Be the Boss Magazine- May-June 2013 by Be The Boss Magazine

Be the Boss Magazine

May-June 2013

thoughts before coffee lET THERE BE TEA!

I don’t care what business you’re in!

breakout facilitors wanted! LIFE CHANGING CONFERENCE

credibility & consistency

Meet lisa cain and jennifer martin

The Life Changing Conference........................... 4

PUBLISHERS Right Brain Publishing Shelly Rice and Margie Baxley

I Don’t Care What Business You’re In!............... 3 Enjoy the Chocolate.............................................. 6 Chocolate Shopping Show................................... 8 Harness the Power of Mobile Marketing.......... 10

CONTRIBUTORS

STOP wasting time and money TODAY........... 13

Shelly Rice Dayna Offutt Robert New Michelle Ketterman Peter Biadasz Jennifer Martin Lisa Cain K. Andre’ Ankton Darby Rae Mary Ann Slinn Chef Rita Lane Boseman Tonya Hoffman Dayna Offutt

Spring Pruning....................................................... 14 SLINNTERNET WEBCENTERS......................... 18 Credibility and Consistency................................ 20 Marketing Cash For Your Book Or Company -Obtaining Corporate Sponsors.......................... 24 Soul Food vs Southern Food............................... 28 Let There Tea!......................................................... 30 Tonya Hoffman...................................................... 32 Successfully Failing at Procatination................. 35 Your Finances......................................................... 37 Thoughts Before Coffee........................................ 38 PREFERRED Business Directory........................ 44

enjoy the chocolate

chocolate blues and business networking festivals Written by: Jennifer Martin When I sat down to write this article, I was a little overwhelmed at what to say, quite honestly. Where do I begin? How I can I make all that I want to say fit onto one page and at the same time be interesting enough for anyone to read? There’s a million things I could say about this event that is educational, general, specific, entertaining, and overall positive. Do I start with talking about all the businesses that have been transformed in an upward direction over the past 10 years this event has been around? The jobs that the event has helped create? The millions of dollars of referrals that have been given at this event? The changes that are coming for Chocolate Blues? Can you see where I get overwhelmed? About two years ago I met a lady that forever changed my world, Shelly Rice. Shelly is the founder and former owner of this 10 year old event and she has 24 years experience in directing all sorts of events across the nation. She had wanted to step back from Chocolate Blues back then but knew that the event needed continue so she made the decision about a year and a half ago to incorporate a support system of Area Directors. Personally, I don’t know how she did it for so long like she did, but I am so thankful that she continued to grow the event and the brand, creating the opportunity for all of us to be involved. I became one of the Area Directors, planning events in Kentucky and Tennessee, and in January 2013 I took over the event company as the new owner and CEO. In short, I was baptized in the chocolate! Being an attendee, a vendor, an Area Director, and now the CEO for

the event has been quite a personal revolution for me. I truly appreciate each perspective that one can have with our event and can appreciate the full potential this event has nationally. There is no doubt that Chocolate Blues is entering a new cycle of growth and changes, of which I am honored to be a part of that change. I genuinely have a passion and fire for this event and all of the people that it affects. I have a great vision for Chocolate Blues and plan to take it to the “next level” for everyone. Currently, we have a team Area Directors and sales support individuals, and we now have a Creative Director. My vision for Chocolate Blues is to put a greater emphasis on the relationship aspect of networking, continue and enhance the unique and fun environment to do business networking in, bring a stronger benefit to the table for vendors and sponsors, have a minimum amount of 50 active Directors conducting 2-3 events per year each, all 50 states with a Director present in them, and minimum 100 events actively being promoted at any given time. The plan to reach this vision and goal is to enhance the branding for Chocolate Blues, makeover the website and provide more interactive information for vendors, bring on National Sponsors that will lend to high profile attention, establish a more mature and unified press promotion process, create a more comprehensive Director training program, offer continuing education access to the Directors for developments in marketing strategies, create an organized resource pool for enhanced marketing materials, research and negotiate technological resources to optimize organization and time management for the Directors, develop Chocolate Blues News Blog, and to unify the event by fostering a higher yield of cross promotion and skill sharing among everyone involved. I plan to create any necessary resource, partnership, and/or system in order to achieve this vision fully by the close of 2015. I am committed to making sure that the event’s integrity, the sponsors’ and vendors’ needs and

desires, the Directors’ needs, and the overall success of each event is my priority. I would like to invite everyone to explore the possibility of becoming involved with Chocolate Blues events in other cities, to expand your network and build national relationships for the longterm benefit of your small business. I would also like to end with a request that if you are reading this, to please search your network and connect me with people nationally who might be a good candidate to become an Area Director. I will personally answer any questions about that particular position, so please connect with me for more information! Shelly Rice has built an amazing foundation for this event and I plan to build a strong framework for a successful event that can be a “home” for business networking nationally. Thank you to coming to this event and being relationshipfocused for your business! Enjoy the chocolate! CEO & Owner Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Festivals jennifer@bizfestival.com www.BizFestival.com

On January 28, 2013 Lisa Cain took over the helm as CEO/National Director of the Chocolate & Shopping Shows. Armed with over 25 years in sales and marketing and with all the knowledge of our Founder Shelly Rice has provided, we are moving the Chocolate & Shopping Show forward on the fast track. With over 30 shows scheduled for this year and several more in the works for 2013, the year has started off with a bang. We currently have shows from Memphis to Boston, Jacksonville to Ogden and many places in between. We are often told to following our passion and shows are my truly my passion, connecting with vendors before, during and after our shows and being genuinely interested in their business, their accomplishments and their success. The Chocolate & Shopping Shows is creating a great avenue for our vendors to get their message out. We craft low cost, well produced, and well attended show on Saturday’s at area malls throughout the country. On show day the excitement starts at 7 AM when we arrive at the mall to get ready to great our vendors. After all our vendors are set up and the mall is opened to the public I looked around and say WOW this is truly amazing and awesome. The best way to describe the feeling, for me it’s like watching your child walk across the stage at graduation. I get chill bumps as I watch our vendors as they start creating their own relationships, as they greet potential customers throughout the day and share their stories and opportunities. There are not words to describe the passion for what is created on our take on support Small Business Saturday. Often times I’m asked “What is the Chocolate and Shopping Show?” The Chocolate and Shopping Show is a business to consumer vendor show. These shows are free to the community and it features a wide variety of local small businesses. These local businesses have the opportunity to showcase their products and services, share samples, give demonstrations and conduct drawings. Our goal is to help business owner build and grow their business by providing them a platform to reach their target demographic with our One Day ONLY Mall Shows. In addition stimulate the local economy with a little fun, free chocolate and lots of door prizes.

Join us for Sweet Treats and Sweet Deals in the following cities: 6/22/13

Altamonte Spring, FL

6/22/13

Boston, MA

8/03/13

Alpharetta, GA

8/17/13

Sanford, FL

8/24/13

Savannah, GA

8/24/13

Jonesboro, AR

8/24/13

Ogden, UT

9/07/13

Little Rock, AR

9/21/13

Hoover, AL

9/21/13

Jacksonville, FL

9/28/13

Florence, KY

9/28/13

Memphis, TN (Wolf Chase Mall)

10/05/13

Muncie, IN

10/05/13

Champaign. IL

10/12/13

Charlotte, NC

10/12/13

Irving TX

10/26/13

Sugarland, TX

11/02/13

Memphis, TN (Oak Court Mall)

Vendor opportunities are available for each show. For more information or to register for an event call 901-766-6920 or go to our website https://www.chocolateshoppingshow.com/ and register online. Additional shows are currently in the works for 2013 be sure and check our website often for new dates and locations. With additional dates and locations comes GREAT Opportunity for growth. We are currently seeking Directory in cities all around the country to produce these wonderful shows. We will provide you with the tools you need to produce success events. Our goal is to have a Directory in all 50 states by 2016. If you have a passion for shows and love working with fellow business owners Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talk! Feel free to reach out to Lisa Cain at 901-766-6920 or go to our website https:// www.chocolateshoppingshow.com/About_Us_Contact_Us.html and we will have a conversation about opportunities in your area. Lisa Cain CEO/National Director The Chocolate and Shopping Show Phone: 901.766.6920 lisa@bizfestival.com www.chocolateshoppingshow.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TheChocolateAndShoppingShow

HARNESS THE POWER OF MOBILE MARKETING Let me ask you a question, how many people do you know that do not own a mobile phone? In this technology savvy age, that number must be zero or something close to that. In fact, most people carry their cell phones with them at all times and many of them go to bed with their phones right by their sides. The fact that mobile phones have become somewhat of an “attachment” to their owners is the main reason Mobile Marketing is causing ripples in the marketing world. If you want to reach out to your prospects and customers, what better way than to contact them on a device that is nearest and dearest to their hearts? Marketing to mobile devices is one of the most direct forms of marketing to ever exist. The use of mobile phones to convey your messages is also inexpensive compared to other forms of advertising. The world is controlled by the media and businesses have no option but to adopt the best strategies to market their products and services. By “best,” we mean methods that will achieve the desired goal within a short time while keeping the cost at minimum levels. This is the perfect description of Mobile Marketing, which consists of many different techniques that allow you to engage with your mobile audience. For instance, with Text Message Marketing, you have the ability to send a message to thousands of customers with a press of a single button. Marketing your business using mobile devices is as good as having thousands of people in the same area wearing t-shirts advertising your business every day. Technology is moving fast and businesses must move with it by embracing the use of Mobile Marketing to popularize their brands and increase their customer base. In fact, mobile phone internet usage is expected to exceed desktop internet usage by 2014. Therefore, even more people will be glued to their mobile devices performing internet searches. Currently more than 50% of all local searches are being done from mobile devices.

The driving force in the success of Mobile marketing is its cost effectiveness and the ability to reach your audience instantly: · SMS/Text Message marketing is “permission-based,” which means your customers opt-in to receive your offers. · Over 90% of the SMS/text messages you send will be read within minutes of being sent. · Mobile coupons and other offers receive 10 times the redemption rate of traditional advertising methods. · Create your own mobile app that allows your customers to reach you from the tap of an icon. · Almost all of your customers will have their mobile phones with them at all times, which ensures that your messages will actually reach your target audience. · Mobile marketing is much more affordable than other advertising and promotion methods; yet, it yields greater results that can be tracked. These benefits alone show you exactly why this form of marketing could be exactly what you need to boost your ROI. Many smaller businesses, including your competitors, are moving to methods like this to increase sales while cutting their marketing costs at the same time. Increasing profits and expanding the reach of your business can easily be accomplished by branching out into this new-age digital form of marketing. How can mobile marketing grow your business? Request a free consultation by visiting http://www.txtmobi.com. Visit the free resources page for educational videos, tips, newsletter, and special free eBook.

K. Andre’ Ankton, Mobile Solutions Strategist http://www.AndreAnkton.com http://www.youtube.com/innovarusmedia - Youtube channel text “Ankton” to 71441

Darby Rae

7 Keys to Courageous Success

s pring pru ni n g 2013 During the winter months we tend to accumulate more than a couple extra pounds. We also accumulate a bad habit or two. So, in the spirit of spring, while your neighbors are cutting their lawns and trimming their hedges, would you like to do some painless pruning? Would you know where to begin? Yesterday, I sat in my dentist’s office waiting area for 138 minutes while two of my teens learned the painful outcome of too much soda and not enough flossing— learning via drill. I thumbed through magazines featuring articles naming the “Ten Steps to This,” “Eight Keys to That,” or “21 Days to Fill in the Blank.” Unless that ends with, “…Millions” or “…Time Travel,” I’m not interested, are you? Where’s the headline that says, “One Day and Three Shock Treatments to a Successful Life?” Now, that program has a chance of success in my world! While sweeping change and multistep processes often bring fabulous results, so do painless tweaks in our present systems. Tom Connellan reminds us in his book, The 1% Solution, that the difference between a gold medal and no medal (4th place) is most often 1% or less. So while I continue my search for “The Secret Shock Treatment to Success” program, here are three changes I’ve recently made that save time without a jolt of electricity or ten magical steps: Responding to email: My personal email says, “Thank you for your email. This is my personal email account and is checked every day or two. If your message is urgent, please send me a text.” Timothy Ferriss has more tips on handling email in The Four Hour Work Week. Eating: Yes, eating! For the last few weeks, I have been on the 5:2 diet promoted by Dr. Michael Mosley. Basically, I eat whatever I want five days a week, and 500 calories two non-consecutive days a week (600 calories for men). Mosley’s international best seller, The Fast Diet, tells how intermittent fasting promotes weight loss, health and longevity. For me, fasting (500 calorie days) saves time, too. Family stress: In Bill Feiler’s TED Talk, he shares an easy process that requires 20 minutes, once a week. It will increase communication, decrease stress and make everyone happy to be a part of the family team. It’s called the Family Meeting, and yes, it works. In the spirit of spring, it’s time to prune (painlessly). Try these ideas or send me yours at Darby@DarbyRae.com.

WE want YOU to be a part of our TEAM!

Chocolate blues

Business Networking Festival exclusive

success

fun

positive

team

income

business

networking

local impact

Become an Area Director

Benefits of being an Area Director

- Exclusive territory buy-ins start at $500* - Flat per-show fees $1,500** - Website maintained for you - Marketing Materials provided - Custom graphic designer on call - Comprehensive training provided *Fees vary by location dependent on population **Does not include printing costs, venue costs, or misc. expenses

- Extra Income - Positive impact in the local business community - Community recognition - Meet amazing people - Learn new skills - Promote your business (if you have one) - Be a part of a supportive & growing team

Event Features:

• Business Expo • Open Networking • “The Coaches Corner” • Appointment Stations • Icebreaker Station • Door Prizes & Vendor Giveaways • Giant Business Card Exchange • Blues Background Music • Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! • SOLID Business Connections • Ask me about being a Chocolate Blues Ambassador!

Coming to a City Near You

Visit our website for more information and dates

For more information contact:

Jennifer Martin • 615.339.6233 • jennifer@bizfestival.com CEO & National Director, Chocolate Blues

www.BizFestival.com • Facebook.com/ChocolateBluesFans

Credibility and Consistency: Are You in Control of Your Message?

Robert New

redibility and Consistency: Are You in Control of Your Message? ave you stopped to consider if your actions are being consistent with your messaging? I don’t usually write about politics in Be The Boss, but this week the Kentucky Department provided a perfect example that I just have to share. For the past 18 months the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education has been writing in his blog and the Department has been putting out press releases about the bleak outlook of education funding. About the devastating affects of the sequester and how school boards need to do more with less. The commissioner even blogged about a book he recommended, “Cage-Busting Leadership” by Rick Hess , challenging local school boards and superintendents to think outside the box when it comes to funding and programs. School boards are laying off teachers, children are enduring a shortage of text books, and the school nurse program is being completely cut. All of this comes to no surprise because we read of cuts

such as these all over the country right now.

and messaging are in sync.

First we must have clearly But this is where their defined missions, goals, and messaging broke down. The objectives and they must be state legislature this year written down. passed a bill that increased the dropout age from 16 to Second we must follow them. 18, with one caveat. Local Every press release, every statement, every school districts had the option official of incorporating the increase decision we make must be but when 55% of Kentucky guided by our mission, goals, school districts implemented and objectives. They must be the increase, it became ingrained into our corporate mandatory for all of them. DNA. The commissioner claimed Third, we must review them that would not be a problem regularly. Not only with our because most school districts management but with our wanted the change. Then he employees. Putting a printed announces that the first 57 document in a frame on the districts to opt in would get wall of the break room isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a $10,000 bonus. With all the going to cut it. Everyone warning of budget shortfalls involved in our company they offer $570,000 to schools must know why we do what to implement a program they we do and what governs us. were supposed to be excited Have you reviewed the with in the first place. messages your company A couple of weeks later the is sending out lately? Your DOE announced they are credibility depends on it. hiring a Chief of Staff for the Commissioner. Not replacing someone but creating a new position with a salary of $131,000 plus benefits. Not exactly a move applauded by teachers, librarians, cooks, bus drivers, and parents who are told they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have text books, raises, or supplies. The message we send is important. Our reputation with our employees, clients, and community depends on it. There a few things we can do to make sure our actions

Marketing Cash For Your Book Or Company – Obtaining Corporate Sponsors By Peter Biadasz; Author, Speaker, Publisher When my first book “More Leads” was published I knew my marketing goals exceeded my marketing budget. As a result I designed a win/win corporate sponsorship program which financed my immediate marketing goals for the book. This program can be effective in obtaining sponsorships for any product or service, not just books. My sponsorship program, marketed with pictures of my book cover on all literature, was presented to potential sponsors as follows:

“MORE LEADS” PROMOTIONAL TOUR SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE Peter Biadasz will announce your company to many potential customers at seminars, book -signings, and other public and private appearances!!! Benefits of sponsorship include: Peter announcing your company from the podium at tour appearances, Your company recognized on tour and event related promotional material, No competitive sponsors for your market areas, 30 minute complimentary network training session for each sponsoring company, Home page recognition and link to your website from my websites (I listed the website involved) • An autographed copy of my book will be given to all sponsors • • • • •

Because “More Leads” discusses business networking, to find sponsors I first contacted business owners in my network who were committed to networking to grow their business. For financial payment each sponsor received all of the above stated benefits. The program was very successful and helped me accomplish many goals. 24

Now is the time to create your corporate sponsorship program, a partnership with companies for whom you share the same target market. This helps both of you build your businesses by adding value, the content of your book (or the value of your product /service), to the product/service offerings. You are giving to your sponsor promotional consideration to an audience who knows and trusts you. Your sponsor in return is giving you added credibility, funding, promotion, products/services, and maybe even space on their website. Your sponsor has the benefit of reaching their audience through you. Other benefits you may acquire through sponsorships include: • Exposure to your sponsors e-mail databases • Featured in print media with your sponsors • Additional press releases by sponsors • Invitations to speak at sponsors events/meetings • Arrangement of media appearances • Referrals to other corporate partners • Consultant opportunities Your sponsors are already selling to your potential customers, now is the time to partner with them. Begin the process to obtain your corporate sponsors today! Peter Biadasz, author of such book as Write Your First Book (available at http://www. amazon.com/Write-Your-First-Peter-Biadasz/dp/0881444243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8 &s=books&qid=1262270868&sr=1-1), More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To discuss with Peter publishing or marketing your book idea, or to inquire about having Peter speak to your organization or meeting, feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia. com Copyright 2013 Peter Biadasz

soul food vs southern food

Written by Chef Rita

There is always this question that comes up “What is the difference between Soul Food and Southern Food (Cuisine)”. According to the so called experts from their history books and definitions “While all soul food is southern food, not all southern food is ‘soul.’ Soul food cooking is an example of how really good southern Negro cooks cooked with what they had available to them.” Soul food has its roots in slavery, when African Americans had to make do with whatever food was available to them. For the next hundred years after the abolition of slavery, most African Americans lived in poverty, so recipes continued to make use of cheaper ingredients. Of course, this isn’t entirely a black/white issue. Historically, there hasn’t been much of a

difference between the foods eaten by poor black Southerners and poor white Southerners. Soul food is basic, down-home cooking with its roots in the rural South. The principle staples of soul food cooking are beans, greens, cornmeal (used in cornbread, hush puppies, johnnycakes, and as a coating for fried fish), and pork. Pork has an almost limitless number of uses in soul food. Many parts of the pig are used, like pigs’ feet, ham hocks, pig ears, hog jowl, and chitlins. Pork fat is used for frying and as an ingredient in slowly-cooked greens. Sweet, cold drinks are always a favorite.” My take on this is soul food is when you make the dish putting your heart and soul in the dish, which mean if you take your time to create a menu using all fresh items, such as the main course and the sides and you go to the market; whether it be a farmers market or to your local grocery store and purchase fresh items it’s soul food. If you shop on the outside of the market for vegetables and you prepare them by taking your time to enhance the flavors, it’s soul food. When you visit a market to you visit the meat department to choose fresh cut meats and it’s taken home and its seasoned, marinated or rubbed for a day or so, it’s soul food. However most people do not think of this process of being soul food, its perceived as just preparing the food. My take on southern food (cuisine) is your fried chicken, smothered pork chops, pot roast, short ribs or fried catfish with sides of macaroni with cheese, potato salad, sweet potatoes, collard greens or green beans with homemade rolls or biscuits, apple pie or peach cobbler to be considered ‘Soul Food’. Well sometimes this is also called ‘Comfort Food’. Let the health conscience will say this food is not good healthy for you, but who are they to say what is good or not good for you to eat. As long as you do not over do it and it’s cooked properly any foods can be okay to eat. Yes an over abundance of anything is not good for you, but eat what you want and call these dishes what you want, but when someone ask me do I make ‘Soul Food’, I always say yes because all my food is ‘SOUL FOOD’ that’s because I put my heart, soul and love into every dish I create for any client. http://www.succulentcuisine.com/

TONYA HOFFMAN Look in the dictionary under “well-connected marketers” and you will discover Tonya Hofmann’s photo. Being well-connected is a side benefit of her years of experience in owning a retail business, training and coaching, owning business networking organizations, private/public sector consulting and founder of the Public Speakers Association. Tonya’s effervescence comes from a genuine love of people and intense drive to help them achieve their potential. She loves to help the events she speaks at by promoting and marketing the event to her huge data base. She has spoken from small local groups to Huge International Events and Tonya enjoys them all. Tonya believes in showing her audiences throughout the world how to develop such areas as unique brands, multiple income streams throughout their business, sales and networking, speaking for marketing and leveraged connections. She gives her audience new ideas that will help them transform their bottom line to grow and explode their business immediately following the presentation! Each presentation is designed to give her audience the maximum exposure to the ideas and formulas that anyone can turn around and implement! What is crazy is where she started out. As a child she had a speech impediment and was so introverted that she would go for days without one word to anyone. She shut the world out since her home life was scary at times and it was easier to keep out all the bad people. However, she met her husband in college and found that men could be good and loving. She had a series of horrible incidences including being robbed and tied up when she was 6 months pregnant and went through the reality of thyroid cancer. So when she says “If I can do it, you can really do it!” she really means it! She knew no one in 2005 and by 2008 she was recognized and won an international most connected person in the world award! She hired coaches to teach her what she couldn’t see, started hanging out with the most connected people in her city, then state, then country and now the world. Things really took a turn in 2007 when she implemented two new ideas: Only positive people are allowed in her company as clients and connections and the idea of thinking like a billionaire and created a multiple income stream format in her business. By 2011, she had built up her networking organization to 20 groups across Texas and sold it to a competitor. She wanted to reach more people and decided to really ramp up her speaking career so again, she went out and hired coaches to create a business that utilized speaking as part of her marketing platform. In 3 months she was booked nationally and hasn’t stopped since. When she began to teach people all the real world application on how to build a business using speaking, she was having a hard time finding a great location to send her clients to connect to other speakers, learn the most up to date information on speaking and building a business and connecting to opportunities for speaking so whenever she finds a whole in a system, she tackles it. In January of 2013 she launched the first chapter of the Public Speakers Association in Austin, TX. The organization hit a nerve for so many looking for exactly this approach and PSA is quickly expanding across the USA and many countries abroad are also waiting to expand to help their professionals with this essential business development. Now Tonya shows people her vast knowledge of creating memberships and club type organizations, how to create a business that utilizes speaking, how to sell without scaring away all the potential new clients and so many amazing strategies to create more wealth, help more people and expand personal goals and development! Don’t wait any longer… connect with Tonya Hofmann on all of her social media accounts, join her newsletter, book her to speak at your next event, webinar or conference and get to know her! She is waiting to hear from you… how else will she find out how fabulous you are unless you reach out and tell her? Attend one of her local chapters of the PSA, attend a virtual chapter and find out about her unique affiliate model for the Director’s program! Start your own local chapter or just help out by referring incredible people that need to know you and other great speakers. Tonya Hofmann 512-436-5645 tonya@publicspeakersassociation.com www.PublicSpeakersAssociation.com www.TonyaHofmann.com facebook.com/tonyahofmann twitter.com/tonyahofmann linkedin.com/in/tonyahofmann

How do you successfully FAIL at procrastination? With intention, of course! Actually, you need a few strategies to really make it work for you. Lauren Midgley, a business strategy coach based in Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas, decided in 2010 that she would write a book that she knew would help others…. especially small business owners to understand how their habit of procrastination dramatically affects their life and their business. When Lauren was an executive in the corporate world, she helped small business owners focus and grow their business. She and her team were dedicated to consult with these owners, create annual business plans and work with them on a quarterly basis to grow their business and their wealth. The one area that kept coming up over and over again was the bad habit of procrastination. Results were not happening. Lauren dug deeper to find out why. “We (the franchise owner and I) would create a strategic plan, determine the timeframes, identify the goals and list out most of the action steps that would grow the revenues and profits of their business. We would agree on an accountability plan – when to follow up and check in on the progress. 6 times out of 10, the franchisee would state that they had procrastinated and did not get the action steps done – thus not achieving the desired results”, said Lauren. She knew that if the business owner could master the skill of NOT procrastinating, then their business and life would improve. She created the concept of Successfully Failing at Procrastination as a way to intentionally make the needed changes in actions and shift in thinking to impact results NOW. Lauren strongly believes that we all should set ourselves up to succeed. Too many times, we take actions that sabotage our true desires and interests, preventing us from getting what we want. In her book, Lauren tells her story of not being able to focus on exactly what needed to be accomplished each day. Her to-do list was two pages long, not prioritized, and quite overwhelming. She had no clear idea of how long specific tasks actually took to accomplish. She began to study others who were successful in their personal productivity. What she learned was they had mastered the concept of “capacity of time”. They knew how much capacity of time they had to accomplish their most important tasks each day. They focused on the two to three most important tasks to accomplish, committed and gained momentum. In Lauren’s book, Successfully Failing at Procrastination, she helps the reader to shift their thinking about this habit. She encourages them to take the time to learn their patterns and begin to take small steps to achieve success. In addition to her book, Lauren conducts live trainings and virtual workshops to help those interested in living a live without the negative emotions associated with procrastination. 35

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WHEN EMBARKING ON A GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECT: WHEN EMBARKING ON A GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECT:

Ask for an Estimate. Business expenses are often allocated for a particular month or Ask an Factors Estimate. Businesswhen expenses are often allocatedfor forgraphic a particular month or fiscalfor year. to consider requesting an estimate design pricing: fiscal year. Factors consider for graphic design pricing: How muchto money haswhen beenrequesting budgetedan forestimate the current job? An estimate  How much money figure has been budgeted for the provides a ballpark of what customers can current expect tojob? pay,An asestimate well as provides a ballparkdates. figure of what customers can expect to pay, as well as project completion completion  project When will the job dates. need to be delivered? Be sure to communicate job  When will the needdeadlines, to be delivered? Be sure communicate jobto be paid completion andjob delivery which may affecttoinvoicing of work completion and delivery deadlines, whichThese may affect work to paid within a designated month or fiscal year. datesinvoicing are oftenofbased onbe your within a designated month or fiscal year. These dates are often based on your organization’s financial plan. organization’s financial plan. Payment Plans. A payment plan may be an option. Once a price has been determined, Payment Plans. A payment plan may be an option. Once price has been determined, it is common practice for a deposit or percentage of the feeato be paid in advance. Upon itproof is common practice for a deposit or percentage the fee toof bethe paid in advance. approval the customer may agree to pay theofremainder balance, or a Upon proof approval the customer may agree to pay the remainder of the balance, or a payment schedule will be created. payment schedule will be created. Rush Jobs Can Be Co$tly. When attempting to save money, be sure to plan ahead. Rush Be Co$tly. attempting to save sure to plan ahead. Some Jobs designCan companies andWhen freelancers charge extra money, for clientbeorders requesting quick Some design companies and for client orders requesting a rush job is started. quick turnaround times. Payment in freelancers full is often charge requiredextra BEFORE turnaround times. Payment in full is often required BEFORE a rush job is started. Have a graphic design question? Send an email to Dayna: boss@dayofdesigning.com Have a graphic design question? Send an email to Dayna: boss@dayofdesigning.com

Thoughts Before Coffee Robert ‘Bob’ Christiansen, Jr. is a dreamer, imaginer and optimist WHO’S greatest strength is inspiring others to believe in their ideas. A native of Long Island New York, his simple yet inspired event and ‘ninja marketing’™ practices produce real positive results. Consistently raising the bar and bringing it crashing down on stagnating anachronisms, Bob personifies possibility – “See Something, Do Something.”

Contact Robert Christiansen by E-mail at bobc511@yahoo.com or by phone 631-3341766. Let’s Connect! Via facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rchristiansenjr

In the wee early hours of the morning you rise to meet the new day, new opportunities, and new challenges – competing with many others who like yourself, are marketing, promoting and selling for their companies to make money. The daily hustle produces results, but how much easier could it be? Well, when it comes to creating a long-term profitable business, value beats cost every time. Customers are more sophisticated than ever before and accept your meetings with the expectation you are going to deliver value for their time and money. As the brilliant Jim Rohn so poignantly stated, “You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.” Now please don’t misunderstand, there are plenty of prospects who will only focus on how much your products or services cost. They have important stuff to keep on track budgets, business plans and profit margins, etc. That being said, what you need to do is deliver value to everyone you deal with to distinguish yourself from your competition. Take famed physicist Albert Einstein’s advice, “Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.” This isn’t about composing a ‘value proposition’. That ship has come and sailed. If you don’t represent your personal values first and foremost then no well-composed document will ever do it for you. Rather, invest time clearly defining your values, thereby defining the values of your business, and thus the values your clients are looking for. Contemplation time on this is powerful as it will remove all the fluff from your conversations with a bonus, it’ll show you where you can find more of the clients you really need for your business to flourish, rather than just survive. Aristotle said it best, “The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.” Your values that you present, and the time you invest in understanding your client’s most important needs will raise you far and above your competition every time. One value everyone in any business should maintain is that of appreciating time. Our days are fixed lengths of hours, but the values delivered during those hours are not. Jim Rohn, a most impressive author, speaker and motivator spoke on time when he said, 38

STORY “Time is more value than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” You’ll work hard to define and refine your values, maybe even sweat quite a bit over getting them perfectly clear. Unfortunately, it’s not a skill taught in school, but acquired in life. Whether you work for someone or are self-employed, don’t make the mistake of not putting in the work, it’s worth every minute and every drop of sweat. Thomas Paine observed that, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.” Let’s assume you have your values in hand. This is the most powerful tool you can have to represent yourself imaginable! Your clearly-defined and lived values communicate through every media available, verbally, written and visually with continuity, and that is the very nature of a value, to be true for you as it for anyone. Marcus Tullius Cicero argued on values that, “You will be as much value to others as you have been to yourself.” Knowing your values is something to be proud of! Great work! By the way, in case you were wondering, yes of course you can write them down. Just keep the sheet close at hand and to yourself, share with those whom you consider as mentors or coaches. This will help you keep your actions consistent with your values. In fact, not only should you refer to your written values every day, but every choice and action you take should be checked against your values. Knowing your values is good. Putting that knowledge behind decisions and goals is outstanding! Or as Louis L’Amour put it, “Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.” At the end of the day, you, your business, your life, are your values. This is how you succeed before ever walking out the door. You actively being your personal values through-and-through every moment alive. You are an expert craftsman who knows what you have within and how to create wealth of value! “Make the workmanship surpass the materials.” -- Ovid