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Archive for May, 2011

Marketing your Roofing Skills

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Any Salt Lake City Roofer knows that it’s a competitive market. In order to cut through all of the clutter of the other roofing contractors, you don’t necessarily have to spend lots of money on flashy advertising. Just follow these simple things to help you understand how you can gain a greater percent of the pie.

What is unique about you?
In a competitive market, the first thing you should look at is what do you offer that your competitors don’t. This could be a variety of things. Do you have a lower price point for your services? Do you offer excellent customer service? Do you complete your roofing projects on time? Do you have a specialty? Do you build a relationship with your clients? The list could go on and on. But, first start by looking inward to see what you have to offer.

What do your customers want?
The next step is to determine what your customers want or need from roofing contractors in Salt Lake City. This can be tricky to find a real answer to. When you are out working, talk to your customers and get their feedback. Find out what they liked about your services, what they didn’t like, and what they would change. Your customers are an invaluable resource to finding out the answer to this question.

Where do They Intersect?
Finally, you need to analyze where the unique service you offer intersects with their needs or wants and really speak to that in your advertising and marketing. If you can connect with them, they are more likely to remember your name when they are looking for a Salt Lake City roofer and give you a call.

It can be a competitive market out there. Get ahead of your competitors and get your name out there by first looking inward, then get a better understanding of your customers, and finally speak to them in a way that they will connect with.

Shingle Pro Roofing
Midvale, UT 84047
801-567-9093
shinglepro1@gmail.com

The History of LASIK

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

As the case in most things, you’d be surprised where the idea for LASIK eye surgery came from and where it has gone. LASIK didn’t just start out as the revolutionary surgery it is known as today, with the same benefits and life improvements. In fact, LASIK seems to have come in parts, just like most things, one step at a time.

A twist of fate that occurred in Russia in the 1970’s intrigued and led a Dr. Fyodorov to seriously study the potentials of better vision by shaving off a layer of the outer surface of the eye. A young boy had fallen and broke his glasses, cutting into his eye. What seemed like an unfortunate incident that would hurt the boy surprisingly made his vision increase greatly. The glasses had done very minimal damage, only shaving off a layer of the outer surface of his eye. Although Dr. Fyodorov published his work, it wasn’t until a group of American doctors with sufficient funding dove deeply into the matter that great results were produced.

Around 1960 a man named Dr. Jose Barraquer of Spain created an instrument that creates the corneal flap. This machine (the microkeratome instrument), is the first building block to modern day LASIK eye surgery. Much like other types of surgery, LASIK in Oakland has changed the way people are able to see. Being able to view the world without being behind frames that limit your vision is a joy that cannot properly be expressed.

While the first step for LASIK surgery was completed in the 1960’s, there was something more than needed to be innovated before the risk of this surgery could be quelled, along with the ease in which the surgery is performed. In 1990 an Italian and Greek doctor combined forces to create a technique within a procedure known as photo refractive keratectomy. This allowed a lower amount of complications that occur from this surgery and greater clarity in the corrective vision that is produced. While this also helped add another step towards modern day LASIK, it wasn’t until 1991 in which two American doctors performed the first LASIK surgery. Thus, a new laser surgery technique was developed which provided people with greater vision which allows people to live without glasses. LASIK in San Jose is becoming more and more efficient everyday.

Turner Eye Institute
420 Estudillo Avenue
San Leandro, CA 94577
Ph: (510) 614 – 1515

Walk it Off!

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

A lot of people think that to get in a good workout to lose weight, you have to either run for miles or go to a gym until you sweat through your clothes. I’m here to tell you that is far from the truth! As one who really doesn’t enjoy running and finds the gym overpriced and smelly, I’ve found a way to get in my exercise without having to make a huge lifestyle change. I believe your workout routine should fit your lifestyle and be enjoyable, not the other way around.

Over the past year, I have really seen the heath benefits of walking in my personal life. It is low impact, enjoyable, and gets me moving. As a college student, I didn’t have a car so I would walk to work which was about a 20 to 30 minute walk. Then, I would walk all over campus to go to class and then walk home once I was finished. In all, I probably walked an hour to an hour and a half every day. But, I never once thought about it as my daily workout when in all actuality it was. Occasionally I would go to the campus weight room with my sister on Saturday mornings, but other than that, I wouldn’t do any other exercising. In one semester, I dropped 15 pounds! Now that I’m graduated and have a 9 to 5 desk job, I can tell when I haven’t gone on a walk for a while because my body craves it.

Now that I am working and sitting for eight hours a day, probably like many of you, I have to get a bit more creative as to how I get my walking in. Here are some tips to help you make it part of your life, rather than having to schedule in a time in your already busy life.

  1. Look for Opportunities
    There are several opportunities throughout the day for you to get some extra steps in if you look for them. In fact, there are actually communities such as Utah’s Daybreak homes for saleDaybreak Townhomes which are designed in such a way to encourage residents to walk. Retail shops, restaurants, groceries stores, and even workplaces are built close enough to walk to. I say if it’s within a 15 minute’s walk, why not walk it?
  2. Make Use of Your Time
    We live in a fast paced world where people are always trying to get things done in the most efficient and quickest way so we can save time to do other things. But in all actuality, does that extra time actually get used for something good? I found that taking the extra time to walk to work made me more efficient throughout the day. It got me moving in the morning so I was more alert and the 20 minute walk was some good me time to think about things, plan the day, or just be alone with my own thoughts. If you get a free moment, go for a walk. Not only is it good for your body, but also your mind.
  3. Take a Look at Your Community
    There are many things that a community can offer you to help encourage you to get outside and be active. If you are able, you may consider looking into moving to an area with parks, trails, or even outdoor retail areas can help get you moving. As mentioned before, Daybreak Townhomes are designed to help get you out and about. Consider looking at Daybreak Utah homes for sale and take advantage of what they have to offer.

Getting in exercise and staying in shape doesn’t have to be difficult. Get creative and most importantly, do something you enjoy.

Sego Homes
11158 S. Kestrel Rise Rd.
South Jordan, UT 84095
Phone: 801-652-4424

Replacing Windows in Utah

Friday, May 27th, 2011

Owning a home can bring on some pretty big expenses. Along with those expenses are some big decisions. when planning a home improvement project there are many different factors such as budget, style, energy efficiency, etc. that needs to be factored into the equation. The following are some tips on what to consider for your Utah replacement windows project.

Consider Your Climate
Windows are some times referred to as the weak link in building. We need windows in our homes to let light in and to give us a view, however, they are not as good as keeping heat in and out of your home as a wall is. When considering your options in windows, you need to make sure they will work well in the climate in which you live. Utah has hot summers and cold winters so you will want something with a R-4 rating of energy efficiency. This means that it has a high heat transfer resistance so heat will not easily transfer from the warmer side of the window to the cooler side. This will keep the heat in your house during the winter and out of your house during the summer.

Consider Your Style
There are several different styles of windows to choose from and when your are looking to replace your windows, this choice really depends on your own personal preference. That being said, you may also want to consider what the window will be used for as well. Popular Utah windows are double hung windows, sliding windows and awning windows because of their functionality and ease to use. If you are looking for something more to frame a great view, consider bay or picture windows.

Consider Custom Made Windows
Custom made windows may initially be more expensive than standard sized windows, these are the best in the long run because you won’t have to pay the installer extra to do cosmetic work on the inside or outside of your home to make them fit. Also, custom made windows will be an exact fit which means better energy efficiency and lower heating and cooling costs for you.

Undertaking a Utah replacement windows project can be a bit overwhelming. However, if you do some research, talk to a good window installment company, and weight your options, it can be a positive experience and really make a difference in your home.

Valley Glass
26 East 800 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 534-1908

No Time Like Summer

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

I read a business book once that talked about how procrastination actually makes you work more efficiently because since you have procrastinated, you have a small amount of time to get something done so you work more quickly. This may be the case for certain tasks in a business, however when it comes to actually starting a business, procrastination will not be on your side. You can make up excuse after excuse as to why you haven’t started a business but in the end you will end up with wasted dreams. There is no time like the present to take action and this summer is no exception!

If you are just wanting to get your feet wet, or still trying to come up with your big idea for your business, you could start with something seasonal to get in some experience and teach you some lessons without having to invest your entire life savings. A popular, and successful summer business is selling snow cones.

Snow cones are liked by kids and adults just the same. During the late spring and through out the summer, you may notice these stand popping up around your community providing a simple solution to beat the heat. The following are some quick tips on how to get your snow cone business up and running for this summer:

  • Do Your Research
    When it comes to starting your own business you’ve got to do your research. Find out who your competitors are and keep in mind they may not be direct competitors selling snow cones. They could be selling ice cream, popsicles, or any other cool someone may buy instead of a snow cone. Next you will want to find out the costs of running your business. Find a snow cone machine vendor to draw up the cost of buying the equipment, ingredients, and materials. Figure out a good price point for your snow cones and determine where you will break even. Develop a business plan to keep you on track of your goals.
  • Market Yourself
    Many people forget this step or just rely on word of mouth. The old adage “You have to spend money to make money” is especially true when it comes to running a successful business. Marketing is important because it gives you a presence in the mind of your consumer. How can they do business with you if they don’t know that you exist? You can do some pretty creative things at a relatively low cost with online marketing, print marketing, guerrilla marketing, and radio marketing. Get creative and get your name out there!
  • Talk with your Vendors
    Your vendors can give you great ideas on how to market the product, how to use your snow cone machine, and help you to develop new products. Once you’ve built a relationship with them they could talk about better terms and offering better prices. If they see you as working with them, they could be a great resource in helping your snow cone business grow.
  • Be Positive
    You will have slow days and you will have busy days and that’s just the name of business. Staying positive is the number one way to help you overcome any hardships. It will help you to see possibility when roadblocks are put in the way. In addition, who wants to buy snow cones from someone with a scowl?

Whether you plan to have a snow cone business for years to come or just use it as a way to get your feet wet, follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to success.

Snowie Shaved Ice
1006 W. Beardsley Place
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
Phone (801)-268-2225
Fax (801)-268-1814
service@snowie.com

Get a Physical Exam Yearly

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Even if you are in good health, you should go into your Kaysville family practice to get a physical exam on a yearly basis. There is a common misconception that physical exams are for sick people, That is not the case. Physical exams are a great way to protect your health and prevent illness later on in life.

A physical exam is a good way to keep track of your heath. Your heath history, recorded by your doctor can be used to map out a personalized plan to help you live a long and healthy life.

If you have never had a physical exam, be sure to let your doctor know of any present illnesses in your initial exam. Also provide some family health history so your doctor is aware of any illnesses that may affect you later in life. Another area many people don’t think to talk about with their doctor is their social history which includes things like where you work and your lifestyle choices. All of these factors play a role in your health.

A physical is also a good time to review any medications you are taking or shots that you have had. Include any over the counter items as wells such as vitamins, supplements, etc. When reviewing shots or immunizations, make sure you have had current tetanus shots and ask about other vaccines and immunizations you have questions about. Don’t become weary of your physician’s laundry list of questions. These questions will give them a more accurate picture of your past, present,and future heath.

Once the exam has been conducted, your Kaysville family medicine clinic should provide you with an evaluation of the exam and recommendations to keep healthy. Bring any questions or concerns to your doctor.

Once you have found a doctor you are comfortable with and who you feel can provide you with the necessary help, stick with them and develop a relationship of trust and respect.

Kaysville Clinic
120 South Main St.
Kaysville, UT 84037
Phone: 801-544-4227
Fax: 801-544-3724

Helping Your Teen Deal With Stress

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

People deal with stress on a daily basis, whether in a positive or negative way, it can influence every minute of every day of their lives. When this stress is in a teenagers life, more often than not they are not able to handle it properly. This can affect every interaction they have with another person, slowly sapping away their confidence in social settings. It can also lead them to believe that stress is the driving factor in our life, when this unhealthy habit should be nipped in the bud long before it takes place. Being aware of these stress is important, but if you feel you are inadequently equipped to help with your teenagers stress problems, consider programs for troubled teens.

Some factors of stress in a teenagers life:

  • Moving into a new school
  • Conflict in the home (divorce, parents arguing)
  • Death in the family
  • Conflict with friends

While these may not seem like things that should cause a lot of stress, we need to remember what it was like to be a teenager. An intense river of emotions courses through our body and all we can do is hold onto our life preservation devices for dear life. While that may be a bit of an overstatement, that can be what it feels like for a teen. Think of it in extremes. When something happens that is good, the excitement can seem incredibly excessive. When something bad happens, the sadness can also seem a bit excessive, but often teenagers can not be held responsible.
While you may not be at the point where you think behavior modification programs are your solution, learning ways to react appropriately to your teens behavior is essential. When teens let stress control them, they may seek outside sources to deal with it. This can be the reason many teens turn to drug or substance abuse, or allow this stress to change the way they think causing mental and medical issues.

White River Academy
275 West 100 South
Delta, UT 84624
Ph: (435) 864 – 9008

A Low-Paid Corner — Stripping Pay and Prestige from the Practice of Law

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

By Amazing Firms Amazing Practices, Gerry Riskin.

According to NYT journalist, Catherine Rampell, in her May 23, 2011 story: At Well-Paying Law Firms, a Low-Paid Corner,   Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe,  WilmerHale and McDermott Will & Emery are "creating a second tier of workers, stripping pay and prestige from one of the most coveted jobs in the business world".

Catherine goes on to comment on the increased challenge of debt repayment: Lower salaries make it even more difficult for newly minted lawyers to pay off their law school debt — like the $150,000 in loans that David Perry accumulated upon graduation from Northwestern University School of Law in 2009.

My Opinion:  I understand completely why these and other firms need to cut costs in order to meet the demand from clients to reduce fees.  In a way, this is eminently sensible — move the commodity end of the practice of law to lawyers well-equipped for the task at lower salaries.  In my view, this is not nearly enough.  Law firms must rethink how they do their work and must re-engineer their work in harmony with their clients.  My Edge International partner, Pam Woldow, is working at an unprecedented level of sophistication with top corporate law departments (including some of Fortune's Top 10) and AMLAW 100 law firms to help them learn Legal Project Management and how to set (genuine) Alternative Fees .  If the Partners think they can sit back and sustain their historic incomes indefinitely by lowering junior lawyer salaries or creating new classes they are sadly mistaken.  They need to create sustainable new models that change how we think about the practice of law.

Read the full NYT article  "At Well-Paying Law Firms, a Low-Paid Corner" here.

Visit Pam's Blog: "At The Intersection" here.

Originally posted at Amazing Firms Amazing Practices. Please visit http://www.gerryriskin.com/.

Customizing your Display Demographically

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

When success is experienced as a salesmen, it is much more than just another number on a sheet. The ultimate end goal is to inspire people to take action and become involved in a product that will positively benefit their life. Now, when you’re at a tradeshow, you’re very much acting the part of a salesmen. You can try as hard as you can to be motivational with your words, but if you don’t have a custom trade show exhibit that aesthetically pleases the potential client to go with your words, then odds are you’ll just be another exhibit at the show.

Here are a few helpful tips on how to make your exhibit stand out proudly.

  • Keeping it Simple – When you start designing an exhibit, the first thing you worry about are colors. Often you will use the colors your company has branded themselves with, but what if those colors just don’t have the spice you desire? Well, whatever the colors you choose, make sure you limit yourself to about three colors or less. You don’t want your viewers to be so distracted by the colors that they have a hard time paying attention to what you’re saying.
  • Lighting – As with anything you’re trying to display, lighting has a significant impact on how things are perceived. If you want a more intriguing and alluring ambiance, then play with dimming the lights for the desired effect. Keeping things bright and bold is very wise, as people are drawn to bold colors that are enhanced by lighting.
  • Targeting Audience – Exactly as it sounds, making your custom trade show booths appealing to your target audience is a sure way to lure your much wanted demographic in for the long haul. If you’re selling baby products, then you’ll want to find a way to draw in mothers. If you’re trying to appeal to more of a techy demographic, try showing clips from cult classic science fiction television series.

Insight Exhibits
1367 South 700 West
Salt Lake City, UT
Ph: (801) 978-9000

Criminal Defense Attorneys Stand Up for Jury Rights

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

Utah’s neighbor to the south, Arizona is currently trying to pass a bill that will limit first time DUI defendant’s right to a jury trial. The House and Senate have approved the bill and it is currently waiting on the governer’s desk.

The bill would allow for first time DUI defendants to request a jury trial, but it would be up to the judge to grant that request or not. Those who are charged with repeat offenses would still have the right to a jury trial. Supporters say that this bill could save millions of dollars in state wide court expenses because the trials would be shorter and jury expenses would be eliminated.

Criminal defense attorneys are appalled at the proposed change. Juries, and the right to a jury trial, are a vital part of the American justice system. In 1774, John Adams explained that ” Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty.” It is the foundation of our justice system and works to safeguard the people’s constitutaional liberties.

The right to a jury is specifically important in DUI and other criminal defense cases for three major reasons:

  1. Unbiased
    With a jury, a defense attorney can eliminate biased jurors. This is not the case when a judge soley hears a case. Judges are assumed to be fair and just however, we all know that is unfortunately not always the case.
  2. The State Has to Prove its Case
    A judge is an agent of the state. When a jury is involved the state procsecuters must convince 12 other people that the defendse is in fact guilty rather than just one person who already works for the state. In doing so it helps to protect the people’s rights and helps to enure that they are fairly judged.
  3. Fresh Perspective
    Although DUI cases are not all the same, they have similarities. If a judge hears basically the same case over and over again, they may not, consiously or not, really give attention to the details of the case and make a decision based on the circumstances. Juries offer fresh ears and a different perspective than a judge can.

Utah criminal defense attorneys are keeping a close eye on Arizona’s bill as Utah also has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. Talk to a Utah defense attorney to make sure you know your rights and that they are being represented in the courtroom.

Brown, Bradshaw, and Moffat
10 West Broadway, Suite 210
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801*532-5297
Fax: 801-532-5298