Are You in the Business of Business Management?

“Management is, above all, a practice where art, science, and craft meet” Henry Mintzberg, author, Managers, Not MBA’s -2004

The 21^st century’s global marketplace asks every business manager to become an expert in every facet of the business arena.    The leader who makes it his or her business to manage business must underscore that fact when seeking to assemble the best team possible for any organization.  

Simply put, the man or woman who makes it their business to manage businesses must keep Mintzberg’s quote firmly in mind.  They must draw from every area of the business world, get the best talent, and then, for the most part, let their talent do what they do best.

Here are the three ingredients that lay a firm foundation for those who are in the business of business management.

1)      The Science  Driven Environment  

The secret to a science driven environment is employee engagement.  But, just knowing this secret won’t make it so.   Those who are in the trenches of business management need to set up clear strategic initiatives that create a success driven environment,  where the most talented employees are empowered to do what they do best.

The keys to the creation of this environment are planning, and clear and concise communication between managers and employees.   Studies show that the best way to develop this type of communication plan is to align the leadership goals of ownership teams with the talents and skills of the employees.    And to lay out readily available information for employees to source while making central decisions concerning customer relations, sales, production, research and development, and measurements.

The creation of a success driven environment is a little like writing the first business plan for a company with one huge difference.  The company has already taken off and there are measurable results, procedures, policies and competitors to review. 

This environment will excel under the review of those actions that are already a part of the business management model that has been constructed.  Review, reassess, and set forth new goals for the talent that is working for you to stretch towards.

2)      The Art of Preventing  Early Obstacles

 Empower your employees by supplying them with the tools they need to fulfill the mission of your company.     As was stated in the Science Driven Environment, review is a vital and necessary component when facing down obstacles that may stand in the way of the empowerment of employees.  

How does the business manager review the company processes, and help employees become engaged in the success of the company?  How does he motivate employees, who, upon review, are found to lack the crucial motivation that will enable them to bring forth their greatest talents?  How does he reduce employee sickness and reduce a culture of chaos into one of consistent high-quality service and increased productivity?

As successful business managers know, it all lies in the installation of third eye consultants who can objectify the processes of a business and remove or prevent these obstacles before they appear.

3)      Craft Every Positive or Negative Opportunity

The oversight of a business management team is a necessity when it comes to spotting high-priority opportunities.  These opportunities can come in either a positive or negative manner.  A positive opportunity can by highlighted by the talented employee who sees the demand for a niche product in their company arsenal and exploits that area.  The smart business manager gives that employee his head to create and develop.   He or she can provide an improvement strategy to bring this positive development to fruition.  

A negative input can turn into a positive area for growth in a company where a business manager has clear assessment processes, best practice models, systems, and benchmark performance mark-ups keyed into their everyday work life. 

What does it mean to craft every positive or negative opportunity?  It means exactly that.   Take those opportunities, and put them in a place where they are scrutinized, assessed, and led to growth.   Your cash tree will be filled and overflowing, and your employees will be engaged in a work-driven environment where they love to come to each and every

How Not to Commit Mortgage Fraud

By April Brewster Smythe

Keyword Strategy

Mortgage brokers, mortgage fraud, notary signing agents, identity theft, how to prevent identity theft, business finance loans

The majority of the American public understands that the notary public signing agent is the first line of defense against identity theft.    The Mortgage Fraud Index had good news for the last quarter of 2012, where it was shown that mortgage fraud action had declined.  However, mortgage fraud is expected to rise again throughout 2013.  Because of this, it is important to understand how not to commit mortgage fraud, so that you can insure that you do not commit this act, and end up in an orange suit, making license plates at the area correctional center.   Many innocent home buyers unknowingly are lured into mortgage fraud due to the actions of those unscrupulous few who want to make a buck off of the ignorance of these gullible home buyers.  Don’t be gullible!  Make sure that the personal information that is shared on all of the financial documents prepared for a home mortgage is protected.

This writer wanted clarification on precise ways that the notary signing agent protects consumers.  I turned to a respected notary signing agent located in Fort Wayne, Indiana for illumination on these three points

1)      Procedures in Place – A well-respected notary signing agent in this region gave me this insight into the methods used by notaries to protect documents, “I usually am required to log onto a secured website to download documents from title companies’ websites but I do still have a few clients that send closing documents in a PDF file that do not have these files password protected”.  This is significant due to the fact that falsifying employment income and inaccurate reporting of deposit money are both forms of mortgage fraud.  The information given on an application must be protected so that devious white collar criminals do not steal vital personal financial information.

2)      Rapid System- Notary signing agents guard their PDF files judiciously.    They have a rapid system in place if their computer is stolen or misplaced. A local notary added this comment to the guarding of PDF files, “With the new laws and procedures going into effect in the mortgage industry to protect customers private information there will need to be changes to safeguard customers’ private information by every mobile notary.”

3)      Prepared-The alert notary signing agent is prepared for any occurrence. If a No Show or a No Sign occurs they are ready to protect personal financial documents that are in their possession.  This same local notary signing agent shared this procedure, “When a loan doesn't close I am either required to send documents back to the title company or I take them to a company that shreds documents in front of me.”  That is a sure-fire way to protect documents!

The above protections by notary signing agents who work with honest mortgage brokers help all concerned and forestall mortgage criminal activity.  But, tough economic times may lure even the most sincere home buyers into mortgage fraud. 

The Silent Second Mortgage - Once upon a time Mr. and Mrs. R. HHOME BIER decided they really wanted to buy a home instead of renting the two bedroom apartment they had lived in for twenty years.   At their weekly euchre tournament they began talking to the couple who they were playing against, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Got Funding.

Mr. and Mrs. Bier had known the Funding’s for over two years and felt they were trustworthy.  After all they all went to the same church, their children played together, and they seemed to be fairly good euchre players.  The Funding’s had a home they were selling and told the Biers they would let them borrow the down payment from them ( the Funding’s) – but warned the Biers that this had to be a deal between the two couples and they were not to disclose this loan to the mortgage brokers.   The loan would not be recorded and no one would be the wiser. 

Unfortunately, for the Biers and the Funding’s a very savvy and alert notary signing agent caught the two couples in their scheme while carefully going over their financial documents before the closing.  Sadly, today the Biers and the Funding’s do not have to worry about buying or selling a home because they are enjoying the accommodations of the Arizona State Correctional Facilities. 

Yes, making a loan for a down payment on a house loan and not disclosing this transaction is mortgage fraud.   Don’t be gullible.   Be meticulous when you choose your mortgage broker and don’t be taken in by those who may prey on the goodness of your soul or your ignorance of the law.