Month: May 2019

Archives for May 2019

Doing business locally: Everybody Wins

No matter how big or small the town you live in may be, everybody in the community benefits when you do business locally. From the intrinsic character of the place to the way people interact, supporting local businesses just makes sense.

To better illustrate the benefits that small businesses bring to the table, here are five ways that demonstrate how going local makes a difference:

1.     Unique identity

Every town, every city you visit in the world – each one has a particular thing that makes it unique. From the storefronts to the types of shops that populate the main street, local businesses are the beating heart that feeds the population with energy. For many places, that character attracts visitors, new companies, and people looking for the perfect place to put down roots. As the community grows, it becomes stronger, and everybody thrives.

2.     Creating opportunity

When you support local businesses, you are keeping community resources at home and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, new business ventures, and young people just entering the workforce. The more options there are, the more likely it is that the brightest and most talented people will stay and channel their energy right back into the local economy.

3.     Competition breeds innovation

The more shops, services, and businesses there are in the local economy, the more competitive the business climate will be. Companies need to stand out from the rest and will go the extra mile to please their customers – who can then reap the benefits of new ideas, better services, diverse product offerings, and a healthy, vibrant, cooperative community spirit.

4.     Environmental advantages

Choosing to do business locally reduces our carbon footprint in a big way. For instance, choosing to shop at a local store instead of ordering online means fewer delivery trucks on the road, and so less fuel burned. It means fewer freight trains on the rails and therefore fewer derailments. With fewer ships on the ocean, our marine life will not be as endangered, and fewer cargo planes in the air mean fewer delays at the airport, and less air and noise pollution in general.

5.     Keep those tax dollars at home

When we choose to do business locally, our tax dollars stay in the community, strengthening the economy and helping to support infrastructure and other critical initiatives. In most cities and towns, about ten percent of all sales taxes collected go directly back into public coffers. They fund essential public services like transit, roadways, bike lanes, parks, schools, and so much more – the very things that make your town such a wonderful place to live.

Every community is a living, breathing entity unto itself, and like any living thing, it needs sustenance to grow and thrive. At Lakeside Executive Suites, we are committed to strengthening our local economy and supporting the small businesses that make Weston such a great place to live. Drop by today and discover how we can help.

Faces of Weston with Nnamdi Jackson

Earlier this month, we sat down with Nnamdi Jackson, an employment commercial litigation attorney who provides legal counsel on broad range of business disputes and contentious commercial litigation matters.

Nnamdi Jackson also understands the vitality of employment law in creating safe, productive, and fair work environments. Equality within the workplace ensures that everyone has equal opportunities to fair compensation and cannot be denied hire, benefits, promotion or reasonable accommodations for prejudicial reasons. Mr. Jackson litigates cases involving unlawful discrimination, harassment, termination, unpaid wages, and other labor issues.

How did you get started in your industry? 

After graduating law school, I worked for a law firm that did general business litigation. Of the wide variety of cases I litigated, the employment cases were the most interesting. Thus, when I left in November 2016 to start my own firm, I decided to specialize in employment law. 

What is something about your business that most people do not know? 

A lot of the cases I litigate involve violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. For such cases, many prospective clients are surprised to learn that they first have to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) prior to filing a lawsuit in court.My firm represents clients through the EEOC process and litigation in court. 

Where do you see your business in 5 years? 

Partnering with another like-minded attorney.

Tell me about yourself? 

I was raised in South Florida. I got my bachelor’s from Florida International University. Afterwards, I helped start a video production company which is still operating in Miami. After a few years I left and attended FIU’s law school. 

Other than work, what are you passionate about? 

I enjoy history; most of the novels I purchase are historical. I recently finished “Lincoln’s Last Trial”, which is about Abraham Lincoln’s last murder trial where he knew both the alleged murderer and the victim. I also travel frequently outside the United States.  

What types of activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of work? 

I often play basketball with friends. 

Why did you choose Lakeside and how has working here helped your business? 

After meeting with Ysel, I knew Lakeside Executive Suites was the right place for starting my firm. I have gotten numerous clients in Weston and the surrounding area. Staff have been very courteous and professional with clients during their visits. 

To learn more about Nnamdi Jackson, contact him through his website or you can follow his blog here and on social media at Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube

The Many Benefits of Offsite Meetings

Meetings are a necessary component of any successful business. They help you to connect with your stakeholders and stay on top of crucial and timely details, but every small business owner can probably agree, meetings sometimes aren’t as productive as they could be.

If this is occasionally the case at your company, consider the many benefits of offsite meetings as they could be a way for you to breathe some new life and energy into the “same old-same old.”

The truth is, we spend a lot of time in meetings. Studies show that managers, in particular, attend in the range of 60 meetings every single month. For an activity that consumes so much of our time, it’s in everybody’s best interests to make sure these meetings are delivering the results you need.

Here are some of the benefits of offsite meetings:

1. Offsite meeting benefit #1: improve productivity

Offsite meetings bring your team into a fresh, new environment. Since you won’t be in the office, you will be removed from the usual distractions, such as ringing phones and other demands on your time and attention. Attendees will focus on the planned topic; resulting in improved productivity with your meetings.

2. Offsite meeting benefit #2: access to amenities

Holding an offsite meeting allows you to access technology that you don’t have at your home office, like state-of-the-art video conferencing or audio/visual equipment that can take your presentations to the next level.

3. Offsite meeting benefit #3: employee networking

For companies that have more than one location or who employ remote workers, an offsite meeting gives you the chance to bring everybody together. No matter how well your team works together, having a personal connection is always beneficial to the result.

4. Offsite meeting benefit #4: encourage innovation

Innovation tends to stagnate when people are looking at the same four walls, the same people, the same view out the window. New perspectives encourage new ideas, and this is what your business growth hinges on. Additionally, people tend to cling to what’s familiar and can easily get stuck in a rut; an offsite meeting will expose them to new faces, encourage interaction outside of their comfort zone, and stimulate new perspectives.

5. Offsite meeting benefit #5: show your teams that you care

While your staff might not jump at the thought of yet another meeting, they will likely be excited at the prospect of getting out of the office and having a change of scenery. With an upgraded meeting experience, a nice lunch, and the opportunity for some face time with team members they don’t often see, you’ll be demonstrating how much you value their contribution.

Are you looking for a location to hold offsite meetings? Our meeting rooms are available by the hour, day, or week, giving you access to the latest technology and every possible amenity to make your meeting a success. Call today to learn more about how we can help.

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