MetroMoms R Us

Here we are again, another winter season upon us and the accidents are starting to pile up, literally. In the insurance business this is also the time of year we see an increase in claims.

I was on the phone with a friend the other day and all he could say every 5 minutes while driving home was "wow, another one!?". Yes, another car in a ditch, overturned vehicle or patrol car with flashing lights on the side of the freeway. So, let's try to be safe.

7 Tips for Winter Driving

1. Slow down and don't rush. Be sure to give yourself extra time to get to your destination. It's better you make it there, than not. This also means, drive slower on the roads which will give you enough time to react to sudden changes or stops.
2. Eliminate distractions. If you have passengers, make sure they're buckled and minimize the amount of talking you do as the driver. If you have pets, make sure they're secure in a cage. Drinking soda, coffee or eating is another distraction. Be sure these are done beforehand, your full attention is important while you drive.
3. Prepare your vehicle. Make sure your car is ready for the winter cold. Check the fluid levels, tires and wiper blades. In the mornings, while your car is warming up - check your mirrors, scrape off snow and make sure your lights work properly. This is also the time to pop in the CD you want, turn to the radio station you like or enter the destination address on your GPS device - all things that should be done before your drive.
4. Check the weather and road conditions. You can look online with a local TV station or call 1-800-ROADWIS. Decide if it's worth the risk. If you must drive, know your alternate routes if the primary one is not the best.
5. Carry a cell phone. Be sure you can call for help if you need it. Having a cell phone should actually be something you do all year round. You just never know when you're going to need it. Nowadays, cell phones also come with a digital camera. This is handy, since you should take photos, if involved in an accident.
   
6. Fill your gas tank. A 5-minute drive can easily turn into a 30-minute commute with more accidents on the road, lane closures and slow driving. So, be sure you have plenty of gas in the car. If you do get stranded because of an empty tank, check your insurance policy for roadside assistance coverage. Typically, the service is free, the only thing you would pay for is the cost of gas.
7. Tell someone where you're going. Especially, if you are traveling long distance. If you have friends or family who will be expecting you, let them know when you plan to arrive and on what route you will be taking. Tell someone even if it's a trip in-town, that way help can arrive quicker if you need it.

Ever stop to wonder if there was a better way of doing things? Well, I want to share a couple things I’ve picked up in business and in life:

Automation – I’m a big believer in automation, and I’m not talking about robotic automation - but rather, the processes that run automatically without you having to put much manual labor into them. Automation can minimize the potential for error and give you consistent results time-and-time again. The important thing is to identify which processes in your business or life you can automate, so they run smoothly. Hence, you have fewer worries.

As moms, we’re naturals at getting our spouse or kids into a normal routine. Sometimes they do things around the house without any direction from you. You’ve got them automated and they don’t even know it. Your business, job or life should be no different. Identify a process that you manually perform and see if you can automate it. See if it can run with less hand-holding or be run completely on its own.

Eliminate the Waste – One thing I’ve learned from my Six Sigma training is to review your work flow and get rid of all the waste - the steps that don’t add any value or are unproductive. We’ve all heard the saying, “time is money”? Well, as an entrepreneur, business professional or mother - your time is valuable. So, focus on steps that propel you forward, and not on the ones that take you two steps back or slow you down. These types of wastes can be distractions in our lives.

So how do you identify waste? One example would be to document what you did on a daily basis. You might be surprised to find out what your day is really like. Then, review your document at the end of the week and look for steps that are unnecessary and eliminate them. But, remember to also look for patterns. For instance, look for tasks that you seem to perform multiple times in one day, and then ask yourself if it’s necessary.  You may be able to consolidate the task and perform it a few times a week instead of daily.

I hope these tidbits of information help, and I look forward to any comments. Thanks!