I'm doing a survey to help me develop a one-day Boot Camp to help business owners de-mystify the insurance process. By completing this survey, you will help me make the Boot Camp valuable to you and other business owners. You will receive a 20% discount to my next Boot Camp if you participate in this survey. To take this 6-question survey, click on the link:
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB227GUBGGJJL
It should take less than 5 minutes. Thank you for your help!
Dan
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Are you a blogger? Maybe you need insurance!
I recently read a great article from my friend Scott Simmonds. It's about the need for insurance if you are a blogger...either as a business or just for fun.
To read it, click here..
Dan
To read it, click here..
Dan
Happy Valentines Day
Last night, I spent a good portion of my evening working on my Rotary Auction project as I'm the chair of the committee. I came upstairs, bleery-eyed after a couple of hours of working...ready to hit the stack.
My wife Barb was sitting on the coach waiting for me and asked, "Dan, do you know what tomorrow is?"
My reply - "Thursday."
Her facetious response was fitting - "Boy, did I marry the most romantic guy!"
Whoops.
Happy Valentines Day to everyone, especially Barb!
Dan
P.S. Speaking of my auction, you can help support our cause regardless of where you live. We are doing an online auction starting March 4 and running through April 18. To donate an item or register to bid, go to http://poulsborotary.cmarket.com. Help us make a difference in the lives of millions.
My wife Barb was sitting on the coach waiting for me and asked, "Dan, do you know what tomorrow is?"
My reply - "Thursday."
Her facetious response was fitting - "Boy, did I marry the most romantic guy!"
Whoops.
Happy Valentines Day to everyone, especially Barb!
Dan
P.S. Speaking of my auction, you can help support our cause regardless of where you live. We are doing an online auction starting March 4 and running through April 18. To donate an item or register to bid, go to http://poulsborotary.cmarket.com. Help us make a difference in the lives of millions.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Lights Out!
I was driving home from the airport last night when I was pulled over by a state trooper right around midnight. I knew I wasn't speeding, so I was anxious to hear why he stopped me. Turned out I had a headlight out.
The funny thing is he made me get out of the car with all my paperowrk, walk back to his patrol car, and answer questions at that spot. He was a nice guy, but his line of questioning was very strange for a headlight stop.
I was coming back from Las Vegas where I had been to a class. He inquired about everything from what airline I flew, to where I stayed, to why was in Vegas, to did I check luggage, and what did I do for a living. Finally, after the long line of questioning, he was kind enough to show me which light was out.
I would have normally been angry, but I have heard that the police will often do extra investigative work on headlight stops. It turns out the average criminal often doesn't take care of details like broken headlights and they catch many a villian this way. We'll see how good insurance consultants are at it, or if there is a parallel with the criminal mind!
Good thing I knew all the right answers and I got to go on my way with only a slight annoyance. Guess I need to get that light fixed now...
Dan
The funny thing is he made me get out of the car with all my paperowrk, walk back to his patrol car, and answer questions at that spot. He was a nice guy, but his line of questioning was very strange for a headlight stop.
I was coming back from Las Vegas where I had been to a class. He inquired about everything from what airline I flew, to where I stayed, to why was in Vegas, to did I check luggage, and what did I do for a living. Finally, after the long line of questioning, he was kind enough to show me which light was out.
I would have normally been angry, but I have heard that the police will often do extra investigative work on headlight stops. It turns out the average criminal often doesn't take care of details like broken headlights and they catch many a villian this way. We'll see how good insurance consultants are at it, or if there is a parallel with the criminal mind!
Good thing I knew all the right answers and I got to go on my way with only a slight annoyance. Guess I need to get that light fixed now...
Dan
Monday, January 28, 2008
Data Backup
Backing up your data has become more important than ever in this technological business world. It's an issue I constantly discuss with my clients. Of course, I need to practice what I preach so I'm always looking for more efficient and inexpensive ways to do this.
My friend and mentor Scott Simmonds has devoted two recent blog posts about data backup. You can read his blogs by clicking here. He mentions a new service he has been using that's Internet based and costs only $50 per year. I'm interested, especially with a free 30-day trial. I know what my homework tonight is going to be!
Make sure you are doing all you can to protect your valuable computer media. In the end, it's far more valuable than the hardware.
Dan
P.S. If you live in the Greater Seattle area, you have the opportunity to take part in my next live The Bull Stops Here workshop. It's all about disaster - how to avoid it and how to survive it. To learn more and to register, click here...
My friend and mentor Scott Simmonds has devoted two recent blog posts about data backup. You can read his blogs by clicking here. He mentions a new service he has been using that's Internet based and costs only $50 per year. I'm interested, especially with a free 30-day trial. I know what my homework tonight is going to be!
Make sure you are doing all you can to protect your valuable computer media. In the end, it's far more valuable than the hardware.
Dan
P.S. If you live in the Greater Seattle area, you have the opportunity to take part in my next live The Bull Stops Here workshop. It's all about disaster - how to avoid it and how to survive it. To learn more and to register, click here...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Breaking News on Fraud from KPS
I know many of my readers have their medical insurance through KPS, so I thought this may be important to you. Thanks to the Kitsap Business Journal for the breaking news...
BREAKING NEWS: KPS Health Plans WarnsAgainst Fraudulent Calls
Several KPS Health Plan members have reportedly received fraudulent or 'phishing' calls from someone claiming to work for the health plan. The caller asks for their personal information including address, credit card or bank account information.
The caller has a foreign accent and phones under the pretense of needing the personal information to possibly move the member to another plan or to send new identification cards.
KPS Health Plans does not call members to request personal or financial information in a "cold call" style. KPS only calls when information is required to complete an application. In this case, the interaction would have been initiated by the member.
"People should not give out personal information when they did not initiate the action for the call," said Carrie Williams, Director of KPS Member Services. "We are a local company with local customer service representatives. If you doubt the validity of the call, ask for the person's name and then call the KPS main switchboard and ask to be transferred to that person. KPS wants its members to guard their identity and be very cautious in giving out their personal information."
Any suspected health care fraud may be reported to the KPS Fraud Line at 800-552-7114, ext. 6891 or online at www.kpshealthplans.com.
BREAKING NEWS: KPS Health Plans WarnsAgainst Fraudulent Calls
Several KPS Health Plan members have reportedly received fraudulent or 'phishing' calls from someone claiming to work for the health plan. The caller asks for their personal information including address, credit card or bank account information.
The caller has a foreign accent and phones under the pretense of needing the personal information to possibly move the member to another plan or to send new identification cards.
KPS Health Plans does not call members to request personal or financial information in a "cold call" style. KPS only calls when information is required to complete an application. In this case, the interaction would have been initiated by the member.
"People should not give out personal information when they did not initiate the action for the call," said Carrie Williams, Director of KPS Member Services. "We are a local company with local customer service representatives. If you doubt the validity of the call, ask for the person's name and then call the KPS main switchboard and ask to be transferred to that person. KPS wants its members to guard their identity and be very cautious in giving out their personal information."
Any suspected health care fraud may be reported to the KPS Fraud Line at 800-552-7114, ext. 6891 or online at www.kpshealthplans.com.
Monday, January 21, 2008
How valuable is your time?
I once asked a client what he thought his time was worth. He answered without hesitation – “$300 per hour”. Okay. I can buy that. If your time was worth $300 per hour, how much money do you waste a day?
This was never more evident for me than this past week when I had a SNAFU with my e-mail. Seems I was “hijacked” and had a bunch of SPAM spewing from my e-mail out something I learned that is called “port 25”. Well, Comcast didn’t like that, so they shut down port 25. From Wednesday morning on, I could receive e-mail but not send from my Outlook. Big problem.
It would have been nice if Comcast would have advised me. I guess that would have been too easy. After all, how many hours could I have saved had I knew WHY I couldn’t send e-mails?
Fortunately, I had a member of my Toro Team help me get through this hurdle. Without his help, I would have wasted much more time.
As a business owner, your time is extremely valuable. Do you have time to waste on insurance issues? Uncovered claims, hidden costs of loss, and chasing down your agent are not good use of your time. You can protect that time by doing your homework upfront. Allocate time to properly analyze your policy interview agents, and get competitive quotes on a regular basis. You will save time, money, and frustration by doing your homework…before the disaster!
What’s your time worth?
Dan
P.S. One valuable way to spend your time is at my The Bull Stops Here workshop in Poulsbo, WA on March 5. You have the chance to walk away with strategies that will save you time and money in the event of a disaster OR help you avoid it in the first place. To learn more, click here…
This was never more evident for me than this past week when I had a SNAFU with my e-mail. Seems I was “hijacked” and had a bunch of SPAM spewing from my e-mail out something I learned that is called “port 25”. Well, Comcast didn’t like that, so they shut down port 25. From Wednesday morning on, I could receive e-mail but not send from my Outlook. Big problem.
It would have been nice if Comcast would have advised me. I guess that would have been too easy. After all, how many hours could I have saved had I knew WHY I couldn’t send e-mails?
Fortunately, I had a member of my Toro Team help me get through this hurdle. Without his help, I would have wasted much more time.
As a business owner, your time is extremely valuable. Do you have time to waste on insurance issues? Uncovered claims, hidden costs of loss, and chasing down your agent are not good use of your time. You can protect that time by doing your homework upfront. Allocate time to properly analyze your policy interview agents, and get competitive quotes on a regular basis. You will save time, money, and frustration by doing your homework…before the disaster!
What’s your time worth?
Dan
P.S. One valuable way to spend your time is at my The Bull Stops Here workshop in Poulsbo, WA on March 5. You have the chance to walk away with strategies that will save you time and money in the event of a disaster OR help you avoid it in the first place. To learn more, click here…
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