Salon and Spa Management

Data Center Nightmare

2012-01-30T19:50:00.000-08:00

In response to the governments raid on Megaupload in VA.
I been observing the the quick decision made almost over night to suddenly move everything to the "cloud" by business, schools, churches, etc. and not once have i heard a reason that i personally believe. It seems as though it's used as a symbol of their success when they can say in a conversation "we have migrated to the cloud" and that's it like they graduated. This case is important and I agree with Ray, the government can destroy everything. Now what? Hire an attorney to fight the government because they lost your data? If I was on the jury I would say where is your backup? Restore the latest backup. Sounds crazy but since when do you not have an off site backup. The point is this is a bad situation and there most likely more to come and people have let their guard down and were easily convinced that because the cloud is virtual and so big that data isn't lost. The clouds are dumping rain now. Where is the next shower?
So you are a small company and now have no access to your data. Is the government going to assist customers of Megaupload or say it is a foreign owned company? You know that is going to come yet they had jurisdiction to seize. At the end of the day their isn't any protection on the Internet and the day I saw grandma put the knitting away and get a phone with Internet I started preaching to all my clients changes were coming. What once was only used by IT professionals and large companies is not shared equally with toddlers to grandmothers. Where were these new Internet surfers given the rules of the road? They haven't seen the real problems that the original groups have and haven't had to recover from a complete failure. Sad but true this might be their first recovery.

Expectations

2011-09-20T00:16:00.001-07:00

As the year quickly comes to a close it is time to start reflecting before the season swings into full gear. Did you successfully engage in the resolutions you made last year? Are any of them going to be recycled this year? Do your friends and associates know wether or not you kept them all year? most important, do you feel like you gave it your best everyday? When its all said and done that is the only important thing that matters. How do you feel about yourself and did you let yourself down. So many times we go through certain situations to only be disappointed when at the end of the road you're all alone. Tthat's a great lesson in life, i knew a guy years ago that always sold himself short because everything he did was for the benefit of others. Dont get me wrong he truely loved to do that, but for all the wrong reasons. One day he suddenly realised that no matter what he did or how much of his soul he gave there were people that didnt appreciate him and it took years for him to recover. Who's truely doing wrong? if someone was always happy and gave you money everyday would you take it? Would you also feel like that is what they wanted to do and it made them happy if they were always smiling? Well business is the same principle. Plan your strategy, act accordingly. A business without a plan is planned to fail!

The Power Fear in the Subconcience Mind

2011-08-22T01:44:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you finally get to a point in business when the surroundings of what has always been exciting suddenly seems out of place and hard to understand? When the goals and expectations of your life long dreams suddenly don't make any since or possibly don't even seem irrelevant to your situation? This period more times than not is misunderstood, misdiagnosed and denied its time in the spot light. ironically that's the time it needs to motivate you to the next level and that feeling is there to make you pay attention. I've been fascinated with the human mind for as long as i can remember. When I went to college one of the most remember able classes I took one semester was sociology. it was then i learned just how powerful the mind can be at times in life when we need it the most. how strange that sounds! In order to begin to use this you need to understand just one simple fact I learned and to this day haven't been wrong. Every action and decision in life since the day you were born is based on fear! and these two innate fears i believe are the roots of all that we know today. the fear of falling and loud noises. Sounds too simple and saying that sounds scary. I bet you're shaking your head that it's not true I would. Once you believe this one fact and focus on using it to your advantage you will have great use for that subconscious mind that use to hinder the leaps of faith you must be willing to take to get ahead. Harvest the power of fear!

Diligence pays off!

2011-06-17T22:03:00.001-07:00

After months of development CG Software announces the release of version 6.7.13. By far this has been the largest release done in the last 5 years primarily due to the changes in expectations by users. “We stepped out of our normal comfort zone on this one”, says James Palmer, Managing Partner in CG Software. “Everyone has to take their chances, without that what would life be? We chose to hire a fresh new group of programmers with new ideas and energy. More importantly we made a decision this year that we were going to find a group that has never programmed in this industry so that they could bring their combined knowledge to the Salon and Spa industry. Last week it paid off when the final piece was completed and at the meeting the new ideas started to flow.”

I spent some time behind the screens with CGS and their staff last week and they have got some great new projects rolling out later this year. This version is a must for the people in the industry that want to propel their business above all the rest. CG Software has done their homework! For information on v.6.7.13 contact sales@cgsoftwareinc.com at (866)417-9719.

Free Money!

2011-06-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

When you get into work and look at the scheduler what is the first thing to come to mind when you see one time on the books? Typically this is lost revenue. For years you have been coaching the staff on how to work the books and they have done their best. How do you fill these openings? Do you spend money on marketing? Get harder on the staff to manage time better? The answer is none of these. Time and time again this hasnt worked and if it did the employee turn over is so high how do you keep up? We have a proven answer! ServiceAvailableNow! Call to find out more information on how to fill your open slots today!

Costly Decisions!

2011-05-06T23:37:00.001-07:00

Interesting Analysis:

If a ComeAgain® client continually leaves tickets on hold with no since of urgency to releasing them. If left on hold they say there until the transaction is purged out of the transaction.mdb. At the least that's four months, and for 60% of our clients never purge. So for at least four months they can't use client (Mr. Smith) when the client does come in at least once if not more they create a (Mr. Smith) same names are allowed in the database.

Effect: if the wrong one is selected either scheduling or POS, no history. Client claims there is a glitch, “history disappeared”, “someone deleted lab data, security in system doesn’t work”, etc….

Now, the ‘otherside’ no one thought about, while they have let the on hold problem go on for this time they have been marketing to their clients and Mr. Smith was receiving all marketing at least twice on every campaign. Now the cost of saving money on support ($50 - $100/avg.) has turned in to possibly years of lost revenue for the salon ($151.67 - $303.33/yr. – maintaining a middle aged male’s hair) and ($38.95 - $77.85) lost in tips to the employee.

What would you do?

The "Bell Curve"

2011-04-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

How long has it been since you heard that term? Today when you hear it what's the first thing to come to mind? Most likely it has changed substantially, so has your business. Although the term is a proven fact, what can you do as a business owner to prevent what countless other owners fall a victim to. On your way to work count how many competitors you have within miles when you arrive look around and ask yourself what sets me apart? As hard as it might be to believe, 85 percent of the clients that pass through the doors aren't there for their hair, nails or any other service you offer, they are there because there is what makes them feel good. Like going out to dinner, it makes you feel good, at the end of the day when you get home it wasn't the food you ate it was the time you had talking, relaxing, and being with friends. Remember, its your business and your in control of the clients experience make it memorable.

Free Software!

2011-04-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

In a board meeting today CGS decides to give away a full client license to a selected group. Expected to be formally released later today with detailed information on the promotion. There wont be a limit to the number expected to be licensed only a limit to the length on time this will last. Every license released will be a complete copy with terms and conditions.

First Quarter "On Task Review"

2011-03-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

2011 first quarter is coming to a close. It's amazing how the year has has brought many changes in the world of technology. Over 10 years ago a box office hit "Enemy of the State" hit theaters had a vast majority of every day people wondering, "How much do people know about and what do they know?" well a lot has changed since then! Ten years ago a decent server cost well over $7,000 today you can pick up a new one for around $500 and why, the cloud is where its at! Ten years ago you were special if you had high speed Internet, today everyone is connected to the matrix with a phone. What I'm getting at is what use to be a cloud filled with business and tech nerds now has attracted a group that has been thrown in head first with an iPhone or laptop with very little knowledge of what consequences and possible dangers their actions might bring in the future. You have kids less than ten and grandparents now surfing side by side some of the most seasoned Internet users today. The scary thing to think about is what are they doing? With so many people in the cloud posting blogs, transferring money, sending email, updating photos and turn around and there are no police? We have always wanted our freedom, and I'm not saying there should be, but who is watching out for you? I came across a site some time back and all you had to do was know a persons name, email or number and with that you had instant access to all you ever wanted to know for free. Some say so what I don't have anything to hide. Well that's probably true, but who is looking at your information, a felon, murderer in prison or a long lost friend? On the internet there is no difference. That will make you think twice! My point is the world of computers is growing faster than we can educate the people using it and that will with out a doubt have consequences. Beware of what you do online. Teach your kids to respect the cloud. Make sure your employees know that some of the largest costs of doing business is technology and maintaining information technology. It is the wide west and like a gun demands respect.

Whos dream is it anyway?

2011-03-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

How many times have you coached a team member or entire department and the minute you let down your guard You realize that not a thing you have spent all your time talking about sunk in? What do you do? Last week after years of coaching, I was hit with the reality that not one thing I spent so much time talking about made a difference. Initially I was relieved to know that it happened, things seemed to hit a brick wall, then thought hard wondering where the system went so tragically wrong. After a week of combing through notes, I realized that I was coaching them on a vision and ideal that meant absolutely nothing to them. Nothing you feel passionate about is a waste of time, this situation tought a good lesson. Always pay close attention to your business, no matter how important it is to you there is always going to be those times where you are tested and have to take a second look. That second look makes you realize who's dream it really is and ultimately the dream is yours and all you can do is share a piece of it....

"Thinking Outside the Box"

2011-03-09T00:38:00.000-08:00

The mind is an amazing tool! All it takes to be a successful individual in any field is to obtain, learn and use the ability to step outside of what you know and "Think Outside the Box" and it's rare to find someone that does. After years of programming and developing salon and spa management software, it's hard not to learn and learn well how the industry works. Today I had a thought, with all the knowledge and contacts made over the years CG Software could very easily put together the dream team. We work with the best educators that could train the staff, we have close ties the the most successful business owners to work closely with the management, and the technology we use with our programming would put together a state of the art system to market, manage and track the customers and keep them feeling the personal touch. In life you always have to plan and adapt to the world as it changes and find your place in it and sometimes that takes the ability to "Think Outside the Box". One day when you see this idea become a reality you will know that the mind is a powerful thing!

Making a Difference

2011-03-04T23:56:00.000-08:00

The Houston Business Journal February 11-17, 2011 had an article "Largest Houston - Area Day Spas." Four of the top ten are clients of CG Software, Inc., two of which in the top five taking first and third. What sets them apart from the others? We wanted to know, why not, that information is priceless. Who opens a business and doesn't want that kind of recognition? Here is what we found in common between our clients that made the list versus the ones that didn't. First, it doesn't necessarly mean that they give better services that is a must in this industry. What what we found is simple, they all had owners that were there to make a mark, it wasn't the money, they made that long ago. They were there day in day out see to it that the business ran the way they expected. Not just popping in and out, watching from Paris on an iPad, they loved their work and that's what made them who they are. Keep your eyes open, who do you know or work with that loves their job? Soon you'll see they have what it takes to make their mark on the city, state, nation and maybe even the world!

Manage Time, don't let Time Manage you!

2011-02-26T00:40:00.000-08:00

Work, work, work! Sometimes that may seem like all you do day in day out. One morning while eating breakfast my son asked me what appeared to be a simple question, after all he's seven. With a puzzled look in his eye, "daddy, all you work to help people, who's helping you" At first I thought this was something he's learning in school, soon I realized wow, my seven year old has made an observation that's hard to accept yet the reality of business owners. We spend day and night to meet our goals and expectations of our clients. CG Software, Inc. has developed tools through software and training to take the load off your shoulders. "Life's too Short to Spend your Managing you Clients, Let our Software manage them for you!" You can spend your time on what matters most!

Retain What Matters Most!

2011-02-19T20:27:00.000-08:00

As you business grows a business owner needs to grow with it! How often do you have a focus group to see the direction you are moving in. So many times we have a tendency to lose track of what matters most. Do you look back at your original business plan? Do you change the business plan acordingly? Remember that the customers are the reason you are in business in the first place. You need to be passionate about the path you take,always set goals that are obtainable. Stay tuned into the Retention of your clients, Alignment of your business, and a close eye on What Matters Most!

"You can lead a horse to water"

2011-02-19T20:26:00.000-08:00

How many times have you heard yourself say said "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" and truly felt you have? It's a heard thing to accept, do you move on to the next customer or employee? After years of training them and coarching them there's a large investment involved if you walk away from the situation it's gone. In today's economic times we have to learn to think not in the our eyes, but instead we need to think outside the box, get into their mind to overcome the situation. At CG Software, Inc. we have dedicated years researching and developing measurement systems to accomplish this for you! Let us lead you employees and clients to water. Our proof is in the our clients!