The OffBeat Business Magazine August 2015 by OffBeat Business Magazine

ISSUE 09 | AUGUST 2015

BACKTO SCHOOL

WHAT MY SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN TAUGHT ME ABOUT MY BUSINESS

ROI RE-IMAGINED

Off BeatMagazine | AUGUST 2015

JOHN CARROLL

Off BeatMa CONTENTS

06-07 Dad Bods Power Suites and Being the Man

24-25 Training Your Workforce by Claire Billingsley

By Clint Fuqua

By Chef Bernard

26-27 10-11 Let Them ‘Sample’ The What My Special Needs Goods And Watch Your Children Have Taught Me Company GROW By Dorothy Skinner About Business By Charity Kountz

14-15 ROI Re-Imagined: “Untapped Returns” By Candy Barone

18-19 Time to ‘Get Your Books’ By John Carroll

23-24 Do’s & Don’ts When You Have A Vendor Table By Jeff Klein

35 Last Words Linger By Taylor Kay Stephens

36 Susan Says

28 When Is Going Corporate By Susan Hamilton The Right Choice For 38-39 Your Business? By Christi Rains Preferred Vendor Business Directory 30 Neckties - Modern Day Noose, or Hallmark of Style? By Veronica Olivo

31 Be An Influential Father Amy Hayes

32-33 Helpful Kitchen Hints From The Chef

agazine OFFBEAT BUSINESS

Susan Hamilton

susan@offbeatbusiness.com

SHOW & MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S NOTE

YOUR INVESTMENT IN YOU

Off BeatMagazine

Friends,

turns in our companies, and they can’t give us what we really need to build and grow wisely. Don’t miss her introductory article inside.

Editor

In addition, many of us are building our businesses while caring for kids that need even more than our generous attention. Charity Kountz is a children’s book author juggling a career in real estate, and her feature article takes you through her journey in the school system and business during the elementary years. You’ll find her perspective refreshing.

Jonathan Bodnar

Our August issue speaks to the challenges 80% of American small business owners have when school starts back up. Like many of you, I’m caring for my granddaughter for a season, and it has my life topsy-turvy while my business demands attention to routine and detail. I hope you find a little grace, direction and solid footing through the words of our contributors inside! Through their eyes, you may see the other side of chaos - and smile, renewed. And as you know, this season is just ramping up. Let’s be ready for the upcoming crazy that IS football, marketing, weekend demands and new hires! Our cover shot is John Carroll, international speaker and author and our monthly business coaching contributor. Tune into this guy, he’s writing for several magazines, teaching thousands of American business owners how to build globally recognized businesses - and he wants to encourage you to think BIG, too. When John Carroll talks, I listen. New to our team this quarter is none other than Candy Barone. She’s going to wrap your head around ROI capitalization. We are wasting TOO much time and money focused on the wrong re-

Whether you travel for business or are wondering if you should, pondering the ways you can begin to contribute in a larger way to your community, or want to develop an enjoyable, effective team culture in your business to make more money than you’re making today - this issue is for you!

Susan Hamilton

Art Director

Graphic Designer Jonathan Bodnar

Manager

Susan Hamilton

Marketing

Dream Casters Marketing

Web editor

Dream Casters Marketing

As always, if you have suggestions, comments, or want to voice your opinion, please send an email to Susan@OffBeatBusiness.com. Good or bad, I always want to hear from you and continue to improve.

Look forward to hearing from you, ~ Susan Hamilton

DON’T MISS A SHOW, 20 MINUTES COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE! AUGUST 4TH BUSINESS COACHING WITH BYRON INGRAHAM Byron Ingraham coaches business owners on how to make certain they’re reaching their target audience and making effective decisions with their time. 20 minutes could change your life!

AUGUST 11TH

OPERATION FREEDOM WITH DENNIS LUELLEN Upcoming project modifies and improves 60 veteran homes in 60 days – kicking off September 11th. Operation Freedom needs you to get the job done!

AUGUST 18TH

HOW TO BE A RESOURCE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS Teresa Hunter is a local North Dallas area networking and marketing superstar. Using her techniques, you’ll be the go-to company in your area, too!

AUGUST 25TH

INDEPENDENT FIT CLUB PROFITABILITY Adam Aberbach makes a living helping businesses supply and create work out space for corporate fitness areas. Why? Improved morale, increased productivity and better health are just some of the reasons this trend is on the rise.

Sound advice, NEVER boring! 4

The New Sound...Re-Found Internet Radio GROOVE TIME - Classic Jazz, Big Band, Blues, Motown & Beach Music Easy to operate, just click the Playbox! TUNE IN - Engaging Talk Shows Creating Captivating Dialogue. Listening will enrich your day.

ORIGINATION CREATION - Professionally Produced Audio for Exceptional Branding.

Get plugged in.

By Clint Fuqua

Off BeatMagazine

OffmyMagazine BeatMagazine

Action Steps:

1. ‘Dad bods’ are for the average man to be comfortable with being average. Be exceptional with your health and you’ll see that follow in your relationships, business, and wealth. Get out those New Year’s health goals, go achieve them, and then make more to achieve. 2. Go get your power suit! In fact, be like Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne and get a few for different activities and needs. Dress for the job, life, and success you want. Realize that the super hero is inside of you, but the world needs to see it expressed on the outside to believe it as perception is reality and most only believe what they see. 3. Be the man. That’s right, be…the…man. Raise your hand, stand up, step forward, say yes, accept the challenge, make the offer, take the assignment, lay it on the line, carry the nuke into a worm hole, and be the man. Because if you don’t someone else will be seen as Superman even if they are only Clark Griswald.

adies this article is not about you, but you need to read it, too. This is about the man in your life, and if you are single, eventually the man worthy enough to have you as a wife. This is about the guy called husband, father, Dad, and the greatest thing in your life even on the odd occasion he makes you mad. This article is for every guy out there making his way in the world the best way he knows how, because the world we will leave behind starts with everything we do in the here and now. I’m one of those; trying to make the world a better place than I found it, because what man is a man if he does not do so? Taking care of your health is first priority. If you can’t, don’t, or won’t take care of yourself, then there is no possible way you can adequately take care of those around you. Lately there has been talk of the new cool ‘Dad bod,’ which is basically saying that a little beer belly and man boob is just perfect. This, however, is nothing near perfect as it is just one Al Bundy Step away from turning into Homer Simpson. This lack of self respect and self value will show through in everything else you do. The most successful men in the world make health a top priority in their life and in the lives of everyone around them. They know the secret to a truly fulfilling life is the ability to enjoy it. Having a six pack doesn’t make you a man any more than drinking a six pack, but it’s the dedication and self respect that goes into living a healthy life that makes you

a man. So have a beer to celebrate after building a healthy life worth celebrating. The clothes on a man’s body will tell the world everything he wants it to know about what is in his mind. Let that sink in for a minute as you look at what you wear every day. That old saying to dress for the job you want goes double for dressing for the kind of life you want. The clothing a man wears and the way it is worn can tell you almost everything about the man inside. In business there is this mythical thing called the ‘power suit,’ much like something a super hero would wear in the movies. Do you have a power suit, or better yet do you wear your suit with power and confidence to aid in winning the daily battles? The power is in how you feel when you put it on and how it looks on you. Clothing is important not as a fashion statement, rather as a statement of who a man is, how he sees himself, and how others should see him. Make sure your clothing is sending the right message for success and the life you want to live. ‘Being the man’ is the theme in many songs and movies and TV ads. It mostly comes down a guy making the winning basket or making the last minute business deal or picking up the hot chick at the bar. These are all just possible outcomes, maybe just through luck, or a great line of BS, or maybe something else all together. The guy that makes the winning shot may just be great because he

spends hours practicing and becoming better, the guy getting the deal done may have spent hours doing extra research to make the deal possible, and the guy picking up the chick may be the only one that has ever treated her with actual love and respect. Being the man only means something when you have dedicated yourself to becoming a man of dedication, honor, and value. Any guy can be the man once, and real man is every moment of every day, just as we all should be. Visit me at www.ClintFuqua. com and contact me with any questions, comments, request, recommendation, proposals, fan mail, or hate mail at Clint@ClintFuqua.com.

Click Here to Secure Your Spot

We Specialize in custom Bio-identical hormone replacement and services to meet the needs of women at every stage of life. Complimentary Initial Longevity Consultation with Dr. Donna. (15 minutes) Must Present this coupon or mention this ad when scheduling.

R SPECIALISTS IN CUSTOM MEDICATIONS

Limit of one consult per customer.

Texas Star II Legacy Medical Village Plano 5424 West Springcreek Parkway Suite #190 (Southwest Enterance) Plano, Texas 75024 phone 214.291.5087 fax 972-608-2933

Texas Star I Compounding Laboratory Parker and Independence Plano 3033 West Parker Suite #100 Plano, Texas 75023 phone 972.519.8475 fax 972.518.8477

www.Texasstarpharmacy.com www. Texasstarpharmacy.com

Connect With Us

https://plus.google.com/+Texas StarPharmacyYourCompounding SpecialistsPlano facebook.com/TexasStarPharmacy

Off BeatMagazine

What My Special Needs

Children Have Taught Me About Business By Charity Kountz

o you remember the first time you looked into your newborn child’s eyes and felt an overwhelming tide of joy combined with hope for the future? Now, imagine your child being diagnosed with a special need, like ADHD or dyslexia. In that instant, it can feel as if all those hopes and dreams just became overwhelmingly out of reach. I have two children who have been diagnosed with special needs. In the last six months, I have begun to realize while my family individually and collectively - is going to have to work a little harder to reach our dreams, fulfilling those dreams will be all the sweeter. My nine year old stepson (who I consider my own) has Attention Deficit Hyperactive

Disorder (ADHD) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). ADHD causes extreme hyperactivity, impulse control issues, and an inability to concentrate for long periods of time. For a child with ADHD, sitting still for long periods of time is a tremendous stress on their body and mind. SPD means the brain doesn’t properly process information from the senses. A simple touch or a hug, to a child with SPD, can cause him to scream uncontrollably. SPD is a part of the autism family, which classifies our son as high functioning autistic. But to look at him, with his copper red hair and brilliant blue eyes, you’d never realize it. My fiancé also has SPD. For him, filling out paperwork is overwhelming and frustrating. A simple trip to the grocery store can cause a sensory overload.

My eight year old daughter was recently diagnosed with dyslexia and general anxiety disorder. She is a gifted, naturally talented dancer who loves music, dance, and art. Unfortunately, from a very young age, the simplest things caused abject terror, like walking in the grass or riding on an escalator. Some days feel like tiptoeing through a minefield, waiting for an explosion. I myself struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and intermittent depression as a result of an abusive childhood. PTSD can have a wide range of symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares, social issues, and more. Sometimes, just forcing myself to walk out the door for an appointment is a challenge. Currently, my symptoms are controlled thanks to therapy and

Off BeatMagazine

medication when I need it, so I became a licensed real estate agent. As a family, every day we find ways to understand and work together to overcome the challenges we face. These special needs haven’t changed my hopes and dreams for our family, it’s simply caused me to look at those dreams differently.

The Day to Day Lessons

We moved recently, an event that’s stressful enough. At the same time, we changed ADHD medications for my son. We’ve changed medications four times in the last year, trying desperately to control his symptoms without turning him into a zombie. One common side effect of ADHD medication is weight and appetite loss, requiring physician monitoring. When his weight loss and side effects became too much for the therapist and our family to tolerate, we had no choice but to change yet again. As a result, he went without his medication for three days while I struggled to fill his class II controlled medication (a battle every month). The day I got his prescription filled, he and my daughter got into an argument. In a fit of uncontrolled rage and frustration, he slapped her in the face as hard as he could. How do you explain to your terrified child she was slapped in the face by her step brother because he was un-medicated and unable to control himself? How do you help her see the stress of moving and loss of routine was the cause, while still teaching both of them to be responsible for their actions? Talk about walking a fine line in parenting! My fiancé and I spent over an hour trying to come up with a solution. It boiled down to talking with both children, individually and then together to help them understand. And for me, the biggest lesson is to wake up each day and remind myself that today is another chance to try to be better. Not perfect, just better.

The Biggest Challenge

One of my biggest challenges as a parent of two special needs children is being an advocate for them. I advocate for them with their medical treatments, but it goes way beyond the medical. I’m also an advocate for them in school, on the playground,

and in the family. And every day, all day, no matter what I’m doing, they’re in my mind. My daily hope is that I’ve equipped them to deal with whatever issue comes their way without me and that they’ll come to me for help with anything else. My fiancé steps up too, when he is home from work as a truck driver hauling hazardous materials throughout Texas and while he’s on the road. We talk through problems, and he picks up when my nerves get frayed and my patience is tested beyond its limits (more often than I’d like to admit).

Communication is Key

Having two children with special needs has required my fiancé and I to develop a whole new set of parenting strategies and change our perspective about everything we thought we knew about parenting. Communication has become a cornerstone in our family. My fiancé and I spend hours on the phone brainstorming ways to teach and reach our children and help them grow, despite their challenging special needs. Because special needs are very complex issues. How do you help a child understand something they can’t see, taste, touch, or hear? Recently, I was able to connect with my son on a very important issue: schoolwork. While this is a common struggle with all children, for a child with ADHD it’s even more difficult. He knew we expected him to do it and his teachers did too. But he really didn’t see the point, and it was already so hard for him to main-

tain self-discipline and self-regulation to follow the rules in the classroom, he just wasn’t doing it. As a result, he was failing the third grade. We’d lectured him on it, taken away privileges, and still weren’t reaching him. One day, he and I went grocery shopping together and I finally found a way to reach him. I asked him what sport he’d like to play someday, and he said, “Football.” So I asked him if he could go onto a football field and play football right now. “What, you can’t join the NFL and start playing?” He laughed and said “No” as if I were silly to even suggest it. So I compared practicing football to schoolwork. His face lit up with understanding. From that point on, his teachers haven’t had a problem getting him to do his schoolwork. He understands now schoolwork is practice for a much ‘bigger game’ in life. Communicating with our children on their level instead of ours, helps improve their understanding. Putting an issue into a context they can understand helps them embrace the idea easier. We still have the typical sibling issues (“He’s looking at me!”), and everyday issues of two kids trying to get along, but we no longer hear a constant refrain of “I hate him/her” like we did the first year when we began blending our families. In my real estate business, this has helped me to look differently at the situations I come across every day, and to look be-

Off BeatMagazine yond them to the deeper, more complex issues that might be involved. Nothing in real estate is ever so simple as it seems on the surface. I believe this gives tremendous advantages to my clients as I advocate for them.

Teaching Tolerance

have to take some hard knocks to do the right thing. This year I had to cancel a listing because the family had some unexpected financial issues come up at tax time. It impacted me significantly but in the end, it was the right thing to do for their family and for my business.

We’re working hard to teach our children to be tolerant of themselves and others, as well as being considerate about their differences. By showing them patience, tolerance and understanding (as hard as that is sometimes) we teach them how to show compassion to others. We’ve seen our children embrace new relationships with kids in school that other kids make fun of and ridicule.

Learning to Be a Better Person

Earlier in the school year, two bullies were picking on our daughter during the walk home. My son not only stood up to them and told them to stop, but also took a beating from one of the older, larger boys to keep him from going after her. I was horrified for him and we immediately filed a police report at the school. But at the same time, we were so proud of him for standing up against a bully and preventing someone younger and weaker from being preyed upon.

In the beginning, I had to step back, and realize that I needed to be more patient and understanding of him BEFORE I could teach him to be that way toward himself and others. It’s a ripple effect and has been neat to watch as we all learn to work together and become a more cohesive family unit. We certainly don’t get it right every day but each day is another opportunity us to become better people.

When I asked him why, he said, “Because it was the right thing to do.” It was everything we’d been trying to teach him: doing the right thing, standing up for those who are weaker, and refusing to be a victim. I wish I could say the bullying stopped (it didn’t) but those kids never laid a hand on our son again. This has also taught me a much tougher lesson for my business: sometimes you

My son, on his medication, is a bright, kind boy with a love of electronics and Legos. Sometimes, his way of looking at the world leaves my fiancé and I scratching our heads, wondering, “How did he come up with that?” And other times, I’m in awe at his wisdom and generosity at such a young age.

I’ve also learned in my business the kind of real estate agent I want to be. I strive to build relationships with my clients. My goal is to be their realtor for life, not just that one transaction. By going beyond a simple transaction, I can help individuals and families to solve financial problems, and build wealth for their families through home ownership.

A Heartbreaking Diagnosis

My daughter’s diagnosis of dyslexia this

year was particularly heartbreaking. Like many parents, I knew my daughter was gifted. As she entered school, teachers told me she was gifted and I should start looking for a good program. Then, after kindergarten, it began to change. No more glowing reports home. No more raving teacher conferences. Instead, it was about how behind she was, how she was easily frustrated, uncooperative, and losing ground as compared to her peers. By the middle of second grade, her reading hadn’t progressed. In fact, her reading scores were regressing, until finally she was barely at a Kindergarten level. But at home, she was able to competently read a wide range of materials aloud. I felt helpless watching her struggle. The teachers insisted she try harder, spend more time studying, and to practice more. We spent tear-filled hours every night battling through simple worksheets until we simply couldn’t anymore. As a writer and avid reader myself, I felt like a complete failure. I was at a loss for how to help her. The frustration was driving a wedge between us. She became belligerent, disobedient, and defiant. What had begun as something she would ‘grow out of,’ had become a vicious cycle. Finally, in the last semester of the school year, when it looked like she would fail, I convinced the teachers it wasn’t a behavioral problem, and insisted she be tested. When the tests came back positive for dyslexia, it was almost a relief. Being able to name the problem has lift-

Together, we’ve watched videos about other people with dyslexia. We’ve worked together to understand this new challenge and that has given us both hope. One of her favorite videos was about a famous dyslexic movie director who talked about his days in elementary school. I will never forget the hope in her eyes when she looked at me and said, “He’s special, like me?” For the first time, she realized she wasn’t alone. All I could do was hug her close with tears in my eyes, hope for the future in my heart, and say, “Yes sweetie, he is special like you. And there’s nothing wrong with that.” This has also taught me as a realtor, it is okay for me to be different. It’s given me the courage to accept myself as amazing, not because others are inferior or

superior to me, but because I am amazing. And that’s my way of reminding myself each day of who I strive to be.

Applying These Life Lessons to Business

Working with my kids on their special needs has helped me to be more tolerant of others. As a real estate agent, I’ve found there’s a real place for compassion and warmth in this industry. Recently a woman came to me looking for a house to rent. I had no idea that in addition to needing a new home, she was dealing with a pending foreclosure, a dependent father with Alzheimer’s, domestic violence, and a host of financial issues for over ten years. The day she opened up to me about her crises was overwhelming but I was so excited to help her because I knew I could. Three months later, her house is sold avoiding foreclosure, she’s moved into an apartment, and she is regaining confidence again. She still has struggles but she regularly calls me and tells me how working with me changed her life, and gave her hope and empowerment again

at a time when she really needed it. She is working on her credit and looking forward to owning a home again in a few years, once she’s on her feet. As a business owner, my goal is always to help someone. As a realtor, I take the tough cases, because I know in the end, I’m going to really help. It gives me a feeling of satisfaction like no other. And at the end of the day, I get to come full circle, and share it all with my amazing, special family.

Off BeatMagazine

ed a burden off my daughter’s shoulders too. The sweet, cooperative child I’ve always known is slowly returning. She’s interested in learning again and no longer has a defeated, depressed demeanor. With mild medication for her anxiety, her nightmares and daily anxiety have mostly disappeared.

Charity Kountz is a Dallas Real Estate Agent who makes finding or selling a home amazing. Whether it’s an apartment, or a house, buying, selling or renting, she’s ready to be your real estate resource. She’s also the award-winning children’s author of Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village, available through Amazon. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or via email at theamazingcharity@gmail.com

You're On A Mission To Make A Diﬀerence, Get There Safely For Long-Term Success

Fundraising Strategy | Planning | Coaching | Success

Board development Staﬀ training Feasibility studies Executive coaching

PhilanthropyFocus.net

When You Work With Philanthropy Focus, You Will Develop a Sustainable Revenue Plan The KEY is aligning your mission and your passion to donor interests.

Call John Gilchrist TODAY 469-215-1651 13

Off BeatMagazine

ROI RE-IMAGINED:

By Candy Barone

“UNTAPPED RETURNS” A

s we’re approaching the planning season for 2016, let me ask you a few questions: • •

• • •

Do you take time on a regular basis to assess your business plan and the returns you are looking to achieve? What’s the ROI you’re currently capturing in your business? Have you taken time to define what ROI means for your company? Are you setting your business up in a way to evaluate and look at the kind of gains you really want and Are you leveraging the right components to maximize that in actuality?

If so, are these returns aligned with what you identified as part as your overall 2015 plan?

I ask because many American businesses are experiencing a gap between what they say they want, the goals they laid out, and what is really showing up. Hopefully, we’re either hitting our targets or surpassing them regularly. Most would agree, a greater return on our investments would do a lot to move our companies forward. All things considered, what would happen if you examined the current ROI of your company and how you might better maximize your returns? Well, that’s precisely what I want to dig into a little more here. Because in order to build an effective and masterful business plan to set your company up for maximized success, understanding

your ROI is a critical component. You see, after nearly twenty years in corporate America, I was constantly amazed at how little focus was spent on truly understanding an organization’s ROI, and even more, that of their clients. In many cases, I found myself being at the helm to build ROI modeling tools for various sales channels, communicating to clients the value of the products or services we delivered. Looking for ways to deepen client relationships, I found discussing the power of their investment return is a compelling way to connect and partner with them for long-term success. I soon realized we needed MUCH more training to capitalize our returns on in-

These opportunities are what I refer to as ‘untapped returns.’

Untapped returns? You might be asking yourself, what does that really mean and where do they stem from? Let’s start by first defining ROI. ROI, or return on investment, is a direct (and, often times an indirect) measurement of time, money, energy, people, resources, and balance or harmony for you and your employees. To break this down a bit further, most organizations evaluate money as the only one way to show the profit or health of an organization. However, in order to maintain and sustain long-term

success, we should also consider the indirect or intangible ‘softer’ elements of our business. We must be willing and accountable to take action in every area - that includes our people and our clients. Without this focus activity and action, a business plan is nothing more than glorified intentions; nothing more than lip service.

are developed and coached to play at their best and highest value, when the culture truly embraces and supports a diverse and inclusive environment. The shear reality is companies lose a tremendous amount of of their investment through turnover, disgruntled or frustrated employees, or overall lack of engagement.

Leadership is a demonstration of walking the talk, of putting forth effort, time, resources, energy, and even risk in order to gain something new, to capitalize on growth, and to sustain greater success. Those who recognize this opportunity, build their business plans in this manner, and create means to access more levers for a more impactful overall ROI.

Now, let’s for a moment re-imagine the definition of what ROI truly means. You see, there are so many more elements to what brings a strong return, including - but not limited to:

You have to take action to gain traction on the returns from the investments you put forward. Some of the biggest levers occur when leaders step further into their own vulnerability, when individuals

• • • •

Cultural diversity, Employee engagement and retention, Servant leadership, and Team development.

Our investments extend much further than standard financial scenarios and measurements; let’s begin to open up new ways to access much more. These are the very things we’re going to dig into further in the coming months. This is catalyst for a new series dedicated to exploring these returns in much greater depth to help you understand key leverage points that drive maximum ROI. Each month I will share with you elements and strategies to help you better understand, take purposeful action, and strengthen the investment return within your organization, for you personally and for your team. Because, remember … ROI is a return on investment, not a return on intention.

Candy Barone, CEO & Founder, You Empowered Strong “Your Pull-No-Punches Accountability Powerhouse” International Speaker, Business Strategist, Certified Master Coach & Trainer, Best-selling Author

Off BeatMagazine

vestment. The drawback is that most organizations only look at ROI as a measurement of financial position or revenue, and from a purely money in and money out perspective. In doing this, these companies don’t realize they often leave much bigger opportunities on the table as a result.

RV Park Websites That Work

Every RV park needs a great-looking, dynamic website to attract a continual stream of new guests.

Is yours up to the task?

500 Under $

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not just another website company - weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also your market, your audience. We are full-time RV travelers with a history of helping small companies and organizations grow. Our focus is creating elegant, highly functional websites that attract more guests to your RV park. Design Customization Input all of your campsites, content & images Connect your social media profiles Connect your domain name Includes first month of service!

Get your new website within a week! Click here to see Demo sites

http://rvparkwebsites.net or call 920-257-4944 for more information

You May Have Someone ‘Doing Your Taxes,’ But That Isn’t Enough. Once you’re in trouble with the IRS, you risk losing property, money and even your business - not to mention your peace of mind.

Is Anyone Helping You Stay OUT of Trouble With The IRS? “My name is John DiLucci, and at Masters of Taxation, we’re there for you well before potential IRS issues arise. Many tax preparers have less training than you think. As a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, I help my clients play by the book, to adopt legal, effective, strategic planning and stay out of trouble in the first place. Enrolled agents, like me, are the ONLY professionals that are specifically licensed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS.”

“I’m Nina DiLucci, a Tax CPA with a Masters in Taxation, bringing 30 years of experience to you. Don’t suffer through tax anxiety, I’m here to make sure your taxes are accurate, and low as possible!” We are YOUR national solution to tax preparation.

Contact us to discover 10 Key Things to Do to Stay OUT of Trouble With The IRS Absolutely FREE Masters of Taxation, Inc. 6565 North MacArthur Blvd, Ste. 225 Irving, TX 75039 Phone: (972) 444-9934 Info@Masters-of-Tax.com

Masters of Taxation, Inc.

Tax and Related Services - On Your Schedule

Off BeatMagazine

TIME YOUR

TO‘GET BOOKS’ By John Carroll

“Formal education will make you a living; selfdevelopment will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn

hat is the best way to prepare for future success? By continuing your education and personal development. Although the landscape of formal education has changed over the years the one thing that has remained constant is the requirement for lifelong learning and growth. People who will be the most successful in our fast-paced global society are those who are able to grasp new ideas and concepts the quickest, and put them into practice. There are inherent benefits to getting better, faster and accelerating your ability to acquire new skills and competencies. In today’s world, it’s less about competing with peers in the classroom and more about competing with peers around the globe from other developed and emerging countries. Peers who will become our suppliers, trading partners and competitors in the ‘New World’ economy. Shrinking the learning curve on new things has become a necessity for career advancement, to keep pace with the rapidity of change, and to stay ahead of the competition. Fortunately there are an abundance of options that make continuing education and personal development both accessible and affordable for most people. Unfortunately, many of the self-development programs fail to deliver results. Why? Primarily due to a lack of clarity and focus, or a lack of commitment. However, integrating both formal and informal education with ‘real-world’ experience is essential to growth and accelerating the learning curve on new things. Don’t wait any longer to get started. My online course, “Discover YOUR Formula for Success” will help you identify the priorities to focus on to reach your goals. You can then determine how best to acquire those new skills and competencies i.e. college courses, seminars/workshops, online classes, self-study programs, selfhelp books, etc. Once you have figured out the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ make the commitment … do the work … repeat.

“When you’re done learning, you’re done” …

Off BeatMagazine BeatMagazine OffmyMagazine

Yes, this month signals the end of those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer and ‘back to school’ time for the kiddos. What about you? When was the last time you attended a class or made an investment in yourself? If it has been awhile, then it’s time to ‘get your books’!

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” – Mark Twain challenging yourself to be great. On my last day of undergraduate studies, like many of my classmates, I was burned out and couldn’t wait to escape the campus and get on with my career. I vowed ‘never return to the classroom,’ except to attend PTA meetings and school functions for my future children. However, my personal and professional experiences over the past 4+ decades have taught me the value of a broad-based education, and to never stop learning. We have entered an exciting era in our history where leaders are expected to be highly skilled and knowledgeable in the intricacies of ‘doing more with less’ to more effectively compete in the expansive global marketplace. Ultimately, the collective intellectual capital of the American people will be our greatest asset in this new era, and what will distinguish you from your peers. Are you prepared for this challenge today? Your best preparation for tomorrow is being your best today. So, if you want to advance your career, stay ahead of the competition, or just get better at what you are doing in the moment, then get your books and make life-long learning a priority.

John Carroll is a business and leadership strategist who works with business leaders to help them ‘achieve the results to move beyond their vision.’ He is a best-selling author, educator, blogger and speaker. Email John at john@trescoach.com or learn more at http://www.trescoach.com/.

Never lose your passion for learning, growing, exploring new horizons and

robin roberson BUILD

BRAND

BUZZ

Relevance

Value

Expertise

roberson SQUARED Zero Hour Strategies Decisive eBroadcast Tactics Digital Publishing Impressions

Develop strategies that brand you … Make professional connections that leverage your business… Build Your Digital Buzz …

469.237.7084 robersonsquared@gmail.com

Marketing Works …and we make it work for you! www.robersonsquared.com

Off BeatMagazine

Do’s & Don’ts

When You Have A Vendor Table By Jeff Klein

The opportunity to display your wares in front of a mass audience can be very lucrative. If you do it right. Trade shows are still coming back to life, be ready. Whether you’re working a table at a vendor fair or you’re at a full blown convention center expo hall, these tips will help you get the best results from exhibiting.

Off BeatMagazine • • • •

• • • • •

•

• • • • • •

• •

Arrive on time or early. No matter what the setup, push your table against the back wall and display your materials in a welcoming way. Bring colorful cloth to cover your table. I went to the fabric store and bought a few yards of each of my logo colors. It looks GREAT! And it matches my banner and display materials. Don’t stand behind the table. Stand in front or to the side so you can engage in conversation with attendees. DOn’t let the table be an obstacle. Don’t be afraid to hang out in the aisle. Don’t sit. If you need a break, please go take one. Take off your bluetooth headset - it looks like you are not paying attention to the person in front of you. No GUM! Make eye contact. SMILE! Have a strong handshake. Greet everyone who passes the table/booth. “Hi!” goes a long way. An open-ended question is even better. A question that got us a ton of positive results when we were exhibiting for PTA parents was, “Who’s in charge of your programs?” The follow up was, “They’ll thank you for giving them this,” as we handed them our new Directory of Speakers. Make sure everyone who passes the table is OFFERED your handout. THis should be a piece with a call to action and of value to your prospects. Don’t take it personally when people say, “No.” Because they will. Bring lots of business cards. Don’t hand out cards without engaging in conversation. Value someone’s business card and take appropriate notes. If your attendees are not likely to have business cards, provide blanks at your booth. Have pens handy. Give something away to capture valuable prospect data- name and email are the most important. Don’t say, “Nice to meet you.” Say, “Nice to see you,” or “Thanks for stopping by.” (You may have met them before and forgotten. If they remember, you’ll have egg on your face.) Work the room and meet other vendors during slow periods. Know your objectives for the show or event. Are you there to grow your list? Or are you there to make sales on the day? Are you there primarily for exposure? You can have multiple objectives, but one should be the priority. Don’t be distracted. Enjoy yourself!

Jeff Klein teaches Business Networking inside companies, to sales teams, at meetings, and at National and International Conferences of Salespeople and Business Owners. As the Founder of Speaker Co-op, Jeff also teaches the Art of Speaking to Market Your Business. Speaker Co-op holds Lunch & Learns monthly in DFW & Houston. Jeff@SpeakerCoop.com

Off BeatMagazine

TRAINING

YOUR WORKFORCE B

eing an entrepreneur and owner of a small company is in itself a daunting endeavor. As the owner you are trying to keep the future in mind while dealing with the current state of your business. You know if you really want to scale your business, you must hire people to help you. First thing to consider is the caliber of employees you choose. If you are a startup, it’s good to have something to offer your employees besides cash. Learning new skills and being able to contribute their ideas - actually be

by Claire Billingsley

heard and implemented - is attractive to people.

Some may have been on the corporate track for a while: • • •

Groomed by other organizations, Possibly feel they have reached the pinnacle of what they can contribute to their company Looking for a place to land that fills them with excitement and enthusiasm.

This is your leverage to compete with

the ‘big dogs’ out there. Who have you been impressed with along your entrepreneurial journey? It never hurts to reach out and ask them how they are doing. Facebook and LinkedIn are rich resources for finding people.

Once you have the right person hired, the next logical step is getting them trained. When I was a corporate trainer in a large franchise organization, I constantly heard “But I am too busy to train someone…I can barely keep up with what I have going on now.” My response was,

Slowing down just a bit and documenting what has worked for you in the past can be one way of capturing data for training. It’s not be fancy, but it is functional. Leverage ‘on-the-job’ training opportunities rather than feeling like you must have a formal training process in place. Let them know what you see in the future as well as what they see right now. When employees are trained, excited about what they are doing and see internal growth opportunities, they become loyal, which means less turnover and less training in the long run.

There are several other ways to train without spending a lot of your time or money. Here are just a few ideas to get you started. Leverage your professional relationships. If there is a specific area that all of your employees need training in – say, perhaps, social media – do you have people in your network that understand this concept? If so, invite them to do a lunch and learn at your office – you buy them lunch, and they provide their knowledge to your employees. This lets everyone (you included) learn some-

thing new, along with having a third neutral party there to answer questions and be the subject matter expert. What about a mentoring program? Can you use a ‘buddy system’ to help new hires learn by shadowing for a few days, showing her the ropes? Then, the mentor is the ‘go to’ person for them as a resource for questions , keeping you focused on driving the company forward. There are several online companies that train software, creative and business skills. Lynda.com is one of my favorites, and very inexpensive. It produces video tutorials taught by industry experts. Whether you have a few employees or more than 100, create a culture where learning isn’t limited to ‘training’ days, but in your business, every day. This will make a huge difference to your staff, your life and your bottom line. Claire Billingsley is an author, coach, mentor, Laughter Yoga Leader and radio show host. She uses improvisational comedy to help open lines of communication up for groups and organizations. Find more at www.billingsleyconsultinggroup.com

Off OffBeatMagazine BeatMagazine

“If you don’t train them now, you never have a chance to impress your expectations and corporate culture, along with the skills and systems the employee needs to understand.”

Off BeatMagazine

LET THEM

‘SAMPLE’ THE GOODS AND WATCH YOUR COMPANY GROW By Dorothy Skinner I was shopping for groceries the other day and was next to a lady in the produce department that was busily sampling the fruits from each of the bins. I would never do that - I guess mainly due to the fact that I figure all the produce has to be washed thoroughly before I want to put it in my mouth. My first thought was, “Yuck, are you really enjoying that?” But then I realized that she was on to something, and watching out of the corner of my eye I noticed that after a taste or two she would either pick up and bag some of the goodies or she would leave the bin to move on to the next tasting. Since I was a bit behind I just followed up and bagged some of the fruit she had already approved - fairly confident it was going to be a treat my family would enjoy.

What in the world does that have to do with plumbing you ask?

When people need a plumber it is a good idea to use one that has been ‘sampled’ and found to be good. And ‘Buy Local’ comes to mind too. Using a ‘Home Grown’ service plumber increases confidence that the job will be completed according to the local plumbing code. Using this type of language will help you engage with your customer. We want our customers to read labels and be sure the plumbing company they choose has a current license and is insured by a quick check of credentials on the Board of Plumbing Examiners website. The number required to be on all advertising can be looked up, and very easily learn if the company has complied with necessary requirements. Finally, no one wants ‘soft’ or ‘squishy’ work done. Companies that advertise the lowest price to do a job may end up charging much more when all is said and done. Always make sure people get more than what they pay for in quality and service. With that in mind, post your testimonials on your website, so people can ‘sample’ the goods! Dorothy Skinner is the owner of Gary’s Quality Plumbing, serving the north Dallas area. Read the Ask The Plumber Blog to learn how to protect your home or place of business, and find beautiful fixture options for your next remodel. Contact Info@GarysQualityPlumbing.com or

OffmyMagazine BeatMagazine

Off BeatMagazine

WHEN IS GOING CORPORATE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR BUSINESS? By Christi Rains

ast month we discussed the formation of a Sole Proprietorship, which is not itself a legal entity. This month we will go from the simplest of entities to discuss the most complex: the Corporation. For the sake of this discussion we will look at the pros and cons from the viewpoint of a small business owner. Choosing to incorporate your business comes with a few very obvious advantages; liability protection, partial tax avoidance, and it is easier to raise financing. Creating a corporation is the act of creating an independent entity, under which you can run your company. In doing so, the liability for company debts ends at the company door, thus protecting the owner’s personal assets. Because corporations are separate entities, not all profits have to pass through to the owner. This protects them from individual income tax rates.

Finally, corporations have the ability to raise capital outside of the traditional methods of other business entities. They have the power to sell shares of the company in the form of either common or preferred stock.

As with all entity types, incorporating your business has its drawbacks. First, would be the threat of double-taxation; the idea that profits will be taxed at the corporate rate and then at the individual income rate when they have passed through to the shareholders. Second, the complexity and cost of creating a corporation is much more than any other entity choice. Regulations and reporting requirements at both the federal and state levels create additional costs to meet compliance; such as the need for an attorney or additional filing expenses. These types of regulations also create additional liability risk if a corporation fails to comply with the law properly.

One other issue to note is that there are options in the way you incorporate. One is referred to as a ‘C’ Corporation, the pros and cons listed above all apply to this form of entity. The other is known as an ‘S’ Corporation and was created to deal with the double-taxation issues at the federal level. This designation is more appealing to small business owners because it allows profits and losses to pass through and avoid the federal corporate tax hit (double-taxation at the state level is not affected). Those are the basics of incorporation, but by no means are they the only things to consider. Please remember to research your own state requirements and to consult a trusted advisor.

Christi Rains, President Alpha Omega Consulting & Bookkeeping, LLC – Sensiblebusinessowner.com – Email Christi@AOBookkeeping.com for more information.

Exploring the Commonality of Our Diversity!

le femme FOCUS Magazine Informative, Insightful, Fun

le femme FOCUS on air Sassy, Savvy & Engaging

le femme FOCUS Social Hour Starting Conversations femme2femme

lefemmeFOCUS.com By, For & About Women

Details, Advertising & Sponsorships, Radio Shows Call 469.237.7084 or Email: lefemmefocus@gmail.com

Off BeatMagazine

NECKTIES -

By Veronica Olivo

Modern Day Noose, or Hallmark of Style?

“

Oh yay, I am so ready to add another print, color, or character to the mound of modern day constrictors of breath,” said no dad ever. I remember the many unworn ties I gave a man, who NEVER wore a tie unless someone died. In today’s ever evolving workplace style, it is rare that you ever see a man in a tie. Unless it’s required or a fashion forward bow tie, slim tie, or the gifted man who can tie some really artistic knots. If you are that particular sharp dressed man, or you happen to know one, you will agree that a gifted tie is not always the best idea. Many of you are still recovering from your Father’s Day gifts! Stylish men know what they prefer and what matches their ensemble, and more than likely, their custom shirt and jacket. There are some really great gift ideas for men nowadays that are overlooked, and frankly most men don’t even consider. In

the days of the cavemen, a pair of toenail clippers was unheard of, yet that has now changed. You might be familiar with the sporty haircut places, but what about the salons specifically for men. From haircuts and hot towel shaves, to massages and pedicures, there are a wide variety of services now offered. This also applies to the beards. Be it a Duck Dynasty or Hipster, there is still grooming to be had, as to not house the birds. All done in a setting that isn’t emasculating, but IS private and relaxing. Men have embraced their grooming rituals with an increase in sales of toiletries and other products and services. Clothing is not all they’re spending on now. Everything from hair products, teeth whitening, skincare, smell goods, to accessories. According to Euromonitor International, the male grooming industry is set to hit $6.5billion by 2018. Are you a fashionable necktie wearer, or a once-a-funeral kind of guy? Person-

ally, I like to see a guy in a tie once in a while. Right now, however, I’m grabbing my man for a massage, a beer, and a haircut! Who knows, ‘Mom’ might appreciate not getting scratched by his toenails or his rough feet after a visit to the men’s salon. I’m Veronica Olivo, owner of Styled by V.O, and fashion editor for The OffBeat Business Magazine. I am a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and wild child at heart. After growing up and working in a corporate environment for almost 15 years, I feel a freedom working for myself like I have never felt. I am doing what I love and being my true self. Beauty comes from within, and I would be honored to help you show the world your very best YOU.

is words of encouragement, praise, affirmation and love.

Amy Hayes

This can easily be done as you go about your day. When you get up in the morning tell them you just love seeing their faces first thing in the morning. As you leave for work tell them you’ll be thinking about them. Mention something important going on in their day and let them know you hope it goes well. (Ask your wife if you’re clueless about their world.) Praise the good grades they get and don’t even mention the bad ones. Believe me, they’re aware of them! If your kids are older, involve them in your business as much as you can.

FATHER T

here’s a wise saying that says, “Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad.” Unfortunately this statement is all too true in America today evidenced by the number of single moms raising kids alone. The problem of fatherless homes is an epidemic. According to one source, 1/3 of all American children are growing up without a father in the home. The same source goes on to say that many of the social ills we have in the U.S. can be attributed to this problem. The National Fatherhood Initiative says the way to deal with poverty, drugs, crime and other social ills is to address the issue of fatherlessness. I agree wholeheartedly! I doubt anyone reading this is a father who has abandoned his family. Small business owners are the backbone of every community and leaders in modeling hard work and old-fashioned values. However, being absent in mind and presence can be just as damaging to a child’s life.

I grew up in a home with both mother and father present, but I still felt like something was missing. My father was a good man – hard-working, funny and loyal. But, like many men, he failed to give the affirmation, love and affection that every child craves. I’m not blaming my dad. He grew up in a era where children were to be seen and not heard, and parents were told not to show affection to their children or they would ruin them. We know better than that now, but there are all too many distractions that keep a dad from connection with his children. These distractions can include your business. As a business owner, the demands on your time seem endless, but I urge you not to ignore the most important job of your life – raising your children. The good news is that giving your child what they need from you as a father doesn’t take much time at all. You probably have a wife who is doing all the time-consuming jobs of parenting like cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, chauffeuring and the hands-on things that kids need. What your children need from you

And above all else, love their mother. Show affection to her in front of your kids even when they complain. They secretly love it! Don’t be afraid to hug and kiss them too. If you already do all these things I applaud you. You are a rare breed in the world today and we need more dads like you! Amy Hayes is the Parenting in Business contributor for The OffBeat Business Magazine. Amy is the mother of 8 children, from grown to adolescent, and coaches business owners, church groups and others to improve effective communication for parenting success. You can reach her at profparent@gmail.com.

Off BeatMagazine

BE AN INFLUENTIAL

Off BeatMagazine

HELPFUL KITCHEN

By Chef Bernard

Hints From The Chef M

y goal is to help busy people take better care of themselves by eating better. That means eating healthier, but it also means taking care of the food in your refrigerator. Print this out and keep it near your refrigerator as a handy reference. I’m also sharing some recipes I think you’ll enjoy! Hint #1 Never refrigerate bananas. Why? Because bananas are a tropical fruit and the refrigeration will break down the fruit’s natural structure; bananas are constantly oxidizing.

Hint #2 Don’t wash mushrooms after they are purchased from the grocery store. A mushroom is a living organism and a live fungus, and about 85%- 90% water already. Instead, wipe the cap of mushroom with a clean white cloth. Some mushroom stems are too stalky to be digested. Hint #3 The notion that the food service industry promoted about cooking green vegetables in a baking soda to preserve the color is false. Baking soda discolors green vegetables at a high heat and leaves an alkaline film on them, causing a loss of natural color. Method: Combine the chicken parts with the spices and sauté for two to three minutes; then let the chicken rest in a bowl. Sauté the vegetables and then add the low sodium stock and bring this to a boil. Add your chicken that have been resting to the this liquid and cook until done. Place your tortilla chips in your serving bowl with your salsa and avocado. Spoon or ladle the hot chicken tortilla soup over the ingredients in the bowl, top with the jack cheese, and then squeeze the fresh lime for flavor.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Yields 8-10 portions Ingredients: Chicken breast, or Chicken thy meat boneless and skinless. Onions yellow Celery Chicken broth ( the reduced sodium variety) Salsa of your choice made fresh to be used as a garnish Avocado peeled, pitted and dices to be used for garnish Shredded Monterrey Jack cheese Oven or fried tortilla chips ( Flour or corn ) Fresh wedge of lime Chili powder Cumin Coriander Vegetable oil

½ lbs 2 cups ½ cup 32oz ½ cup 1 cup 1 cup 2 cups 1 ea 2 tsp ½ tsp 2 tsp ¼ cup

Off BeatMagazine Heart Healthy Wild Berry Tart Yields: 8 portions Preheat oven to: 350 degrees at least 30 minutes before you’re ready to bake. Crust ingredients: Whole wheat flour ALL PURPOSE FLOUR Vegetable oil Coconut milk or Almond milk or flax seed water

Pie ingredients: Blueberries Raspberries Strawberries Black berries Simple syrup mixture. Corn starch Cranberry juice Apple juice Fresh mint

2 pints 2 pints 2 pints 2 pints ½ cup sugar brown, ½ cup water ¼ cup ½ cup ½ cup ½ oz

Method: 1. Wash the berries and allow them to chill in the refrigerator. 2. Combine brown sugar, water, corn starch, cranberry juice and apple juice to make a thick glaze that will need to be chilled for later use. 3. A lightly dusted pie dish is needed to place your refrigerated pie dough in, shape the dough to the pie dish, and pinch around the edges. 4. Dock the pie crust dough surface evenly. 5. Combine in a large bowl the washed wild berries and the chilled simple syrup glaze, fold lightly, but do not over fold. 6. Place the lightly folded berries in the simple glaze into the pie dish evenly and sprinkle the brown sugar crumb mixture over the wild berries. 7. Place the wild berry tart in the preheated 350 F. degree oven and cook for 30 minutes or until golden brown appears on the brown sugar crumbs. 8. Let the wild berry tart cool and then cut into 8 portions and serve with a sprig of fresh mint as the garnish.

2 cups 1 CUP ¼ cup ¼ cup

Method: Combine all the above ingredients to form pie dough that is moist but not wet and sticky. Roll dough and let rest for later use. The remaining dough must be used for crumb topping, these need to be baked off and cooled to be mixed with some sprinkled brown sugar, enough to coat the crumbs.

Bernard A. Charter is the owner of Bernard’s Fusion Cuisine. He uses his expertise as a military veteran and chef of 35 years to educate, providing safe, reliable heart healthy food concepts on the table that enhance mind, body and soul. Contact Chef Bernard A. Charter for fun, feel-good meals with a unique, results-oriented approach at BernardCharter@Yahoo.com.

LINGER

Off BeatMagazine

LAST WORDS By Taylor Kay Stephens

n 2008 I sat mesmerized, watching the current World Champion of Public Speaking, LaShunda Rundles give her winning speech. She said, “We aren’t half afraid of dying as we are that no one will remember that we were ever here.” I was so moved by this woman whom I’d never met. Shortly afterwards, I learned that she was in the hospital fighting for her life from Lupus.

gel and I knew I was in the presence of someone very special.

I’ll never forget the first day I met her she was in an ICU hospital room hooked up to machines, with IV’s and tubes everywhere. She had the face of an an-

I was there when she sat in a chair after being flat on her back for several months and she had so much gratitude. I was there when the nurse gave her a popsicle

For six months she was in the hospital, unable to drink or eat anything. I visited her several times a week and she would always inspire me with her words of wisdom. She had the faith of a mustard seed, tenacity of a bulldog and the spirit of wild mustang.

– the first thing she’d eaten in 6 months and she was so grateful for each bite. I saw her walk for the first time in months and she was so grateful for each step. I asked her, “LaShunda, what keeps you going?” Without blinking an eye she quipped, “There are so many things I want to do and accomplish, it’s kind of hard to do ‘em if you’re dead!” Four years later, I went to see her once again in the hospital. We talked a long time about life, her faith in God, how much she loved her son and her sister, Sonya. She was also excited about her trip to Florida in a few days. She said, “Sonya thinks I should stay here and not go to Florida. I told her I’m not dead yet! I want to live like I’m living, not like I’m dying.” When it was time to go, she said, ”Taylor I love you. I’ll see you when I get back.” Then her last words to me were never spoken and yet they came from her lips straight to my heart when she blew me a kiss. Little did I know she would leave this earth, a week later. My sweet angel, I will never forget you were ever here!

Taylor Kay Stephens, speaker, author and transformational life coach, is no stranger to tragedy, adversity and obstacles. She teaches people how to get out of overwhelm, change their bad habits and stop self-defeating behaviors. She has developed her own easy and practical techniques and systems so simple a child can do them. Discover more at TaylorKayStephens.com

Off BeatMagazine

SUSANSAYS

Q3 American Business Call-to-Action

Everyone has a story to tell. Every home has a kitchen table or an armchair where answers to the most difficult social and political issues are discussed and solved routinely, wouldn’t you agree? I mean, truly, if people could see things the way we see them, wouldn’t all the angst disappear, the unworthy get their just desserts and everyone clamoring for our money and time would just shut up and leave us alone? There was a time when I believed that was true. Now, experience has taught me that the opposite is true. The way I see things is so completely irrelevant it makes me cringe to remember past conversations. No, what I want to know now is how OTHERS see things. I want to understand. I want to understand precisely because I believe solutions exist, and I’ve lost the arrogance to believe that the answers lie solely within me. Oh, I have SOME answers, but so do you and so do most people who walk this earth. And we can’t get anything done without a dialogue. Without a meaningful, twoway conversation. The kind that rarely happen anymore. And I desperately want to get some things DONE, don’t you? So many of us today are content to complain or apathetic to real issues at hand because we don’t really think we can make a difference anyway. No one is listening, life goes on, and only control freaks think they have to participate. I wonder, America, are we simply happy in our absenteeism? Or have we given up? At what point do we begin to wonder if there is a better way to position the conversations we long to have?

Conversations about taxes. Conversations about healthcare. Conversations about veterans, criminal justice, international treaties and the right to bear arms. REAL conversations - not social media finger-pointing, bandwagonjoining idiocy that does nothing to solve the reality we’re trying to do business in today. We won’t all agree, but shouldn’t we elevate - instead of escalate? When will we see the smokescreen mainstream news media has fed our attention span? I want to know the TRUTH, not just distraction and hype. I don’t believe they’re capable of that anymore.

We CAN make a difference.

Though I’ve learned my point of view isn’t the only one that matters, I’ve also learned that it only takes one person to stand up willing to talk about the stuff of which we’re most familiar. The stuff we ignore. The stuff that’s ugly and the stuff we risk being called a ‘conspiracy theorist’ if we utter out loud. All it takes for evil to persist is for good men to do nothing. So I say, “Let’s do SOMEthing. Let’s do ONE thing.” Let’s connect. Let’s connect on a personal level, let’s connect on a professional level, and let’s connect on a community level. We’re actually much more alike than we are different. In fact, each and every one of us is only 1% different from each other. That 1% is what only you and your unique set of talents, skills and experience can bring to the table. Because I work on a B2B level, I see this as a frustrating problem for the majority of en-

Susan Hamilton Susan Hamilton is the host and editor of The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine, a project designed to rebuild American business influence locally, nationally and abroad for the benefit of our communities. Does your voice count? It could. Contact Susan@OffBeatBusiness.com with your questions, comments and opinions. Read more on this subject.

We’re so concerned with being unrecognizable, we’re missing the value our 1% offers the world. If we’re not willing to participate in the online conversation, we cannot influence it. When I first heard of digital magazines and internet radio, I can tell you I wasn’t that impressed. After exploring those mediums, I realized we hold in our hands an opportunity like never before to influence and improve our situations, grow our audience, and become a collaborative authority of people who truly want to be a part of our national solution.

My small business should give me a voice. Like you, I pay my taxes, I vote, I participate in jury duty and I support veteran issues. I raise kids, grandchildren and I’m there when my mother calls. I grew up in a family owned business, like many of you, and know the issues surrounding marketing, sales and management when accountability is difficult to enforce between siblings and parents. What I see? We’re too busy ‘doing’ our business to influence the environment our business is being ‘done’ in. And legislators count on that. But knowing what YOU know, what will you do? *Keep in mind, we don’t need MORE legislation we don’t understand - we need far, far less of what we’ve already got. My 2015 Q3 Small Business Call-To-Action: •

Find every means possible to become more efficient and effective with the time you spend in and on your business.

•

Put actions in place that position you for managing increased resources. • Actively spend your money and time on research that helps you understand the REAL issues you struggle with. • Determine where you will devote your hands to the improvement of that situation. • Don’t look for loopholes, instead, look for the inane. You will find it everywhere. Find a way to discuss it meaningfully, without pointing fingers - but follow the money. • Connect with others - clients, customers, neighbors, members of your associations - that agree with the issues you see. Listen to their questions, concerns and solutions. • Find out who represents you, ask for an appointment to talk, and begin to move forward. Next? Let me know about it.

Isn’t it time you took a break, so you can come back refreshed? Call us, we’ll arrange that for you! 469-200-4471

Assisting Those You Love To Lead Healthier, More Independent Lives Through Specialized Healthcare and Comprehensive, Nurturing, Treatment and Care. Serving North Central Texas –     

Collin Dallas Tarrant Wise Denton

Post Operative Recovery – Skilled Nursing Services - Elder Care – Physical Therapists Accepting Most Insurance and Private Pay ArielAmana.com, FB/ArielAmanaHealthcareInc

Off BeatMagazine

trepreneurs. Every industry wants the same color website. Every company occupying a similar niche wants to use the same language, ask the same questions and provide the same solutions. We want to be different by being exactly the same! So many of us as business owners are so concerned with giving ‘Big Brother’ too much data we don’t know how to be found online.

Off BeatMagazine

What makes Battle-Buddy Info unique among Resource Directories: Battle-Buddy Info resources are pre-vetted for inclusion into the Directory. Our Users have accessed, and/or research the organizations and many have received services from the listed providers and consider them to be viable sources providing assistance DIRECTLY to a service member or their family. We provide eligibility information as listed on the Resource’s website (i.e. Branch of Service, Disability level, seasonal resource, Branch Specific, geographical, etc.) From Battle-Buddy Info, once the User has determined they meet the criteria for assistance, they can link to the Application Form from our site, eliminating the need to read through pages of content provided by an organization.

Equest

The Equest Hooves for Heroes program offers current service members, honorablydischarged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forc-

es, and adult military family members the Hooves for Heroes program free of charge.

Attitudes & Attire: Boots to Heels Program

A customized program designed exclusively for female veterans giving them the camaraderie of being with peers who understand the experiences and challenges they face when returning home. We provide a four part program to assist female veterans with their transition from military to civilian life. After participating in our workshops on self-esteem and interview skills, each veteran is invited to select professional attire and accessories from our upscale boutique.

Recovery Resource Council

Recovery Resource Council offers FREE and confidential counseling services through the Enduring Women and Enduring Families Veterans’ Services grant. Enduring Women provides group counseling and

peer support for various issues including, but not limited to, post traumatic stress, military sexual trauma, reintegration issues, substance abuse or parenting difficulties.

Allies in Service

Allies in Service’s mission is to identify and support Dallas area veterans who need assistance in the areas of employment, housing, education, and health care. We partner with veterans, employers, community and other veteran support organizations to educate and enhance the quality of life of our veterans.

Combat Faith

For all warriors needing healing there are some key factors that apply universally. Combat PTSD stems from dangerous situations where their or their comrades’ lives/health were at stake. Most combat veterans with PTSD had multi-traumas rather than just one traumatic incident. The following information on PTSD an-

Off BeatMagazine

ecdotes was provided to me by a fellow Vietnam veteran who was wounded in Vietnam as a Navy Corpsman assigned to the Marines. After the case study for each war, there will be suggestions for a spiritual approach to the issues affecting veterans.

Grace After Fire

Grace After Fire was created by women to provide an online resource for women veterans – women helping women. Here you can truly be yourself, laugh, cry, share – and safely gather to identify. You’ll find resources, experts, and fellow women vets around the world that understand where you’re coming from.

Honor Courage and Commitment

Honor Courage Commitment is a nonprofit organization that recruits, educates, mentors, and guides transitioning military veterans into becoming socially responsible entrepreneurs and community leaders.

K9s for Freedom and Independence

We specialize in PTSD and /or TBI Service Dogs. Our focus is on those persons that have served our country as a US Military Member, Law Enforcement Officer, Fire Fighter, EMS Worker.

Suicide Prevention 22tooMany

22toomany Instagram page is for Veterans in dark places. Call anyone listed on the site 24/7. Committed to being available for ALL before a permanent irreversible step is taken.

Logan’s 5

In December of 2013, a request was made by a retired Marine. “Give me five reasons to live each day.” Author and Battle-Buddy Info Founder, responded with a quick, “I can do that!” This is the chronicle of those encouragements, inspirations, and facts of friendship. We can all use a little remembrance and recounting of five reasons to fight, five reasons to stay alive, five reasons to make it through another day.

National Resources Hope for the Warriors

The mission of Hope For The Warriors® is to enhance the quality of life for post-9/11 service members, their fami-

lies, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty. Hope For The Warriors® is dedicated to restoring a sense of self, restoring the family unit, and restoring hope for our service members and our military families.

IAVA The mission of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and their families. Rapid Response Referral Program, assigns a case manager to help IAVA members navigate through a variety of resources available to them. The Career Pathfinder program includes resume builder, military skills translator, and career mapping tool.

Veteran Artist Program (VAP) VAP, a 501c3 nonprofit, takes artists who are also veterans, and propels their works and careers into the mainstream creative arts community through networking, mentorships, collaborations with professional artists, and original productions. Weekly Podcast features veterans in the Arts

Call us at 214-714-0495 to discover how digital marketing gets YOUR brand noticed.

Talk Radio And Digital Magazine For 80% of American Small Business Owners!

OffBeatBusiness.com

2147140495 | Info@OffBeatBusiness.com | Hamilton & Hamilton Consulting, LLC