Trying to find the right formula

I work for a small company that has run on the current antiquated accounting system for years.  The number of copies of "invoices" that has to be made before the material ships out the door is overwhelming and distressing for the trees. 

I was told as I was being hired 19 months ago, that the company was implementing a new system that a former employee created in Access.  My boss was very excited.  Personally I feel this all this former employee did was create a convoluted system in the hopes of always having a job versus for the betterment of the company.  Only half of us are on this new system because it has been apparent from the start that it doesn’t work. 

I give my boss a lot of credit.  After spending a lot of money for the system created in Access he has spent more money and purchased Quick Books Premier for Manufacturing.  We all have the software installed but it will be a few weeks before we are up and running.  The work at the top is well worth the future benefits in my opinion.

http://www.mathwarehouse.com/

In the meantime I have become friendly with Excel and have created all sorts of reports to help me in my job.  Job costing, Works In Progress, Projections, etc etc.  The one spreadsheet that I have reworked over and over again is the Project in Process.  I want to be this spreadsheet to tell me how much the contract base and any change orders totals; what has been invoiced to date and what my costs are.  Part of me thinks that every piece of material being sold with the project should be listed on this form with a cost and assigned sell, but in my business that would make for a very long spreadsheet.  So I am looking for help/suggestions on how to achieve this please.

Also if anyone is currently working with Quick Books Premier for Manufacturing and has tips please comment below.  Thanks!

Building Blunders

I was looking for pictures on this very subject and stumbled upon this blog.  I couldn't do better so I thought I would provide a link and let you see for yourselves.

When Construction Goes Wrong:   http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/08/when-construction-goes-wrong.html

Enjoy!

Down South

www.localism.com

We all have had it happen.  We all learn and grow from the challenges.  But during the travel southward it is a roller coaster ride.  I am talking about projects that bite (me in the ass!) 

No matter how hard one works it seems trouble lurks around every corner.  At 4:50 pm today I was bit.  I am hoping it is just a nip and I can remove the teeth tomorrow.  In the meantime, tonight, I am thinking about any and all possible solutions.  Until I know my course or have exhausted all possibilities I won't call the customer. 

I know these challenges are opportunities to shine but there are 5 or 10 minutes where I want to just scream! Of course I don't because it is counterproductive.  If I am really upset and need to get a grip I close my office door for a few minutes. 

What helps the most however is at the end of my day, on my drive home, my BFF and I spend 40 minutes expunging all that wasteful energy.  Some days we have equal amounts, some days one of us needs the whole 40 minutes.  The best are when we both have had great days full of productivity!

Let’s Blog Off – Things that make me go hmmm?

Every two weeks Bloggers unite for a day to write about a communal topic.  This week the title is where do you get your ideas?

That’s the real answer, whatever makes me go hmmm.  Unloading the dishwasher last night I had an hmmm moment.  It was a thought that gave me pause and then a laugh.  It will probably become a blog post. 

It is more introspective for me than an aha moment simply because I ponder the hmmm until I can write or think it out.  It may graduate to an aha moment or dive back into my subconscious until I am ready to face it.   I love when it is a laugh out loud moment!

That tilt of the head, for me, is a great feeling.  It means I am in the moment and not thinking ahead or behind.  Which happens far too often is this busy world.   

My excessive use of a calculator tells me I am not a left brain person.  Do right brain people hmmm more often than left brain?  I don’t know though I would tend to think so. 

What makes you go hmmm?

 

3 Day Weekend

Ya’ll are going to call me crazy but I have a hard time with time off unless I have activities specifically planned.  This weekend all I had planned were chores (which I don’t consider activities) I hadn’t gotten to yet.  All I hear in my head when thinking about starting a chore – it’s early I have the whole weekend!   Here it is Sunday at 5:30 and none of my chores have been completed except some shopping.

What I did instead? On Friday I worked a bit, went out and measured some doors for a customer.  Other than that I read, drew, painted, watched some movies and napped.  I know it is good to unplug and relax but I wish I had more...I don’t know focus, drive, energy – all three! 

Part of it is watching my budget; I no longer get in the car and just drive and discover new places.   But a big part of it is me.  Like so many I work hard 50-65 hours a week and there is little energy leftover.  I make lists with big plans, like this weekend, but many times I ignore it.  I also seem to work best “at the last minute”.   Makes for crazy!

When my co-workers ask me tomorrow if I had a nice weekend I will say yes, cause I did, but I will cringe a little inside knowing I didn’t get done what I should have.

Earth Day 2011

This day always reminds me of my mom.  She was into conservation before it was cool.  It started with birds and escalated somehow. 



http://www.nps.gov/ever



I remember being dragged (sometimes kicking and screaming) on these bird watching trips.  Getting there wasn’t bad but once we had gotten to the bird place the world slowed down.  I had to sit quietly and not jump about.  The car trips were so long and slow, not always fun for a kid.  I was always in the back seat someone would be driving and my mom would quietly say stop. Brakes slammed, everyone out the car doors with binoculars searching for the bird.  Oh and if you are ever birding here is a tip: don’t slam the car door. If you are with serious birders you will get a “look”.

My memory isn’t the best but the trip that stands out most in my mind was to the Everglades.  Back when alligators were afraid of people we walked through Everglades National Park and heard the roar of the bulls (male alligator) and could see them slithering off into the water.  On one path we ended up having to run for our lives because the mosquitoes were going to carry us off! 



http://www.evergladesbirdingfestival.com/



I saw painted buntings, peregrine falcons, bald eagles and more, not realizing at the time what a gift it was to be able to see these birds in their natural habitat.  Not understanding we would be destroying their homes.

My mom smoked so she always carried an empty baking soda can on the birding trips so she could flick the ashes into and store the butts.  Not once did a cigarette butt end up on the ground.   What we carried in we carried out.    

At home we were taught to turn off the water while brushing our teeth.  We hung our laundry outside to dry.  My mom also planted native plants so watering was at a minimum or whatever the rain brought.  She left a wonderful legacy as my cousin loves birding, my brother and his wife received an award for the native habitat they created in their yard and me....I have her smile.  We all try to be responsible citizens of this earth. 

The Right Fit

I am not an every size project fits me type salesperson.  

http://www.toonpool.com/



It seems in today’s tough economy distributors are bidding on any and every project that comes their way.  While I understand the knee jerk reaction I personally don’t feel it is the best approach.   In order to provide the best experience for a customer I think both size and project type need to be considered.

A large distributor that employs estimators, salespeople, detailers, project managers and warehouse staff should be able to excel at a project with 600 openings.  That same project would likely cause a nervous breakdown to a small distributor where the salesperson wears each of those hats at every moment.   Another reason to really spend time making sure a project is the right fit, don’t over extend!  Financially 600 openings = 600 frames and doors, 1800 hinges and so much more, that is a lot of monetary output with payment running at 45-60 days. 

Personally I like to keep my customer service level high so I always get a phone call for the re-order.  You know the next job the boss is always asking about.  My own rule of 100 and under works best for me.  I typically don’t bid a project with over 100 openings unless it is for a very good customer and the count is close. 



http://www.rosecottagegardenandfarm.com/



I just closed a 105 opening project which makes me excited and terrified all at the same time.  With my existing work load plus the new project I won’t bid a lot of work to make sure I meet the material and time requirements of the jobs.  In the meantime I will balance a lot of hats and be counting a lot of hinges!