HAPPY NEW YEAR!! We hope you enjoyed your Christmas break and are back at work all fired up to make 2009 an awesome year. We are determined that this year will be our most successful ever —and so far our January is busier than its ever been at this time of year.

The staff at Randall & Associates Ltd are an amazing bunch of people. We have some exciting plans for 2009 - we hope you'll come along with us for the ride. To start off the year we will be running another seminar - this time focusing on FEA and a few new rules & regs that LTSA have thrown at us. Please come along and join us - not only will you be well informed (not to mention well fed & watered), but you'll also be networking with other people in your industry and that is what is going to help us all get through what lies ahead.

In this newsletter we tell you a bit about one of our 'Young Engineers', Nick, and introduce you to Randall & Associates Ltd's latest team member Mike, who will be working for us on a contract basis.

We look forward to meeting up with you again soon.

Bev.

.

SEMINAR PROGRAMME—2009

We are still finalising details, but so far we have FREE seminars/focus groups planned for:

19th Feb: 2pm to 5pm (with drinks & nibbles/barbecue afterwards).

This get-together will cover a bit of what we have been doing (and introduce you personally to one of our exciting projects), an introduction to FEA (finite element analysis), anything new in the rules & regulations that happens to pop up, and a question and answer session. We hope to have time to take a tour around the room so you can tell us any interesting projects you have on the go at the moment too.

19th Mar: 2pm to 5pm (same deal with drinks & nibbles)

Covering the brake rule and proposed amendments, what's hot in the engineering field at present, any topics you suggested/wanted to cover after Feb's meeting.

BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW!!! There are no charges for these - you are our guests! These will be held at the Palmerston North office of Randall & Associates Ltd.

You are welcome to register your interest in attending them by either phoning us (0800 762 763) or registering online or emailing us. We plan to have action strategies, brilliant idea brainstorming, guest speakers, information, and a jolly nice feed & a few drinks afterwards.

NOTE: Seminars are underway for Wanganui and Hawkes Bay too—more details to follow.

"Its not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it" Lou Holtz

RANDALL & ASSOCIATES LTD KARTING CHALLENGE

We have a challenge! The younger guys here at Randall & Associates Ltd are organising a Karting Challenge. We are still working out the details, but it looks like there will be teams of 3-5 drivers (and as many supporters as you can muster) who compete in a Grand Prix at the kart track. We will have more details in our next newsletter, but you might like to float it around at your work smoko breaks & see if you can get together a team to race against us. We hope to have HEAPS of businesses participating and can imagine it will lead to much hilarity, competitiveness, team-building, and possibly a few broken bones. For more information, contact our Team Manager—Nick (email: nick@randall.co.nz) or give him a call at 0800 762 763.

Check out our BLOG pages

10 New Year Resolutions to Boost Your Business

We subscribe to an excellent newsletter put out by Sitepoint who are web designers, but also very pro-active in business development. They recently sent out an interesting article about boosting business & they believe we should set 10 New Years Resolutions for our business. I'll let you follow up on these if you wish (just click the link to the Sitepoint website), but there are a few of them I'd like to share here with you - and maybe suggest a couple of ways we at Randall & Associates Ltd can help you boost your business.

Resolution # 1) Start setting goals - and lets face it, if you don't know where you want to be, its a bit useless getting in the car & driving aimlessly around isn't it. Don't hesitate to contact us if you want any help with attaining those goals! You never know what assistance we will be able to provide and we're more than happy to help with advice. We can help you design smarter and better - we have HEAPS of experience in so many different things - and we have an awesome group of people who are very good at bouncing ideas around to come up with innovative solutions.

---

2) Ask a client for a referral - see below where we give you a nice discount off your next account if you refer a new client to us.

---

3) Focus on profit, not turnover - its a bit useless making a great turnover but it only translating into a small profit. Now here's an important one - we should all be doing this one! ESPECIALLY these days.

Lets say that previously, times were good and you decided to employ a competent technical person as you had the need. Things are now slowing down, there is less work for them to do and you need to concentrate on your core activity of nice work for nice people at a reasonable cost.

Say you pay that person $65k PA (qualified technical person), direct employment cost is 1.7 times that figure that's $110,000 PA ($55/hr). Say 25% (500hrs) of that time they are doing the job that you employed them for, 50% (1000hrs) of the time they are doing basic admin tasks that could be done by a less skilled person on say $35k (employment cost $60k pa) and the remaining 25% of that time gets frittered away on who knows what.

So you have spent $110k, you have saved $30k as you didn't have to employ a basic admin person, making the net cost of $80k for that technical person If you divide that true cost by the number of hours that they actually worked doing the work that you employed them for, the true hourly rate is $160/hr

Technical work is our job - our passion.

Four main points that are often overlooked

1. Our charges represent true value for money as we only work when you want us, we have a wide range of skills, cumulatively we have a huge range of experience to draw upon.

2. We value your custom and treat in strict confidence all of your intellectual property.

3. We work for you, and within reason, can provide the services when and as requested. Supporting us enables us to employ the staff to support you.

SO, GIVE US A CALL - we can help you free up that cash to make your profit shine through.

---

4) Create products that generate income. Ask about our design and production optimisation service where we can come and take a look at your processes to see if we can generate more income for you by tweaking your design and/or specifications.

5) Delegate effectively (see 3 above)

---

6) Focus on client service. Our clients matter - and they always have. We expect you to have the best experience possible when dealing with us - please let us know if that is not the case.

---

10) Build rock-solid procedures to make your business run more efficiently. Gosh isn't that important at the moment! Once again, see above!

SPECIAL OFFER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need your referrals (and I'm sure you'd be happy to have ours as well!). For every new client you refer to us (who undertakes to use our services), we will take $100 off your next account with us. Just introduce your contact to us and we'll do the rest. We PROMISE that we will provide them with our customary best service so that we don't let you down (cos there's nothing worse than referring someone and then finding that the company you referred them to did a dreadful job for them and they are unhappy, not only with that company, but also with you!).

SNIPPETS FROM PERSONNEL FILES

* Since my last report this employee has reached rock bottom and started to dig
* His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of curiosity
* I would not allow this employee to breed
* Works well when constantly supervised and cornered, like a rat in a trap
* He would be out of his depth in a car park puddle
* This person has delusions of adequacy
* He sets low personal standards and constantly fails to achieve them
* This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot
* Got into the gene pool when the lifeguard wasn't watching
* This man should go far, and the sooner he starts the better
* A room temperature IQ
* Got a full six pack but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together
* A gross ignoramus, i.e... 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus
* A photographic memory but the lens cover is still on
* A prime candidate for natural de-selection
* One celled organisms outscore him in IQ tests
* Donated his body to science before he was finished using it
* Fell out of the family tree
* Lights flashing and gates down but no sign of the train
* He has two brains, one lost and the other is out looking for it
* If brains were taxed she would get a rebate
* If he was any more stupid he would need to be watered twice a week
* If you offered a penny for his thoughts you would get change
* If you stand close enough to him you can hear the sea
* It's hard to believe he beat 1,000,000 other sperm
* Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, this one only gargled
* Takes him an hour and a half to skive for 60 minutes
* Wheel is turning but hamster gone

MEET THE STAFF - Nick Murphy

Nick Murphy

This month we'd like to introduce you to Nick Murphy. Nick is one of our design engineers - and he also happens to be engaged to the bosses' daughter Becky. Nick & Becky have been together for many years now.

Nick comes from a hands on background - he obtained his Trade Certificate in Heavy Fabrication whilst working at Kernohan Engineering in Nelson. Nick spent a lot of time as an engineer on fishing boats and has travelled all around the world.

A Diploma in Mechanical Engineering was gained from Canterbury Polytechnic & soon after, Nick applied for the Design Engineer job at Randall & Associates Ltd. He really was the very best applicant for the job and we were only too happy to be able to offer him employment.

Becky & Nick at our Christmas Seminar

Since coming to Randalls, Nick has been involved in some exciting projects and has demonstrated the benefit of having the hands on experience when it comes to designing things that make sense! At present we have him working full time on designing trailers for a large manufacturing company in Pahiatua.

Nick is addicted to great coffee, fine food and wine, and loves his dobermann Spike (although isn't too keen on Becky's beagle Nelly). He joins several of our other staff in working out at the gym - and undoes all that good work with the occasional meat pie at smoko (but we don't let Becky know that).

Nick's partner Becky is in her 4th year at vet school and they are to be married in April this year (I'm sure we'll be including a few photos in our April newsletter!).

INTRODUCING..... Mike Foulston.

Mike is joining us on a contract basis and we are honoured to have him aboard. He demonstrates all the qualities that we here at Randalls hold dear - he is innovative, a high achiever, honest with high integrity and very goal orientated.

Mike has had a wealth of experience, training as a mechanical engineer in England, working in South Africa (with several managerial roles), owning his own businesses, and working in New Zealand in companies such as Fruehauf Trailers and McKechnie Metals (again in managerial roles).

It is our pleasure to introduce you to Mike and to welcome him to the Randall & Associates Ltd family. If you would like to contact Mike, he is available by email (mikef@randall.co.nz) or by phoning the Palmerston North office (0800 762 763).

Friday Innovation Frenzy

We consider it important to keep our engineers on their toes - AND to constantly stretch and extend them. With this in mind, we have a new initiative for 2009. For the last 2 hours of each Friday, we are having a 'Friday Innovation Frenzy' session whereby we sit around the table (with a few refreshments) and brainstorm ideas for new inventions. To date, we think we may have come up with something that will benefit a local education provider. We're still at the early research stage, but watch this space......

In the meantime, if you've ever uttered - 'why hasn't someone come up with something that....', then come & see us & we'll add it to our list.

At Randall & Associates Ltd, we make it our mission to keep you as informed as possible. As we have often stated, we have many thousands of man hours of experience in the engineering field - and with that, many man hours of experience in life. The knowledge gained from this experience has allowed us to be able to compile the following which may be of help in those times where you just don't know.....

Argument Knowledge Definitions

FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they feel they are right and you need to shut up. Never use "fine" to describe how a woman looks - this will cause you to have one of those arguments.

FIVE MINUTES
This is half an hour. It is equivalent to the five minutes that your football game is going to last before you take out the trash, so it's an even trade.

NOTHING
This means "something," and you should be on your toes. "Nothing" is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards. "Nothing" usually signifies an argument that will last "Five Minutes" and end with "Fine"

GO AHEAD (With Raised Eyebrows)
This is a dare. One that will result in a woman getting upset over "Nothing" and will end with the word "Fine"

GO AHEAD (Normal Eyebrows)
This means "I give up" or "do what you want because I don't care" You will get a "Raised Eyebrow Go Ahead" in just a few minutes, followed by "Nothing" and "Fine" and she will talk to you in about "Five Minutes" when she cools off.

LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot at that moment, and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"

SOFT SIGH
Again, not a word, but a non-verbal statement. "Soft Sighs" mean that she is content. Your best bet is to not move or breathe, and she will stay content.

THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before paying you back for whatever it is that you have done. "That's Okay" is often used with the word "Fine" and in conjunction with a "Raised Eyebrow."

GO AHEAD!
At some point in the near future, you are going to be in some mighty big trouble.

PLEASE DO
This is not a statement, it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have done. You have a fair chance with the truth, so be careful and you shouldn't get a "That's Okay"

THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not faint. Just say you're welcome.

THANKS A LOT
This is much different from "Thanks." A woman will say, "Thanks A Lot" when she is really ticked off at you. It signifies that you have offended her in some callous way, and will be followed by the "Loud Sigh." Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the "Loud Sigh," as she will only tell you "Nothing"

AND, an explanation from one of our American friends on the current oil crisis in the USA.

THE OIL SHORTAGE

A lot of folks can't understand how we came to have an oil shortage here in the United States of America.

Well, there's a very simple answer. Nobody bothered to check the oil!!. We just didn't know we were getting low. The reason for that is purely geographical.

Our OIL is located in: Alaska, California, Oklahoma and Texas

Our DIPSTICKS are located in Washington DC.

That's it for this time. Please make sure you register for our upcoming seminars. If you are not able to attend on the days mentioned, contact us to see if we can slot another one in somewhere.

Take care and have a wonderful Jan-Feb!!

Andrew, Bev, Brenda, Hayden, Marion, Michael, Mike, Nick, Nigel & Noel