ALIVE Magazine

Where Entrepreneur Women Connect, Learn, Identify and Achieve Their True Purpose Volume 6, Issue 5

Motivate Yourself to Start Your Own Business Exclusive Interview with Euzhan Palcy Our Well Health

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Session Themes So You Want To Start A Business Business Structure & Establishing Your Professional Services Team Funding Your Business

What you will gain  Completed business plan  Brand/Identity Package  6 hours of coaching  Annual Membership to Imminent Evolutions

$350.00 Coming to a city near you!

Non-profit and professional organizations that desire to host the conference contact our offices for more information.

Discounts provided for 3 or more registrations from the same organization.

One Life To Live – From Dreams To Reality Small Business Leadership Conference 2012 National Tour

Identifying Your Niche to Securing Your Funding An unforgettable experience designed to help you take your business and your life to the next level!  Discover Your Genius  Goal Setting - A Must for Continued Success  Branding 101  Profit or Non-profit Which is Best for Me?  How to Establish Business Credit  Successfully Marketing Your Business  The Importance of Strategic Planning  Business Plan Development  Investors or Loans — Which is Best For Me? Take advantage of the opportunity to network, build alliances and lasting business relationships with other successful business owners as you develop or grow your business.

Networking opportunities at each session.

For Additional Information: ALIVE Magazine (972) 591-1340 inquiries@alivemagonline.com

Inside This Issue: Parenting

Letter to the Editor



One Life To Live: 

Living Life by Design, Not By Default - Out of Strength and Into Power

It Cannot Always Be Stress

Business    

Motivate Yourself to Start Your Own Business 3 Critical Elements to Improving Employees Performance Networking—There is Method to the Madness Negotiation Courses—Boosting Your Negotiation Skills

ALIVE is for emerging and current entrepreneurs. With over 25,000 readers, ALIVE now provides advertising opportunities on our site! Our media kit details readership and advertising rates.

FRIEND us on Facebook www.facebook.com/alivemagazine

Recipe 

Business Directory

ALIVE Magazine is in its 5th year of circulation. We began as a newsletter shared with a small network of entrepreneurs. The publication has blossomed into a monthly magazine with an international readership.

Cover Story: 

Sinusitis on Kids

Grilled Shrimp with Pineapple Relish & Coconut Rum Butter

FOLLOW us on TWITTER www.twitter.com/alivemag

Technology 

Social Media/Social Bookmarking Sites

Conferences Leadership 

Advertise with Us!

Keys to Energizing Your Board

Health     

Estrogen Imbalance in Young Women National Health Month Omega 3 Helps to Burn Stress Related Belly Fat Our Well Health Discover the Art & Science of Leadership Development

Education  

University of Phoenix Supports Road Trip Nation Summer Amnesia: Avoid the Brain Drain

Entrepreneurs 

Request our rate information via email advertising@alivemagonline.com

The Entrepreneurs Key to Success

Girlfriend Getaway 

Snorkeling in Akumal, Mexico

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Letter to the Editor

Dear Readers,

I hope that you enjoyed our first print on demand issue. Our team is planning for continuous improvements. We are in the process of setting the publication up as a subscription in the very near future. We hope that you will continue to support us by subscribing.

For the next few months, we will be busy as well as myself personally. I have been invited to co-author a book for entrepreneurs that will be released this summer! I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts in this book, The Practicality of Business: Back to Basics.

To all the Mothers I wish continued happiness and peace.

Between writing, meeting with my publicist, interviews and scheduling the book tour, things remain busy but I see this as a milestone for a greater purpose. This was not something I saw happening for a few years yet, but I realize opportunities rarely come in 'our time.'

The month of May is National Health Awareness month. As entrepreneurs and executives we sometimes, well more than likely, put ourselves on the back burner. My challenge to you as you read this month's issue is to stop putting yourself and your family in jeopardy. Improve your health, make better food choices and increase your daily exercise.

May is also the month we recognize and show appreciation for those that have a matriarchal influence in our life—mother, grandmother, aunt, mature women in our community and extended family; for their guidance, wisdom and support shown to those in the "family unit".

Growing up I was fortunate to have the influence of my mother, grandmothers and great-great grandmother as well as extended family. The things that were expected of me and the manner in which I had to 'act' were molded by these great women.

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My mother was another influence on my life. She had high expectations for my brother and me and accepted nothing less than our best. The results have been success from the both of us. I find myself repeating some of the same phrases to my daughter that as a child I promised "When I have kids, I won't say that. Apparently, those phrases become innate when you 'cross over' into Mommyhood.

To join the ranks of Mommyhood is a great privilege in which all are not able to participate. For me, it has been the greatest privilege and opportunity. When my daughter was born, a little over a year ago, it was such a surreal and quieting moment - I was now a Mommy! This precious, perfectly healthy little girl with 10 fingers, 10 toes and a set of lungs like NO OTHER allowed me this opportunity.

I believe that it takes a special person to be a parent. I also believe that children bring out the best in us, helping us to grow and see past ourselves. As I began and continue on my journey through Mommyhood, I am reminded: 1). Don't sweat the small stuff; its really NOT that serious.

2). BE in the moment - minus the Blackberry and laptop – because these very precious moments will never be repeated again at this time and place.

3). Laugh. Live. Love.

4). Make memories!

It is now my time to encourage, influence and teach my daughter - proper manners, to be respectful and to display humanity.

This is no easy task and yes, I have my work cut out for me but I do welcome the assignment with open arms.

To all the Mothers I wish continued happiness and peace.

Enjoy your family!

Brandy Adamson Founder & Editor in Chief ALIVE Magazine

One Life to Live

One Life To Live: Living Life by Design, Not By Default Out of Strength and Into Power

In our last column, we discussed that many people seek to move into their purpose and make the decision to do so. This isn't something easily decided by the masses. For many this is a life altering experience that brings about fear and anxiety.

First, realize that apprehension is normal, but I encourage you to move past that and remember forward movement. Whether it is a huge leap or one step at a time, forward movement is the goal.

How do you move forward you might ask? You have to understand your purpose and post it on your mirror, refrigerator, in your office and in your daily organizer - put it where you will see it - constantly.

This will keep you focused and aid in affirming your decisions you make on a daily basis.

pose and passion provide financially for ourselves and our families. In some instances this may happen, but not all. Therefore, set realistic expectations - daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly. Keep track of your goals and celebrate your successes - no matter how big or small.

Thirdly, remember the proverb 'birds of a feather flock together'? Your environment and those with whom you spend time and share your goals most definitely have an affect on your progress. If you associate with people that are complacent or negative, can they REALLY support you in your progression?

Can you REALLY support them? Remember support is a two way street. You want to not only get support but give it as well.

Lastly, remember the Law of Attraction. What you think about is what you become and what you speak will occur. Get rid of self doubt, ―stinkin' thinkin'‖ and negativity within. You are a powerful being and able to accomplish all things you set your mind to do.

To your continued success!

Next, establish realistic goals. Yes, we would all love to be in an immediate position that living our pur-

Cover Story—Stress

It Cannot Always Be Stress

―I‘m so stressed out with these bills, my family, my

ment or continue to use stress as an excuse.

significant other, my everything.‖ You may have uttered these words more times than you care to admit.

You may have even wished for a relief of all the chaos in your life but because of who you are to so many people you keep it to yourself. Oftentimes African American women are the glue to everything, everyone and in every aspect of their personal, professional and social lives. The more roles you take on (the superwoman syndrome) the more likely you become subjected to mental exhaustion and even mental illness such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Yes, mental illness occurs in Black women and unfortunately, the word mental illness is taboo in the Black community and many women of color who suffer from moderate to severe mental illness go untreated.

Just the thought of being labeled with an illness White women are known to experience keep Black women from seeking the treatment they need despite the warning signs. These emotional, behavioral and cognitive warning signs as listed by the Mayo Clinic may include:

According to Mental Health America (formerly known as National Mental Health Association) a mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and/or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with life‘s ordinary demands and routines. There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness with symptoms which may include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawal. Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events. Mental illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these (Mental Health America, 2009).

Environmental stressors or unaddressed issues can and do often cause you to experience a lapse in your mental capacity which limits your ability to function normally. Depending on the causes of stress, such as a family member, child, spouse or employer, you may decide to continue to allow the stressor to impact your mental and physical health. These stressors often determine whether or not you seek treat-

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          

Feeling sad or down Confused thinking Excessive fears or worries Withdrawal from friends and activities Problems sleeping Delusions or hallucinations Inability to cope with daily problems or stress Alcohol or substance abuse Significant changes in eating habits Sex drive changes Excessive anger, hostility or violence

Even if you keep telling yourself that you are not mentally ill, that you have it all together and that you can handle it your body will let you know that you may be experiencing signs of mental illness. These physical symptoms of mental illness may include:  

Numerous unexplained physical problems Fatigue

Cover Story—Stress

        

Back pain Chest pain Digestive problems Dry mouth Headache Sweating Weight gain or loss Rapid heart rate Dizziness

employer may have an Employee Assistance Program, (EAP) which will refer you to a mental health professional for free or a small nominal fee. If you are unemployed visit your nearest hospital or clinic in your area for treatment. You do not have to suffer because you do not have the financial means for treatment because there are options for you to get better.

Stress is a normal part of life but if your stress is persistent then Far too often African American you may be women turn to their families, suffering from friends, churches and other confia form of menFar too often African-American women turn dants to assist them with undiagtal illness. nosed and unprofessional advice. to their families, friends, churches and other Stop hiding We are quick to take advice from from the real our grandmother, mother, aunt confidants to assist them with undiagnosed issue because who may have or are experiencing having a menand unprofessional advice. signs of mental illness. All who tal illness does give the common African Amerinot equal cracan answer to everything, ‗just zy, it just pray about it‘. Yes, prayer is a powerful tool which means you need help. Talk with a healthcare profesenables us to reach beyond our natural understand- sional immediately, especially if you are experiencing ing but prayer alone does nothing for untreated men- thoughts of suicide or harming someone else. tal illnesses. In order for you to understand any of the above listed symptoms you must be willing to For more information on mental illness symptoms seek professional help. visit www.mayoclinic.com. If you want to know more about mental illness and the importance of mental If you have medical coverage through your employer health visit www.nmha.org. then you should contact your provider for a list of mental illness professionals in your area. If you do Previously printed in E‘Lon Couture Magazine, 2010 not have medical insurance but are employed your

Business

Motivate Yourself to Start Your Own Business

Are you preoccupied with how to start your own

or service you actually provide.

business? Is job security unsure for you, irrespective of how long you've been employed in your current job? Does it appear as if there's less work to go around? Look around you, is the atmosphere of your workplace a bit more somber than usual?

When you're self-employed, you can't blame any problem on the boss. There is no one to report back to aside from yourself. Yes, there are clients that you've got some degree of duty and accountability to, but in relation to whether or not they're happy or not completely satisfied with your services, you're the only one concerned in that process. There is no such thing as a boss to write you up in case you do poorly and there's no boss to offer you a pat on the back when you do a terrific job. It's just you being accountable for you.

Then it's most likely time to start your own business now.

Ask people who've owned their own companies and they're going to urge you to stop working for other people. There's “If you start your own business nothing quite like the freedom of On the flip side, in the event you being self-employed. They'll tell now, you will have many do make a blunder, who shall be you that they cannot even think there to admonish you but yourexperiences unlike what about being anything but working self? There isn't any fear of your for themselves. Being selfmistake appearing on your annual you’ve been expecting.� employed has improved their review or of a cut in your salary or quality of life, giving them the opperhaps a demotion. portunity to always be there for his or her family-something that the majority other people, those that Even better, if your organization makes a big sale or don't own their businesses, cannot often enjoy. achieves a milestone, who except yourself will take With that said, the initial steps on how one can start your own business now and continuing to enjoy the benefits of being self employed can be very hard work. Particularly when first starting out, you'll want to accept the truth that there might be many lessons to be realized and many adjustments that may need to be made along the way-both to your business, yourself, and your loved ones.

If you start your business now, you will have many experiences unlike what you've been expecting. You will notice that being self-employed is tremendously different than working for someone else and it takes much more than just simple desire to be successful.

When you work for someone else, you usually have a boss of some kind, a specific set of obligations and you're accountable to others. Your boss is there to lead every piece of the business and your role is secondary at best. However, if you end up selfemployed, you're the boss and you're accountable for just about every facet of your business. Many times, particularly when first starting out, you'll not only be the boss, but additionally, you will be the book-keeper, personnel supervisor, project manager, clerical staff, supplies or procurement officer, in addition to any specific job title you could have for the job

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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all of the glory and the accolades? Hey, this is one thing you'll enjoy instantly if you start your own business now!

Are you questioning whether you have the proper character traits of successful entrepreneurs? Some studies will inform you that it takes a type A personality to be successfully self-employed. Others disagree and say that it just takes certain traits and never one particular type of personality. Truly, it doesn't necessarily take a type A personality to start your own business or be successfully self-employed just look at your individual character traits as you think about how to start your own business.

In case you are a fast learner, then you definitely will be good to start your own business now. You'll end up learning things like finances and marketing. You will learn how to account for the business' revenue and expenses, how to project yourself and what your business offers. Even when you consider yourself a bit on the shy side, you are smart to do some research on the topic of how to start your own business, and on the kind of business that you are thinking of starting, to be able to be clear on the effort, funding, and hard work that it'll entail. There are such a lot of benefits to being self-employed, and the payoff might be quite exhilarating!

Business

3 Critical Elements to Improving Employees Performance One of the most difficult conversations a manager must ever have with an employee is coaching them when a performance problem exists. Many managers put this discussion off altogether, or handle it ineffectively. As a result, the employee never gets the coaching needed, and performance does not improve.

It's important to recognize before you begin that not every performance issue is caused by an employee.

Sometimes a managerial issue or organizational impediment could be at the root of the problems. Determine if there is something else that might have contributed to the problem before you begin your discussion. The employee may also be able to provide insight into this during the discussion.

ior that needs to improve, such as coming to meetings on time, offering to help complete a task requested, or completing an identified report accurately. As a result, the response you will mostly like receive will be defensive. The employee may think they are a good team player and dispute what you are saying. Once either party becomes defensive, you will have a much more difficult time arriving at any mutual understanding to improve performance.

Ask the employee to make suggestions for improvement. This is one of the most critical elements because it engages the employee in finding a solution. When they are able to provide their own suggestions, they have more ownership in solving the problem. When they are not able to provide their own suggestions and just told what to do, they may oblige There are 3 critical elements that must be present in but do so grudgingly. Telling an employee what to do any discussion a manager has to improve the perfor- can frequently cause them to feel as if they are being mance of their employees. They are: talked down to or treated like a child. As a result, true motivation for solving the problem will not be theirs.

Address the performance issue, not the employee. It's important to separate the behavior from the Summary person in order for the conversation to go well. Make Make sure you are including these 3 elements in any sure to stay focused on the specific behavior that conversation you have with an employee to improve needs to improve, and don't address personal char- performance. When you do, the employee will not acteristics or personality. only be more likely to improve the behavior you are Focus on specifics instead of vague generalities. addressing, but feel more motivated to do so consistWhen you say something like "You just need to be a ently in the future. better team player", the employee really will not know what you mean. It's not addressing a specific behav-

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ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Business

Networking—Here is the Method to the Madness!

We have all been there - trying to read all of the emails in our INBOX - subject line - "THE Event of the Year, You Don't Want to Miss!"

You open the email and it‘s either a constant contact newsletter or e-flyer containing information about 'THE' networking event. When you look at the pictures, what do you see? Usually men and women at a hotel, either sitting at rounds of 8 or a bar - laughing, eating and drinking.

Ok, is that REALLY networking? Networking in business is about building relationships. How can you build relationships in a room full of 100-200 people, dimmed lights and usually a DJ playing in the back“What is ground? How do you know who to approach?

Again, networking is about building relationships and should have the following characteristics: Be genuine and authentic. We have all been to networking functions where we meet 'The Posturer' that one person that tries to make everyone believe they are 'that business' that everyone works with. If that is the case, why is he/she he posturing and usually quite boisterous. Therefore it is important to be genuine and authentic because word gets around fast if you‘re not.

The Rule of 9 business cards. Yes! I said it - do NOT attend networking events with a newly printed box of business cards. Remember, networking events are about relationship building. We have all come away from networking events with a 3" stack of business cards - what do we do with them? Most are filed away in the 'networking rolodex'. Therefore, strategically give your business card to 9 business contacts you believe to be viable.

Build a relationship with the event host. The event host is aware of who is attending the event and can typically provide you with a list of names he/she would encourage you to contact. Use this as an opportuniyour Brand Vocabulary?” ty to make sure you are strategic and leave your cards with the Best 9 for your business.

This may all seem daunting and calculated but remember - we don't build solid relationships with everyone we meet and true relationships are hard work!

If you're going to invest time in attending networking events, invest time in preparation.

For those that are new in business and under the impression they don't have a network, take 10 minutes and fill in the chart on the following page you do have a network, the question is how will you use it?

Something to share. When you come to networking events come prepared with information and/or busiIn our next issue, we will discuss how to develop ness opportunities. By the time Thursday evening your current network. arrives who wants to spend time at an anticipated business event only to arrive and find out it‘s purely social? No true entrepreneur that I know. So come prepared to share important and useful information, changes in laws that can impact businesses or legitimate business referrals.

Business introduction. When introducing your business you should have an introduction that speaks clearly to the products and services offered and how you benefit other businesses. I work with my clients to encompass their 'brand vocabulary' in their introductions. This provides consistency and clarity when people speak to you or your team, read business literature or visit your website.

Business

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Business

Start Your Own Business Now, Without Sacrificing Your Paycheck

Interested by how to start your own business, however uneasy about leaving your present job too quickly? You can do both jobs, when you have a good head on your shoulders!

won't have to juggle it with the demands of the old job.

Third, make sure you have a business plan. A business plan will help you structure your business and can let you understand if expenditures are in line with your business needs or if they are frivolous. Having a marketing strategy will pressure you to spend time on things that help your business and not let you waste any time on non-essential things. Do not wing it -create a business plan when you are figuring out how to start your individual business. Don't wait until it is already launched.

Don't suppose that you would be able to start your own business now only if you leave your day job.

You don't have to leave your current career and the predictable revenue that it brings you and your family. Especially in the event you're considering launching a small enterprise with out having a lot of spare money. Being a brand new entrepreneur will undoubtedly require a substantial piece of economic investment. You may definitely go into your new ven- Lastly, ensure you've organized your finances. Evaluture while continuing to work for anate your current expenses and other person and earning that regular requirements, and be prepared paycheck. to cut back so that you can assist your business enterprise Launching a business while working without sacrificing too much. full-time for someone else will be very “Launching a business while This is when you can work on challenging. Be ready to face the establishing a date for leaving challenge of principally working two working for someone else your day job. Make the commitfull-time jobs. Doing both will take ment to sacrifice some of the will be very challenging.� luxuries that you and your family your full energy, focus, and will necessitate the utmost in organizational have referred to as necessities skills. for such a long time. Do you really need that timeshare? Can However it is 100% doable. Right you live without premium cable here is how to start your own busichannels for awhile? Can you cut out costly restauness, while preserving your day job: rant dining and order takeout instead? What about future expenses associated with your new enterFirst, you have to be willing to sacrifice most of your prise? Will you have to spend money on new techleisure time. Decide to commit to the additional time nology or office space? These are the things you that you will need to set up your new enterprise and must consider. to get it off the ground. And by announcing this requirement to the folks in your life, you'll acquire their So it is natural to want to start your own business understanding and permission to be a bit absent from now, especially in the event you see an opportunity their lives as well. Setting reasonable expectations that is too good to ignore. Take a while to think about on your time can take quite a lot of strain off you how to start your own business, though. It's possible throughout this crucial phase as you start your own you'll wish to do so while plodding along in your business now. trusty, dusty day job. Even if just for a little while Secondly, you will want to offer yourself a target date for leaving your current job. You won't be able to burn the candle at both ends forever. And, you do not need to always think of your new business as a side business, or your day job as one, as you're sure to get fired for lack of focus. Setting a target date may even allow you to set an objective for starting the second phase of your business venture, when you

longer.

Business

Negotiation Courses - Boosting Your Negotiation Skills

Success in the business world hinges on a lot of

Business negotiation is, at its heart, about conflict different factors, from successful marketing to proper resolution. Negotiation courses will teach you how to effectively handle the process with a level head. business strategies. One area that affects a busiKnowing when to make certain concessions and ness' bottom line more than most is in negotiation. which ones to make is vital, as is knowing when you Striking business deals is the cornerstone of the business world, and one that can make or break any need to stand firm and not give in. Coming to an company regardless of size. One bad deal can bring agreement can take time, but the skills you can learn through classes on negotiation will help you expedite a company to its knees, and a stalled deal can be just as bad. Conversely, an excellent one can boost the negotiation process and effectively reach an a tiny business towards huge success. Taking nego- agreement that all parties involved can be satisfied with. From hiring new employees to making a hightiation courses can help you improve your skills in level business merger, negotiation skills will come this area and increase your successes in the prointo play time and again. cess.

Learning to negotiate involves a number of different things, and good negotiation courses will focus on all of these areas. Good communication skills are the fundamentals of negotiation, for sure, but what about reading other people? Being able to recognize the behavior, negotiation, and communication styles of others will work wonders on your abilities to understand the best ways to communicate with them, working towards your goal in the negotiation by understanding them as well. Knowing how others work is a great way to improve communication with them.

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There are a number of negotiation courses available, from college based programs to more professional seminar type classes. The investment you make in gaining excellent negotiation skills will pay off not only for your company but for you personally as well.

Your career will advance as employers see your potential for successful negotiations, and you will become a valued part of any business instead of one more cog in the machine. Most negotiation classes take little time to complete and will give you all the skills and theories you need to be the best you can be when the time comes to strike a deal.

Recipes

Grilled Shrimp with Pineapple Relish & Coconut Rum Butter 8 Servings For the Grilled Pineapple Relish: Heat the grill over high heat.

Peel & core a pineapple. Brush the pineapple with a few tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown on all sides. Remove the pineapple from the grill, cut into small dice and transfer to a bowl.

Add Âź cup diced onion & red bell pepper, a few tablespoons of oil, cilantro and honey, to taste. Season with salt & pepper. Let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving.

For the Shrimp: 2 pounds extra-large (21-25 count) shrimp, peeled & deveined 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons kosher salt 4 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper 2. Put the shrimp in a large bowl.

Toss the shrimp with the oil & season with the salt & pepper.

Place the shrimp on the grates of the grill in an even layer & grill until lightly browned and slightly

charred, about 2 minutes. Turn the shrimp over & continue grilling until just cooked through, about a minute longer. Remove the shrimp to a platter.

For the Coconut Rum Butter: 1 - 15 oz can Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut Âź cup Rum 4 tablespoons sweet unsalted butter In a small sauce pot, heat coconut cream & rum over medium heat until a simmer. Whisk in butter until melted. Remove from heat.

For the Plate Up: Place a tablespoon of the Grilled Pineapple Relish in the center of a plate. Place 3-4 Grilled Shrimp on top of the relish and drizzle with a teaspoon of the Coconut Rum Butter. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy Ken Patrick Ken Patrick Culinary Group 2011

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Technology

Social-Media/Social-Bookmarking Sites



StumbleUpon: You'll open your online presence up to a whole new audience just by adding the StumbleUpon toolbar to your browser and "channel surf[ing] the Web. You'll "connect with friends and share your discoveries," as well as "meet people that have similar interests."



Technorati: If you want to increase your blog's readership, consider registering it with Technorati, a network of blogs and writers that lists top stories in categories like Business, Entertainment and Technology.



Ning: After hanging around the same social networks for a while, you may feel inspired to create your own, where you can bring together clients, vendors, customers and co-workers in a confidential, secure corner of the Web. Ning lets users design free social networks that they can share with anyone.



Squidoo: According to Squidoo, "everyone's an expert on something. Share your knowledge!" Share your industry's secrets by

Share your favorite sites on the Web with potential clients and business partners by commenting on, uploading and ranking different newsworthy articles.

You can also create a member profile that directs traffic back to your company's Web site. 

Reddit: Upload stories and articles on reddit to drive traffic to your site or blog. Submit items often so that you'll gain a more loyal following and increase your presence on the site.



Digg: Digg has a huge following online because of its optimum usability. Visitors can submit and browse articles in categories like technology, business, entertainment, sports and more.



Del.icio.us: Social bookmark your way to better business with sites like del.icio.us, which invite users to organize and publicize interesting items through tagging and networking.

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Technology

answering questions and designing a profile page to help other members. 



Furl: Make Furl "your personal Web file" by bookmarking great sites and sharing them with other users by recommending links, commenting on articles and utilizing other fantastic features.

Tubearoo: This video network works like other social-bookmarking sites, except that it focuses on uploaded videos. Businesses can create and upload tutorials, commentaries and interviews with industry insiders to promote their own services.



WikiHow: Create a how-to guide or tutorial on wikiHow to share your company's services with the public for free.



YouTube: From the fashion industry to Capitol Hill, everyone has a video floating around on YouTube. Shoot a behind-the-scenes video from your company's latest commercial or event to give customers and clients an idea of what you do each day.



Ma.gnolia: Share your favorite sites with friends, colleagues and clients by organizing your bookmarks with Ma.gnolia. Clients will appreciate both your Internet-savviness and your ability to stay current and organized.

business professionals can help each other with their purchase and other business decisions by accessing research and peer expertise. Most importantly, Focus provides open, quality information for all businesses that is freely available, easily accessible, and community powered. 

YorZ: This networking site doubles as a job site. Members can post openings for free to attract quality candidates.



Xing: An account with networking site Xing can "open doors to thousands of companies." Use the professional contact manager to organize your new friends and colleagues, and take advantage of the Business Accelerator application to "find experts at the click of a button, market yourself in a professional context [and] open up new sales channels."



Facebook: Facebook is no longer just for college kids who want to post their party pics.

Businesses vie for advertising opportunities, event promotion and more on this socialnetworking site.



Care2: Care2 isn't just a networking community for professionals: It's touted as "the global network for organizations and people who Care2 make a difference." If your business is making efforts to go green, let others know by becoming a presence on this site.

Professional-Networking Sites Sign up with these online networking communities as  a company or as an individual to take advantage of recruiting opportunities, cross-promotional events and more. 

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LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a popular networking site where alumni, business associates, recent graduates and other professionals connect online.

Ecademy: Ecademy prides itself on "connecting business people" through its online network, blog and message-board chats, as well as its premier BlackStar membership program, which awards exclusive benefits.

Focus: Focus is a business destination where

Gather: This networking community is made up of members who think. Browse categories concerning books, health, money, news and more to ignite discussions on politics, business and entertainment. This will help your company tap into its target audience and find out what they want.

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MEETin.org: Once you've acquired a group of contacts in your city by networking on MEETin.org, organize an event so that you can meet face-to-face.

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Tribe: Cities like Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, New York and Chicago have unique online communities on tribe. Users can search for favorite restaurants, events, clubs and more.

Technology

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Ziggs: Ziggs is "organizing and connecting people in a professional way." Join groups and make contacts through your Ziggs account to increase your company's presence online and further your own personal career.

Plaxo: Join Plaxo to organize your contacts and stay updated with feeds from Digg, Amazon.com, del.icio.us and more.

NetParty: If you want to attract young professionals in cities like Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Orlando Fla., create an account with the networking site NetParty. You'll be able to connect with qualified, up-and-coming professionals online, then meet them at a real-life happy-hour event where you can pass out business cards, pitch new job openings and more.

Networking For Professionals: Networking For Professionals is another online community that combines the Internet with special events in the real world. Post photos, videos, résumés and clips on your online profile while you meet new business contacts.

Niche Social-Media Sites Consider linking up with one of these social-media sites to narrow down your business's target audience.

You'll find other professionals, enthusiasts and consumers who are most likely already interested in what your company has to offer. 

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Pixel Groovy: Web workers will love Pixel Groovy, an open-source site that lets members submit and rate tutorials for Web 2.0, email and online-marketing issues.

Mixx: Mixx prides itself on being "your link to the Web content that really matters." Submit and rate stories, photos and news to drive traffic to your own site. You'll also meet others with similar interests.

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Tweako: Gadget-minded computer geeks can network with each other on Tweako, a site that promotes information sharing for the technologically savvy.

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Small Business Brief: When members post entrepreneur-related articles, a photo and a link to their profile appear, gaining you valuable expo-

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

22

sure and legitimacy online. 

Sphinn: Sphinn is an online forum and networking site for the Internet marketing crowd. Upload articles and guides from your blog to create interest in your own company or connect with other professionals for form new contacts.

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BuzzFlash.net: This one-stop news resource is great for businesses that want to contribute articles on a variety of subjects, from the environment to politics to health.

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HubSpot: HubSpot is another news site aimed at connecting business professionals.

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SEO TAGG: Stay on top of news from the Web marketing and SEO (search-engine optimization) industries by becoming an active member of this online community.

General Social-Media Sites The following social-media sites provide excellent opportunities for businesses to advertise; promote specials, events or services; and feature published, knowledgeable employees. 

Wikipedia: Besides creating your own business reference page on Wikipedia, you can connect with other users on Wikipedia's Community Portal and at the village pump, where you'll find conscientious professionals enthusiastic about news, business, research and more.

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Newsvine: Feature top employees by uploading their articles, studies or other news-related items to this site. A free account will also get you your own column and access to the Newsvine community.

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43 Things: This site bills itself as "the world's most popular online goal setting community." By publicizing your company's goals and ambitions, you'll gain a following of customers, investors and promoters who cheer you on as you achieve success.

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Wetpaint: If you're tired of blogs and generic Web sites, create your own wiki with Wetpaint to reach your audience and increase your company's presence online. You can easily organize

Technology

articles, contact information, photos and other information to promote your business. 

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Twitter: Is a social networking and microblogging service that allows you answer the question, "What are you doing?" by sending short text messages 140 characters in length, called "tweets", to your friends, or "followers."

Yahoo! Answers: Start fielding Yahoo! users' questions with this social-media Q&A service.

Search for questions in your particular areas of expertise by clicking categories like Business & Finance, Health, News & Events and more. If you continue to dole out useful advice and link your answer to your company's Web page, you'll quickly gain a new following of curious customers.

Job Sites If you want to secure high-quality talent during your company's next hiring spree, you'll need to maintain a strong presence on popular job sites like the ones listed below. 

Monster: Post often to separate your business from all the other big companies that use this site to advertise job openings.

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Sologig: Top freelancers and contractors post résumés and look for work on this popular site.

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AllFreelance.com: This site "offers selfemployed small business owners links to freelance & work at home job boards, self-promotion tips" and more.

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Freelance Switch Job Listings: Freelance Switch is the freelancer's online mecca and boasts articles, resource toolboxes, valuable tips and a job board.

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GoFreelance: Employers looking to boost their vendor base should check GoFreelance for professionals in the writing, design, editing and Web industries.  Yahoo! Hot Jobs: This site is often one of the first places that job seekers visit. Post open opportunities and check out informative articles and guides to gain insight on the hiring and interviewing process.

CareerBuilder.com: Reach millions of candidates by posting jobs on this mustvisit site.

 Guru.com: Build your company's repertoire with top freelancing professionals by advertising projects on this site, otherwise known as "the world's largest online service marketplace."

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The Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal: The Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal attracts welleducated professionals who are at the top of their game. Post a job or search résumés here.

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CollegeRecruiter.com: If your firm wants to hire promising entry-level employees, check CollegeRecuriter.com for candidates with college degrees.

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Leadership

Conferences Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference May 22 - 25, 2011 Atlanta, Georgia http://www.blackenterprise.com/ec/ WBENC 2011 National Conference June 21 - 23, 2011 Las Vegas, Nevada http://www.wbenc.org/wbencconf/ Livin‘ Lavida Lux Punta Cana, Dominican Republic July 27 - 31, 2011 http://livinlavidalux.eventbrite.com/

Women Entrepreneurs of America 5th Annual Conference August 19—21, 2011 Indianapolis, Indiana www.weainc.us 3rd Annual Denton County Women in Business Conference & Expo June 3, 2011 Lewisville, Texas http://www.lewisvillechamber.org/events/ women-business-conference-and-expo-0

Keys to Energizing Your Board What was the problem? Too many of these board dressed. If there are open issues from the stratemeetings had been spent reviewing the work of the gic planning report that have not been resolved, committees, rather than mapping the direction of the this is the time to do so. The strategic plan agency. Now, board members are no longer bored guides your agenda, not committee reports. by listening to reports of what has already happened.

5. Consent Agenda: Eliminate committee reports Their efforts have been re-focused on success in the and announcements by using a consent agenda future. We now have highly interactive meetings that is sent out well in advance of the meeting. where we discuss how to move towards a bright new horizon.

6. Education: Always provide opportunities for the members to learn more about the agency, its Here are some of the principals they have been folprograms and challenges. Have clients/staff lowing: come to meetings to tell their stories.

1. Mission Statement: Recognize that the reason board members provide their valuable time and talent is because they have a passion for the Mission of the agency. Start each board meeting by reading the mission of the agency. This will keep the meeting from straying into irrelevant and insignificant matters.

2. Short Agenda/More Discussion: Focus on no more than 5-6 items at a meeting. Leave more time for discussion of each item.

7. Leadership: In order to build future leadership and more competent board members, include one item which provides them leadership insights and skills so they will be prepared to take the reigns of the agency in the future.

8. Reports: Have standardized reporting; keep reports simple and easy to understand.

9. Annual calendar: Create an annual board calendar that schedules recurring items at the appropriate times, i.e. budget presentation, executive review, by-laws review, audit report, board elections, etc.

3. Intellectual Capital: Provide opportunities for board members to use their ‗intellectual capital' by always having many items on the agenda that 10. Enjoy: Celebrate success at every meeting.

Thank everyone for everything all the time. requires discussion and decisions. Use smaller breakout groups to encourage more interaction.

Make these few simple changes and watch the 4. Strategic issues: Use the board meeting to excitement grow. make sure that strategic initiatives are being ad-

Nonprofit

Estrogen Imbalance in Young Women

More and more women experience symptoms of

fat tissue and interfere with natural hormonal pathways by imitating estrogen behaviour. hormonal imbalances years ahead of menopause in  After pregnancy levels of progesterone dramatitheir mid-thirties. The common complaints are facally fall and can be too low in some women tigue, night sweats, insomnia, painful periods, low  Poor diet that includes meats of commercially libido, migraine, infertility, mood swings and weight raised cattle with use of hormones and antibiotics as gain. Most of these symptoms are caused by estrowell as fruits, vegetables and drinking water containgen dominance when the action of estrogen is not compensated by sufficient amounts of progesterone. ing pesticides and other hormone pathways disrupting chemicals.

Both hormones are necessary for optimal health.

Estrogen is a pro-growth hormone that regulates the  Birth control pills contribute to an increase of esmenstrual cycle, affects the mood, promotes cell divi- trogen levels sion and development especially in the female or Obesity is a risk factor for development of estrogans such as ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes, vagina gen dominance because the fat cells start to produce and breast tissue. estrogen Progesterone acts as antagonist of estrogen protect-  Excessive production of estrogen due to ovarian ing women from diseases and conditions associated cysts or tumors Early menopause and thyroid disease are connectwith too much estrogen. There are three main funced. Prevalence of painless autoimmune inflammations of progesterone: tion of the ovaries called oophoritis is higher in wom1. Promote healthy development and to protect the en with autoimmune thyroiditis. fetus during pregnancy 2. Provide and support healthy body functions such The biggest health concern related to estrogen domias normalizing blood sugar and clotting, maintaining nance is the high incidence of breast cancer in womoxygen levels in the cells, acting as a natural antide- en who are in their mid-thirties to mid-forties. Many recent studies have shown that in the majority of pressant, protecting against any type of cancer and women of this age group breast cancer is of a nonbeing a precursor for other hormones. genetic origin and requires about 9 to 10 years before being diagnosed.

Counteract effects of estrogen While unopposed estrogen significantly increases proliferation of the breast cells, progesterone can compensate this effect. Early diagnosis and correcThe main causes of hormonal imbalances of modern tion of estrogen dominance can stop and reverse women are in diet, life style and environment: breast cancer development in many younger women.

Causes of estrogen imbalance

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Chronic stress depletes adrenal function resulting in low levels of progesterone and other major hormones. The effect when a womans body starts to produce more cortisol through conversion from progesterone is called "progesterone steal".

Hypothyroidism in women can cause suppression of LH hormone resulting in decreased progesterone production. Moreover, low thyroid function promotes insensitivity of progesterone receptors resulting in symptoms of hormonal imbalances despite normal test results.  Environmental chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, various plastics and PCBs called xenoestrogens have a tendency to accumulate in the human

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Health

National Health Month

Important dates to remember during the month of May.

National Stuttering Awareness Week May 9, 2011

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week May 1-7, 2011

National Employee Health and Fitness Day May 18, 2011

Melanoma Monday May 2, 2011

National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day May 19, 2011

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day May 7, 2011

National Hurricane Awareness Week May 22-28, 2011

Food Allergy Awareness Week May 8-14, 2011

Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week May 23-29, 2011

National Alcohol and Other Drug Related Birth Defects Week May 8 – 14, 2011

National Senior Health and Fitness Day May 25, 2011

National Women‘s Health Week May 8- 14, 2011

Heat Safety Awareness Day May 27, 2011

National Women‘s Check-up Day May 9, 2011

World No Tobacco Day May 31, 2011

Health

Omega 3 Helps to Burn Stress Related Belly Fat—Shiketa Morgan “I can usually tell if someone is stressed out or not by looking at their belly size.” ~ Dr. Oz Guess what Dr. Oz found after the study? At the conclusion of the 12-week study, there was a 22% reduction in their cortisol levels! Wow! That was a great new study discovers that Omega-3 fatty acids finding. Now, I am inspired to eat more fish to reduce keep a lid on cortisol levels and more than triple the the cortisol levels in my body... and I am looking forbody's fat-burning ability. Dr. Oz hosted a discovery ward to a flatter belly! What about you? health series on a group of London cab drivers. He discovered that after a 15-minute ride in the cab, the If you found this blog post to be helpful to you, feel cab drivers heart rate were racing and their cortisol free to share it with your family and friends. Are you levels were through the roof. Dr. Oz recommended planning on eating more foods that contain Omega-3 that the cab drivers eat four weekly servings of fish Fatty Acids? rich in Omega-3s such as:

A

   

Source: First For Women Magazine, March 14, 2011, pg 34. http://www.doctoroz.com/

Salmon Sardines Haddock Mackerel

Our Health Well- Tamisha Blakeney ―If we don‘t change, we don‘t grow. If we don‘t grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.‖ Gail Sheehy could not have said this better. As women, we thrive on security.

We desire it in our marriages, our friendships, our finances and our spirits. Within that security lays an innate drive to be able to say at the end of the day, ―It‘s all good.‖ We want to have it all and be able to do it all but oftentimes, that desire comes with a price we pay and we don‘t even know it.

You see, the beauty and goal of being able to say we have it all is to also be able to enjoy it once we get there. Yes, we have a conscious knowledge that we will never really ―arrive‖ because our lives are a journey and not a destination, but at some point don‘t we all just crave to be able to say we are enjoying that journey? The truth is we often won‘t admit we have this thought. If we do, it‘s usually in passing at dinner with the girls or in our silent, screaming thoughts throughout our days. We want it but we just don‘t think it‘s possible.

As women, we must learn to cultivate our health well!

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I‘m using well in the adverbial sense and the noun sense; the adverb use indicates we must learn the art of creating a sustainable space in our full, busy schedules often, to ensure we stay committed and strong on the journey. No one leaves on a journey unprepared who truly values the destination. As women, it is important to our co-workers, our spouses, our friends and our community that we learn what we need to be able to continually give. For some, it may be an hour-long massage every two weeks. For others, it may be a trip to the lake or a full weekend of shopping alone. Whatever it is for you, learn to cultivate, protect, and most of all, demand it. As the mothers of the Earth, the women among men, and the wives, sisters, daughters, and lovers, we have the right to maintain our health well also.

Woman, you and I are reservoirs. We are the wells continuously giving, providing, and sustaining life to all who come to us. But if that well runs dry, what good is it to all who need it? Peace of mind, clarity, freedom, enjoyment and life all flow naturally from the well that is, us. We are a health well, dispersing healing and love to so many, but we must learn to care for that space. Who knows, but that when we do, we could overflow?

Leadership

Discover the Art & Science of Leadership Development

Dozens of opportunities come our way, but majority

everyone is.

of which are disregarded due to the search for the perfect opportunity. It's sad to think that at times we let lose something valuable and wasted the chance.

If only one can get rid of this notion, and instead turn every chance into a possible success story, then one can say confidently that chances should not be lost, but rather be converted into successes. Now we ask ourselves where we went wrong and how possibly we can make it right. More importantly, are you ready for such a challenge?

It is easy to identify the things leaders do, but difficult to do what it takes to be one. Leadership is not an easy task at all. Being a leader is more than a mere title or privilege, with it is a great burden and loads of obligations. As the saying goes, Leaders are born, not made. There is no Goggling one's way to leadership status.

Leadership is not a status one earns over night.

Years and years of hard work, and of both triumphs and failures lead to excellent strategic thinking. ExpeOne cannot just learn how to become talented, as rience as they say will be the best teacher anyone opposed to a set of skills, which you can acquire over could have. The theories, the techniques and the diligent study. With this, you will certainly find it hard tricks to better your craft however can be learned. to work for a job you are unfitted and incapacitated. It Leadership training program and strategic thinking would be demoralizing if you do not have a job, but help aspiring leaders to get that sought-after top believe me, you're morals will even deteriorate if you management spots. insist fitting yourself with a job you're not fitted. But career paths have specific required set of skills of job Only those who have high regard for the demands descriptions for people employed in their walk of life. and rewards of becoming a leader can best underThis only proves that for every profession lies a com- stand how to become one. The requirements are demon denominator - whether in traits or characteristics manding, but whether you choose to learn from expe- for all involved. Regardless of profession however, rience or to facilitate the process by undergoing leadthe ability to listen and speak, to follow and lead, to ership development, success is just on the horizon plan and to execute are the most sought-after. There for you. is always an endless quest for leaders however not

Facts about Coaching Executive coaching provides a significant competitive Send an email to advertising@alivemagonline.com to advantage for organizations seeking to attract, retain schedule your complimentary executive or organizaand engage world-class talent. The benefits of retain- tional assessment. ing executive coaches or life coaches in an organization have brought about significant changes and improvements in:     

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To learn more about Executive Coaching or life coaching for your organization, we invite you to take advantage of Promotion Code: CO90.

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Entertainment

Euzhan Palcy: Director-Writer-Producer

By DJ Daood

Dry White Season" (1989) and her commitment to social change that he came out of a self-imposed retirement, agreeing to act in the film for free. Also, starring in the film were actors Donald Sutherland and Susan Sarandon. The screen play was based upon Andre Brink's famous novel with the same name. It was set in South Africa and deals with the subject of apartheid.

Brando's performance in the movie earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and he received the Best Actor Award at the Tokyo Film Festival. For her outstanding cinematic achievement, Palcy received the "Orson Welles Award" in Los Angeles. A few months after the release of the film, Miss Palcy had the great privilege to be welcome by Mr. Nelson Mandela in South Africa.

April 6, 2011 - Euzhan Palcy has directed and produced the short film that introduced French National Tribute to AimĂŠ Cesaire at the Pantheon, the Mausoleum where French greats are buried.

The short film was based on the famous trilogy Aime Cesaire: A Voice for History directed by Euzhan Palcy. Cesaire was the founder of the civil rights movement, The Negritude, in 1930s that led to independent movement in French speaking Africa. This is the highest formal event in France.

Keynote speech was made by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. The last tribute at the Pantheon was in 2007 for the French who saved Jews during WWII.

Euzhan Palcy is the first Black female director proMay 2011 - Cannes Film Festival Tribute to Euzhan duced by a major Hollywood studio. The only woman Palcy presented by French Minister of Culture, who directed Marlon Brando.

Frederic Mitterand. The content and dates are confidential. It will be revealed by Cannes Film Festival on Her first feature, "Sugar Cane Alley" (1983) won over April 22.

17 international awards including the Venice Film Festival's Silver Lion, as well as Best Lead Actress Then May 18th Opening of "The Euzhan Palcy RetAward. It also won the prestigious Caesar Award (the rospective" at MoMA (May 18 - May 30). To learn French equivalent to our Academy Award) for Best more, visit http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/ First Feature Film. films/1173.

Robert Redford hand picked her to attend the 1984 Sundance Director's Lab, becoming her "American Godfather."

She brought Marlon Brando back to the screen...

Marlon Brando was so moved by her next project, "A

Education

University of Phoenix Supports Road Trip Nation with $1.2 Million Grant University of Phoenix Foundation Funds New Program Development and Scales Existing Roadtrip Nation Programs Phoenix, AZ., March 1, 2011 – University of Phoenix, the nation‘s largest private university, today announced that its University of Phoenix Foundation has awarded a $1.2 million grant to Roadtrip Nation, a leading youth empowerment organization that encourages students to define their own road in life.

University of Phoenix will be impacting young minds on several levels. Students will feel they have unprecedented exposure to pathways for their future, they will learn 21st Century work skills including digital media creation, they will experience greater engagement and connectedness to school and they will feel their classes are relevant and connected to the real world.

Above all, students will feel a greater sense of hope for their futures.

―Each year, University of Phoenix Foundation helps organizations improve the lives of individuals and families by creating hope, discovery, dialogue, learning and educational opportunities in a variety of communities,‖ said Pat Gottfried, University if Phoenix Foundation executive director. ―We are delighted to work with the team at Roadtrip Nation to provide a ―University of Phoenix is built on the belief that educa- positive and measurable difference.‖ tion is one of the primary factors that enables individuals to improve their lives,‖ said Dr. Bill Pepicello, University of Phoenix President. ―We believe that a love of learning starts at an early age and are proud to support Roadtrip Nation in its efforts to bring direction and achievement to the lives of our nation‘s youth.‖ ―Roadtrip Nation strives to help students explore their futures,‖ said Mike Marriner, co-founder of Roadtrip Nation. ―We are thrilled to be working with University of Phoenix to bring Roadtrip Nation to students across the nation who otherwise may not have the chance to discover their roads in life."

The multi-year grant from University of Phoenix Foundation will assist Roadtrip Nation in expanding their Roadtrip Nation Experience Curriculum within existing participating regions as well as bring that curriculum to new regions across the United States. The grant enables Roadtrip Nation to expand their reach into high school education to help at-risk students in disadvantaged communities gain access and exposure to life pathways that they may have otherwise not known existed.

The University of Phoenix Foundation grant will also assist Roadtrip Nation with new program development including the Career & College Readiness District Tool, Middle School Program – Virtual Roadtrip, and Teacher Resources.

By providing these programs, Roadtrip Nation and

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Education

Summer Amnesia: Avoid the Brain Drain Craig Bystrynski

Every child knows the feeling, and what adult can forget it? When the textbooks are turned in and the classroom doors closed for the summer, there's a sweet sense of freedom.

But those weeks of fun can have real consequences for learning. Call it the summer slide or summer amnesia: Children lose as much as two months of reading and math skills during that time, according to the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University.

the newspaper to you while you cook or clean. Track the temperature every day. Look up weather reports for distant cities where you have relatives. Find different types of trees when you go to the park. Be creative, and keep an eye out for the chance to stimulate young minds.

Visit the Library Your local library is sure to have a summer reading program. The librarian can offer many other book suggestions that match your child's reading ability and interests. It's important that children continue to read during the summer even if they prefer newspapers or magazines over books. And reading aloud to your child is beneficial right into the teen years.

For teachers, that means a lot of lost class time as they work to rouse student brains Seek Out Learning from a long summer's nap. In a “Given the opportunity, kids love to Summer has a lot more to offer than typical classroom, extended hours playing computer learn.� the first four to six games or watching TV. Take a trip weeks are spent to a museum, historical site, aquarireviewing material um, zoo, or public garden. Lots of students have forgotten. And for kids who fall behind, camps offer education-related opportunities that go the summer slide has long-term consequences for beyond standard classroom learning. Some colleges, success in school. school districts, and nonprofit organizations do the same. Ask for suggestions at your child's school or Show Them How the district office.

Avoiding a pronounced summer slide isn't hard, but it does require focus. The key is to keep your child's brain switched on without making him feel like he's still in school.

Step one is to display your own love of knowledge.

Whether we adults realize it or not, kids both younger and older model their parents' behavior. So make sure your kids see you learning. Talk about current events with them. Share stories from a book you're reading. If you have a hobby, let them join in. Challenge your children to think and examine, just as you do.

Do It Daily Given the opportunity, kids love to learn. It's school that they think is a drag. So find ways to teach them, without their knowing it, in your everyday life. Ask your child to add up how much you'll save with coupons during a trip to the grocery store. Have him measure ingredients for a recipe. Or ask him to read

With a little effort, you can make your child's summer stimulating as well as fun. You'll keep him on the learning curve and ready to move ahead once school starts again.

Entrepreneur

The Entrepreneurs Key to Success

By Easther Sudharta

Selecting one item as the Entrepreneurs key to success is far too difficult, and is not congruent with the concept of entrepreneurialism at its core. Entrepreneurs wear many hats, and thus are required to have many skills. However for the purpose of discussion we'll take a look at eight of the top "keys" any entrepreneur would do well to master.

not solely a monetary vision, either. This type will seldom see you through to the end. Have a larger vision, aim to change and inspire, and watch how the pieces fall into place!

Self Confidence - A healthy dose of confidence in yourself is part of the makeup of a successful entrepreneur. This is closely associated to the ability to take risks and to know the difference between reasonable and unreasonable.

Creativity and Innovation One of the top entrepreneurial skills you must possess is the ability to create and innovate.

Making magic out of thin air is part and parcel of the entrepreneur's bag of tricks, and the ability to think outside the parameters of the corporate world is a huge advantage here.

A Collaborative Spirit - While entrepreneurs are generally in business for themselves, they are not often solely BY themselves.

The ability to work with others toward a common goal is an essential skill to possess.

A Lifelong Quest for A Can-Do AttiSelf-Improvement - Knowing that you don't know tude - The buck stops here, and without the attitude everything and that there is always something more that you can get it done no matter the obstacles, you to learn is a skill every aspiring entrepreneur should will have a hard time succeeding. Enthusiasm breeds seek. Make improving yourself a lifelong pursuit, and success, and a positive outlook can only help matters watch how positively this affects your business enalong. deavors. This can take the form of higher education, seminars, mentors, or however you choose to do it.

Perseverance - There will be challenges along the Just make sure you choose to do it. way, perhaps many, and some of these may indeed be formidable. The entrepreneur who succeeds is Marketing Skills - Knowing how to market in this one who carries on despite the odds, determined to competitive day and age is an essential skill, and one see it through. The one who fails is the one who folds that will require constant updating. Marketing methhis or her tent at the first sight of trouble or discomods change, and without current skills you will be left fort. out of the marketplace. Make sure this is also a piece of your ongoing education. An entrepreneurs key to Passion Linked to Vision - Being passionate about success is many-faceted and can shape the success your entrepreneurial vision is perhaps the most imor failure of an aspiring entrepreneur. Be sure to take portant item listed here. If you are, indeed, passionnote! ate enough about it, that may well be enough to carry you through the trials you will face. Make sure this is

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Girlfriend’s Getaway

Snorkeling in Akumal, Mexico It‘s that time of the year again… VACATION! You and your girlfriends have traveled throughout the all of the US visiting the hottest and hippest cities. Now it‘s time to unwind in Mexico.

water itself. Many fish found in this area are not found anywhere else in the world, and have been shown on many travel channel specials in recent years.

Akumal Bay is known for its assorted species of sea turtles which use the beaches for breeding, feeding and rearing their young. This provides an optimal opportunity to see the animals in their natural habitat, including the many different species of fish and plant life.

Casa Cenote is a lagoon featuring mangroves and bright fish displays. Many snorkelers find the fossils in Cenote at Dosojos quite worth while for a day of exploration. Many of the fossils seen at Dosojos date back to original civilizations that once occupied the area.

Snorkeling and scuba diving are perhaps the favorite activities to pursue during a trip to Akumal, but snorkeling is a less physically demanding and technical option. With a brief instruction course and a smart location choice, snorkeling is very easy for even firsttime novices.

Snorkel lessons are always a good idea for firsttimers prior to going to one of these sites. Although the activity is simple, some find that they are uncomfortable with the equipment or unsure how to best view the underwater scenery while safely using the snorkel.

One popular location for snorkeling in Akumal is the Yal-ku lagoon. This location is an extremely rare environment where fresh water meets with salt water from the sea. The combination of the two types of water is called a ―halocline‖ effect.

A fun activity for locals and tourists alike is night snorkeling. Typically, a light is used in conjunction with traditional snorkeling equipment for this activity.

Only very specific species can live and thrive in this halocline lagoon, and the mixture of salt and fresh water supplies creates a changed appearance of the

Many fish which are not observed during daylight hours can be observed when snorkeling after nightfall. This is usually because they are night-feeders or resting during the day.

The octopus is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Octopuses only come out to feed at nighttime, and change color when a light is focused on them. Virtually all of the life seen at night is safe for snorkelers, so night snorkeling is a safe activity also.

Plant life and some types of fish are also luminescent after dark. This creates greenish lights shining either continuously or flashing at night – quite a view for one who is only accustomed to snorkeling during the day!

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1. Must either be a current Marketing student or possess a Marketing background.

2. Must possess an interest in the apparel industry.

Work closely with a Fashion PR firm to create the 3. Excellent verbal and written skills. brand of the apparel line and use that definition 4. Proven ability to promote and sell a product. to effectively develop a marketing plan.

Participate in various marketing projects.

Experiences: May learn one or more fundamentals of brand management, project management, consumer 1. Understanding of Private Brand Marketing. understanding and analytics, and marketing ba2. Change Management. sics.

3. Relationship Building.

Focus will be on supporting the private brand 4. Member of Project Groups. program in specific assigned projects through analysis and the development of marketing Interested candidates should send their qualifications plans, product promotions, advertising, and mer- to advertising@alivemagonline.com. The subject line chandising strategies. should be MP Intern.

Will participate in a variety of marketing projects.

Will assist in miscellaneous ad hoc projects.

Key Responsibilities: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Requirements:

Post Your Classified Ad with Us! Do you need to build your team, but don‘t have time to prepare a job description and sift through the hundreds of resume?

The staff at ALIVE will manage this process for you. All resumes will come to us, rather than bog down your email box.

The team will review all resumes and provide you with the resumes of the best qualified candidates.

Should you choose, we will also pre-qualify these individuals prior to scheduling an interview.

We understand how important your time is to you.

Let us give you time back in your day and week!

For more information about rates and a detailed discussion about our process, please send us an email. advertising@alivemagonline.com.

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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Classified Ads

Meeting and Convention Planner

Company seeks a meeting and convention planner

5. Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, fafor quarterly events for 2012. The Company will accilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs cept resumes from individuals or firms. The best canrequirements, printing and event security. didate for this position will have established relation- 6. Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipships with national venue chains as well as have exment, transportation, displays, and other event perience in handling events from concept to execuneeds. tion.

7. Inspect event facilities in order to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.

The scope of responsibility for this position includes: 8. Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.

1. Promote conference, convention and trades 9. Negotiate contracts with such service providers show services by performing tasks such as meetand suppliers as hotels, convention centers, and ing with professional and trade associations, and speakers. producing brochures and other publications.

10. Organize registration of event participants.

2. Monitor event activities in order to ensure compli- 11. Design and implement efforts to publicize events ance with applicable regulations and laws, satisand promote sponsorships. faction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise.

Interested firms and candidates should send their 3. Confer with staff at a chosen event site in order qualifications to advertising@alivemagonline.com. to coordinate details.

The subject line should be MCP. 4. Review event bills for accuracy, and approve payment.

Personal Assistant

Company seeks a Personal Assistant to work closely with the Executive Team to provide administrative support. The qualified candidate for this position will have the ability to work with minimal supervision, possess sound decision making and problem resolution skills as well as have demonstrated initiative.

The scope of responsibilities for this position includes: 1. Creating of spreadsheets, composition of correspondence and management of databases 2. Creation of presentations, documents, reports and use of digital graphics and desktop publishing software 3. Conducts research and disseminates information via telephone, websites, mail services, and email 4. Vendor negotiations Position skill set includes: 1. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills

2. Must be tactful in dealing with people 3. Discretion, good judgment ability, adaptable and versatile individual 4. Initiative and ability to operate independently Interested firms and candidates should send their qualifications to advertising@alivemagonline.com.

The subject line should be PA.

Parenting

Sinusitis on Kids: What are the Symptoms?

For kids, sinusitis can manifest itself in different symptoms depending on the age. Younger kids five years and below often experience stuffy and runny nose with slight fever. When the fever appears after a week of cold-like symptoms, this could be a sign of sinusitis or other types of infection such as ear infection, bronchitis or pneumonia. Sinus headaches are not indications of sinusitis as the sinuses in the forehead only starts to develop on the sixth year and becomes prone to infection only on the teenage years.

doctor would commonly prescribe oral antibiotics to get rid of the bacterial infection. Decongestants can be used to reduce nasal congestion. Antihistamines are also useful in controlling allergies. Viral sinusitis tend to go away after some time even without using any sinus medication. But for faster recovery, warm compresses and proper diet are known to boost a kid's immune system.

Many parents are worried on using sinus medications on kids as drugs are known to have adverse side effects on the body. Who can blame them when studies show that over the counter cold medications can cause more harm to kids than good? If you are a skeptic, why not try alternative treatment methods instead? There are companies that offer relief from The most common symptom of sinusitis on older kids sinusitis without any side effects. One example is is daytime dry cough, along with cold-like symptoms through medicated irrigation, or simply known as nasal washing. To know more about this form of treatthat last for more than seven days. They also suffer ment, consult your doctor now and ask if this is safe from fever, nasal congestion, ear pain, toothache and effective for your child's sinusitis. and pressure or tenderness over the sinus areas.

Teens may also experience upset stomach, headUnder Creative Commons License: Attribution. aches, nausea and pain behind the eyes.

Many parents often wonder – when is the right time to consult a doctor? Here are three suggestions on the best time to seek a pediatrician: See a doctor when the colds last for more than ten days See a doctor when the colds and other symptoms seem to get worse after a week See a doctor when the symptoms do not clear after using sinus medication Treating Children with Sinusitis For children suffering from sinusitis, a

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

38

Business Directory

ACCOUNTING

(646) 982-3323

Tashia Flucas TMF Accounting Services www.tmfaccountingservices.com service@tmfaccountingservices.com

NON-PROFIT Noreen Mcclendon Executive Director P.O. Box 11337 Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 371-4644 www.hoodstock.org

ATTORNEY Tiombe E. Jones Attorney at Law Law Offices of Tiombe Jones P.O. Box 632011 Irving, Texas 75063 Phone: (214)875-7129 Fax: (214)377-9831 tjones@mytjones.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Denice Toombs Lasting Impressions Photography www.liphotography.com denicetoombs@gmail.com

COOK Bevy Smith Dinner with Bevy http://dinnerwithbevy.com

PUBLIC RELATIONS Written By INC Professional Writing and PR Firm (214) 986-3759 www.writtenbyinc.com

COSMETICS Monica Atterberry Esthetician Love the Skin Your In Skin Salon 1 682.553.2597 http://AtterberryNation.myarbonne.com

PUBLISHING Dashawn Taylor Next Level Publishing www.nextlevelpublishing.comToni Estes Collins Pink Genius Pinkgeniusworldwide@gmail.com

Ra-Keba Doss Mary Kay Consultant www.marykay.com/rdoss (678) 525-1031 .

The Britto Agency www.thebrittoagency.com

List Your Business With Us We have competitive rates to list your company in our business directory. If you are interested in advertising your business through ad insertion, we also have affordable rates for this service. Provide our readers with access to your business!

CONSULTING Derrick Walker Founder/Creative Director New American Dream 214.699.1182 FASHION Addy Mau Perez Heaven Sent Jewelry hsjewels@msn.com Angela Robinson Ardyss Consultant (918) 812-4710

For rate information, please send an email to advertising@alivemagonline.com.

Darrell Roach Designs www.darrellroachdesigns.com droach21@hotmail.com

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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What message are you sending

about your business?

The Bearer of this coupon is entitled to a 30 minute branding consultation.

To redeem this coupon, send an email to editor@alivemagonline.com subject line BRANDING. In your email message, include the redemption code SPRING11.

Offer expires May 1, 2011.

ALIVE Magazine ~ May 2011

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