Connections Small Business Journal - July 2015

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 Columbus GA | Birmingham AL Edition

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CONNECTIONS SMALL

bUSInESS

JOURNAL

CONNECTIONS IN FAITH A Look At Sandy Ellingson of Local Church Connection

TEEN CONNECTIONS A LOOK AT HUNTER CALDWELL

10 THINGS THAT WE MUST DO DAILY TO BE REWARDED

USE TECHNOLOGY TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

page 7

page 12

page 10

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contents 4 Letter From The Publisher -

12 GRADUATION - 10 Things

What Closed Doors?

That We Should Do Daily To Be

BUSINESS

JOURNAL

Owner/Publisher

Rewarded

5

Gregory A. Wilson

Small Business Spotlight -

13 Look Before You Leap!

The UP! Factory

7

Teen Connections - Hunter

Suzy Abell

Social Media Expert & Columnist

Connections In Faith - A

look at Sandy Ellingson of Local Church Connection

10 Use Technology To Build Your Business

Editor

21 Business Networking Tips

Caldwell

8

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THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT. Peter Drucker

Lutalo Aryee

Advertising connectionssbj@gmail.com

Graphic Design & Website Dreamscape Media Group

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HOUR

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Business questions MARketing strategies social media STRATEGIES much more Connections Small

BUSINESS

Journal

EVERY OTHER TUESDAY - 11AM - IRON BANK COFFEE 6 - 11th St, Columbus, GA 31901

For More Info Call Greg Wilson - 706.289.7863 www.connectionssbj.com

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WHAT CLOSED DOORS? W

elcome to the new issue of

Connections

Small

Business

Journal (CSBJ)!

a sledgehammer being used, then you know that it’s a tool that can be used to break things up. A sledgehammer can be used to break up slabs,

demolish

walls,

drive heavy stakes and break down doors. It’s a tool that can be used when other less-effective means fail.

In life, we are all faced with doors. Some doors open for us and, in many cases, we may welcome those doors that open up for us.

We gravitate to those because they are easier to navigate and simply walk through them. But what happens when doors are closed? What happens when, of no fault of your own, doors are closed in your face?

What happens when either your background, your ethnicity, your education, or simply “the way you are”, leads to doors being closed?

Do you give up? Do you walk away?

Do you stop dreaming? Do you stop trying? Do you throw in the towel?

NO!

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times occur (and they will), you grab a tool that fits the situation and either break down the door or create your

If you’ve ever used or viewed

concrete

I’m convinced that when those

own (figuratively, of course)! With this mindset, the closed doors are no longer relevant. With this mindset, the number of times that you hear the word “no” do not detour you.

With this mindset, you grow even more determined to be successful in whatever endeavor you choose to be involved in. You absolutely refuse to be stopped by a closed door.

We live during a time where, if by chance, certain doors are indeed closed, using the proper tool can lead to that door being opened.

If the door, for whatever reason, refuses to open, change tools or tactics......even if that means creating your own door!

Enjoy this issue of CSBJ and be prepared to deal with every closed door.

Greg Wilson Owner/Publisher

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business spotlight! # THE UP! FACTORY

T

he UP! Factory is a Center

for Fun and Creative Fitness for the Whole Family. Yoga, Workout classes, Kid programs, Aerial Circus Arts, and

The UP! Factory 1329 Wynnton Rd Columbus, Georgia (706) 405-1525 www.theupfactory.com/

much more!

They have 100+ fun and inspiring classes that you can join at your convenience throughout the week.

Some are short and sweet (or sweaty!), and some are

To recommend a small business to be highlighted in Columbus GA, please send an email to: connectionssbj@gmail.com

luxuriously long. Some are fast-paced or choreographed, some are slow and intensive... and some are just plain “feel good� or relaxing.

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teen connections - Hunter caldwell N

o word outside of iPhone, Facebook, and friends brings more hope and enthusiasm to young teens than “entrepreneurship”.

With the economy in its current position, more and more teens, are finding success for themselves in small business. Connections Small Business Journal (CSBJ) believes that every small business owner, startup and entrepreneur should be applauded and encouraged. Teens who decide to launch their own small business are able to provide opportunities for themselves financially. A successful teen small business can further vitalize the community and offer employment opportunities to other employment seekers.

Connections Small Business Journal is proud of each teen entrepreneur. We choose to highlight these teens to further motivate them, inform them on best business practices, and to even steer potential business their way.

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Hunter Caldwell Meet Hunter Caldwell. I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting this young man at the end of a great dinner with friends at El Vaquero Resutrant in Columbus, GA. Hunter is a soft spoken, well mannared young man with a firm handshake. After just a few short minutes of speaking with this young man, you can easily see that he is equally passionate about two things which are his education and mowing grass.

grandmothers house. As any budding entreprenuer would have it, his business has been growing stronger. While it is clear that he is yet learning different aspects of business, it’s also clear that he has already experienced success.

He is a wise young man and believes that he wouldn’t be where he is in business if his dad hadn’t pushed him as hard as he did to keep working.

During the summers he would also do construction work to earn cash for small things that he would want to buy. He made the decision to take his business to the next level by making business cards and spreading the word.

After graduating high school, his plan is to maintain his busniess while entering college at Columbus State University (CSU) majoring in Biology. It’s his desire to get accepted into a PA program.

Hunter has been quoted as saying “My hard work has gotten me where I am and has made me who I am as a worker and I owe it all to my parents.”

He currently manages 12 properties including two commercial properties and would welcome the opportunity to add more properties to the client list of The Lawn Salon.

- CSBJ Publisher Greg Wilson

Hunter is a 17 year old student at Northside High School. While in the 7th grade, he started mowing grass with his dad at his - 7-

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CONNECTIONS IN FAITH A Look At Sandy Ellingson of Local Church Connection

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L

ife is an interesting journey, and is defined in many cases by timing and moments of time. Such was the case of reconnecting with Sandy Ellingson. Just to paint the background, we both had previously shared a moment of time after first meeting at Starbucks during a Fourth Friday leadership meeting. We of course exchanged the normal pleasantries and business cards, but it wasn’t the right time. Our paths crossed again at other events in Columbus, GA but yet again, it was not the right time. Then came Tuesday morning April 14th, 2015. Everything was perfect. I’d just arrived back in Columbus, GA after a weekend in Birmingham, AL and walked into Iron Bank to facilitate the weekly Power Hour. Power Hour is a weekly meeting where small business owners and entrepreneurs sit around a table and discuss tips and ideas that lead to the sustainability of their businesses.

Of course on this particular Tuesday the sun was shining and as I stood in line to order my favorite cup of coffee from Iron Bank things couldn’t have been any better, or so I thought.

The woman standing in front of me was ordering her coffee and speaking casually to the Barista which is a normal occurrence for many people. It wasn’t until she turned around and our eyes met that both of us showed signs of recognition. As we shook hands, we tried our best to remember exactly where we had originally met.

For the first couple of minutes, we failed miserably at this attempt until almost simountansely we both remembered!

This time however was vastly different. This time, circumstances in life, changes to business plans and business direction that we had experienced individually, placed us on the same track.

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This track was labeled with one word and that word was Connection. Yes we were both Christians but the timing of God means everything. It behoves us as Christians to be in the direct center of his will. It behoves us to move when he moves and not push past his leading, guidance and subsequent direction. This chance meeting at Iron Bank Coffee wasn’t a chance meeting at all. It was God moving in his time and his way!

Sandy by far is one of the most genuine Christians that I’ve ever met. Her heart is unequivocally in the hand of God and her day to day personal and business direction are all governed by the head of her life which is God. It’s amazing to see her in action. As sharp as she is, she never strays from the course that God has her on which is connecting Millennials back to the church.

Her business has evolved over the years, and as a principle of Local Church Connection, it’s easy to see that she is yet following the voice of God. Local Church Connection is a print publication that exists with the sole purpose of connecting individuals to the local church while promoting local business and community organizations.

She believes that this may prove to be her most exciting and challenging adventure yet.

www.localchurchconnection.com Greg Wilson Publisher -9-

Sandy Ellingson

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use technology

to build your small business T

echnology, when used properly, can help you build your business. A small business owner, armed with a tablet and a few key apps, can tweet the day’s specials, process a customer’s credit card, run a complex loyalty program, manage payroll and much more.

These new tools are in almost every app store and are inexpensive, simple to use and make it easier than ever to compete with larger businesses.

The following are a few ways that small business owners can deploy technology to help build their business.

1. Use free or inexpensive tools for backend productivity

2. Use the cloud This is one of the fastest growing trends in technology and can easily be deployed for use in small business. Cloudbased services are designed to perform front-office tasks such as filing and the retrieval of data.

There are many cloud-based services that can perform these tasks. Services such as Box, Dropbox and Google Drive are available to allow the small business owner to get files, such as photos, video files and more, from any device.

The use of outdated accounting 3. Change out point of sale software should be a thing of the (POS) systems past. There is a plethora of new products on the market that are eiPOS systems have really benether free or inexpensive and make fited from the use of technolothe backend portion of running a gy. It truly behooves a small busibusiness just as productive. These ness, that processes payments on apps are very easy to deploy and a daily basis, to consider using this are seamless in the way that they new form of technology to make are designed to function. Some of this process easier for the small these useful tools include Wave business owner, Services such as Accounting which allows invoice Square provide mobile point-ofcreation, billing reminders, and sale tools, appointment schedulpayment transactions. Anothing, and online invoicing. Many er effective online tool is Freshbanks have also adopted this books which has been labeled technology and provide it as A’ la

by Forbes Magazine as being carte with merchant accounts.

“Incredibly User Friendly”. Freshbooks also allows the user to These are merely a sampling of send invoices, track time, and the technology that is available capture expenses. If a small busito small business owners. With ness owner is attempting to build technology on the rise and hunschedules, communicate with their dreds of new apps and services team, and be more productive hitting the market weekly, there is from a staffing perspective, then bound to be a solution available to online tools such as Shifthub is fit the specific needs of each small the way to go. business.

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GRADUATION: 10 things we must do daily to be rewarded High Schools and Colleges now have Graduations. I looked back at what it took for me to complete my in school education and through the word GRADUATION I was inspired to give you 10 things we can do daily to be rewarded.

G - Get Up. The things that happened yesterday already happened. You might have been knocked down but not knocked out. If you have breath, use just a little to get up on your feet.

R - Rise with expectation.

While you are on your feet why not think positive? Expect to make good grades. Expect to be a positive influence in the lives of others. Expect your good days to outweigh your bad days.

A - Ask Questions. Is there something you need to know to help your mind grow? Find out what information you need to pass the test. Don’t just sit there work your plan so you can get there. Ask and you will receive.

D - Decide Wisely. Choice rhymes with Rolls Royce. If you plan to roll with Royce make sure they have your best interests at heart. The decisions we make now effect what we are able to do even five, ten, and twenty years down the road.

U - Use your skills. Stop complaining if you can’t find a job. Create one. You have the skills that can pay the bills. Every product or service you use comes from someone that created a business to sell to you.

A - Adjust properly. Everyone makes mistakes. Success is not what happens to you, it’s how you react to what happens to you. Adjust simply means add just enough change to bring about different results.

T- Train on. Take your school work seriously. What you learn today can help you earn tomorrow. Never think that you know it all and don’t have to learn anymore. What you don’t know might not hurt you but it can hold you back.

I - Inspire Others. Be an example that others want to sample. Never focus on if someone is hating on you or trying to bite your swag. Walk your walk and talk your talk and others will want to be just like you mimicking what you say and copying what you do.

O - Overcome obstacles.

Situations and circumstances do not discriminate. When you find a way through a situation make a mental note on what happened just in case you revisit a moment like this. When you overcome obstacles it makes room for more opportunities.

N - Never Quit. In the words of M.C. Hammer, You are too legit to quit. If you stop someone else gets a chance to win. There comes a time and place when we all have to walk away. Does it really have to be your day today?

I don’t think so.

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Derrick “Headline” Hayes Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes is the Author of 1 WORD Is All It Takes, Creator of Derricknyms, Developer of the app Motivation To Your Mobile, Nominator of Today’s Honoree, and blogs at the Encouragement Speaker and can be reached at info@derrickhayes.com or (706) 615-1662.

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look before you leap H

ow does one go from being a full time employee in an essentially predictable workload and paycheck to the unpredictable world of self employment? Being a successful small business owner takes more than a great idea. It takes a complete mindset change. The mindset that was possessed as an employee working for a company doesn’t mean that it will be sufficient to make it as a small business owner. Statistics show that the majority of small businesses will fail within the first year with an equally high number failing within the first five years. Insuring that your mind has gone through the necessary change can help your business avoid this daunting statistic.

The following are tips that will help: 1. CA$H CA$H CA$H Going from a regular salaried paycheck to literally wondering if or when you will get paid, in many cases, may lead to the mental stall of dreams as a small business owner or an entrepreneur. To avoid this, it’s critical to be financially prepared before you leap. This simply means, before you leave your job, have a savings account with a minimum of six months worth of expenses covered. Having the expenses covered when you leap will mentally free you to focus on growing your business as opposed to worrying how the expenses will be paid.

In many cases, when you leave a company, these alliances and friendships are broken because the common denominator (the company) doesn’t exist anymore. Prior to leaving and taking that leap, take time to create or join a social circle. Loneliness exists in the world of a small business owner and to avoid feeling alone join certain circles or networking groups. While this helps with the feeling of loneliness, it also will produce leads that could potentially lead to revenue for your small business.

3. WEAR MULTIPLE HATS One of the biggest things that is heard around a comply office is the statement of “That’s not my job”. As a small business owner this phrase doesn’t exist. Your job is to perform whatever task is necessary to move the business forward. Before you leap, insure that you are ready to wear whatever hat is necessary to insure that the small business moves forward.

4. UNPAID OVERTIME Depending on the company structure and your salaried or unsalaried status, working overtime was a pleasure for you. It was during these times that your paycheck typically indicated an increase. In the world of small business, overtime isn’t necessarily paid. Running a small business means long hours and a schedule that in many cases falls outside of the typical business hours. Before you leap, make sure that you are mentally willing to commit to a sched2. CREATE SOCIAL CIRCLES ule where the operating days are Working for a company meant that Sunday - Saturday with the hours relationships were formed within of operation being “whatever it the company. Friendships were takes”. developed and certain company based alliances were formed.

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5. SAY NO If you were to say “NO” while working for a company, chances are that you would be labeled as unreliable, trouble maker or not a team player. In the world of small business, saying “NO” takes on an entirely different meaning. Saying “NO” in small business means that you are staying on task and don’t have the time to focus on anything else outside of the agenda that you’ve set forth to operate your business.

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4 tips to engage customers on facebook S

content and information about your business, it makes you more credible about the products and services that you sell. There is content out there that is already written and available that you can definitely use to help promote your business, but if you take some time to create your own, it will put you a step ahead.

new customers. Don’t be afraid to share a new update. Maybe you attended a business related seminar or you spoke to a civic group about your business or you just received new furniture in the business. Facebook is an easy way to keep your customers informed of these updates. You would be surprised how your customers appreciate staying connected with you.

o maybe you are not on Facebook or you have a Facebook page for your business but you don’t know where to begin. If you know you need a Facebook presence, you are right. Though there are many social media networks that are in competition with Facebook, it still remains the number one social network in the world. Here 3. Share Great Content are three tips that you can use to help you engage with your current One of the best ways to gain customers and help you get more more traffic to your Facebook Facebook is a great free recustomers. page is great content. Con- source to connect and stay tent is Queen when it comes connected with your custom1. Post Daily to sharing information on so- ers. Because your customers cial media. One of the best have friends on Facebook, You want to post on your Facebook ways to connect with your when you engage with them, page at least one time a day. There customers and keep them their friends are likely to see really isn’t a magic number. You engaged is to share benefi- that engagement as well. This may not want to post more than 4 cial information about your is almost like a free referral to to 5 times but you will have to test product or service. Let’s say your business. Customer acwhat is best for your page. The you own an automobile repair quisition is very challenging Facebook algorithm is constantly shop, what better way than to for most business owners so changing but it is definitely recomshare information about “to a Facebook page, strategicalmended that you post, at the very do’s” and “don’ts” when car- ly used, adds to being a great least, one time daily. Remember ing for your vehicle? Pictures resource. that your customers do not wake and videos weigh heavily on up thinking about you and your Facebook. You should considproduct or service. Facebook er taking a picture or video of If you have any questions should be an additional avenue, you and your business. about SEO or social media along with any other marketing please don’t hesitate to give tool, to share information with 4. Be Social and Engage contact me. @lutaloaryee your customers. On Facebook’s With Your Audience Business Page, there is an opLutalo K. Aryee tion to schedule your posts. You Remember Facebook is soshould check your page at least cial media so being social is Strategic Social Media Expert once a day but you can schedwhat keeps your customers & Motivational Speaker ule your posts up to six months engaged and helps you gain www.asimplesolo.com in advance so you don’t have to more. You don’t have to tell worry about posting every day. all of your personal business or what you are doing each 2. Write Good Unique Content minute. If your customers write a public review on your If you have been using social media Facebook page, “like” and for business for a while, then you publicly thank that customer have heard the term “Content is for the review. Responding King” or “Content is Queen.” Both to your customer’s review will are true. If you create your own help others see that you have a review and can help you get - 14 -

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ne thing that has remained consistent for decades is that getting ahead in life is a lot about who you know. This holds especially true for getting ahead with self-employment and small business initiatives. To help you get started, below are 5 Steps to productive business networking.

Step 1: Know What You Want No one can help you if you yourself don’t know what you want or need. Is it funding? If so, for what, why and how much? Do you need more customers? If so, who, where are they, how will you best reach them?

No one can help you if you yourself don’t know what you want or need. Is it funding? If so, for what, why and how much? Do you need more customers? If so, who, where are they, how will you best reach them?

It is also important to prioritize what you want when network building. While there are many things a business needs, time is a limited resource. To focus and prioritize your needs, conduct the following excercise:

706-653-0419 www.researchandwellness.com 1. - List all of the things you want or need to help your business grow.

2. - Prioritize the list with the most important at the top.

3. - Focus on the top three (3) priorities and move to Step 2.

Step 2: Identify Network Sources Network building is all about relationship building. Whether your objective is funding, sales, marketing or something else entirely, the first goal is to identify who knows something about what it is that you want to know more about. With just under 7 billion people on the planet, you can be sure that someone out there can help you. The key is knowing where to look. Below is a sampling of different places to look locally when building your business networks: - Columbus Chamber of Commerce - BNI - CSBJ “ENGAGE” - CSBJ “Power Hour”

Step 3: Make the Introduction Based on what you learned from investigating different network sources, you should now have multiple options for moving forward toward progress with your business objectives. While reaching out to someone you don’t know can be intimidating, keep in mind that strong networks are built upon mutual interests. In this regard, you have something they want and they have something you want. Therefore, move ahead in a spirit of collaboration…

To connect with CSBJ on your mobile phone.

Identify three people who you want to connect with. Document their contact information; name, title, business name, phone number, email and web site.

1. - Make note of two or three things that you learned about them or their organization that you found interesting and why.

2. - Write down three to five things that you want to learn more about.

3. - Introduce yourself. Whether this is by email, phone or in person, an introduction is efficient and covers three things: a. - Who you are b. - Why you’re contacting them c. - What you want as a result of contacting them Step 4: Meet, Greet and Gain Once you have established rapport, and depending upon the nature of your interest, ask for a longer conversation such as a teleconference, video conference, or face-to-face meeting. In either situation, you want to have an agenda that helps to keep the meeting focused and on track relative to your objectives. Keep in mind that most business meetings continued on page 22

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tips for business networking last one hour or shorter and cover three main activities as follows:

Mutual Introductions; e.g., break the ice with brief introductions, such as‌

Thank them for meeting with you and tell them a little bit about yourself

Invite them to tell you a little bit about themselves, such as,

How did you become interested in (your topic)?

Have you worked in this field long?

What do you like about this field?

The Subject Matter

Demonstrate that you took the time to learn about what they do and why it is of interest to you, such as touch upon the two or three things you learned about them that you found interesting and give them time to respond.

continued from page 21

Now that you’ve gone to the time and trouble to build a quality relationship that can help you and your business objectives, how will you maintain the connection?

Following up with a formal thank you can help, as well as make you stand out because many people skip this step. _____________

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Thank them for meeting with you and share at least one positive thing that you got out of the meeting.

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Close the meeting by summarizing what the next steps are.

This can be done by asking the other person(s) what they think is next, by your summarizing what you view or a combination of both.

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Step 5: Maintain the Connection To connect with CSBJ on your mobile phone.

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be connected to people, resources and information

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be connected to people, resources and information

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be connected to people, resources and information

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ADVERTISE with CSBJ

Connect your business with people, resources & information Call 706.289.7863

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Stay Connected To People, Resources & Information www.connectionssbj.com For more information, contact Owner/Publisher: Greg Wilson Phone: 706.289.7863/256.474.5216 or Email: connectionssbj@gmail.com

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