Business can be an adventure!

Connie Laughlin

Do the things you went into business to do! This is one I never regretted. Fifteen years ago, during a lull between corporate careers, I was partners in a video production and outdoor adventure consulting agency. Brought in for my marketing skills alone, I knew nothing about video production or hunting when I started this new venture.
I found myself on a crash course learning about various trophy animals and world-wide hunting and fishing adventures, visiting lodges and meeting guides, along with the fine art of video production. A six-month agreement turned into a couple years of incredible excursions.
While marketing this business I couldn’t help but learn simple ins and outs of videography. I wrote a functional script for each production, performed some camera work and editing, and even a bit of voice-over. I designed a monthly newsletter featuring specially-priced fishing and hunting deals from all over the globe that we were booking, placed a video fishing guide series in Academy, and, I traveled!
I never dreamed I’d be flying around the remote bush of Alaska in a float plane, fly-fishing spawning salmon, stalking coastal brown bears, or south of the border on bird hunts, getting aerial footage out of a powerchute, plus many other wild outdoor experiences.
One interesting first for me was visiting “Highroller,” a world-class whitetail living on an Amish farm in Ohio. I was in a mobile vet clinic, standing over the gurney holding this tranquilized 386 B&C buck as the guys from Texas Trophy Hunters were at one end scoring him, while at the other end scientific deer breeders were busy doing what they do.
Booking and videoing these incredible hunting and fishing adventures and getting paid for it was literally beyond my wildest imagination!

Leave the administration to others! In any business you’re sure to find yourself so busy finishing current projects and drumming up new jobs you aren’t appropriately handling the finite details of running a business with respect employee administration. Most business owners aren’t adequately trained to oversee HR without putting their business at risk!
Do consider outsourcing your HR solution to increase production and protect your business. Camera crews, editing pro’s, and extra hands need more than a script, they need to know the rules and regulations of a business. They need to know they’re employed by a business that cares enough to provide this support, plus benefits – a professional company!
Fully formed human resources departments in a small to medium sized organization aren’t realistic. First off, if you plan to hire a HR pro that’s certified, are you ready to pay 6 figures? There’s an alternative, it’s a professional employer organization (PEO).
Seriously, who can keep up with new worksite employee laws, employee risk and claims management, and safety training when you just want to get your employees paid. Overseeing the administrative duties for employees is time consuming even though you’re probably outsourcing payroll to one place, workers’ compensation to your agent, safety is provided by yet another vender and so it goes. You might feel rather drawn-out dealing with various venders especially when you just booked your next job to video a brown bear hunting concession, and you’re on the road, again.
Connie Laughlin is a business consultant for UniqueHR. For more information on outsourcing your human resources, you may contact Connie at 361-852-6392 or conniel@uniquehr.com


Business can be an adventure! Connie Laughlin Do the things you went into business to do! This is one I never regretted. Fifteen years ago, during a lull between corporate careers, I was partners in a video production and outdoor adventure consulting agency. Brought in for my marketing skills alone, I knew nothing about video production or hunting when I started this new venture. I found myself on a crash course learning about various trophy animals and world-wide hunting and fishing adventures, visiting lodges and meeting guides, along with the fine art of video production. A six-month agreement turned into a couple years of incredible excursions. While marketing this business I couldn’t help but learn simple ins and outs of videography. I wrote a functional script for each production, performed some camera work and editing, and even a bit of voice-over. I designed a monthly newsletter featuring specially-priced fishing and hunting deals from all over the globe that we were booking, placed a video fishing guide series in Academy, and, I traveled! I never dreamed I’d be flying around the remote bush of Alaska in a float plane, fly-fishing spawning salmon, stalking coastal brown bears, or south of the border on bird hunts, getting aerial footage out of a powerchute, plus many other wild outdoor experiences. One interesting first for me was visiting “Highroller,” a world-class whitetail living on an Amish farm in Ohio. I was in a mobile vet clinic, standing over the gurney holding this tranquilized 386 B&C buck as the guys from Texas Trophy Hunters were at one end scoring him, while at the other end scientific deer breeders were busy doing what they do. Booking and videoing these incredible hunting and fishing adventures and getting paid for it was literally beyond my wildest imagination! Leave the administration to others! In any business you’re sure to find yourself so busy finishing current projects and drumming up new jobs you aren’t appropriately handling the finite details of running a business with respect employee administration. Most business owners aren’t adequately trained to oversee HR without putting their business at risk! Do consider outsourcing your HR solution to increase production and protect your business. Camera crews, editing pro’s, and extra hands need more than a script, they need to know the rules and regulations of a business. They need to know they’re employed by a business that cares enough to provide this support, plus benefits – a professional company! Fully formed human resources departments in a small to medium sized organization aren’t realistic. First off, if you plan to hire a HR pro that’s certified, are you ready to pay 6 figures? There’s an alternative, it’s a professional employer organization (PEO). Seriously, who can keep up with new worksite employee laws, employee risk and claims management, and safety training when you just want to get your employees paid. Overseeing the administrative duties for employees is time consuming even though you’re probably outsourcing payroll to one place, workers’ compensation to your agent, safety is provided by yet another vender and so it goes. You might feel rather drawn-out dealing with various venders especially when you just booked your next job to video a brown bear hunting concession, and you’re on the road, again. Connie Laughlin is a business consultant for UniqueHR. For more information on outsourcing your human resources, you may contact Connie at 361-852-6392 or conniel@uniquehr.com
2018 Alice Business Today - November 2018