Business Journal Inspire, Inform & Educate
March - April 15, 2015
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The Power of Effective Communication
Direct Your Act on Effective Communication
By Ash Davito Growing up with limited knowledge and resources, I learned hands-on the importance of results and making progress. PAGE 22
Effective Communication: A Critical Component of a Healthy Workplace By Mikal Powers It has often been said that it’s not what you say, but how you say it. PAGE 24
PAGE 4-5
Texas Southern University’s eMPA Program Takes Houston’s Future Global Leaders to Brazil
How You Can Buy Stock Like Warren Buffett By Mathis Conner I this high tech age where computers become more and more powerful, I just find it funny that the world’s best stock investor, Warren Buffett, has managed to stay on top all of these years.
PAGE 26
PAGE 8-15
2015 Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs
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PAGE 16
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Black Heritage Day
When I read great literature, great drama, speeches, or sermons, I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language. – James Earl Jones
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Journal Behind The
Publisher’s Message
Keith J. Davis, Sr.
SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis
VICE PRESIDENT Kim Floyd
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla
Office Manager Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine Tiffany Black
Communication is a vital part of any work or office environment. Just think about it: the way you dress, how you speak to people and your mannerisms are not only a direct reflection of you, but help determine whether or not people want to do business with you. Business and communication go hand-inhand. You can’t have a successful business without effective communication. Most successful business owners and CEOs possess great communication skills. With so many stereotypes surrounding black-owned businesses already, as a minority business owner, it can make-or-break your business if you are not an effective communicator. You’ll find stories in this month’s journal about the relationship between communication and business.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dawn Paul
PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines
MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes
LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Angel Rosa
DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mathis Conner Chaz Pitts-Kyser Ash Davito Mikal Powers Noel Pinnock
CONTENTS Texas Southern University’s eMPA Program Takes Houston’s Future Global Leaders to Brazil .......................................... 4-5 2015 Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs......................................................................................................................... 8-15 The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Welcomed John Legend for Black Heritage Day........................................................16 Presenting Your Ideas Effectively................................................................................................................................................................18 Direct Your Act on Effective Communication.......................................................................................................................................... 22 Effective Communication: A Critical Component of a Healthy Workplace..................................................................................... 24 How You Can Buy Stock Like Warren Buffett..........................................................................................................................................26 Nothing, Yet Everything.................................................................................................................................................................................28 Keep Millennial Employees from Leaving with Better Engagement Practices.............................................................................30 Need a Fresh Look for Your Company? Try a New Logo....................................................................................................................... 32
Are you Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level? 499.99
MR. D-MARS
Presents
Tip of the Month “Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.” – Jim Rohn
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BLACK PAGES ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY What this means to you,
The Business Owner: • The ability to stimulate money in our communities • Publicity at an affordable price • The professionalism it provides to black-owned businesses
It’s time we put our future finances into our own HANDS! We must encourage members to patronize black-owned businesses to further expand the economic power of African American merchants and the households that support them.
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Texas Southern University: Global Education Institution
Texas Southern University’s eMPA Program Takes Houston’s Future Global Leaders to Brazil By Dawn Paul
Contributing Writer
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he power of effective communication is beneficial to succeed as a leader in the business world. Using effective communication is not only important when dealing locally, but it is also important if one wants to succeed globally. Houston, Texas, is the fourth most populated city in the United States, and is the largest in Texas and the southern United States. Being one of the largest cities in the nation, Houston is also a global leader. Small businesses, corporations, organizations and others can reap the benefits of expanding globally to become global leaders. In order to effectively communicate globally and to be a global leader, one needs to understand cultural differences. The Texas Southern University Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs continues to educate the next generation of future global leaders through its Executive Master of Public Administration (eMPA) program.
We live and compete economically on a global basis and it is imperative that America’s future leaders get to know other countries and cultures first hand. It is important that students, especially young people of color, get to know other cultures firsthand. Building cross cultural relationships will help strengthen TSU’s role as a global educational institution, grow our enrollment, and make our students more competitive and marketable. —Dr. Michael O. Adams, Ph.D.
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Houston is an undisputed global leader in international business. The Port of Houston, the Houston Airport System, and other international business make the city very attractive for businesses and entrepreneurs looking to globally expand in the international business community. Houston is easily accessible and is highly ranked as a global leader. Not to mention, Houston has influence and worldwide impact. Many would say that Houston is a gateway for future global leaders because of its location and ties overseas, and around the globe. Houston prides itself on being a global leader, continuously creating partnerships that open doors for the city to continue to develop economically. Global leaders in the making find Houston a great place to grow and thrive because of the opportunities available for international business expansion. A major international city, Houston is widely known as the base for operations for international oil and gas exploration. Houston is an international business leader, with 21 foreign banks from nine nations, and 14 foreign governments maintaining trade and commercial offices here. Houston also has 17 sister-city relationships, promoting business opportunities across five continents (Greater Houston Partnership Database, June 2014). Houston is already a great city, but it continues to strive for greatness and remains a top competitor in re-
“Great experiences bring great changes and my trip to Brazil has changed my view of the world.” —Marilyn Edwards, eMPA Student gard to international business. Houston remains competitive, not only because of its global leadership, but because of the higher education institutions. Texas Southern University is one of those institutions creating future global leaders that will succeed in international business, continuing to keep Houston a highly ranked global leader. Through its eMPA program, Texas Southern University produces future international business leaders with a community mindset. After graduation, these students are well prepared and able to contribute to Houston’s positive global business growth. To ensure their students’ success,
the eMPA program at Texas Southern University has endeavored to expand the global mindset of its degree candidates. Since 2011, it has offered the study abroad component to their eMPA students and is included as part of their tuition. The program has taken over 100 students abroad to eight countries on three different continents. The Texas Southern University eMPA program recently visited Rio de Janeiro as part of the study abroad program. Spending their first week in the Northeast region of Brazil in the city of Recife, students engaged in the cultural richness of Brazil, while exploring and analyzing systems that shape international development in Brazil. “The expression of Brazilian culture has been invigorating and will forever be embedded in my heart,” says Jeanandria Beard. Presented with lectures by scholars, public administrators, and members of the nonprofit sectors, students explored issues of immigration, cultural management, political parties, democratization, and social movements in Brazil. Throughout the exploration of these topics, students were able to better understand the presence of systematic racism affecting Afro-Brazilian populations across both regions. Texas Southern University’s study abroad program allows eMPA students this unique opportunity, training them to be successful future global leaders. Marilyn Edwards has a different perspective after this traveling learning experience and says, “Great experiences bring great changes and my trip to Brazil has changed my view of the world.” Dr. Michael O. Adams, Ph.D., is the Founding Director of the eMPA program. Dr. Adams has been apart of this program’s success and knows the importance of the students being prepared to succeed as a global leader. “We live and compete economically on a global basis and it is imperative that America’s future leaders get to know other countries and cultures first hand. It is important that students, especially young people of color, get to know other cultures firsthand. Building cross cultural relationships will help strengthen TSU’s role as a global educational institution, grow our enrollment, and make our students more competitive and marketable,” he says. The Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs has established strategic partnerships with numerous public and private sector entities. These partnerships offer students unique opportunities to gain hands-on skills and establish contacts and references for the future. Dawn Bryant Gordan is another student in the program and expresses, “A lifetime of chances cannot ever take away this one priceless experience.” As this program continues to grow, the desire is to continue to foster an environment that advocates for the development of global leaders that thrive on a local, national and international scope. A key component to guiding these future global leaders is providing them opportunities like this that will enable them to broaden their global horizon. Houston continues in a positive direction and these Texas Southern University eMPA candidates will lead the way to influence the global direction Houston is reaching.
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2015 Top 50 Black
Professionals and Entrepreneurs
“
Being a black business owner myself, I admire brothers and sisters who have pursued the same entrepreneurial dreams that I have. We must continue to recognize and encourage them to help ensure their continued success,” says MR. D-MARS, President and CEO of d-mars.com. “We will continue to celebrate African American business professionals and united, we can help the next generation soar.
Living Legends Dr. George Fraser “It’s an honor to be recognized as an honoree with such notable company as Dr. Rod Paige and others. A relatively well known aphorism is, “What you see in me is only a reflection of you.” Therefore, respectfully, I take my hat off to d-mars for creating a business model that gives a professional, yet down-home platform to onestop-shop business owners, start-ups and business dreamers. dmars takes the excuse out of not “Minding your own business.” They truly have something for everyone. d-mars, thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a rewarding event and for creating a way for our future, the next Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs daily, and that makes you truly the ultimate awardee.” ~ Dr. George C. Fraser, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur
Dr. Rod Paige “The ceremony for the d-mars 3rd Annual Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs was a signature event. It brought together hundreds of current and aspiring Black professionals and entrepreneurs for networking opportunities. It provided an occasion for Black professionals and entrepreneurs to get together, an opportunity that is otherwise unavailable in our great city. All attendees left with a sense of pride for the professional and entrepreneurial progress being made by so many African Americans in our city.” - Dr. Rod Paige, Former U.S. Secretary of Education
Congratulations to all 2015 Top Black P&E Award Recipients
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Community Heroes
Dr. James Ward “I sat through the evening’s program and found myself experiencing a number of thoughts and feelings. First, I was overwhelmed, then I sat in utter amazement and excitement. I was excited about all of the individuals who came out to support this event. I was excited for the honorees and I was excited to have been asked to be a part of the celebration. I want to compliment the d-mars family on an outstanding program and tribute. Mr. Keith Davis, you are one of a kind and I understand why we can’t say “no” to you when asked to support, partner, participate, collaborate and give. Congratulations to you and your team. I thoroughly enjoyed the event, but more importantly, I enjoyed watching people come together in unified support of one another.”
– James W. Ward, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research – Texas Southern University.
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Trailblazers
Supplier Diversity Maya P. Thornton “The celebration of the 3rd Annual d-mars Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs was one for the ages. Hosted by Keith Davis, d-mars President and CEO, the event matched its prolific title to inspire, inform and educate. Myself, along with various other individuals and firms were recognized by our community and industry peers for the work we do within our specific professions. The experience was humbling, as well as gratifying, in that l thought it was an honor to be recognized. It’s important to remember that “We owe a responsibility to open doors to our community,” as pointed out by Mr. Davis. The night began with a meet and greet, which provided me with a chance to interact with key industry leaders. Shortly thereafter, the award presentations followed, and during the presentations, Dr. George C. Fraser provided profound words of wisdom about the importance of networking. I appreciate Mr. Davis and his staff for their hard work and dedication to the community, and for making the event so memorable.”
Maya P. Thornton University of Houston Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Operations Department Director
Family Affair
Terry Williams “I thought the ceremony for the 2015 Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs was a GREAT event and it was a much needed event to honor some of the unsung heroes that are making things happen in the African American community. It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of such a worthwhile cause. My hat’s off to Keith (d-mars) for bringing the need to reality.”
-Terry Williams, V.P. Operations, H.E.B.
The Guess Group, Inc. “We are deeply honored to be part of the d-mars tradition of honoring outstanding business owners and executives in our community. To be listed among Houston’s business elite in this way is one of the highlights of our history in business. The Houston community looks to d-mars to know whom to contact for business purposes – we are proud to be included in this rich legacy.”
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Super Top P&E
Dr. J Thomas Smith “I was humbled and excited to be perceived as being worthy of recognition for the work I’ve done. I enjoy the work I do very much. The rewards I gain for providing quality services have been very substantial. Being recognized by my peers and d-mars.com is a great honor. I will continue to raise the bar for myself and I want to continue to strive to give more of myself so that those around me are encouraged to be the best they can be.”
Top P&E
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Top P&E
Ige Johnson “As a 2015 Top P&E honoree, I must say that February 26, 2015 was truly a night that my family and I will always remember. It was such an honor to be recognized as a pillar in the African American community along with so many other amazing honorees. Thank you so kindly Mr. d-mars and the d-mars family for blessing me and my family with an amazing night that will go down in our family history.”
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Sponsors
I
L WELDING ACAD STRIA EMY NDU
“Integrity with Attitude” 713-672-WELD (9353)
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2015 Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs after party
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2015 Top 50 Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs after party
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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Welcomed John Legend for Black Heritage Day By Dawn Paul
Associate Editor
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he Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the most popular events that Houstonians look forward to. Organized to promote and support the livestock industry, since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed nearly $375 million for their mission. This annual event creates over 7,000 jobs and brings great revenue to our city. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings great eats, great entertainment and special events as well. Every year the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings the best entertainment and this year was no exception. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo always has the biggest and brightest on stage. Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Pitbull and Blake Shelton were a few of the hottest names entertaining Houstonians this year for the concern lineup. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has special days that pay tribute to specific groups and organizations. Armed Forces Appreciation Day, Go Tejano Day, Go Texan Day and Black Heritage Day are day-long festivities with special entertainment and educational displays. Black Heritage Day is a popular event for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and this year John Legend made his 3rd appearance for rodeo goers celebrating the special day. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continued to bring the best for Black Heritage Day with the stellar voice of John Legend. John was dressed to impress and was sharp in his tuxedo as he crooned at the piano to a crowd of more than 69,000, flawlessly belting out fan favorites.
Made to Love, All of Me, and Rock with You, were just a few of the ballads on his performance list. John’s performance was entertaining and had the crowd on their feet as he even performed a little Michael Jackson. His performance of “Glory” from the movie Selma was absolutely fitting, especially after his recent Oscar win for the song.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo always brings Houstonians the best in entertainment and John Legend as the special entertainment for Black Heritage Day was absolutely perfect. With performers like this coming to Houston, rodeo goers can look forward to more from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
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Presenting Your Ideas Effectively 2 By Chaz Pitts-Kyser
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Contributing Writer
Show that you’ve done your research: Decision makers are more apt to appreciate your idea/opinion if it is backed by credible research instead of just your gut feeling. When possible, present findings from key sources that suggest your idea has merit. You should also know possible objections people may have regarding your idea and be ready to address them.
any of us have brilliant ideas, but find ourselves unable to communicate them in an effective manner. Perhaps we are nervous about our ideas being rejected, we are shy, or we are just not very adept at getting our points across. Regardless of the reason, being able to present one’s ideas effectively—whether to a boss or to a group of yours peers in an organizational meeting—is an important skill. The following are six tips that will make people tune in when you start talking.
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Speak with authority: How you say something is just as important as what you say. People will take your ideas seriously and believe they are valuable if you speak with confidence and passion. Avoid phrases that make you seem unsure of yourself, such as, “I think my plan may work” or “I’m pretty sure my idea can help the company perform better.”
Be concise when stating your idea and ask for feedback: Make your idea easy to grasp by explaining it as simply as possible, and try to be brief. People may begin to tune you out if you are longwinded or seem to be purposefully using unnecessary jargon or flowery language. After you’ve stated your idea, continue to draw your listeners into the conversation by asking for their feedback. By getting others’ opinions during the conversation, you may be able to curtail any doubts someone has about your idea. Explain how the idea/plan benefits everyone: Using concrete examples and show how your idea benefits everyone listening, not just the people who are able to approve it. Your goal is to build consensus and demonstrate that you are looking out for the best interest of everyone in the group or company.
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Watch your body language: Your body language should exude confidence. Maintain eye contact and good posture when you are presenting your ideas, and do not fidget with anything.
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Dress appropriately: Your attire will be judged along with your ideas. Don’t draw attention away from what you have to say by wearing provocative clothing or something too casual for the environment you’re in. A good rule of thumb is to wear a business suit when presenting in a formal setting.
Follow these tips when presenting your ideas and people will respond more positively to you, and be more likely to seek you out to generate new ideas and answers to problems. Chaz Pitts-Kyser is the author of Careeranista: The Woman’s Guide to Success After College, and is a speaker focusing in the areas of academic success, career development, workplace diversity, and women’s work/life issues. Learn more about Chaz and her career guide through www.thebook.careeranista.com.
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Direct Your Act on Effective Communication
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By Ash Davito
Contributing Writer
rowing up with limited knowledge and resources, I learned hands-on the importance of results and making progress. For me, that always meant growing up and making progress in character first. I knew I had a long journey ahead and I looked forward to it. I had issues communicating my feelings as a child, so I would often find myself in the principal’s office. I knew that I had to change my attitude about people and problems. I paid attention to how the teachers and mentors that believed in me would patiently communicate with me to resolve an issue. It was all in their deliverance and tone that made me calm down and feel like I could express myself. I was always told that I could be anything I wanted to be in life, and I honestly still believe that to this very day as I’m currently doing what I love to do in my career. It’s one thing to have a dream, but it’s a job within itself to figure out how to obtain it. As a child, I knew I had dreams and ideas and I wanted to share them with my family and peers, but I didn’t know how to communicate them effectively. Every decision you make has a finish line somewhere that requires results to reach it. Now, fifteen years in the film industry, I understand the power of effective communication. Those principal office visits were just teaching me what I would need to know later, as I communicate my goals in life and business to others. When I attended college at Prairie View A&M University, I started modeling in fashion shows, music videos, and local magazines. That led to movies, writing books, and now directing and producing my own movies. Looking back over those years of industry experiences, the most valuable lesson I learned was how to communicate effectively, so that all parties to whom I’m communicating with are on the same page about whatever goal we are aiming to reach collectively. You don’t have to be disrespectful to be direct and straight to the point. To most businessmen the old saying is true, “Time is money,” and nobody wants to waste either if they have a choice. It is so important to know the power of effective communication. One thing about direct and effective communication is it leaves little to no room for misunderstanding. If you know what is expected of you from your boss or even a coworker, you are held responsible to meet those expectations with results to show for it. Another power that lies within effective communication is that it becomes harder for people to take advantage of your talent and easier for you to differentiate people that will help you from the people that are a liability. As an actor, I learned my worth as a talent and what the roles were for each job position on movie sets. Now as CEO of Davito Family Films, I choose to work with people that can give and take effective communication. My experiences have shown me better results with people and projects that were well organized. One of the most heartbreaking things I witness in the entertainment industry is the dreams of young talent getting destroyed by unrealistic promises and misunderstanding. It’s so important to understand contracts, agreements, and know specifically what goals you are trying to reach. Some people will run you in circles with excuses instead of just saying, “I was wrong. Let’s fix the mistake and move forward,” or “I can’t help you
after all, but let me turn you over to someone who can.” I love to do so many creative things and find new ways to express myself to others through my God given craft. It’s important to know that we as people need to find positive ways to channel our thoughts and ideas effectively. You also have to give people room to be who they are, because you would want others to do the same for you. We have to know how to reach others before we say or do something that turns them away
and be able to communicate effectively with different types of people. Also, we can’t forget to pay it forward to the next generation. So many young brothers and sisters need us as community leaders to help them make better decisions and communicate effectively. If we help them find their talents, we can support them in their destiny and spark that fire in their hearts to live their lifetime dream.
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Effective Communication: A Critical Component of a Healthy Workplace
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By Mikal Powers
Contributing Writer
t has often been said that it’s not what you say, but how you say it. This is certainly true in the workforce, where the way you come across in emails, during presentations, or in one-on-one interactions will leave a lasting impression and shape workplace relationships. The approach to effective workplace communication varies depending on the type of business you are in and the way you typically communicate with your colleagues and work associates. Email, telephone, and in-person communications all have their distinct challenges, and each form of communicating should be approached accordingly. Email communications can prove to be difficult when you are contacting someone you don’t know well. Talk-
ing on the telephone allows people to use tone to decipher potentially deeper meanings of conversations, but the absence of visual cues can be misleading. In the case of in-person conversations, you have the benefit of hearing and seeing the person you are talking to, but you have to be aware of your own body language. Recognizing these unique needs across all forms of communications, University of Phoenix provides curriculum that emphasizes the importance of both hard and soft skills that are relevant in the workplace. This includes working effectively in teams, developing communication, and critical thinking skills to solve problems and further refining leadership skills. Whether you’re currently employed, a business owner, or seeking employment, one thing that is essential to growing in a career, leading an organization, or landing your dream career – no matter the field– is effective communication. University of Phoenix offers the following tips to be an effective communicator in the workplace: Lead with your headline. Whether you’re writing a subject line for an email or having a one-on-one meeting with
a colleague or manager, start with the most critical point to maximize and be respectful of others’ time. Pause and Listen. Hear what a colleague is saying and take time to process their message during an in-person meeting. If you receive a client email, pause and process the message by reviewing the email in detail prior to responding to ensure you addressed all of its contents. Be mindful of tone and keep it positive. If you have to deliver negative feedback, do it in a constructive manner. Focus on performance on an assignment, not individual character. Tone is especially important in email communications, as this is often lost and a common source of misunderstanding. Seek clarification. If you’re not clear
on something, ask about it. An essential ingredient to effective communication is to ensure expectations are clear. Schedule a follow up meeting, call, or send an email to clarify details and expectations regarding assignments. Be courteous and respectful. Courtesy and respect go a long way when it comes to workplace communications. In verbal or email communications, good morning and good afternoon go a long way. When asking for feedback or delegating assignments, be mindful of the time of day you send the “ask” and provide ample time for completion. Mikal Powers is campus director at University of Phoenix Houston Campus overseeing campus operations. Powers earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. He spent five years as a Helicopter Search and Rescue Swimmer and Operations Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. After earning his degree, Powers attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and became a reserve officer for South Texas where he is committed to keeping communities safe and assisting residents in need.
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How You Can Buy Stock Like Warren Buffett
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By Mathis Conner Contributing Writing
n this high tech age where computers become more and more powerful, I just find it funny that the world’s best stock investor, Warren Buffett, has managed to stay on top all of these years. You would think that the deep pockets of Wall Street would have been able to find some high tech wizards with deep computer knowledge to trump the guru of Omaha by now. Well, evidently, they haven’t. After investing in stocks for a few years, one day I said, “Okay, it’s time to get serious. Let’s start with a clean slate,” so I decided to research the most successful stock investors around. I read almost all I could on Warren Buffett, as well as read about the successful investors in Jack Schwager’s book, Stock Market Wizards. Along the way I was always thinking, What is the simple principle to take away? These takeaways led me to the conclusion that evidently there is something to this style of investing called value investing, popularized by Mr. Buffett. I also realized that these value investing principles were in perfect alignment with the detailed approaches for valuing stocks taught in most business schools. Alice Schroeder, author of The Snowball: Warren Buffett and The Business of Life, said that she never saw Buffett use computer spreadsheets when reviewing investment opportunities, just pencil and paper! This observation convinced me that you can be successful by understanding just a few simple principles. The Buffett trail led me to an old stock research firm called Value Line that was founded in 1931 and is still going strong. I remembered Value Line was mentioned during my business school studies as possibly providing research that beats the stock market, and now here I was again, finding out that Buffett seemingly swears by the service. It turns out that Value Line is truly well respected. Here is a public quote from Warren Buffett himself. I’m sure Value Line never tires of promoting. I know I wouldn’t. “I don’t know of any other system
that’s as good... The snapshot it presents is an enormously efficient way for us to garner information about various businesses... I have yet to see a better way, including fooling around on the internet, the gives me the information as quickly.” - Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, 1998 Annual Meeting speaking about the The Value Line Investment Survey.
So, how do you buy stock like Warren Buffett? 1. Get a Subscription to Value Line (www.valueline.com)! It costs less than many other research
and data services, and since stock research is their primary business, you don’t have to worry about biased opinions due to conflicts of interests with other in-house departments.
2. Learn the Simple Principle of Value Investing! The simple principle of value investing is recognizing before others that the value of something today is less than what it will be sometime in the near future. So how do you quickly find a stock that is likely cheaper today than it is tomorrow before others? Read the Value Line stock summary reports, as they regularly rank stocks like sea-
soned analysts. You don’t want to be a seasoned stock analyst, but you want to be a savvy investor. Use a Value Line subscription to quickly get a quality shortlist of stock investment possibilities. Additionally, read a book about value investing. One of the best books on value investing I’ve ever read is The Little Book of Value Investing by Christopher Browne. It’s an amazingly short read and you can purchase an electronic copy for $12 or a hard copy for $16 on Amazon.
#3. Get a Subscription to Better Investing (www.betterinvesting.org) Better Investing is a not-for-profit investment education site. While there are a lot of good things here, including plenty of warm and fuzzy community oriented stuff, Better Investing allows you to use their powerful software tool called Stock Selection Guide (SSG). Even if you have a degree in economics, finance, or an MBA, using this tool is a must if you are serious about growing your money. I have no idea why their tool is not more popular. I have reviewed it in detail and all I can say is hands down, it is the best publicly available stock investment tool there is, period! What makes it so useful? The tool (1) loads historical data allowing you to see trends, (2) allows you to easily make projections about the future (a hint, just use the Value Line estimates unless you know better), and (3) recommends whether or not to buy, hold or sell the stock based on the latest stock price. All of this allows you to quickly make investment decisions based on the conditions of now, not a report written a month or several months ago. You now have some clear and simple steps for buying stock like Warren Buffett. We know that Mr. Buffett has been a regular user of Value Line. We know that he is a value investor. You are now aware of a tool to help you make the investment decision. Involve your spouse and children in stock investing and enjoy the knowledge! G. Mathis Conner is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Conner Management Group, LLC, a managed account money manager. He welcomes your questions at mathis@connermg. com. Get to know the firm by visiting their website at www.connermg.com and subscribe to their weekly newsletter about investing.
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Nothing, Yet Everything
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By Noel Pinnock
Contributing Writer
moment in my life that will always stay with me is when Tony’s Auto, my dad’s auto mechanic garage, was set on fire. I can remember pulling in the driveway and seeing the look of disappointment on my dad’s face. As he stood on the ashes of what had been the family’s major revenue stream, he said, “We have lost absolutely everything. We have nothing left other than the clothes on our backs.” Then after a brief pause, he expressed how we still had everything important, because our family had not been harmed. To have lost everything and still have everything seems paradoxical, right? As I reflect on the lessons presented by my dad, I realize that we all spend a lot of time accumulating things in life that really are of little importance.
Often, we don’t understand what is really precious, until the less significant things are no longer with us. In our careers and business ventures, we suffer from similar situations, like trying to accomplish a difficult task from a boss or dealing with an unpleasant co-worker. Regardless of the situation or circumstance, we have all felt the fire. Some gloss over it, while others take pause to ascertain the root causes. I have grown quite comfortable with the notion that life is filled with reciprocal turns along our journey. When there seems to be nothing else to live for, work for, or even die for, then we have reached an impasse along our journey that requires a change in perspective. With a change in perspective, the devastated areas in our lives can be rebuilt, shattered lives can be put back together, and families who have experienced a loss can find the strength to go on. As people, we seem to define ourselves during the most trying times. After Hurricane Ike rolled into Texas, within hours of the storm, countless individuals volunteered their time. Truckloads of food and supplies were gathered for those in need. Emergency crews, nonprofits and churches were among those lending a hand to those impacted.
Sometimes we seem to be at our best when life deals us its worst. People’s capacity after a difficulty to come back bigger and better in a short amount of time makes us all proud. But let us never forget that when you’ve lost materials possessions, if you still have faith, friends, family and the desire to go on, then you still have everything. My dad, Maple “Tony” Pinnock, would eventually have a spot on Debra, for the annual Daddy’s Day Makeover, and later virtually by himself, rebuilt his garage bigger and better than it was before the
fire. Just like the phoenix obtaining new life by arising from the ashes, my dad did the same. Friz Williams wrote, “Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the soul and heart of another person. In those transparent moments we know other people’s joys and sorrows, and we care about their concerns as if they were our own.” #getatit! www.noelpinnock.com
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Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
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Keep Millennial Employees from Leaving with Better Engagement Practices
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By d-mars.com News Provider
he Millennial generation encompasses the employees who will be tomorrow’s leaders in America’s companies. In just 10 years, they’ll make up 75 percent of the workforce. This generation of college graduates – buried under student-loan debt and entry-level income – is looking for ways to engage in the workplace and climb out of the recession that has plagued its members in recent years. Businesses bringing Millennials into their offices should look for ways to increase their employee engagement to make them more valuable members of the company. Research conducted by MSW ARS Research and commissioned by Dale Carnegie Training discovered Millennials have different expectations from older generations. “Millennials are the future of our companies, and are not entering a company like their parents did or anticipat-
ing they’ll stay at that company for their entire working career,” says Jean-Louis Van Doorne, senior vice president at Dale Carnegie Training. “They are hard workers who’ve been hit with many economic roadblocks, and they want to become engaged in their careers. Companies may need to adjust some practices to help encourage this engagement.” The research found Millennials find functional and emotional attributes in the office workplace big drivers of engagement, but many companies aren’t delivering. Here’s what small business owners and human resources departments can do to create a change in the workplace for better Millennial engagement: • Improve communication – The gossip mill is not necessarily a good thing to encourage, and it will run rampant in your company if you don’t have good communication about what’s happening from the top down. In smaller companies, you can create quarterly meetings to share information, and at larger com-
panies, newsletters and departmental meetings will help. Encourage your employees to ask questions. Promote an open-door policy with all management. And above all, only provide information that is accurate and true. If a question is asked and the answer isn’t known, say so. • Encourage growth opportunities – Millennials are interested in making their way up the career ladder quickly, and many will jump companies if they find it in their best interest. Since you’ve put a lot of effort into training them to perform perfectly for your company, it might be in your best interest to encourage them to stay around. Encourage your management team to discuss with Millennials on your staff their career goals, and identify direct paths they can take to grow in the company. • Get to know your workers – For many generations, the attitude has been to not ask personal questions of employees, but instead to let employees tell their stories if they wish. Millennials
would like their managers and coworkers to be interested in them, not just as an employee, but as a complete person. These employees want to know that their supervisor cares about their personal life and understands how it affects the work they do for the company. Your company might want to look into ways of getting to know each other, especially outside of the job. Consider hosting an annual family event like a picnic so coworkers can meet spouses and children. Create a monthly newsletter that features some stories about big life changes, like workers buying houses or starting families. When employees are more engaged in their work and company, they are more productive and satisfied with what they’re doing every day. This leads to better employee retention and trains workers to lead your company into the future. To learn more about the Dale Carnegie research, visit www.dalecarnegie.com and download the free whitepaper. – BPT
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Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
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Need a Fresh Look for Your Company? Try a New Logo
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By d-mars.com News Provider
ust like a haircut, your company can use a fresh new look every once in a while. Maybe you’ve changed your services a bit, or perhaps the company is under new leadership. If your office lease is up and you have to move to a new location, that can also result in a big change. For a small business, developing a new logo is just like getting a fresh new hair style. And it’s important to develop a new look for your company every five to 10 years to keep your business looking fresh, new and up to date. “Your company’s logo is what identifies your business, your name and your brand colors,” says Damien Leigh, senior vice president business services, Staples. “Logos are as memorable – sometimes even more so than company names, which means they need to really stand out.” Keep these tips in mind as you think about developing a new logo for your company.
• Icon – It’s important to be unique with your logo icon, whether you use a letter, words or a graphic. Unless your company is involved in the graphics industry, however, you don’t want it to be too complicated. Staples Copy & Print is offering new logo design services to help small business customers develop their logo.
• Typography – Determine if you want the company name, just your initials, a company motto or nothing at all. Think about logos you like and provide
your designer with those examples to determine the words and type that will best work for your logo.
or muted to allow a viewer to feel calm. What your company does will help you determine how to pick the right colors. For example, a company that deals with the environment will probably look for natural colors, whereas a company that sells products for children will be better suited for choosing brighter hues. Be sure to get your stationery, marketing materials, writing utensils, company apparel and, of course, the company sign updated with the brand-new logo so you can keep your business looking fresh and new to your customers for several years to come. – BPT
• Colors – This may be the easiest or the hardest decision you’ll make when it comes to your logo design. If you already have company colors established, and they still work for everything your company stands for, then you can check this one off your list of decisions that need to be made. Colors set the mood your customers will feel when they see your logo. They can be bold to demand attention
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