Money Saving Trick: Life Insurance Coverage

The NGA and WDDA have been working to find ways to save our members time and money this year and in the future.  This blog has several "Money Saving Tricks" announcing services that could help your businesses save money and serve your employees.  

We are pleased to announce a new service that will help give your employees peace of mind. Smart Life Insurance provides the most simple and fast way to get term life insurance.  Now NGA and WDDA members can help protect loved ones. 

Product Features and Benefits:

• $100,000 to $500,000 of protection non-medical
• 10, 15, 20 or 30-year terms
• Rated A Excellent (3rd Highest Rating of 16) by A.M. Best Company.
• No paperwork:  E-signature
• Flexible payment choices
• Fast. Easy. Simple
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Get up to $500,000 of term life insurance in less than a day*. No needles, nurses, or hassle - just a thorough health assessment. Get a Quote Today!

* The above benefits are subject to your qualifying for insurance coverage. 

So, you don’t have a strategic plan for 2011

So, you don’t have a strategic plan for 2011. Here are a few ideas to help you:

1. Set specific and measurable goals for 2011. Make sure you don’t establish too many because you need focus.  We always insist that our clients don’t exceed a maximum number of goals.
   
   
2. Make all employees accountable for achieving the goals by establishing employee objectives supporting the goals and make sure they are specific, measurable and time framed.
   
   
3. Monitor the results periodically throughout the year.
   
   
4. Link your performance appraisals, salary and incentive compensation to the company goals and employee objectives.

You’ll be amazed how sales and profits dramatically improve! This is actually a very simple process. Need help? We can help you get started.

Richard Voreis
Consulting Collaborative

The Shortest Distance

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. We all know that, but did you know that “laughter is the shortest distance between two people” (Victor Borge, 1909-2000)? Shortening the “distance” between you and your customers is crucial to helping them fulfill their needs. Sharing a genuine and heartfelt chuckle, when appropriate, can really warm up the relationship, enhance the overall tone of the interaction, and bring you and your customer closer together.

There is tremendous power in laughter. Human Beings are so-wired that we need to have fun and laugh and smile. In fact, we are hard-wired for this. It is a proven fact that just smiling, even when you don’t feel like doing so, will release a small amount of endorphins in the brain, the very chemical that causes us to feel good. Keep smiling long enough, and eventually you really do feel like smiling. Add laughter to that equation and look out, you’re feeling pretty great before you know it.

So, what if you are sharing smiles and laughter with another person? What happens when two people are simultaneously experiencing the sense of well-being that comes from laughing? Those two people draw closer together. Laughing together with another person strengthens bonds, including bonds that are brand new and just forming, and shortens the distance between them. They like each other more, trust each other more, and are more open to each other’s influence.

This applies in the world of business as much as any other part of life. I know we tend to think of business as “serious stuff” but business is all about relationships, and influence. We have more influence with those we are close to. We draw closer to those that make us feel good when we are around them. The distance is shortened significantly when we laugh and share good humor with one another. If they laugh with you, then they like you. People do business with people they like.

So, lighten things up. Have a laugh or two with your prospects, clients, and associates. I can’t think of a more enjoyable way to improve your business relationships and your influence with customers and others.

Kip Kint
ContactPoint Solutions NGA WDDA

Money Saving Trick: Roadside Assistance

Having car trouble during these winter storms?  With the NGA, WDDA, and Drive America, you can drive with confidence, no matter where your journey takes you.  We want to help you protect your company vehicles in 2011 and beyond.

With roadside protection, you will know you a team of experienced service associates with you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The 10% NGA membership rate is $71.95 per year - just $6.25 per month. The program includes:

• Basic Services:
• 24 hour towing up to your coverage allowance of $125 per member/per incident (up to your $125 per incident coverage)
• Battery Jump Start
• Flat Tire Changes
• Key Lockout Service
• Fuel Delivery (up to 2 gallons)

• Enhanced Services:
• Up to $1,000 emergency travel expense reimbursement (For incidents more than 100 miles from home)
• Up to $75 emergency transportation assistance
• Ambulance service reimbursement (not available to Texas Residents)
• $5,000 theft reward benefit
• Free trip planning
• Free maps
• Car rental discount

Find more information, and a complete list of benefits, enter the promo code NGA.

People Who Set Goals are Wealthy?!?

A recent Ziglar Weekly Newsletter article opened with this statement: “Studies tell us only 3% of people in the USA set goals, and they are among the wealthiest people in the nation!” Set Your Goals, Change Your Life & Celebrate!

So why don’t more people set goals and, more specifically, set goals for their companies?  There are many reasons including lack of knowledge of how to do so, discipline, understanding, belief and attitude to name a few.  

Do you have a corporate goals or a strategic plan for 2011?  Do you understand the strengths and weaknesses and opportunities and threats for your business? 

The basic goal-reaching principle is to understand that you go as far as you can see, and when you get there you will always be able to see farther.    ~Zig Ziglar

If you don’t have company goals for 2011, what’s your reason? 

Richard Voreis
Consulting Collaborative

Tax Credit FAQ

As you know, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 into law.  That law contained changes to the energy efficiency upgrade tax credit, including windows, skylights and exterior doors.

The Window & Door Dealer Alliance developed a FAQ based on information available as of December 23, 2010.

Please view the FAQ and share it with others in the industry: www.wddalliance.org/pdf/WDDA%20tax%20credit%20December%2020%202010.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Thanks for your support. 

David Walker
dwalker@glass.org or dwalker@wddalliance.org

RRP stakeholders Meeting hosted by EPA region IV

The WDDA would like to bring your attention to a Lead Paint Repair and Renovation (RRP) stakeholders meeting being hosted by EPA region IV and Florida Department  of Health on January 11th.  This meeting is to discuss Florida taking over authority for the RRP and abatement rules.  The EPA's meeting information is listed below.

Please join the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
for a Florida Stakeholder Feedback Session on the

Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

Tuesday January 11th
from 1-4pm at the

Betty Easley Conference Center
(room 180)

Located at 4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, FL  32399

For directions and information please call Ms. Liz Wilde at (404) 562-8998,
or Ms. Laura Gestaut at (850) 245-4444 X 2819

GMI Goes Online in 2011

Due to demand, we have decided to offer the NGA’s Glass Management Institute in an online, self-paced format more conducive to today's busy management schedules.

Beginning this month, students may participate in the GMI program by purchasing recordings of the 2010 sessions and going through the material at their own pace.  Students will receive the same top notch industry-specific training designed and created by leaders in the glass industry, without the need to work around the live webinar schedule.  To participate, visit MyGlassClass.com and create an account. Once you receive your log-in information, you may purchase the GMI bundle for just $595 (a $600 savings from last year's rate).

In addition, students who sign up by January 21, 2011 may participate in the kick-off conference call and receive the assignments needed to graduate.  For those interested in the standard "live" GMI experience, watch your Inbox and www.glass.org for announcements of our next session. 

The need for world-class management training is as urgent as ever.  GMI offers an outstanding -- and extremely convenient -- opportunity to expose your rising leaders to the best management practices in the industry.  We encourage you to sign-up before January 21 to get the mostfrom this important educational program.

Alyssa Kirkman
Sr. Manager, Association Services