it is food or toys. I suppose this will not change anytime soon.
My experience with online shopping had been limited to certain brands of clothing or household supplies. I like to stick to brands I know because I am familiar with sizing, material or over all durability.
The UnHandy Handyman
May 12, 2010
“Would you mind if my friend trims the tree by your house? It blocks the sun to my room.”
I am not a gardener. From time to time—to the delight of my neighbors—I mow the grass, cut hedges, pull weeds. It is seldom artfully or strategically done—but, it is done. When the leaves settle and the birds rebuild their nests, I am proud of my work—well, my effort.
“Sure, that’s fine.
What Does it All Mean?
May 10, 2010
Last week saw a very positive jobs report, the most positive news on car sales in years, a failed attempt to cap an oil spill deep in the Gulf of Mexico, a 1,000 point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the span of minutes followed by skittish investor sentiment, followed today by market euphoria. So, what does it all mean? To me, it means we, can’t control everything around us. We just have to focus on the things we can control day to day and know that our small additions to the world are a part of the great economic and emotional calculus that makes up the world.
So, having a nice Mother’s Day with our family, smiling at a stranger on the way in from the parking garage, or selling an office may help make our families stronger, encourage someone to have a great day, or help our company further our mission. As amazing as our teams are at BusinesSuites, we can’t hire enough people to make a dent in the unemployment rate or mobilize the expertise to cap an oil well. But, we can focus on what we do well day in and day out to help our families and clients excel, who then help their families and clients excel and so on and so on and so on.
Niceness is Never Free
May 5, 2010
Why are people afraid to quote you a price?
You ask them how much something costs and they go into their sales pitch for 15 minutes first before they will ever commit to giving you a price. Why is this? Do they teach this somewhere?
Or worst yet, they offer to do something for you never mentioning that it will cost you extra or how much extra it will be. They avoid the “price” part of the conversation completely leaving the customer on hook for the charges when the bill is due. I can’t think of one situation when this would be okay to any customer out there.
Right off the bat I can think of a couple of places you may go that try to up-sell you and never tell you the price:
1. Car lube place: you go to change your oil and they also want to replace your air filter.
When Saving Money Costs Too Much
May 3, 2010
The more I learn, the more I am reminded about lessons learned sitting criss-cross-apple sauce around a brightly lit, alphabet rug.
Treat people the way you want to be treated.
Always put away your play things.
Stop, drop, and roll.
Ok, so not everything I learned over 30 years ago makes sense today.
You get what you pay for.
Writing Your Story
April 30, 2010
I am a writer.
Not because I’ve published in the New Yorker, the Paris Review, Vanity Fair—and, I haven’t—but because I write.
I take seriously my pursuit and I study, exercise and practice it whenever time allows.
As a writer, I approach things in different ways. When I face a problem, an opportunity or a decision it helps if I view the situation as a chapter and myself as a character in the story of my life.
Sometimes the results are painful.
Providing the Freedom to Succeed
April 28, 2010
A business is only as strong as its ties to the community. Here at BusinesSuites Park View, we believe in maintaining strong connections and in helping our Howard County community flourish.
During the month of January, our executive office suite in Columbia held a week-long food drive and encouraged clients and staff to donate non-perishable goods. The food collected was then donated to the Domestic Violence Center of Howard County, an organization dedicated to helping all people hurt by domestic violence including: women, children, and men. Through these donations, we are helping the Domestic Violence Center of Howard County get one step closer to reaching their goal of “reduce[ing] the harm and effects of domestic violence while working towards its elimination in Howard County.”
Service is something that not only our center, but all of BusinesSuites scrutinizes.
BusinesSuites West End Madness
April 25, 2010
March in Virginia is when spring starts to show. The weather gets warmer, flowers start blooming, and people start getting cabin fever. Everyone is ready for the change in the season, especially those of us who are in an office for most of the day. We can see the change out the window and immediately want to spring into action.
Since we were all getting restless in our Richmond executive office suite, we decided to hold a “March Madness” bracket pool for the 2010 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Unlike other pools, ours would benefit Connor’s Heroes, a local charity aimed at helping fight childhood cancer.
Sharing Information in Shared Office Space
April 23, 2010
According to the WSJ, in offices across the globe the lines between sharing information and sharing too much information are expanding in uncomfortably broad directions.
Before I started working at BusinesSuites, I had no idea what shared office space was. After being in the industry for several years, I know the sharing of space is not merely the sharing of…well…space, but the sharing of information, knowledge, experiences. Shared office space allows professionals the opportunity to network with other professionals across broad industries and perspectives.
In shared office space, we face a different challenge: NEI—Not Enough Information. Most of our clients work for different companies so they don’t tend to confuse the boundaries between coworker, colleague and friend.
Air Force One Delay
April 21, 2010
I travel quite a bit so I wasn’t really that surprised when the pilot announced that our flight from Las Vegas to Austin was delayed. This delay was different though. Rather than receiving the usual groans and sighs this news normally brings, I heard a buzz of “president,” “Obama’s flight,” and “right now?” Word travels fast on a Boeing 737 because we quickly learned that President Obama was on his way to McCarren International Airport for his flight home to Washington, D.C. We all peered through our tiny airplane windows waiting to see if we were going to get a glimpse of the president.
But when Obama catches his flight home, it is not that simple.
Dell Video of BusinesSuites
April 19, 2010
Dell shot a video of us when we won the 2009 Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award. The taping took place at our executive office suites in Westlake, Austin Texas.
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Monument Inspects BusinesSuites
April 16, 2010
When it comes to ensuring the public safety, it is no laughing matter. Some of the most admirable jobs come in the form of police and firefighters; their lives put on the line each day for the protection of total strangers.
But there is a vast array of other services happening all around us, day after day, to ensure your and my safety. They may not be as high-profile or dangerous but they protect us, nonetheless. Just a sampling of these would be building inspectors, elevator inspectors, or in the case of Monument Inspection Services, boiler and pressure vessel inspectors.
Believe it or not, boilers and air tanks are exploding periodically and the results can be catastrophic.
Meetings To Go
April 14, 2010
After a hearty round of bargain hunting one Saturday afternoon, my children and I reward ourselves by visiting McDonald’s.
My 4 year old is excited by the Fun Land.
My 11 year old is interested in the retro décor.
My 15 year old is intrigued with the conversations around us.
“What are they doing?” My daughter stage-whispers, pointing her head in the direction of the group clustered around the semi-booth beside us.
“It’s a meeting.
BSharper Realty Consultants
April 12, 2010
Research. Reality. Value. Budget.
The reality is that everyone has dreams. Whether it’s a new house, a new car, or a new business, we all dream of having, winning, receiving—more.
Recipe for Productivity
April 9, 2010
Bounce of balls. Shuffle of feet. Bark of dog. Questions of child.
It sounds like a recipe for a brew, but the only thing brewing is my list of distractions as I decide early in the morning that today—while the children are home from spring break—I will be working from the comfort of my local library instead of from my make-shift home office. 
About three months ago, I began working five hours a day for two days a week at home.
Beating the Office Shut-in Blues
April 7, 2010
Now that the weather is getting warmer, the birds are chirping and the sun is shining, we often daydream about being outside rather than inside poring over reports, checking emails, or returning phone calls. The following is a list of how to beat the “shut-in blues” and get through your work day. 
1. Avoid all clocks!! Clocks are the reason we feel our day is dragging. If you need to know the time, because of an appointment you have, set an alarm on your phone and your calendar in your email for at least 15-30 minutes before that appointment to ensure you will be on time.
2.
Helicopter Tour
April 5, 2010
For our 2010 manager conference we took to the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada. This year a group of us decided to spend our money on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead instead of the losing most of it on slots. Here are a couple of our best photos. We have a video we bought of the tour which we will post later on. Enjoy!
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A Food Revolution?
April 2, 2010
On March 18, 2010, a Princeton University research team published a study demonstrating that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) cause “considerably more weight gain” than just table sugar. This is the first study of its kind that conclusively ties HFCS to obesity and other major health risks. Corn syrup is found in many foods we consume: breads, condiments, packaged meats, dairy products, pickles, applesauce, juices, and almost all fast-foods. 
And of course, soda pop. Interestingly, the study points out the scientific differences in absorbtion among the ubiquitous corn syrup and table sugar, which consist of largely the same compounds- glucose and fructose. Sugar’s fructose is chemically bonded to glucose, requiring an additional metabolic step for absorbtion, and is stored as energy, whereas the fructose in HFCS is not bonded and is immediately metabolized as fat.
Heavenly Stroller
March 31, 2010
Deven Kight is a Client Service Coordinator at our Waterway location in The Woodlands. Just meeting Deven you would never know it, but she is also an inventor and business owner. In 2003, she came across a problem. Most people when faced with a problem, get annoyed and move along trying to ignore that problem in the future. Not Deven. She is one of those few people who solve it.
Toxic Culture
March 29, 2010
In February 2009, a commuter plane crashed near Buffalo, NY, killing 50. The plane was operated by Colgan Air, a commuter airline company with a culture of "hard-nosed management" according to the WSJ. The carrier flies a fleet of 48 planes on behalf of United, US Air, and Continental. 
The captain of the flight had several long days with a limited amount of rest in between, and, according to the WSJ, "his 24-year-old co-pilot, Rebecca Shaw, had complained before takeoff about being congested and said she probably should have called in sick, according to people who have listened to the cockpit voice recording." The WSJ cites many other possible factors regarding the pilot and co-pilot including insufficient training and inexperience.
Unfortunately, it's possible these pilots worked for a company where the culture may have exacerbated these physiological problems.
Sum IT Up
March 24, 2010
Our investments in technology saved this executive office suites company. We have really tied together the company, team members, and clients with technology. By using technology to reduce costs, push responsibility out to all levels of the company, improve the client experience, and leverage a smaller infrastructure, our company was more profitable in 2008 with 14 locations than we had expected to be with 30 locations when we put our growth plan together in 2002. 
Any company can invest in servers and software just like any company can provide Houston executive office space. In fact, the components that make up our IT infrastructure are not all that unique, even though we have some custom and proprietary software. Really, what differentiates us from competitors is how we use the technology to create a great experience for our teams and clients.
Scenes from an Airport
March 23, 2010
You see a lot of emotional scenes in airports.
Stress, Fear, and Sadness. Busy business travelers trying to make a connection while talking on the phone and checking email. Families traveling together with small children trying to make it through security and worried about the bottleneck they may be creating. Would-be fliers finding out their flights got cancelled and they won't be able to make their meeting. People frustrated
Love, Excitement, and Appreciation.
These Four Walls
March 22, 2010
Here I sit, happily surrounded by my four walls. And beyond, these four walls, I am surrounded by a great support staff and a diverse bunch of friendly, helpful characters. Funny thing, though, none of them work with my company.
You see, I work in an executive suite, where I share common area and support staff with other people from other walks of life. There’s Ed, who works for a Minnesota-based exhibitor display company; Vance and Muscoe, who do Commercial Real Estate; Dennis, the accountant; Chaganti, our resident I.T.
Dell Trailblazer Challenge
March 17, 2010
We were asked by Dell to be an early participant in their Business Trailblazer website where Small and Medium Business owners and IT managers highlight technology challenges and solutions. It creates a platform for companies to share information with one another. Our VP of Technology took this opportunity to share several of our challenges and solutions over the years at BusinesSuites: 
Challenge
When our executive office suites company embarked on a significant technology plan seven years ago, we were struggling. We were losing money, struggling to integrate acquisitions in several markets across the country, our telephone and internet services to clients were subpar, and we had no central source of financial and reporting information to help us manage our disparate locations. We operate in a distributed environment (groups of three to five team members at 14 different locations), making collaboration a challenge.
Solution
People generally think that more technology means more complexity.
Getting Back to Grass Roots
March 15, 2010
Tweeting, texting, Iming, blogging, friending, following; if it’s social network related, BusinesSuites employees are probably doing it.
As a company, BusinesSuites, nationwide provider of ‘plug and play’ executive office space and virtual offices, prides itself on the ability to embrace and adapt technology to benefit clients, employees and the community.
“I’m Linked In to more communities now than I would have thought possible,” says John Jordan, BusinesSuites president.
According to Jordan, one of the benefits of being a click away from employees, clients, prospects, colleagues, family and friends, is the reminder to engage in new and established networks—offline.
“We can’t afford to ignore traditional relationships, communities and responsibilities in the quest to forge new ones,” Jordan says.
Balancing online and offline organizations and communities, Jordan spends a lot of time staying connected.
BusinesSuites Congratulates Steve Sfekas
March 12, 2010
For many years, BusinesSuites Harborplace has provided office space and services to small, mid-size and large companies; from attorneys to vice presidents, and to professionals in between.
Through these corridors, deals have been made, friendships forged, alliances created. Behind these doors, careers have been launched, dreams realized, ideas manifested.
Some clients have grown from small interior offices to windowed corner offices; others have grown from harbor viewed offices to virtual offices. The space accommodates shifts in needs, business, the economy.
BusinesSuites Harborplace has seen many triumphs, many successes and many doors opened.
Checklist for a Successful Phone Interview
March 11, 2010
The current hiring environment is as brutal as I’ve seen it in my human resources career. The stakes are high for anyone looking for a job. Most companies, including mine, use a phone interview to screen (and eliminate) candidates before committing time to an in-person interview. Still, I am surprised at how often candidates are unprepared for this critical step in the process. Regardless of whether you are interviewing for a management position or an entry level position, working through this checklist prior to your phone interview will greatly improve your chances of moving forward in the interview process:
1. Schedule the interview for a time when you can take the call in a quiet location with a reliable phone connection, not when you’re driving on Interstate 95 in rush hour traffic.
Words
March 10, 2010
If you want to see how the world is changing, take a look at the new words in the dictionary. Publishers of the New Oxford American Dictionary announced that “unfriend” (Unfriend-verb-To remove someone as a “friend” on a social networking site such as Facebook) is their Word of the Year for 2009.
It seems like once words like unfriend become so common that they make it in popular publications, they make the cut for being included in the dictionary.
Over the years, Webster has added more than 100 new words that reflect changing trends in American society. Here are some, along with the year they appeared.
Edamame (1951): immature green soybeans, usually in the pod.
Comment on Comments
March 8, 2010
Lately, I have been trying to communicate more. With friends, family and colleagues, I have a tendency to communicate in doses.
So, when I decided to join the community of blogger—about a year after I started blogging—it was somewhat cautiously.
I started by commenting on other writers’ pieces on Open Salon. Most writers there are a lot better at reading other’s posts and commenting, it’s really a community. I dangle along edge.
What You See is What You Get
March 5, 2010
I love to watch people. Working in an office executive suite I get to see many people coming and going. Going to a restaurant or better yet an airport is exciting for me not only because of where I am or where I am going, but because I can sit and watch people. My step-father once said to me and my mom while at a restaurant, “I know if I want both of you to pay attention to me, I have to go and sit at another table.” It was a bit of an exaggeration, but I do love to see how other people interact.
So when I read a book on body language, it was like I found a reason for my fascination.
Highway 249: Destination, Change
March 3, 2010
2010 has brought with it many changes along Highway 249 in Houston, and even more changes on the HP Campus that resides there.
HP has taken a new direction. They are outsourcing many of the positions formerly housed on campus to other countries such as India and China, resulting in the need for less office space locally.
Lone Star College has bought a significant portion of the HP campus and is now open for business.
Here at Chasewood Technology Park, we are seeing a movement from the once predominantly IT related companies who found working close to HP to be beneficial, to many more energy companies—including several clean and renewable fuel entrepreneurial entities who are taking advantage of the government grants and stimulus monies available.
On the other side of Highway 249 is the up and coming Mediterranean-styled retail center or “lifestyle shopping center”, The Vintage, with boutiques, a Piazza and a new HEB.
The Search for Hope
March 1, 2010
During my maryland executive suite for a charity, a longtime client of ours told us about the Domestic Violence Center. Her passionate words and clear drive to help the victims of domestic violence led us to become involved and volunteer our help.
The Domestic Violence Center began as Citizens Against Spousal Assault in 1978. Today, it provides assistance to all family members impacted by domestic violence. DVC operates several transitional shelters in the county, and offers an emergency safe house for victims who need to escape an abusive situation immediately. They provide victims and their families with the time they need to regain independence, stability and confidence to live lives free from domestic abuse.
HC Drug Free
February 26, 2010
When choosing a non-profit to partner with, there are many decisions. Who can we help the most and how can we help them?
We at Town Center decided to partner with HC (Howard County) Drug Free. HC Drug Free is a non-profit aimed to respond to the alarming number of teens using illegal substances –tobacco, alcohol and other drug—and to respond to the increase in drug-related problems in schools (truancy, violence, weapons, gangs) and in the community.
Many of you are now probably asking yourselves how we can help an organization of this nature. That’s easy and here’s how. The HC Drug Free executive board meets once a month for 2 hours, and we are able to offer them our large conference room for their monthly meetings.
Heroes at Connor's Heroes
February 24, 2010
Finding a non-profit that had similar goals and a compelling purpose, but most importantly one we could really make a difference for, should have been tough. But for us it was easy. Within five minutes of meeting Lisa Goodwin of Connor's Heroes, I knew we had found the perfect fit.
Lisa and her husband Steven formed Connor’s Heroes after their son, Connor, was diagnosed and treated for cancer. Seeing a need for support for children undergoing cancer treatment as well as support for the families at their bedside, Connor’s Heroes was started to fill that need. Using their home as an office and without full-time office support, Lisa and Steven, with the help of many volunteers, have helped support hundreds of children and families battling cancer throughout Richmond.
Shared-Shared Office Space
February 22, 2010
Today I visited a website for shared-shared office space. It is an interesting idea; the sharing of space can be as professional or personal, as sterile or personable as both parties need.
If a cleaning service sweeps away all evidence of coffee, papers and crumbs; and both clients whisk laptops, family photos, and documents away when they leave and go wherever it is they share space in the meantime—barring unscheduled meetings, conference calls or drop in guests—two people can share a space without ever knowing the other exists.
The concept is a new twist on an old one.
Sharing of space is not new, the ways we share it might be.
Because BusinesSuites provides shared office space in Baltimore and around the country, I went to this particular website to learn the where of shared-shared office space.
How Far Would You Ride For A Stranger?
February 19, 2010
Texas 4000 is a nonprofit organization started here in Austin, Texas in 2004 by a University of Texas student, Chris Conduit. He wanted to give back to those fighting to find a cure for cancer. 
His goal was to raise money, spread hope and knowledge. So he started by organizing a bike ride from Austin to Anchorage, Alaska. A ride in which the distance totals more than 4000 miles. The group started with a little over 30 riders and now hosts 57 riders for the 2010 ride.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
February 17, 2010
Satisfaction Guaranteed.
What sort of emotion does that evoke in you? Well, it makes me think, “What have I got to lose?”
When I’m on the fence about making a decision, ‘satisfaction guaranteed’ usually makes me decide to move forward. In fact, I attended a money-back-guarantee-life-changing 5 day intense seminar only because I was sure it wasn’t going to work. I would pay my $1,500, attend the seminar, and then ask for my money back. Turns out that seminar was the best thing I ever did and I’ve never looked back.
Companies often ask for customer feedback.
No chance of snow
February 15, 2010
During the terrible blizzards rolling back to back on the east coast this last week, we sat here in Austin, Texas wondering how we could help. 
We have four centers located in Maryland, a couple of which were closed due to the storms and the days that we were able to open the centers it was difficult to get our team there from home. But somehow we were able to get at least one team member there to open the center.
None of my clients who officed with us here in Texas were affected so the only real affect it had on our day were the headlines coming through all the major stations and websites….Mid Atlantic Blizzard, DC Snowstorm, Washington Whiteout, 2010 Storm Emergency….
We sat and watched but didn’t have much of anything we could do to help.
Inside Snowmageddon
February 12, 2010
This past week, the East Coast experienced what is now being referred to as “Snowmageddon,” as an average total of 5 feet of snow fell on the area with two back-to-back storms. Most Maryland residents were stranded in their homes with, judging by the grocery store shelves, a hearty supply of milk, bread and toilet paper, waiting patiently (or not) for the county snow plow to come dig them out. Once the streets were cleared most were still stranded waiting for the beleaguered neighbor or contractor to come clear their driveway. Adding to the problem, was the fact that a number of these households also had child care issues as schools and daycares stayed closed throughout the week. Basically no one was going anywhere and most businesses were forced to close due to a lack of staff. Most of the BusinesSuites staff in the area had to deal with all of these issues and were unable to make it to work safely.
Pros and Cons of Shared Office Space
February 10, 2010
Officing in a shared work environment has its pros and cons. First, you get to work with a bunch of different types of people working in various industries often providing networking opportunities. Secondly, requirements to lease space are typically less restrictive than with conventional building landlords. Lease terms can be short term and flexible: they can range from one to twelve months depending on your needs and business projections. Finally, security deposits are one month’s fixed charges. Since many executive suite prospects are new companies starting out, they may not have the financial credit history that conventional landlords require.
The Tech Ripple Effect
February 8, 2010
We need a word for the phenomenon that occurs when one person checks their cell phone and others feel compelled to look at their cell phone too.
Just watch, next time you are in a doctor’s office or an elevator, when someone looks at their phone, if you aren’t busy checking yours, someone else will be busy checking theirs. What is that? Why does it happen? What can we call it? Chexting? Checking + Texting?
It’s a compulsion that I don’t understand. Is it that we’re so uncomfortable doing nothing that we have to appear to be busy? Is it easier to look at our phones than to exchange a few niceties with the other people on an elevator? I guess if you’re important enough to have to check your email RIGHT NOW, I am too!
Can you imagine in the “old days” if someone took their Smith Corona out to the car to write a letter to their boss on the way home from work? Ridiculous, I know, yet folks check their email and type/text away from anywhere now.
While we’re at it, we need a word to describe the act of walking and texting.
I see people texting or checking emails or whatever they are doing on their “phones” while walking in the mall, down the street, with kids, with dogs, alone.
What is Shared Office Space?
February 5, 2010
Shared office space — also known as an executive suite — is an office environment made up of private offices and shared common areas where different companies share one facility.
In executive office space, available services range from use of conference rooms to access to fully furnished suites with a wide range of services in between. Entrepreneurs and regional salespeople use shared offices most often, but shared office space also works well for national and international corporations with local representatives, sole proprietors and growing legal practices.
Officing in a shared work environment has its pros and cons. First, you get to work with a bunch of different types of people working in various industries often providing networking opportunities. Secondly, requirements to lease space are typically less restrictive than with conventional building landlords.
Anatomy of a Difficult Decision
February 3, 2010
A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post about motivating teams in tough times. I stressed the importance of being open and direct in communicating bad news to your team members. I wanted to share our insight from a difficult conversation we had to communicate in the past year.
For example, last year, we closed an executive office suite location in Dallas. We knew when we announced it, there may be internal concerns about what this meant for our other locations. So, our approach was to communicate early, often, and clearly.
What it Really Means to be a Hero
February 1, 2010
During the holiday season it is fun to think of children and how this time of year generates happiness and excitement for them. What is hard to think about are children who are being treated for cancer, their loved ones and how they will be spending the holiday season. Our executive suite in Richmond recently partnered with Connor's Heroes, a Richmond, Virginia based organization that works to take care of these children year round.
Connor and his parents started Connor’s Heroes after Connor’s treatment for leukemia put him into remission. This family, after surviving a crisis, saw needs for others still fighting the battle and have worked hard meet those needs. Connor’s Heroes supports pediatric patients in treatment, their families and cancer research.
Getting More Than You Paid For
January 29, 2010
The holiday season is usually thought of as a time for gift giving—and getting. Gifts of toys, clothes, and electronics are given, received and re-gifted, but there are many other gifts that are given—and appreciated—even more.
Each year, our center has a Holiday luncheon for our clients. In the past, we tried to choose different menus and caterers for each event. Not any more. We have had such positive experiences with Jay's Catering in Baltimore that we’ve used them for the past two years and call on them for all of our year round catering needs.
Austin Is An Onion
January 27, 2010
Austin’s an Onion
Some say Austin is the Music Capital of the World; some call Austin “Silicon Hills,” and some would just prefer to Keep Austin Weird: between our love for up-and-coming bands, our fierce technology sector, and the desire to keep business local, Austin is a pretty diverse city.
There is more to Austin than its popular catch phrase names. I have lived in Austin for 10 years, yet as I peel away a new layer each year, there is a new place to discover. The latest place is Krause Springs, a privately-owned recreation park just 30 miles from the city center.
Here you will find 115 acres of breath-taking rolling hills and 32 natural springs on the property. The Krauses’, both Teri and Mr.
The American Red Cross My Charity for Life
January 27, 2010
There are a few basics in life that I feel everyone should have, a place to sleep and food to eat. After researching some charitable organizations (my co-workers and I decided to forego a holiday dinner together and to donate the proceeds to charity), I felt gladdened and saddened at the same time. I am happy to see so many organizations dedicated to helping so many people, but also saddened that still we have so many people that do not have these life essentials.
I have only experienced being without the normal creature comforts once in my life. Hurricane Ike left my husband and me without electricity for 8 days, in the midst of a Texas summer, and without clean water for a number of days. We went every morning to stand in long lines outside a local grocery store (that thankfully had flown in employees from out of town so their own employees could take care of their own families- thank you so much HEB) for essentials such as ice, water and food for ourselves and for both our elderly parents who were without electricity.
Getting More from Giving Back
January 27, 2010
When we were asked this summer to pick out a charity to sponsor it sounded easy at first: Choose a worthwhile organization, hold a fundraiser and be done.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
There are so many organizations to choose from and just as many ways to support them. Researching charitable organizations for a good fit is the key to building a successful relationship. You want to be sure the organization you choose has needs that fit what your team is able to provide so ask for input from team members.
Arrange for you and your team to visit with key people in the organization to see where your team, resources and abilities will fit the best.
Motivating Teams in Tough Times
January 22, 2010
Earlier this week I wrote a piece about a survey indicating job satisfaction was on the decline for US workers. Our approach to dealing with the strong negative external forces over the past eighteen months has been to focus on supporting team member morale. So, knowing that economic conditions, news stories, and personal financial situations weigh heavily on everyone, we have tried to filter our actions based on what will improve, support, or, at least, not dent the morale of our teams.
Are we always successful in doing this? No, of course not. We've made our share of missteps. Is there risk in doing this? Sure, if you soften everything or avoid difficult decisions or conversations you will do more damage than good in the long run.
Protecting Your Vested Interest, Part II
January 20, 2010
In my last post, I suggested that as small business owners (and someone vested in your own success), you are more qualified to oversee, review and protect your own accounting than you may think. Now, I’ll tell you how.
o Receive (or log in) and review your bank statements every month, including copies of your cancelled checks.
o Require that your bookkeeper take time off. (Thefts are often discovered when someone else steps in to cover a bookkeeper’s absence.)
o Pay attention to indications that your bookkeeper is under personal financial stress (or engaging in surprising levels of conspicuous consumption) and adjust your level of oversight accordingly.
Protecting Your Vested Interest, Part I
January 18, 2010
Stories about embezzlement by the trusted employee of a small business appear regularly in the news. They inevitably read as narratives of intimate betrayals in the lives of otherwise “regular people,” often sole practitioners or small family businesses who recount years of employment, trust and affection for an embezzling bookkeeper before the crime was discovered.
I find it interesting that the modus operandi of the embezzlers are rarely that clever. Left without any oversight of their bookkeeping activities, many simply write themselves checks or divert customer payments to their own accounts. It would not have required a professional audit or any fancy forensic accounting investigation to catch these thefts. Something as simple as the business owner looking at the bank statements each month would have uncovered them, or prevented them in the first place.
Job Satisfaction on the Decline
January 15, 2010
The Conference Board recently released its annual job satisfaction index which showed American job satisfaction at its lowest level since the survey began 22 years ago. According to the survey, the evidence of this decline includes the following:
- 51% find their jobs interesting versus 70% in 1987.
- 43% said they feel secure in their jobs versus 59% in 1987.
- 56% said they like their co-workers versus 68% in 1987.
- 51% said they are satisfied with their boss versus 60% in 1987.
Typically, people spend more of their waking hours every week on the job with their co-workers than they do with their families.
Applying For a Job 101
January 14, 2010
These days, there is a lot of good advice “out there” for job seekers trying to stand out in the tsunami of resumes being received by recruiters. I review resumes for my company. Some days, I work my way through an inbox that contains 100+ in a sitting. I say “work my way through” because I’m not actually reading them. I’m scanning. And while my scanning routine is no doubt different than the next recruiter’s, I’ll share my process for what it’s worth in the way of job seeking insight.
Generation Y and the Workplace
January 12, 2010
What kind of work environment will most Generation Yers (born from 1980 onwards) prefer? This is an interesting topic and one that many companies should consider when making future long term office plans. If you are trying to attract the best of the best coming out of college, you will need to take their preferences into consideration.
According to an article by Marie Puybaraud’ and Ruth Munz from Oxygenz*, Gen Yers prefer:
1. Bright, light and open working environments
2. Modern and contemporary interior
3. Open team spaces rather then a conventional meeting room
They would also prefer a flexible schedule so they can work when they need do and design their own schedule to spend the most efficient time doing what they need/want to do.
Corporate Team Runs a Center for the Day
January 7, 2010
Corporate runs BusinesSuites Sugar Creek for the day. Why, you might ask. Sugar Creek was the winner of a company wide contest. If they won, they got to spend the day at the spa and our corporate officers would show up to run the center. Interesting enough, Yanett decided to make it a little contest out of it. Men versus the women, survivor style.
Just Say No
January 5, 2010
As a sales person, I encourage people to make and share decisions. When it comes to providing services, any answer, yes, no or maybe, are all acceptable answers. I don’t take it personally and in the end I really just want the answer. Of course a yes is outstanding. I’ve sold something and that always pumps up the synergy around the office, but even a no is better than no answer at all.
At home I tend to be a fanatic about putting things in their place.
Do What You Love, Part II
January 2, 2010
I wrote an earlier post about a well-educated guy who left a successful corporate life to pursue what he loves creating and selling art.
A recent WSJ piece takes a look at the value of a college diploma, noting that, this year, the percentage of college students willing to borrow money to fund a college degree dropped from 67% to 53% over the past couple of years, according to Sallie Mae.
The WSJ article goes on to talk about the ongoing debate of pursuing a liberal arts education to help you think versus a technical or trade oriented degree like engineering or business to help you get a job. It also brings up the merits of the networking potential in an Ivy League school versus the anonymity of a large state school. But, the most interesting comment, as it relates to the ultimate success of students, is this:
"What matters more, it seems, is graduates' personal drive. In a surprising twist, a stronger predictor of income is the caliber of the schools that reject you.
Customer Service WOW
December 31, 2009
I love to share great ideas about customer service when I come across them. I recently decided to change up my hairdresser. Like many women out there, this is terrifying. The same feelings come to mind when I have had to break up with a boyfriend. Not only just emotional feelings but more importantly self esteem feelings. The better the cut the better the attitude!
To start out I was greeted by a nice receptionist…pretty normal for a salon but they kicked it up a notch and also gave me a present.
Austin Among Best Performing U.S. Metros
December 22, 2009
"The recession is very likely over at this point," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said last week. But he also added, "It's still going to feel like a very weak economy for some time."
Here is a list of a few economic indicators recently published by the Brookings Institution of how Austin will be one of the first metros to recover from the recession.
1. Differences in economic performance among metropolitan areas remained stark.
2.
Volunteering 101
December 19, 2009
For over 35 years, Project Plase has strived to serve the varied needs of Baltimore’s diverse homeless population. Offering transitional housing, mental health services, medical care, GED classes, job placement services, and more, they offer a “holistic” approach dealing with the specific needs of the individual.
According to Andy Dubosky, Director of Communications and Development, Project Plase does not believe handing someone the keys to a new home ends homelessness. The volunteers and employees of Project Plase endeavor to help their clients re-acclimate into society.
They have transitional and longer term housing for their clients, job services, laundry, on-site mental health professionals, medical staff, and enrichment classes like yoga.
How can we help?
As a team, the BusinesSuites Harborplace team has our strengths.
Day 2 At Your New Office
December 18, 2009
When most people think of an executive office suite, they think of a desk, a chair, four walls, a door, and maybe a window. As you know by now, there is really so much more that goes along with it. At Town Center, clients can “build” their own packages including everything from long distance plans to advanced technical support.
So, your degrees and certificates are hung, your new business cards are printed, and your letterhead is ordered. What's left to do? Actually, there are few more things, but we can help you take care of them while you get to work.
Have you thought about a professional email address? Your BusinesSuites Town Center team can set one up for you and send emails to tell everyone the good news about your new office.
The First Day at Your New Office
December 17, 2009
You’ve done it. A prestigious address, a private office, a professional receptionist and all the other goodies, so what else could you possibly need to do?
Well, now you’ll need to order business cards, send out letters to current and prospective clients, emails to colleagues, updates on Twitter. You have to move all of your stuff to your new office, unpack, hook up your computer, find time to sleep and manage to get some work done.
How will you ever do it all?
Relax, you won’t have to.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, sole proprietor, or the local branch for a national company, in shared office space, your support team is there to make your transition as easy, smooth, and successful as possible.
Competent, professional administrative staff is one of the perks of being in shared office space.
Columbia/Ellicott City, MD
December 16, 2009
I moved to Maryland 5 years ago from Texas. I have had the opportunity to work and live in the Columbia/Ellicott City area for much of this time. Little did I know when I moved here, that I moved to one of the “best places to live” as noted by Money Magazine. The Columbia area has been ranked for several years based on their schools, average household income, housing, crime, leisure and culture, weather, and health. Columbia is a master planned community developed by The Rouse Company and it is 10 residential villages around a Town Center. The sprawling Columbia Mall is located in the Town Center along with several commercial buildings.
Field Day 2009
December 14, 2009
For our 2009 Center Manager Conference in Austin, Texas we had a friendly yet very competitive field day event. We separated our company by region and played good ole' fashion games like potato sack race, water balloon toss, and human wheel barrel. Check out our video:
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Phone Bill Cramming
December 13, 2009
It pays to read your phone bill carefully. If you have a "land line" for your home or business, you could end up with charges on your bill for services you never ordered. This is called "cramming." I was happy to see David Segal take up this problem in his Sunday New York Times column The Haggler. At BusinesSuites, we spend up to an hour each month calling mysterious companies that have added charges to our phone bills from AT&T. Like Trudi who wrote in to The Haggler, our charges are from Enhanced Billing Services, Inc.
The 'Me' in Community
December 11, 2009
Recently, I got a letter that my son’s school failed the state test. Not a state test, the state test: the Maryland State Assessment Test (MSA). The test that decides funding, staffing, academic performance: the test. It’s the school's report card measuring how the teachers and students match up against state requirements and against other schools.
Each year, my children perform well, very well to be precise. Some years their schools do not.
On Craigs List
December 9, 2009
After four years of avoiding the topic, I finally decided to give in to my children’s requests for a puppy.
Like many 2009 families, we searched virtually everywhere—online SPCA sites, local shelter blogs, and Craig’s List.
The SPCA, Humane Society and other local shelters have history and reputation to justify my paying around $200 to adopt a dog. They provide shots, medical attention, and typically spay or neuter the pet. Still, I know some of these dogs come with complicated histories of abuse, neglect and other medical and/or emotional problems.
Craig’s List pets would be different, I imagined.
West End Food Drive
December 8, 2009
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There are no presents to give and no pressure to spend money. It is just a time to spend time with the people you love, give thanks for what you have, and of course eat dinner together.
With the economy the way it is, and more people now without jobs, there are more people in our area at risk of not having dinner, let alone a thanksgiving dinner. It being my favorite holiday, I just couldn’t stomach that. So we decided to have a food drive.
Manic (Sales) Mondays
December 7, 2009
We regularly analyze various bits of our sales and marketing data and recently tested our data to see which day of the week produced the most sales leads for BusinesSuites. Based on anecdotal data, we had guessed that Tuesday or Wednesday would have been the most active day for new leads. Our thoughts were that Mondays were days when people were getting caught up in the office or sitting in departmental meetings. The winner was Monday with almost 23% of leads. The numbers trailed off from there: 21%, 20%, 19%, and 16% on the rest of the week days, respectively.
Interestingly, this study from Accountemps shows that executives consistently believe that Tuesday is the most productive day of the week by a large margin.
Will Wal-Mart's Deep Discounting Backfire?
December 3, 2009
Wal-Mart is at it again. Last month, I discussed Wal-Mart's deep discounting of hard cover books in a blog post. Then, Wal-Mart announced heavy discounting of popular DVDs. This time, Wal-Mart is taking aim at video games by discounting a group of popular titles by about $10 each. This is in a market where most big retailers' prices are closely aligned.
Wal-Mart has built a business model on everyday low prices with its "Always the Low Price.
Holiday Parties Like It's 2009
December 2, 2009
It's the holiday season in the workplace, when thoughts of office parties, gift exchanges, and year-end bonuses fill the air. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal featured a piece called "Rethinking Holiday Perks" which detailed how some small companies are dealing with these year end traditions in an era of tight budgets.
The article quotes an American Express survey that only 31% of business owners plan to give year-end bonuses (down from 44% last year) and only 16% will give raises in the next year (down from 30% last year). Twenty-five percent of respondents eliminated employee and client gifts.
The trend here is interesting and not likely to change once the economy recovers, in my opinion. I think the current economic challenges are likely to help people realize what they need and value and what they can live without.
White Elephant Gift Ideas
December 1, 2009
White Elephant Gift Giving Guide For Your 2009 Office Holiday Party
1. Snuggie in a new fabric color or buy a robe and stick it in a snuggie box. When they open it tell them to put it on backwards. Tada, a snuggie!
2. Any sort of Christmas song singing robot/snowman. These are always one of the most sought after gifts.
Luck or Skill?
November 30, 2009
Bad luck. We blame bad luck for many things in life like accidents, poor timing, worthless lottery tickets, and losing a big hand at the blackjack table. Do we give luck the same credit on the upside? Or, do we take credit and pat ourselves on the back for our brilliant timing, expert situational assessments, and well-calculated and timed decisions.
The Persistence Project is led by Andrew Henderson, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and Mumtaz Ahmed and Michael Raynor from Deloitte Consulting. Their project was recently highlighted in the Wall Street Journal which motivated me to read their postings. It's a project that is a work in progress, and they are adding a unique twist on their research by posting elements of their research and positions to encourage online feedback from bloggers, analysts, and other interested parties.
Newsletter Vitality
November 25, 2009
It seems that many companies find the need to do a newsletter as a way to provide either informative or interesting content for their employees or clients. It's also a common practice for marketing departments for branding purposes; to create "awareness." 
But when do you cross the line into feeding more junk mail to employees and clients? I recently spoke with a marketing director of a financial company based in San Antonio, Texas and here are her comments:
"If you have nothing to say, don’t say it. That’s my motto. Don’t show up at a client’s email doorstep with a blank look on your face..
The New News
November 23, 2009
Newspapers are dying—or so I hear. In staggering numbers, newsroom staff is being drastically cut. Revenue decreases and cost increases make more lay offs, closures, buy outs and mergers likely.
Still, despite the predictions, premonitions and premature obituaries, to say they are dying may not be appropriate, to say they are evolving is.
Like almost everyone else--online and offline--newspapers are actively researching ways to make money off of the news. Today, most major newspapers have a strong online presence delivering the news in conversations people are consuming.
Cubicles vs. Offices
November 20, 2009
Interesting piece in a recent Houston Chronicle about how energy companies like Chevron are reversing one of the major officing trends of the past 30 years: they are moving employees from cubicles back into private offices. Chevron, which bought a former Enron building in downtown Houston, is converting 20 of its 40 stories from cubicles to enclosed offices. Reasons given for the change of heart are (a) different working styles for different people and (b) productivity improvements.
While I do beleive most people get a productivity boost out of being in a collaborative environment, "collaboration" and community mean different things to different people. For some, it means the ability to walk out of your office and chat with peers, while others thrive on the constant din of a an open space.
Also, it seems companies are realizing that there is a limit to the "savings" you can generate from squeezing as many people as possible into as small a space as possible.
Meeting Michael Dell
November 19, 2009
As many of you who follow our company already know, BusinesSuites has been honored as the 2009 U.S. winner of the Dell Small Business Excellence Award. Last week, we claimed part of our prize: spending two days at Dell visiting with experts from various parts of the Company. We had a jam packed agenda including discussions of pricing, promotion, talent acquisition and retention, search engine optimization, online strategy, and client loyalty. The presentations were insightful; the presenters were honest in sharing their expertise and experiences with us.
Our two days was capped with a private meeting with Michael Dell where we had the opportunity to ask questions about his experiences and issues facing our businesses. One of the most interesting comments he made came on the topic of culture where he explained that the culture at Dell is focused on change and improvement.
What's Included in that Price?
November 18, 2009
I grew up around cars. My dad was raised in Michigan where his dad worked for Ford. My dad has always bought, repaired, and sold cars as a hobby, and I helped him from the ages of 10-18. One of my favorite summer jobs was working at an auto parts store.
I've always enjoyed listening to Click & Clack, the "Car Talk" guys, on NPR whenever I have the chance, and typically read their weekend syndicated columns in the newspaper. The aftermarket auto industry is a $150+ billion business, but it's opaque to the average consumer, who doesn't typically have the knowledge to question a mechanic's recommendations or pricing, especially when he/she needs their car repaired to get to work tomorrow.
Get to the Point
November 16, 2009
I came across a great story in a book I’m reading called Perfect Pitch by Jon Steel that underscores how simplicity sells. The author is a long-time ad agency pitchman who describes a meeting he had at Apple Computer soon after Steve Jobs returned in 1997. Jobs was looking to reposition Apple, and Steele’s firm was bidding on the business. When Steele and a partner arrived at Apple for a briefing, two marketing types ushered them in a room and showed them a long and very detailed PowerPoint presentation. When Jobs arrived almost two hours late, he said “I’m sure what they told you was @$%#.” In the next few minutes, he proceeded to map out on a whiteboard with some simple words and boxes exactly how he was going to save the company.
Get a Real Address
November 12, 2009
Local Business Listings in Google search results has become a very good source of lead generation for us as a company. For one thing it comes at the top of the results page when you are searching Google organically, and it also catches your eye with the map. These placeholders on Google search results are coveted positions. Everyone wants their business to show up on the top of Google and there are thousands of people trying to predict and solve the mysterious code behind Google's algorithms. 
I just attended Pubcon in Las Vegas November 9-12 and several SEO experts recommended that companies should get a professional mailing address, not just a PO Box. These experts experienced Google de-valuing a business with just a PO Box…it’s too obvious that they work from home so Google won’t give credit for just a PO Box address somewhere.
Restructuring for Success
November 10, 2009
Each day we tell prospective clients that flexibility is one of the benefits of shared office space.
“The option of short term agreements allows your business to respond to changes in the market,” says Center Manager, Jean Reed. “Your space, your plan, your terms can expand as your company grows, or be restructured according to your needs.”
While prospects seem to appreciate the flexibility, no one wants to think about restructuring due to downsizing, profitability, or the market.
But planning for restructuring is also planning for success.
BusinesSuites plans to restructure.
Facebook to Replace High School Reunions
November 8, 2009
I was very uncertain about Facebook when it came out. After many people told me to get on I still opposed joining the group. I felt Facebook crossed my personal boundaries and only facilitated a group of old high school acquaintances to keep tabs on each other.
Then I realized my 10 year high school reunion was coming up and I had no clue when and where it was. A friend who was on Facebook said all the info was on Facebook so I had to join now. I had the same apprehensions about going to my reunion as I did about joining Facebook.
Do What You Love
November 7, 2009
A while back, my family and I stopped by an area store and gallery called Solstice Gardens owned and operated by Chris Smartt, the father of one of my son's classmates. In the gallery and on the grounds are an eclectic mix of paintings, sculpture, and metal and concrete creations; it's the kind of place that fits right into the Austin scene. If you're looking for a large one-of-a-kind sculpture of a spaceship for your yard, Solstice is your place. Chris has one and it's fully lit!
This was my first time to meet Chris; I was expecting to meet a free-spirited artist-type. So, I was surprised to learn that Chris is a former beverage industry marketing executive who sought refuge from corporate life in Dallas and had always dreamed of pursuing a career in art. Here's a guy who had a successful corporate career, yet he and his wife moved their family to Austin and opened Solstice a couple of years ago.
Practice What You Preach
November 5, 2009
Those of you who know me know that I love Southwest Airlines and fly them almost exclusively.
One of the things I love about Southwest is encapsulated in this quote from Southwest founder Herb Kelleher: "I always felt people come first. If you treat (employees) right, they will treat customers right and people will come back, and shareholders are happy."
On a recent flight back to Austin, I spotted Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest. He chatted with some customers and spent the rest of the flight in the galley and cockpit chatting with the Southwest team members. It seemed like he had a comfortable relationship with everyone, not one where he was above them or better than them.
Rankings
November 3, 2009
Relocation.com announced last month that Austin is the nation’s top city to relocate to based on four criteria: “city 'popularity' based on consumer requests for moving quotes to move to that city; economic-growth prospects; home affordability; and the strength of a community as reflected by volunteerism rates.” This is an interesting combination of data used for determining what a fresh start looks like in a new city. Sounds like their last city gave them nothing but grief so they had to get up and move away.
Other notable rankings found on Wikipedia.com:
No. 2 Best Big City in "Best Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2006
No. 3 in 2009, also the "Greenest City in America" by MSN.
The Business of Information
October 26, 2009
"I’d like to speak to the person in charge of..."
It seldom matters what follows next, the person in charge of making telephone decisions for the business, the person responsible for paying the gas and electric for the business, the person in charge of making the decisions for the business—my response is typically the same.
Usually, the only one I respond to is "I’d like to speak to the president of the company." But my response: "Have your company’s president call my company’s president," is seldom appreciated.
Springtime Blues
October 22, 2009
BusinesSuites Westlake, located in the southwest area of Austin, Texas is not only known to be a peaceful oasis to the hustle and bustle of Downtown Austin, but it is also breeds the most beautiful bluebonnets in the spring. The sea of bluebonnets and natural wildflowers on the side of the highway becomes the backdrop for dozens of family photos. You see cars stopped up and down Hwy 360 placing their small children in a patch of wild flowers to snap the classic “Texas in Springtime” photo. For those who think Texas is a cement parking lot, I ask that they take a trip down Hwy 360 during a sunny day in May.
These precious flowers are untouched and cherished by all Austinites. It’s been a legacy passed down from Lady Bird Johnson and her quest to keep America Beautiful.
More Valuable than Money
October 19, 2009
Recently, BusinesSuites Chasewood team organized a center-wide raffle to benefit the Houston Food Bank.
About fifteen years ago, Alice Blue, the team’s center manager, co-ran a food bank from an Alvin church in the Houston area. Today, working and living on another side of Houston, Alice is active in the business community and anxious to get back involved in the business of giving.
This summer, Kroger’s supermarket announced their program to match donations to the Houston Food Bank. Alice knows that programs like the Houston Food Bank’s Back Pack Buddy Club—a program that strives to provide children who receive free and reduced lunch with snacks and food to supplement meals they may not receive over the weekend—needs support from traditional and nontraditional sources.
But, she knows her center.
Is the Window Office Worth It?
October 11, 2009
It is worth the extra bucks for a window office.
I started researching whether an office with a view is better for workers or if the view becomes a distraction therefore should be avoided. I found some interesting facts: 
When you choose an office with a view, thereby absorbing natural sunlight, you are increasing the production of serotonin which helps with mood and sleep. A good mood means a plus for your company.
Vitamin D is found in natural light which is good for fighting diseases therefore making you less likely to get sick. Less days at home sick.
Consider the Source: FTC Updates Timeless Advice
October 9, 2009
I have always been leery of reviews.
Books, movies, companies, merchandise, what ever the product or service, I seldom trust testimonials, endorsements, or personal statements unless I respect the source.
A quick search of most products or services will pull up the product, its competition, client testimonials and customer reviews.
It should be universally understood that information provided by the manufacturer and/or provider and its competition is biased.
Word-of-mouth is just as powerful today as it was yesterday.
Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and the thousands of services in between, rely on the premise of networks and the sharing of information.
Why Do We Do Things That Aren’t Good For Us?
October 6, 2009
An article in today’s WSJ noted that the share of compact fluorescent bulbs as a percentage of total light bulb sales actually decreased last year, even though experts and the public are well aware of the cost benefits of using compact fluorescents versus incandescent (traditional filament-type) bulbs.
The math behind the incandescent versus compact fluorescent decision is incredibly compelling. The return on investment (measured by an internal rate of return) for buying a compact fluorescent bulb versus an incandescent bulb is a staggering 150% and some studies show returns of 250% and more. So, if we look at this from a business perspective, if we went to our shareholders and told them we were passing up on an opportunity to generate a rate of return in excess of 150%, we’d be fired, right? Why doesn’t this apply to our personal lives?
The WSJ quotes a Dallas resident reaching for a package of incadescent bulbs at a local Wal-Mart who said, "I buy the cheap ones. They may not be cheap in the long run, but they're cheap for what I have in my purse now."
We make a lot of decisions day to day where we know they are cheap for what we "have in our purse now," but not "cheap in the long run.
Big Versus Small Companies
October 6, 2009
Much is written about what it's like to run a big company versus a small company, or what it takes to be successful in either, or even whether or not people are inherently suited to be more or less successful at a larger or smaller company.
I started my professional career as a commercial lender at a large national bank, but I've spent the last 13 years of my career at smaller firms (less than 100 employees).
Today, I spent a couple hours at Dell visiting with Erik Dithmer and his managers from the Small & Mid-Sized Business Division in the Americas. Ronnie Bulanek, our head of technology, and I were invited to meet with them since BusinesSuites is the US winner of the Dell Small Business Excellence Award.
As it turns out, they wanted to pick our brains a bit as a member of their target audience (SMBs) and as a service provider to that target audience. Approximately 60% of BusinesSuites' clients are SMBs.
Green Dominos
October 5, 2009
Although we don’t promote this part of our business often, we should promote it more. We are a GREEN office environment!
Here are a couple of ways we stay green:
1. Use recycled paper in the copier.
2. Use a vendor who can recycle almost anything: toner, CDs, ink cartridges, paper, cans, glass, plastic, etc. Yes, we pay to have it done but the cost is well worth it and our clients enjoy the fact that recycling is available for them to use.
Who Will be the Wal-Mart of the Web?
October 2, 2009
According to a WSJ piece today, Wal-Mart announced yesterday that it will be selling 10 hot hardcover books for $10 each. Amazon.com quickly matched the deal, so Wal-Mart lowered the price to $9. The WSJ estimates Wal-Mart is losing $5.00-$7.50 per book, not including the cost of the free shipping it offers on this deal.
BusinesSuites Wins!
September 30, 2009
Today, BusinesSuites was selected as the US winner of the Dell Small Business Excellence Award. This is a huge honor for me and all of our team members, and we appreciate the recognition.
I encourage other businesses to compete for awards that are of interest. The greatest benefit is the process you go through to apply: reviewing the application and sitting down to look through numbers, write essays, and talk to your team about examples and lessons learned causes you to reflect on the successes and failures of your business. You learn a lot from these successes and failures (especially the failures).
This is my favorite part of Dell's announcement about why we were selected as the winner: "It was this strong focus on hands-on customer service backed by innovative technology that set BusinesSuites apart from the record breaking 3,000 applicants for the 2009 Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award.
About the BusinesSuites Community Blog
Members of the BusinesSuites community write about things that affect our communities and the people and environments that make them special and unique.
Every community, whether a family, business, or neighborhood, is unique based on its environment and the people who make it up. While our services relate to office space and services, what our clients are really seeking are work environments where they can relate to people.
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The authors and contributors are all BusinesSuites team members who share their thoughts, observations, personal experiences, and analysis of their communities and the people and environments that make them unique.
Authors
Yvonne Battle-Felton
Owings Mills, Maryland
Nancy Brown
Austin, Texas
John Jordan
Austin, Texas
Connie Shortes
Austin, Texas
Heather Younger
Austin, Texas