If you follow the latest news, you no doubt know there’s a lot of allegations about spying. And, you’ve definitely heard the word “collusion” all-too-many times. It’s post-election politicking at its worst (or best, depending on your perspective). Anonymous sources are spilling the proverbial beans day in and day out. Regardless of your take, all of this does teach a solid business lesson, you just have to look past the ugliness. That lesson is how to protect company secrets, particularly when employees depart. How to Protect Company Secrets after Employees Leave One of the best measures is to get to know all your team members so you can keep them happy. You might learn it’s time to transform your company’s culture or take other steps to improve the environment. The more involved you are with your employees, the better able you are to deal with problems before they arise or before they become overwhelming. This way, if you have a new hire who is willing to share information about a previous employer, you’ll know that’s a possibility when he or she leaves. Ever wonder why generic forms of cola never seem to taste quite like the taste made famous by Coca-Cola brand? Or why nothing quite measures up to the “special sauce” in a McDonald’s Big Mac? It’s not for lack of effort by way of competitors, but instead, a careful product of some of the best-kept industry secrets. While many industries basically work to reproduce the same type of product in different forms, what helps a company distinguish itself from its competitors, gain notoriety, and keep a competitive edge is the little known inner workings that make their products or services stand out from the pack. —Business.com It’s also a great idea to get to know your team members because then you can learn about them as individuals. This is a wonderful way to know what rewards are most appreciated. And, content employees are typically more loyal. On the other hand, employees who are kept at arm’s length tend to be more disgruntled. According to a Ponemon Institute study, 61 percent of unhappy team members steal company information. But there are other steps you can take to protect company secrets, even after employees leave your organization: Set expectations. “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” the old adage warns. And, this is true when it comes to keeping company secrets. You have to ask yourself about what’s most valuable to your business and that’s what needs top priority protection. This starts by setting expectations and keeping employees informed about company confidentiality policies. If necessary, have employees sign non-disclosures so they are less tempted to share secrets. Utilize technology. In today’s modern technological environment, there are plenty of tools at your disposal. Use them to your advantage so there’s less access or blocked access where it’s appropriate. For instance, if you are developing a new tool, salespeople should not have access to the plans but designers should. Put technology to work where needed and that will help to minimize potential risk. Monitor employees. You can also use technology beyond controlling access. Monitoring employees can be a treasure trove and provide much appreciated relief. For example, if a team member is about to leave and is actively interviewing with other companies, monitoring their digital activity might be worthwhile. Cut off access quickly. Although it’s not pleasant to think about, when an employee departs, unless it’s on truly amicable terms, there’s a risk something that could go with them, carried right out the door. So, be sure to terminate access right away to remain safe. How do you keep trade secrets? What steps do you take to protect company secrets? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

Effective daily habits can work wonders in many areas of life. These are particularly useful for entrepreneurs, but others will certainly benefit by incorporating such practices. In surveying a number of successful people, it’s easy to see they all have certain daily habits. Which of course, means, that these practices do a lot to help them get things done and done right. Why Daily Habits are So Important We all have our daily routines. But, the trouble with many routines is that we don’t question how they impact our day-to-day lives. In other words, there is little to no introspection or objective look at what does and doesn’t work. Think about your own daily routine for a moment. If you’re honest, you’ll discover at least one (maybe more) that’s not up to par, is outright ineffective, or just superfluous. Just ask any CEO, politician, professional athlete or inventor out there – they all start their day at the crack of dawn, gaining a leg up on the competition. Create a routine and stick with it. Studies prove that willpower is the strongest in the morning before exhaustion and other priorities get in your way. Adopt a morning ritual and you will start to see big results. —Forbes.com When you take time to identify what does and doesn’t work, you’ll probably discover other ways to improve your daily routine. At the very least, you’ll be able to eliminate things which aren’t necessary. So, it’s definitely a worthwhile exercise. And, it’s one that can easily be repeated periodically to alter or change-up from time to time as you go through life. Most Effective Daily Habits Successful People Practice If you want to really be successful, you simply need to practice the same effective daily habits of successful people. Here are some of the biggest habits you can adopt to help you achieve more: Not getting involved in personal problems of others. This isn’t to say they are uncaring or apathetic. But it does mean they don’t get involved in the drama of others. They know it’s an invitation to trouble. Working in an environment that’s conducive to productivity. Successful people identify what surroundings and tools they need to get things done. They use these to their advantage and you can do the same. Not harboring a fear of missing out. Successful people just don’t worry about FOMO or the fear of missing out. It’s not something they let get to them because they recognize there’s just no way to be involved or in-the-know about everything. The ability to say “No” more than “Yes.” There’s a reason you see this advice time and time again — it works. And, it works well. When you say “Yes” you are making a commitment that can quickly balloon out of control. You need to learn how to spot bad ideas and those which won’t deliver results. “No” gives you the power to be selective. A strong commitment to maintaining good character. Perhaps the most effective daily habit successful people practice is to maintain a strict adherence to good character. What other effective daily habits would you add to this list? Which ones do you practice and recommend? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Okay, so you have a great idea and want to launch a brand. You’ve got plenty of inspiration in every other aspect. But, when it comes to giving it a brand name, the well is just plain dry. So, you’re looking for various ideas to give you some direction. Well, one thing is for sure, it’s got to resonate with people. Or, does it? Now that’s a scary thought. However, it’s a necessary thought-experiment. Differences between a Company Name and a Brand Name Let’s first look at what we’re actually talking about. If you’re going into a trade or profession, it’s customary and wise to go with tradition. In other words, if you’re going to open a specialty bakery, it’s perfectly okay to go with something like “Little Miss Muffin.” People will get it. Although, you might toy with the prospect of giving it a more eccentric name. Just be aware, doing so is a big gamble. Throughout the entire life cycle of your business one thing is constant – your business name. And this means getting it right, the first time. Why? Consider this – assuming you optimize your Web site, post your business on local online listings, develop a social media strategy, and deliver a great service, your business name and all that it represents will go viral (and hopefully in a good way). —Small Business Trends That’s really the difference between a company name and a brand name. Think about it this way. If you were approached in 2005 and asked “What is Facebook?” Or, “What is Twitter?” Could you answer? Nope. The reason why is obvious, neither existed back then. But today, they are household names. Even though their names do not describe what they are or what they offer. Tips for Choosing a Brand Name Let’s put it another way, when you choose a brand name, you’re giving your entity a brand or an identity. Now, it makes sense to name it after yourself or to take off from an existing brand. But, doing so creates some problems. So, here are some helpful tips on how to choose a brand name: Conduct several web searches. Dropbox. Twitch. YouTube. Though familiar to nearly everyone now, at one time, these were unknowns. A good place to start is simply by searching the web to learn if there’s already a spot-on or similarly named company out there. Compare and contrast what’s out there. Speaking of out there, once you begin to identify organizations, take the time to compare and contrast what’s similar and dissimilar. It’s definitely worthwhile because you’ll learn important lessons. Find something that will set your brand apart. Of course, you’ve got to pick a brand name that will set you apart from the competition. But, don’t go too far out or you might confound anyone who encounters it. Don’t rely on incumbent brands because it’s a mistake. One the other side of the coin, some organizations take an approach of building off another entity. For instance, publications like “Android Police and Mac Rumors.” While these make sense for the present, they could well look outdated in the future. After all, Google might rebrand its mobile platform or Apple could very well come out with a new line of computers. What other suggestions do you have for choosing a brand name? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.