NPC-SBDC is doing a few trainings in the next month that you may be interested in. The first is our "Build Your Website Workshop". On April 23rd from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. we will be working with clients to provide "Hands On" assistance with designing a web site. If you don't currently have a site, no problem. We can help you design your own site on the spot, using no cost resources available on the web. If you already have a site, we can help with modifications and improvements. You can bring your laptop or we can provide one for your use. The program will include a special presentation on Search Engine Optimization, and using social networking sites to improve your online results. To reserve a spot just call the SBDC at 532-6170.

Later in the month, on April 28th, the U.S. Small Business Administrations District Office in Phoenix will be presenting detailed information on the changes to their programs as a result of the Stimulus Act. This will be held at Northland Pioneer College's Ponderosa Center, Symposium Room, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. SBA representatives will be presenting and on hand to answer questions from interested applicants.

Finally, on May 1st and 2nd we will be presenting a basic class for Quickbooks. This class will be held at our SBDC Training Center in Show Low (it was previously scheduled for Winslow). This is a two-day presentation, from 9 to 5, all day Friday and Saturday, and covers basic needs for small businesses using QuickBooks, including creating a chart of accounts, setting up customers, vendors, jobs, estimates, reconciling bank accounts, using budgets, purchasing and managing inventory, using credit cards, processing payroll, and more. The cost of this training is $195, which includes the text and all materials. For more information or to sign up call the SBDC at 532- 6170.

There are lots of different ways that you can boost your team performance. We've listed here our Top 10 Tips. We hope they help you... Tip 1: Show them the vision People only perform well in a role if they understand what it is that they need to deliver and why. For this reason, we suggest you get your team together to reinforce the project vision, objectives, timeframes and deadlines. Make your team feel wanted and needed by showing them that the project is critical to the success of the business. You will gain their buy-in and their commitment going forward. Tip 2: Meet them individually After your meeting, take each team member aside and tell them what it is that you need from them to help you deliver the project. Make sure they have a clear Job Description and they know how you are going to measure their performance. Ask them how they like to be managed, what motivates them and how you can support them in their role.

As I sit down to write this article, I'm really struggling. My mother always said, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." On the contrary, I can't turn in two blank pages! So I guess I'll just stick with the facts and take some solace in the belief that we are likely near the bottom in the economic cycle and that the aggressive monetary policy currently in place, plus the fiscal stimulus (which will be online), will lead to improvements in the not too distant future. A well- known financial advisor recently said, "Hope is not an investment strategy." Well, it is an equally poor basis for an economic forecast. But at this point, it may be all we have.

The good news: There are plenty of energy-saving changes you can make that will recoup their cost fast. Some are cheap and simple, like replacing the air filters on your central air conditioning. Others are costlier and more complicated -- such as insulating your attic -- but they're so effective they'll pay for themselves quickly.

We've chosen 10 changes and laid out how much they'll cost you and how much they'll save, as well as the payback time. In most cases, it's less than a year or two.