Recap: Better Work Habits

Name: Vargas & Vargas Insurance
Address: 1133 Washington St, Dorchester, MA, 02124
Telephone: 617-298-0655

Posted on May 25, 2018May 23, 2018 by cvargas

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”~ Bruce Lee

Many employees feel like they’re just ‘phoning it in’ when they’re working. Want to be more productive at work? Who doesn’t! Here are four things that you can try in order to form better habits in the workplace, from our blog post last week:

Channel a positive attitude as you walk in to the office. You will help improve the culture and improve your mood.
Do your best to avoid doing work just to appear busy. Busy work helps no one, and you should be focusing on more important tasks.
If a project looks intimidating, practice breaking it into several more manageable chunks. Tackle these one at a time and your task won’t seem so impossible.
Take a break during the day to let your brain recharge. Have lunch with coworkers, or just browse the internet and take your mind off work for a few minutes. Then you can go back to work refreshed and lessen the chance of burning out.

If you’re the owner of a Massachusetts small business, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency for a free review of your business insurance policy. We can make sure that your business is covered and that your employees are motivated by great health coverage and workers compensation insurance.

Build Better Habits at Work

Posted on May 17, 2018May 9, 2018 by cvargas

Everyone occasionally feels like they’re ‘stuck in a rut’ at work. It’s up to you, however, if you let that feeling stick around, or whether you kick it to the curb and take your productivity to the next level! If you’re looking to improve your performance in the workplace (and, let’s face it, who isn’t?) we have some tips that could help you form better workplace habits and boost your efficiency while at the office!

Tips for Employees:

Have you ever noticed yourself dragging as you walk in the office door? The attitude with which you start the day will influence not only yourself, but your coworkers also. Start your work day off the right way by coming in with a more chipper attitude – you may start a trend in your workplace! There are several methods that you can use to put a smile on your face. Try getting a little more sleep, making sure that you are properly hydrated in the morning, or getting your endorphins going with a little exercise.

Once you’ve arrived and settled in to your work routine, you may find yourself doing certain things just to appear busy. This is a bad habit to be in – your goal at work should always be to complete useful tasks. In today’s work environment, this can be a little difficult to get used to, since many employers value those that appear busy. Just remember that at the end of the day, you will have more to show if you complete your more important tasks in a way that is both timely and high quality.

One great way to improve your work is to break your tasks into smaller chunks. A big project may seem impossible when you look at the entire thing. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, try this: break the looming assignment into as many small chunks as you can – the smaller the better. Then, not only will each piece of the puzzle feel more manageable, but you will also get a sense of accomplishment when you make progress!

Again, workplaces nowadays can fall into the trap of wanting workers to look busy, rather than valuing finished products. The problem is that, to get ahead, workers will prioritize working over their mental state. It turns out that workers who are constantly “full steam ahead” aren’t as productive as those who take a few small breaks through the day. So next time you are tempted to work through lunch, make yourself sit in the break room and socialize (or just surf the web at your desk) so that you can refresh your mind and get back to work with increased productivity.

Prioritize your tasks and complete the ones that will create the most value for you and your organization. If you can, hand off the things that don’t matter as much (or that you don’t do well) to others that can help you. Asking for help shouldn’t be viewed as a sign of weakness! Instead, ask for help to encourage collaboration in the workplace, as well as to improve relationships with your coworkers.

It’s also worth noting that many of these tips can be used to be more productive outside of the workplace also. Practice having a good attitude, focusing on completing small tasks, and asking for help anytime you need a boost.

Tips for Business Owners:

The tips above will work for just about any Massachusetts employee. But what about for those of you that own a Boston small business? Because business owners have more control over what happens in their workplace, it’s up to you to create an atmosphere where employees want to succeed. Here are just a few examples of things that you can do to improve your workplace.

First, make sure that you are promoting a workplace that values employee’s quality of work – not just the quantity of work that they do. It also helps to encourage employees to participate in and foster a collaborative atmosphere, where asking for and giving help is encouraged.

As an employer, one of the most critical parts of your job is motivating and appreciating your employees. For some great ideas on employee appreciation, check out our Employee Appreciation Day blog post. You’ve got a lot on your plate as a business owner but taking a few minutes out of your day to recognize good work or notice an employee building better working habits can make a huge improvement in your business’s culture.

If you are a Massachusetts small business owner, you can also motivate your employees through your insurance policy offerings! Many studies say that employees who are offered top of the line health insurance and worker’s compensation policies are more motivated, so call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655 to talk about your business insurance policies – we can help you update your insurance to motivate your employees and therefore improve your business!

Recap: Insurance Mistakes

Posted on April 17, 2018May 25, 2018 by cvargas

“Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.” – Billy Graham

As the saying goes, “To err is human.” That doesn’t mean, however, that you should be ok with making easily avoidable mistakes. This includes the insurance mistakes that we detailed in our blog post last week! At Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency, our experienced Massachusetts insurance agents will give you advice and review your insurance policies to ensure that you don’t make common insurance mistakes like these:

Insuring your home for its market value instead of the cost to rebuild.
Not having a home inventory in the event that you suffer a major loss.
Skipping out on policies like flood insurance and umbrella insurance.
Buying only the minimum amount of liability insurance with your auto policy.
Forgetting to weigh in on the premium vs. deductible trade-off.
Paying for unnecessary business insurance policies.
Failing to update your insurance policies regularly.

Want a free and no-obligation insurance review? Just call our agency at 617-298-0655 to talk to a great Boston insurance agent about whether your policies will provide the necessary amount of coverage if you make a claim. Also take a minute to subscribe to our blog so that you don’t miss any of our great upcoming content, including insurance tips and tricks, summertime topics, life in Boston, and much more.

Recap: Business Disaster Plan

Posted on April 10, 2018May 25, 2018 by cvargas

“One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.” – Arnold H. Glasow

Massachusetts business owners: Did you see our post last week about business disaster plans? You never know when an emergency may strike, so the time to prepare is now. Create a disaster plan or refine your existing plan. Here are just a few tips from your Boston business insurance agency:

Create and practice an evacuation plan in case there is an emergency during business hours.
A communication plan is critical for disseminating information with employees about a disaster that has happened, and what they are expected to do during recovery.
Make an inventory of all of your business’s physical property in case of a loss.
Businesses that rely on digital data need a thorough and secure backup and recovery plan for files.
Having the right commercial insurance is critical – speak to your Massachusetts business insurance agent to check your policy for gaps.

If you need help with your business insurance policy, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655. We can get you a free business insurance quote or review your existing policy to make sure that you have coverage that will protect you thoroughly in case of an emergency. And program our 24/7 emergency line into your phone just in case you ever need to reach an agent outside of normal business hours: 617-322-5289.

Common Insurance Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Posted on April 9, 2018April 4, 2018 by cvargas

Making mistakes is a part of life. We are all guilty of having faults and making errors, but it’s important to do what you can to minimize your mistakes, especially the ones that could be costly. Insurance is a product meant to help you financially recover if something happens to something you value. That is why it is so important to have the right coverage. The agents here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency want to make sure that you are fully protected, so ensure that these common insurance mistakes don’t apply to you.

Home Insurance Mistakes

Insuring your home for its market value – If your home is destroyed, you will need to rebuild it. This is why most insurance professionals recommend that you insure your home for its rebuilding cost.
Thinking home insurance will always cover you – There are limits on every insurance policy, and home insurance is no different. For complete coverage, you may need to purchase additional riders or policies, like earthquake and flood insurance.
Skipping a home inventory – While we hope that you never have to deal with this, home insurance will cover you if you are ever the victim of a total loss. In that case, you will need to provide a list of possessions when you submit your claim. Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to make this list now, instead of trying to recall everything you own when it’s gone? That’s why we recommend making a home inventory!

If you don’t own a home, you’re not off the hook! Renters insurance and condo insurance are also available to make sure that you are completely covered even if you’re not a homeowner in the traditional sense. And these policies are very important!

Auto Insurance Mistakes

Buying the minimum possible amount of liability protection – As a driver in the state of Massachusetts, you are required to have a certain minimum amount of coverage. Some people buy just that amount, not realizing that they should purchase coverage above and beyond that amount. Talk to a Massachusetts car insurance expert to find out how much coverage they recommend before you scrape by without enough protection.
Ignoring coverage add-ons – When you purchase auto insurance, you will have several options that you can add to your policy. Instead of declining all of them to lower your cost, consider the added protection they will offer and if they make sense for you. Depending on your insurance provider and policy, this could include coverage for car rentals, roadside assistance, and more.
Not considering your deductible – When purchasing car insurance, you will have to consider the common insurance trade-off: deductible vs. premium. If you’re ok with spending a little more when you make a claim, you could have lower monthly payments. On the other hand, spending more on your premium could mean less of a cost when you have an issue.

There is a potential for an accident every time you get behind the wheel, so it’s important to make sure that you’re protected. Getting into a fender-bender or bumping into a neighbor’s mailbox is generally nothing to worry about, but you don’t want to cause a multi-car accident with serious injuries and then find out your underinsured.

Business Insurance Mistakes

Not enough coverage – The most common mistake when it comes to business insurance is simple: most businesses just don’t carry enough coverage. In fact, it’s almost impossible to have “too much” protection. Insurance is very cheap compared to the financial loss you would otherwise face, so talk to your insurance agent and see if you should increase your coverage.
Passing Up Liability Insurance – Did you see our blog post about Liability Insurance (aka Umbrella Insurance)? Having an umbrella over your existing business insurance is critical to ensure complete coverage, so don’t overlook this inexpensive way to add protection for your company.
Paying for unnecessary policies – Here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency, we know that each business is unique. That’s why we take the time to get to know you and your business to determine the types of protection that you need. You need an agent that is experienced in providing unique policies to small businesses.

There is also one general insurance mistake that anyone is capable of: not updating policies. As time goes on, your insurance needs change. This means that you should plan on a chat with your Massachusetts insurance agent at least once a year to make sure that your insurance policies are still tailored to your needs.

If you think that you may be making one of these insurance mistakes, or if you just want an insurance professional to review your policies for gaps in coverage, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655. We will do our best to ensure that your coverage is tailored to your needs, and that you will be able to rest easy if you ever need to file a claim on your Massachusetts home insurance, auto insurance, business insurance, or other policy.

Creating a Business Disaster Plan

Posted on April 2, 2018March 26, 2018 by cvargas

Most people are prepared for a disaster at home, they have an evacuation plan, a point of contact for the family, an emergency kit, and a home inventory for insurance purposes. Have you ever given any thought to creating a similar plan for your business?

Businesses aren’t immune to disaster, so it is critical that you have a plan – just in case the worst happens. You will need to take a few steps to formulate your plan depending on the disaster, and make sure that you share these plans with your employees so that everyone knows how to respond in case there is an emergency.

Evacuation Plan

If there is ever an emergency during business operations, your employees should know how to evacuate safely. Post evacuation maps through the building, and practice emergency drills throughout the year. If your business hosts customers, instruct employees on how to help them evacuate in a safe and calm manner.

Communication Plan

Disasters don’t always happen during regular business hours. If a disaster happens when no one is working, you will need to inform all employees about what has happened, and the steps that they need to take, including whether they will be expected to work from home or an interim location. Your communication plan may involve an email blast or a phone tree – or both!

Physical Property

If your business were affected by a fire, would you know exactly what was destroyed? Probably not. This is why it is critical to have an inventory of the physical property in your business. List everything that your business owns. This will include things like your furniture, electronics, décor, and even inventory. Then it will be up to you to keep this inventory up to date as you upgrade or purchase new items. Ask your Massachusetts business insurance agent what details they recommend recording about each item.

Keep a copy of your business’s full inventory list in an offsite location, which could be a safe deposit box, your personal property, or even in the cloud. This ensures that you will have access even if something happens to your business’s location. You may even want to keep an updated copy on file with your Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent for safe keeping!

Digital Data

Many businesses nowadays rely on digital data. If a disaster affected your computers, would you be able to recover? Make sure that all of your critical information is backed up to a secure location in the cloud so that losing your computers wouldn’t cripple your business. You can also ask your business insurance agent about digital liability insurance and equipment breakdown insurance for your digital business.

Off-Site Disaster

Your business would certainly be affected by a fire or flood, but think outside of the box: what if a disaster affected one of your suppliers, or an important client? Think about the possibility of losing each of these parties and create a back-up plan in the event that something happens. Being prepared ahead of time will greatly cut down on your response time if an issue arises.

Insurance Prep

Having the right Massachusetts business insurance is a crucial part of disaster recovery. If your business is affected by a fire, flood, theft, etc., your business insurance will help to put you back on track to getting back to normal – but only if you’re carrying the right types of coverage.

Talk to your insurance agent about whether your business is prepared to deal with the aftermath of potential disasters. A Vargas and Vargas Insurance rep can help you evaluate your commercial insurance coverage to ensure that you have all of the coverage that you need.

This means something else for every business, which is why we tailor business insurance policies to each of our clients. You may want to consider building coverage (including flood insurance), property and inventory coverage, tenant’s improvements coverage, coverage for extra expenses, and additional coverage to rebuild a damaged or destroyed building in compliance with building codes. As discussed above, digital liability insurance may also be something to consider. For added protection, our Massachusetts insurance experts may recommend an umbrella insurance policy for your business, especially if you are at an increased risk for liability issues.

Preventing a Disaster

Make sure that your business is prepared for the worst, but also take steps to minimize your risk of an emergency. For tips on how to make your business safer, stay tuned to our blogs for tips!

You never plan to be affected by an emergency – that’s what makes your disaster response plan so critical. Make sure that part of your plan is contacting your Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent. During business hours, call us at 617-298-0655. If you have an emergency outside of our normal hours, you can always call our 24/7 line at 617-322-5289. Program both of these numbers in your phone now for easy access if you ever need to reach us! We can help you get the best business insurance for your Massachusetts business.

Happy Spring! Do You Keep Waiting For Flowers To Bloom?

Posted on March 20, 2018 by cvargas

I hope that you are as excited as I am about today, today is the first day of Spring!

With all of this winters storms, this day is so much more special.

I know that it is just a date on the calendar, but it gives us reason to hope that the weather will be changing really soon.

I like to start my week with some words of wisdom,

“You’re frustrated because you keep waiting for the blooming of flowers of which you have yet to sow the seeds.” -Steve Maraboli

Do you have a stack of “stuff” that you intend to let go or get to, but never do?

I swear that my wife Kathy is the master of getting things done. She hates to see “stuff” stacked up anywhere. It’s a mindset. I have said before, she is super organized, she has a plan and is amazingly detailed on what she wants and does not want. It’s an addiction for her. Our son Matthew is just like Kathy, Jonathan and I are the exact opposites.

Stop Letting Things Pile Up
I have a silent little secret. It’s books, specifically the buying of books. I have decided that I am not going to buy any more books until I read (or given away) the ones that I have piled up. I’ve purchased many books thinking that they would be great reads, or that I would get some great ideas from them, but some have not even been looked at.

I have started taking notes on all the ideas that I think are useful and want to incorporate into my business and personal life from the books that I am reading. I am using Evernote to keep track of these ideas. I will work on implementing these new ideas as hard as I work to read the book.

I want you to do the same. I bet you’re subscribed to too many newsletters. Unsubscribe from the ones that are not serving you. And I mean MY Monday Morning Message and our connection, too. If you do not find my writing interesting, or useful, click Unsubscribe at the bottom of the email, or unfollow me on Linkedin. It won’t hurt my feelings at all.

You see, I am a believer in the philosophy of “out of everyone you meet, 25% will automatically take a liking to you, 25% will automatically hate you and the other 50% is undecided.” I write these messages for the 25% that like me and the 50% that are still undecided.

Stop Adding “Stuff” to Your Life
Are you one of those people who has a plan, not really following it, and so you start looking for a new plan? You may be thinking that you’re not the problem in this equation. You are. And I am too, sometimes.

Work on ONE plan. Give it all your effort. Execute that plan. THEN, if it’s not working you can abandon it and try another. You are better off having learned from this failure rather than never having tried it.

But neither you nor I have permission to think, “Hmm, I’m not actually doing this anyway, so I’ll go find something else to not do.” Give it your 100% or abandon it completely: half-hearted efforts are a total waste of your time. You won’t be helped by doing this… that’s last year’s mentality.

One at a Time
Setting habits is like farming – you need to plant the right seed, tend to it, water it, and with the right amount of sun, air, and fertilizer, you will soon be harvesting the benefits of your hard work. You can’t just throw your seeds into the fertile soil of your business and expect them all to sprout. They’ll choke each other out, be encroached on by weeds or be eaten by the birds (your competitors). It’s a waste of time, effort, and treasure!

Plant one seed variety at a time. Nurture it. See the results. And then grow.

Spring is here
Start cleaning now. Clean out the sources of information you’re no longer using. Clean out the abundance of half-started plans in your world. And work on what resonates with the one goal you need to work on FIRST.

It’s time to shut off the spigot of knowledge and ideas and drink what we have poured. Get into a more measured approach. Choose a path and let that guide you forward.

If you need some help elevating your business to the next level, I may be able to help. I have worked with some amazing people who needed help, and I have room to coach a couple of local business people. Just reply to this message and we can set up a time to meet so I can learn about you and your business and see if we are a good fit!

Have a great week!

Carlos

PS If you or a client, coworker, family member or a friend who would benefit from our high level of attention to service and competitive rates we provided, I would sincerely appreciate your recommendations.Please text our agency at 617-409-0329 or Click here

PPS What I learned today, “What was Leonardo Da Vinci’s real name” Click here to read more.

Consider a Strategic Business Alliance to Expand Client Base

Posted on March 13, 2018March 13, 2018 by cvargas

A business alliance with a company that provides products or services that complement those of your company may help you grow your business.

One reason to consider a business alliance is that it does not have to be a legal partnership requiring contracts and lawyers. You may team up in an informal arrangement with another business, to share customer contacts and marketing strategies. This type of group effort may save both businesses money.

When pooling your resources with that of another company, this may enable both of you to diversify your product and service offerings. This may have the potential of expanding your clientele considerably. You may pool your resources with advertising, internet marketing, participating in local festivals or trade shows, and effectively cut back on expenses.

Before you make a decision on a business alliance, you should do some research on how much business you potential business partner does, what kind of market presence they have. After all, you do not want to partner up with a business that is only waiting for you to send them business and not be reciprocating.

Should you not want to have such a structured framework for your business alliance, you may consider an arrangement in which your company and another company simply refer each other to customers for certain kinds of jobs. Any business expansion may bring with it a need for additional Massachusetts business insurance coverage. You may want to contact your agent to determine any extra policies you may need.*

If you have decided to start such an alliance, it’s important to move slowly and see if in fact you and your partner are really compatible in the “real world”. And many such alliances may make both partners look better.

When you experience business growth, you may want to consider reviewing your Massachusetts business insurance policies in case you need additional financial protection.

Should you have additional questions or wish to learn more about setting up an alliance, please call me at 617-298-0655 ext 101 or leave a message below.

Carlos

Recap: Employee Appreciation Day

Posted on March 6, 2018February 22, 2018 by cvargas

As you may remember from our blog last week, the first Friday in March is Employee Appreciation Day. So, how did your business celebrate? Did you bring in treats, or have lunch catered? More importantly, how are you going to ensure that employee appreciation becomes a regular part of your business, and integrated directly into your company’s culture?

You should show your employees that you care about them and their well-being and help them to realize that they are each important parts of the machine that is your business. Here are just a few ways to do this:

Occasionally (or regularly) cater lunch or treats for the office, or have a complimentary snack/drink station in the breakroom.
Celebrate the milestones of your employees, including birthdays, work anniversaries, and more.
Make “Thank you” something that you say often. Write employees a note of thanks, say “Thank you” when they go above and beyond the call of duty, and thank them in a meeting in front of their peers.

Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency cares for you, your business, and your business’s employees. Make sure all three of these are protected with the best business insurance from our agency. Call 617-298-0655 for a free business insurance quote, or to have your current insurance policy reviewed by one of our business insurance professionals.

Celebrating Employee Appreciation Day

Posted on February 26, 2018February 22, 2018 by cvargas

Every year on the first Friday in March, the US celebrates “Employee Appreciation Day.” It is an opportunity for businesses and business owners to acknowledge the hard work of their employees throughout the year.

The Origins of Employee Appreciation Day

Employee Appreciation Day isn’t a new holiday. In fact, it’s been around for more than twenty years! In 1995, a man named Bob Nelson created the holiday and celebrated it at his publishing company, Workman Publishing.

Mr. Nelson was also a founding board member of Recognition Professionals International, an organization that “brings awareness, credibility and accountability to employee recognition through best practices, tools, strategies, thought leadership, education and professional certification.”

Why You Should Celebrate

A business is only as good as its employees – and this goes for every type of business, from technology startups to restaurants to local stores and beyond.

It’s easy for a business to be so focused on increasing their bottom line that the people aspect of the business gets lost. Remember that your employees work hard and sacrifice a lot to do a great job for you and your business. For all of the nights that they stayed late or went above and beyond the call of duty while at work, a little appreciation goes a long way.

Treat your employees well, and they are more likely to look forward to coming in to work and put in that little bit of extra effort to make you proud. It’s also important to note that workplaces where employees feel appreciated have a lower turnover rate!

Ways to Show Your Appreciation

This day is all about recognition – your celebrations don’t have to be lavish in order to show your employees how much they mean to you and to your business. Here are just a few ideas that you can use in your Massachusetts small business:

Food is always a good place to start when it comes to showing appreciation. Bring in treats for your employees, whether it’s homemade confections, a spread from a local bakery, catered lunch (or a lunch outing), you will be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t like free food!
A small gift is also a great way to show appreciation. Purchase something for each employee or get gift cards. You can also bring in a massage therapist and give the gift of an in-office massage.
Have you considered a company outing? Come up with a few ideas and have employees vote on the activity they want. Bowling, laser tag, karaoke, an escape room – all are great options!
A blanket ‘Thank You’ is nice, but you should try to go above and beyond – recognize each employee for their individual contributions to the business. Give a specific example of a time when they did great work. It’s up to you whether you want this to be in a written personal note or spoken during an Appreciation meeting.
You can also tell your employees that you appreciate their efforts is by giving them some unexpected time off. Even just shortening the workday by a couple of hours will make a big impact and will be well worth the small amount of productivity lost.

Don’t Stop There!

Celebrating Employee Appreciation Day in March is a great place to start in showing employees that you care and appreciate them. Just remember, though, that your employees are the backbone of your business. Is one day a year really enough to say a proper “Thank You?” Make employee appreciation a cornerstone of your business by including some of the following ideas into your routine:

Encourage a culture of appreciation. Hold a regular meeting (quarterly, monthly, or even weekly) where employees are encouraged to appreciate one another. This is a great opportunity to give out an “Employee of the ___” award.
Show that you care about your employees by celebrating the milestones in their lives. This could include birthdays, work anniversaries, weddings – the opportunities are endless!
Say “Thank You” often. There’s nothing as rewarding as hearing those two simple words, so speak them frequently and honestly.

When they occur often, small acts of kindness and appreciation will make your employees feel like the valuable parts of your business that they are.

Let us help you show your employees how much you care about your business with a five-star business insurance policy. One of our Massachusetts insurance experts can review your current policy to ensure that you don’t have any gaps in your coverage. We can also check to see if you could get better or less expensive coverage from another carrier. Just call 617-298-0655 for a free commercial insurance quote or review.

Remember, we are an independent insurance agency – that means we work for you, and we will ensure that your business will get the best available protection so that you can focus on helping your employees excel and increasing your bottom line.

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