During our annual Happy Hour Socials, we have a "What's the BIG idea?" contest. Here are the winning entries from the last three years: 2012 - DELIVERANCE FROM RECEIPTS - by Agape Construction This is a mini-game to reward employees for reducing the number of trips they were making to Home Depot/Lowe's. This saves time for both the employees in the field and for accounting processing all those receipts, thus saving them a significant amount of money.

Be a Sleuth. Find the Waste. Reducing expenses. That has become a business mantra during this prolonged economic malaise. Most small businesses have tightened their belts, scouring every line on the income statement. Switching suppliers or brands. Buying less. Toeing the mark on salaries. Delaying hiring. Reducing headcount. Buying used instead of new. Less travel. Doing more with less.

Could you use a win? The last few years have left many small businesses battered and bloodied, just hoping to cover the next payroll. Is it getting better? If you’re the one in dire straits it probably doesn’t seem like things are improving. Your team feels it, too. Cut-backs and pay freezes aren’t fun for anyone. Maybe you’ve cut expenses to the bone, lost some key customers and generally hunkered down. If so, you and your people may have forgotten what it felt like to win.