ISSUE 13 | DECEMBER 2015
Merry Christmas! MASTERMINDING YOUR WAY TO Rewind: 2015’s BEST NONPROFIT Business Success Resources SUCCESS
ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET BUSINESS ONTHE RISE
Off BeatMagazine
Off BeatMa CONTENTS
08-09 ROI RE-IMAGINED; The What, The Why and The Who By Candy Barone 11-12 The Top 15 Best Business Resources of 2015 14 Is Today Your “When” Day? By John Carroll 16-17 Rolling Out The Red Carpet
20-22 Masterminding Your Way To Non-Profit Success By John Gilchrist
24 Holidays and The Indespensible Garbage Disposal By Dorothy Skinner
25 Intimacy Over The Holidays By Dr. Kathryn E. White
26-27 Possession Orders Make 18-19 The Holidays Easier On Networking Success In 3 Children Steps By Lisa Zahn By Susan Hamilton
By Jeff Klein
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29 Show Me The Money By Taylor Kay Stephens
30 Susan Says By Susan Hamilton
32-33 BattleBuddy Info
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agazine Susan Hamilton
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EDITOR’S NOTE Friends!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you! It’s with much appreciation we offer a glimpse back into the last year to compile the 2015 Best Business Resources listed inside. We know these companies will provide stellar opportunities for you to exceed your end of year goals - and 2016 goals, too. Inside you’ll find answers to the questions that have been rolling around in your head. As a business owner, we know you want to impact your locale, state, nation or world for the better. It’s what drives you to be the best. Read John Gilchrist’s article on Philanthropy Masterminds. He’s got a handle on exactly how to help you do that! Discover 3 easy steps to get more out of your holiday networking, learn what to avoid putting in your garbage disposal so you don’t have an expensive problem, and learn about one company that will roll out the red carpet for your move AND haul off your donations. Get your ‘what, why and who’ right, uncover your ‘when’ and find money where you’ll least expect it. All this and SO much more inside. Remember to send your suggestions and comments to Info@OffBeatBusiness.com, and knock 2015 out of the ballpark with everything our contributors, sponsors and advertisers offer you through The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine!
Off BeatMagazine Editor
Susan Hamilton
Art Director
Jonathan Bodnar
Manager
Susan Hamilton
Marketing
The OffBeat Business Show
Designer
Jonathan Bodnar
Publisher
Robin Roberson
Producer
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Wishing you a prosperous end to the year and a very Merry Christmas, ~ Susan Hamilton
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The OffBeat Business Show is dedicated to the empowerment of American businesses to more powerfully influence locally, nationally and abroad. Four months out of the year, we dedicate our shows and magazine to veteran business owners, nonprofits, and the companies that support them. In addition, we offer a Military Veteran Sponsorship Level to encourage our military veteran business owners to share their excellence with our audience at a 60% savings! Know a veteran with a great business and a story to tell? I want to hear about it. Please reach out to our company at info@OffBeatBusiness.com with your information or referrals.
Networking Success With Rose Colarossi - Dec 1st
Susan Hamilton talks with Rose Colarossi about their friendship, networking success and what it takes to close repeat business in a fickle world.
What Could An App Do For YOUR Business? - Dec 8th
Susan Hamilton talks with Jonathan Bodnar of Apollo Apps to discuss the relevance of apps for the average small business.
Profit Driven Marketing And Your Business - Dec 15th
Susan Hamilton talks with Ed Garza, of ROI Mantra, who is helping business owners understand profit driven marketing using Google products.
Marketing And Strategy With Byron Ingraham - Dec 22nd
Byron Ingraham and Susan Hamilton discuss reaching your target audience. [replay]
All You Need To Know About Local Search With Bernadette Coleman Dec 29th
End the year on the right foot. Local search results matter, and this 20 minute show will help you understand how to avoid common errors in time for 2016! [replay]
Sound advice, NEVER boring!
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ROI RE-IMAGINED The What, the Why, the Who By Candy Barone
The countdown is on. The days are winding down. 2015 is nearly done. As we head into a new year, the question is … are you ready? With 2016 just around the corner, have you taken time to reflect on what went well this past year, assess where you had shortfalls or missed opportunities (e.g., untapped returns) and plan for the outcomes you envision and desire for this upcoming year? If not, then I invite you to hit the pause button and do just that! It all starts with getting clear on your vision, and then, mapping out the strategies and discipline to turn that vision into a reality. First, do you fully understand the problem you solve and for whom? AsI tell my clients, it all starts with understanding your WHAT, your WHY, and your WHO. Your ‘what’ is the value, impact, and influence you create to affect change, growth, opportunity, or leverage solutions. Not only to serve your who, but to also manifest the lifestyle you desire most. If your ‘what’ is not connect to how you serve, then I challenge you that your ‘what’ is not fully defined. If you think your what is merely x% growth over this past year, you have the opportunity to dig deeper and peel back the layers.
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“Your ‘what’ is bigger than a percentage of growth captured year-over-year, as the growth within your business is a simple function revealing whether you are aligned and connected to your bigger vision.” Your actual growth is a lagging indicator of whether you are moving your business in the right direction, serving the right clients, and creating an engaged culture within your organization. The opportunity lies in making purposeful investments in the areas of time, people, resources, and energy, all which are the leading
indicators for sustainable success and greater returns overall. You must fully understand your ‘what’ to make the best investments in these areas. Now, let’s talk about your ‘why.’ Your ‘why’ is the very place where your passion is derived. Your ‘why’ is the compelling reason you chose this business, the products and services you deliver, and the clients you serve. It is the very thing that wakes you up at 2 AM with overflowing ideas, energy, excitement around new directions, new developments, and new ways to serve. Your ‘why’ is critical to understanding your vision … because your ‘why’ determines your ‘who.’ And, your ‘who’ is not everyone.
• Identify three to five big rocks, or outcomes, you want for 2016
“You can either build a roadmap that works to help you serve more people, create explosive growth for your business, and ultimately capture greater returns … or, another paperweight . The choice is yours.”
• For each of those big rocks, lay out five to seven strategies of what is required to take action
Because, remember … ROI is a return on investment, not a return on intention.
Yes, I just said your who is not everyone. You are not here to serve all. Your ideal client is not the masses. Your ideal client is a specific subset based on energy, personality, characteristics, and other intrinsic qualities. Your who is more concentrated than that. And, when you create your business plan, your messaging, and your solutions for your ideal who, you also create a force and momentum that allows you to expand who you actually serve.
• Write down your compelling vision statement (again, this is the problem you solve and for whom — your what, your why, and your who brought together in one statement)
It is as if you create a powerful magnet from the core of your organization that attracts the people you most want to spend your one-on-one time with, the people who energize you, and who want to truly partner with you over the long-term. When you build your business from the inside out, you will find your reach grows bigger and bigger. When you attempt to grow it from the outside in, you will find greater challenges finding the ‘who’ that speaks to you most.
Next, break those strategies down into daily, weekly, and monthly activities and tasks (this will help you establish consistent, intentional discipline to help you access more opportunities and leverage points.)
Once you have gotten clear on your compelling vision, and on your what, your why, and your who, then it is time to build a working and effective business plan and strategy to support that plan.
A business plan and strategy for your business only work if you are willing to take the time to get clear on your vision, get clear on your what, your why, and your who, and map out the strategies to take your there. Otherwise, you are simply going through the motions, creating goals for the sake of creating goals, and will find yourself with nothing more than a binder of nonsense that sits on a shelf and collects dust over the course of the year.
Candy Barone, CEO & Founder, You Empowered Strong “Your Pull-No-Punches Accountability Powerhouse” International Speaker, Business Strategist, Certified Master Coach & Trainer, Best-selling Author candybarone@youempoweredstrong.com, www.youempoweredstrong.com (512) 693-9732
As you begin to map out your 2016 business plan, consider the following approach:
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The OffBeat Business Team Of Professionals It’s time to take a look back at 2015 and acknowledge the businesses that have offered the most significant resources for American small business growth. The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine extends a thank you with extreme gratitude to the companies that made the list! Because of the products, services and viewpoints offered by these companies, our audience CAN enjoy the success they dream of experiencing, furthering our ability to rebuild American business influence locally, nationally and abroad.
Top 15 Best Business Resources of 2015:
Inclusion was based on the following criteria:
Reputation management and local search experts with affordable, creative and unique local search solutions nationwide.
Does this product or service propel a business owner to new financial opportunities? Is this product or service cost-effective? Is the product or service offered in a timely manner? (ex: From the time of purchase to the completed project or a manageable service timeline.) Would The OffBeat Business Team Of Professionals recommend this company to our audience, based on the professionalism of the owner, company, and product or service and the confidence we have in them based on direct use of these products and services? The answer to all of those questions was favorable for all of the following companies, so we offer them to you with great enthusiasm. Here’s to The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine’s Best Business Resources of 2015!
Apollo App Design Apollo apps offer an affordable, fully-customizable app for your company that makes it easier for customers to do business with you and enjoy all the nuances of your brand.
Advice Interactive Group
The Authority Syndicate T. Allen Hanes and his team of professionals works with businesses, brands and entrepreneurs to develop strong, influential, recognizable brands online. His methods for book production, news releases and other publications makes it easy for busy business owners to develop industry credibility so they can make a bigger impact and work with higher paying clients.
Business ONETouch Update your blog, all your social media sites and email from one dashboard. Real time stats and campaign options at-a-glance. Know exactly who clicks on your links and manage your subscriber list for increased sales.
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Byron Ingraham
Masters Of Taxation
Paid advertising options using measurable, strategic marketing on Facebook and others.
Business taxes and record keeping to keep your business safely within IRS guidelines and remedies. Not limited by geographic location, John DiLucci is an Enrolled Agent, a Fellow of the National Tax Practice Institute, a Member of the American Academy of tax Practice, and a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist.
John Carroll Business coaching for the globally minded. International author, speaker and mentor, John helps entrepreneurs consider the big-picture ramifications of the new economy on a global scale.
Candy Barone Say “Y.E.S.” to yourself. You Empowered Strong. LLC is a catalyst for team-driven ROI for long-term results. Candy’s programs adhere to accountability and performance for both management and employees.
Deborah Ricci, Fit Expert and Success Stylist Susan Hamilton’s wardrobe consultant and stylist, Deborah works with business owners, talk show hosts and television personalities to create a successful, confident appearance at work or play. Deborah Ricci offers a rare expertise in fit, ensuring the proper measurements, colors and cuts to accentuate your most attractive features.
Events Of Significance Complete event production detail that allows you to carry on your business while producing high-end, professional, lucrative events. Promotion media, catering, venue and staff are managed through an experienced event planning team so your events go on with ease.
ROI Mantra Profit-driven marketing for the service industry, mortgage industry and more. Business owners can know the language, system and vehicle that propelled a sale from Google resources to a closed sale to affordably improve their return on investment.
BUSINESSES YOU CAN COUNT ON.
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Monica Cornetti Gamification techniques to improve productivity, increase revenue and retain valuable customers.
Roberson Squared Full-service media company for small to micro sized businesses, including digital magazine publishing, internet radio and digital advertising in both mediums.
Send Out Cards Paul Russo is a Send Out Cards representative with a unique approach to assisting you with customer, team and peer communication. His professional guidance and advice will help you secure your brand in the hearts of your recipients.
Speaker Co-op Discover how to use speaking to grow your business and advance your cause. Jeff Klein’s networking and business speaking mastery courses range from free to booking memberships and are available nationwide.
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IS TODAY
BY JOHN CARROLL
YOUR ‘WHEN’ DAY? W
hen will you begin writing that first book you keep talking about? Make a firm offer on the dream home you have wanted? Take that dream vacation? Move your career in a bold new direction? Start the exercise program you have been putting off? If not now … When?
Is today your ‘When’ day …the day your life really begins? Stop dreaming and take action. Let’s face it, we are all procrastinators to some degree. It is part of our nature, a part of our DNA. However, if we are going to live the life we’ve always dreamed about, then at some point in time we have to put a stake in the ground and take responsibility for making it happen.
“Don’t ask God to guide your footsteps if you’re not willing to move your feet.”
Stay open to the possibilities. Mendhi Audlin, my friend, spiritual leader and author of What If It All Goes Right sums it up the best … “Do not focus on what you want in order to get what you want. When you’re focusing on what you want in order to make it happen, you’re activating the feeling that you don’t have it. From a quantum perspective, your attachment to the outcome becomes counterproductive.” Our attachment to outcomes blocks the flow that opens the door to a world of possibility. As a consequence, we can miss a lot of amazing opportunities by focusing on the ‘one thing’ that we think will change the course of our lives.
As a child, I was a BIG dreamer and had a long wish list of things I didn’t have. My dear sweet mother had a great way of bringing me down to earth. When my ‘Wish List’ got to be too much for her she would say, “Wish in one hand and poop in the other, and see which one fills up the fastest.”
“The trouble is, you think you have time.” -- Buddha
Translation: your goals, dreams and aspirations are only as good as the actions behind them. If you want something badly enough, you will find a way. Otherwise, it’s just noise and a waste of energy.
Strive for progress, not perfection. We set ourselves up for disappointment and failure when we focus too much of our energy on the destination, and not enough on the journey. Life is not perfect and neither are we, so
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What if that one thing we are laser focused on doesn’t work out … what’s next? What is your Plan B?
move past this notion of perfection. As George Leonard states in his book Mastery, “It should come as no great surprise that many of us have the idea that our lives by all rights should consist of one climax after another.” So, what do we do when our day-today existence doesn’t measure up, or we miss those life experiences and run out of time before ever reaching our intended destination? Stop waiting for good things to happen. “Kadima” is a Hebrew word meaning forward. Don’t be a “one of these days” person, or end up living a life of regret. Keep moving forward, make daily progress, and turn your ‘When’ day into today and every day. Enjoy the journey! 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 bestselling author, educator, blogger and speaker. Email John at john@trescoach.com or learn more at http://www.trescoach.com/.
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ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET By Susan Hamilton H
as the phrase ‘it’s been done before’ stopped you from using your experience to improve on a great idea? As entrepreneurs, we frequently hear that kind of talk - and as much as we’d like to believe it doesn’t hinder our forward motion - we all know that it can. I used to hear, “Yeah, but can you make money doing that? There are reasons it hasn’t been done before.” I’ve learned to trust myself a lot more since then, and trust the naysayers much less!
Allow Me To Introduce Brian Mack Earlier this year, I began networking with a guy that was always showing up at the same meetings I was attending. If you’ve ever networked with me, you know I’m pretty assertive and enjoy animated conversations. That can be good, and it can be not so good. Case in point, let me tell you about a man who was soon to be a dear friend, Brian Mack. Animated people gravitate to animated people. But there’s a HUGE value in keeping your ear to the wall, smiling, greeting and simply being present. That’s Brian’s approach, and consequently, I had mistaken his somewhat quiet demeanor and missed what turned out to be months of great conversations. We’re making up for that now! Turns out, after 5 years of research
and learning the moving business well, he had opened his own moving company in November of 2014. He had worked with several other moving companies, and discovered things they could to better. The name, Red Carpet Movers, and logo - reflect accurately his dedication to the details that are routinely left out of large chain moving companies.
detail. That may be easier because of our size, but we train our workforce to really address their needs so we can continue to serve at this level as we continue to grow.”
I asked Brian to give me an example of that. He said, “Well, for instance, we call and verify in the morning. Granted, most companies do that, but we literally hold their hands from Improving The Customer Experience the beginning to the middle and end. Things change from when they book “People always have something to us, we remain flexible for donations say about their last move,” says Mack, and moving strategies. Our policy is “I draw from my experiences with ‘ whatever you need to change, we’ll other moving companies - what work with you.’ works, what doesn’t work. Because we’re not corporate, we can make “Whatever you need to change, those adjustments on a daily basis.” we’ll work with you.” That awareness has caused Brian to capitalize on his dedication to do it “Let me tell you about a nice lady, to illustrate this point. Talking with better. her initially, she was going to have “We really roll out the red carpet for everything packed for an anticipated our customers. We pay attention to two day move. She wasn’t ready, we
had to pack for her. It turned into a 3-day, 4-day, and eventually a 5-day move because she needed us to unpack as well!” There was a lot of trash; we arranged for companies to come out and remove trash and debri for her. We can’t move trash along with the customer’s belongings, but we could arrange for her needs to be met last minute.
When it changes like that, don’t frown, just say, “absolutely, ma’am.” She’s using storage right now for everything that wouldn’t fit in her new home. We’ll go back in a few weeks to help her unpack the storage and move that in as well.” Can you tell why I absolutely love this guy and his offbeat business? There’s more. About 12 years ago, Brian Mack worked in the marketing department at Christian Community Association (CCA). He learned of the community’s needs and services CCA was providing. A lot of people don’t realize the dire need for help in the Lewisville and Denton area. “Spend a day in the clinic, and it will open your eyes. Without the food pantry, who knows? They offer classes and give them every opportunity to get them up on their feet. When I opened the moving company, I realized immediately that we could help CCA with the things our customers are wanting to discard. We don’t charge anything for that service; we simply hold those items in our warehouse until we have a truckload.”
“Furniture that we get is in great shape. It’s usually being used, but when people downsize, it can be given to CCA, C.C. Young and Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas.” “One of our customers had ordered a replacement stove for her remodeled kitchen, ordered another, and before it came in, ordered another. She wanted us to take the additional stove off her hands.” “C.C. Young and Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas have a great need for beds. An older gentlemen was
sleeping on the floor at C.C. Young. We didn’t have any beds, but one came across our path. Since then, we have several beds in our warehouse about to be delivered.” See what I mean? In a business climate that embraces herding customers through the sales funnel, Brian Mack is delivering a recognized service with an ‘above the fray’ value - and he’s gaining traction all over the DFW area with his red carpet approach. Many business owners see those kind of details as ways to lose money fast. Not Brian. He’s learned that he can streamline the process while raising the standards of the moving industry in every area, from the phones to the movers.
How To Keep A Red Carpet Staff Brian depends on his sidekick, Jennifer, to keep his movers on point. Chances are, you’ll be talking to Jennifer when you call. They train for two weeks before they go out, uniformed in black pants and red shirt. Every Saturday morning, they analyze:
• How could we make it easier? • How can we coach our customers to prep and be more prepared for the move? When looking at ways to progress the company, Red Carpet customers don’t have to worry about movers soaking up the hours or taking advantage. Brian continued,“You can hire anyone to move furniture. We hire people with a sense of pride and a high level of understanding customer service. They’re not trying to cut corners and
get off the clock.” When movers show up, drivers and movers do a walk through, discussing what’s fragile and learning what the customers want them paying attention to. Then they’ll literally put a red carpet through the front door to protect the floors. They use a door jam to protect the entryway, and protect the home everywhere they can. Felt pads are added to furniture as it’s being moved to the new hardwood floors. “We hang out and move things to their right place, reassemble and help the customer stay organized throughout the move. We don’t want to be second guessing where the furniture goes.” They’re constantly getting compliments about the care they have for moving furniture. “We prep furniture with pads. Our movers act like the company is their own. The truck is clean, and that’s not common in the industry, but it’s one more way we’re very deliberate about our choice of movers.” Word is getting out. Red Carpet Movers is the only moving company collecting donations. Brian anticipates many more donation moves over the holidays, and already, people are donating on a daily basis.
“It’s not hard to do this stuff, but what we pride ourselves in as that
Brian Mack is the owner of Red Carpet Movers, and committed to serving the needs of our community and our military veterans. To get a quote, moving tips or learn more about Red Carpet Movers serving the North Texas area, go to RedCarpetMovers.com, or call (972) 242-4777.
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NETWORKING SUCCESS IN 3 STEPS These three concepts are designed to
make you a better business networker. Read them a few times to absorb them. Use them and you’ll see a noticeable difference in the results you receive when you spend your valuable time networking.
1)
Networking in the real world is about letting your family and friends know that you’re networking, whether that’s overt, where you say, “I’m networking now,” or whether it’s, “I met a pet groomer and your dog looks like it needs grooming.” It’s also about something that people struggle with when they get involved with these regular networking groups, and that’s thinking about the people in the room when you’re out and about. The “me” networkers don’t; the “me” networkers leave it all at the lunch or the breakfast, but the powerful networkers have those other businesspeople always in the backs of their minds. And when there’s an opening in the conversation to get them an opportunity, then we do that. It’s not overt; it’s not rude or anything else; it’s “Here’s a way to help you.” What happens – and people forget this – is that your job when you’re a member of one of these groups, is to create opportunities for the people in the group. It’s not to get them clients - it’s to get them the meeting; it’s to get them the opportunity to talk to somebody about becoming a client.
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By Jeff Klein
What happens when we give referrals? We get referrals!
2) The 1-on-1. Definition: 1-on-1 – A meeting where 2 networkers spend an hour together getting to know one another, dividing their time equally WITHOUT SELLING. The 30-Second Commercial is the foundation of networking, but the 1-on-1 is the brick and mortar. This is not a sales meeting. It’s a building block of successful business networking. The agenda for the 1-on-1 meeting is to learn the other person’s needs. It’s your opportunity to learn who the other person wants to meet and relay your requested introductions. What are good referrals for them? Who are good strategic partners? Who are good synergy partners? You’re there to find out who you know that they want to meet. And to convey who you want to meet that they know. I offer an easy tool for your 1-on-1’s as a free download from my website. It’s a Word document, so you can easily customize it for your use. Please leave my info at the bottom so others can
learn about downloading it themselves. If you’re using a 1-on-1 as a sales meeting, you’re losing business. This is an information exchange. Make sure that you both find out what the other networker needs during your allotted time. If you try to SELL the networker you’re having a 1-on-1 with, they will not buy from you. And they’ll tell everyone else in their network not to meet with you. If you find out during your meeting that the other person might be a prospect, then schedule a sales meeting with them. Be VERY clear that is what you are doing. In a sales meeting, it’s your job to assess the needs and pain points of the prospect you’re meeting with. Then to tell them how you can solve their problems and why you’re the best choice for them to hire. Telling someone what you sell is not the same thing as selling to them. That doesn’t mean that occasionally, someone you’re having a 1-on-1 with decides they are a prospect for you. That’s a good thing. But, it’s not the agenda for networking. It’s more important to find out WHO someone wants to meet then WHY. You’ll learn the specifics of the why as you get to know them over time.
I quit going to those monthly meetings and didn’t renew my dues that year. So, take this networking tip to heart.
You walk up to this person you had the nice visit with and say, “Hi.” Because you’re a good networker, you say your name in case they forgot it. And this person, this person you had a nice visit with two weeks ago, says, “Nice to meet you.”
Say, “nice to see you,” anything like that, but never say, “nice to meet you” again. You can ruin a relationship really fast by saying it’s nice to meet somebody that you’ve met, not just once but more than once. Saying, “nice to see you” is much better and much easier to keep from having any conflict.
One clichéd phrase has completely “How are you today?” ruined someone’s credibility. “Great visiting with you.”
Not so Nice to Meetcha Has this ever happened to you? You sat across from a nice person at a networking lunch, had a nice chat. Maybe you even heard about their kids or told them about yours. Fast forward two weeks. You’re at another networking event.
The tip is this:
Take the phrase “Nice to meet you” and THROW IT AWAY. Crumble it up into a How does that make you feel? Has this little ball and toss it in your permanent person just become a trusted part of trash can in your head. your network? Is it someone you’re eager to give a referral? Someone you’re Try, “Nice to see you.” willing to trust with your customers? “Good to see you.”
Here’s my story. I belonged to a trade Any one of these is a vast improvement association for a couple of years; went over, “Nice to meet you.” to almost every monthly meeting for two years; made it a point to introduce myself to the officers. Intentionally sat at the tables where the leaders sat during luncheons. I show up at the Jeff Klein teaches Business organization’s annual expo. I walk up to Networking inside companies, one of the officers. She and I had had to sales teams, at meetings, and several pleasant conversations over at National and International the years. She says, “Nice to meet you.” Conferences of Salespeople and Then, five minutes later, another board Business Owners. member says to me, “Nice to meet you.” As the Founder of Speaker CoAnd this was not the first time either of op, Jeff also teaches the Art of these people said, “Nice to meet you.” Speaking to Market Your Business. Speaker Co-op holds I’d had enough. Lunch & Learns monthly in DFW & Houston.
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3)
One more thing I’ll throw out there – and it’s actually from the first newsletter I ever wrote back in 2006 – it was about “nice to meet you.” If you’re out networking regularly, you could have had lunch with the person across from you last week and not remember them. When you say, “nice to meet you,” you’re telling them that you didn’t remember them. Well, whether you did or not, you don’t want them to know you didn’t, so I encourage you to take the words “nice to meet you” and never say them again!
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By John Gilchrist
MASTERMINDINGYOUR WAY TO NON-PROFIT SUCCESS
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Successful business owners know a thing or two about masterminding. Mastermind groups offer brainstorming, accountability, and support during decisionmaking. Additionally, members of these groups reduce the feeling of isolation, gain greater clarity and rise to professional challenges. I believe in this strategy for personal and professional development, but I’m also convinced that nonprofits succeed more often using these strategies as well.
board governance, employee management, skills building, marketing and public relations. I’d want to know they are a seasoned group, who’ve sat in my chair and dealt with my challenges relating to revenue, HR, board overreach, and that they’ve conquered the ‘tyranny of the urgent.’
Nonprofit organizations are often started by business owners or executives who believe they have solutions and assistance they can offer the world. A great heart for your mission isn’t quite enough to sustain it, however, and it’s easy to lose momentum without a detailed plan in place - including board membership and sustainable revenue. This is where a mastermind can be of vital use to you.
• HR • Financial Controller • Program Expert • Liaison to the governing board • Conduit for the national umbrella organization • IT problem solver • Media Relations • And more
What would I look for in a non-profit mastermind? I’d be looking for a group of nonprofit executives who seek mutual support. I’d want to know they’re actively finding solutions to individual problems and challenges such as multiple streams of revenue,
When times inevitably get tough, it’s time to identify the issues that hold back or get in the way. One of those issues is simply believing that all resources must be put into the NFPs mission. Having a scarcity mentality. While this is laudable, any business
As it stands today, nonprofit executives (NFPs) conduct a variety of duties, any one of which represents a full time job.
Identifying The Issues
must invest in their long-term plans. Businesses, for profit and nonprofit, that don’t keep an eye on the future, will jeopardize their ability to serve their customers or clients for very long. When the board gets too involved in operations, you’ve discovered yet another issue that gets in the way. Boards are comprised of wellmeaning, passionate individuals who want to see the NFP succeed. Many boards cross the line between their role as strategists - developing and monitoring the progress of strategic plans - and delving into daily management. NFP executives need tactics to turn a board’s energy toward their best roles - connectors, ambassadors and askers. There a million things to get done every day. The ‘tyranny of the urgent’ is another pitfall. Prioritized activities in alignment with the mission, preparing crisis communications, managing an upset donor, etc., represent what can happen in a typical day for the NFP executive. Take time to develop problem-solving skills and improve decision making to get past this. Many NFP employees understand that they may work at salaries
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“Our goal is to build long-term relationships between facilitators and members through secured information and resource sharing. We know that within a 12-month Philanthropy Mastermind, our members can expect to raise more money, operate more efficiently and improve missional viability. “ below those of their peers in forprofit organizations, but go forward intending to make a difference. They still desire opportunities for personal and professional development. NFP executives need to create those opportunities so they can retain those valued employees and reduce turnover costs. Employees feeling undervalued is another issue that can be daunting for the NFP executive, and cause him or her to to look for remedies. Yet other areas of concern are financially related. Often, focus on an upcoming event - logistics, sponsorships, ticket sales, entertainment - can take up time that could be used to foster and strengthen relationships with key donors who have the capacity to make potentially transformational gifts. Stress of finding, researching and writing grants wears on many NFP executives. A primary challenge with grant funding is the frequent
inability to understand the level of competition for these dollars. The NFP executive who shifts the emphasis of the fund development program to a relationship-based one - with individuals at the center - is successful for the long-term. Where does an NFP executive turn in times of difficulty? Answers are typically expected to be found in governing boards, through consultants and internet searches. Professional associations are also great forums for networking and problem solving, but may not be the most timely option for specific counsel for a specific situation. While on the whole, these associations are wonderful sources of information, use of message boards can leave NFP executives open to unsolicited calls from those trying to sell services rather than sharing information. And if the NFP executive cannot afford the time to belong to a professional association, these resources are not an option at all.
Find Solutions In Philanthropy Mastermind Relationships built during mastermind participation are priceless. The right mastermind group will offer immediate help for immediate situations. Brainstorming around critical issues and peer accountability lead to more confident decisionmaking, with increased clarity and real benchmarks to achieve real progress. The tedium of defining and overcoming professional challenges can lead to feelings of isolation, but the relationships within a great philanthropy mastermind eliminate the notion that you’re ‘going at it alone.’ Due to the high volume of need in this area and our intense commitment to offering solutions within the nonprofit community, we now offer a 12-month Philanthropy Mastermind facilitated by seasoned and credentialed fundraising and nonprofit executives.
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Our goal is to build long-term relationships between facilitators and members through secured information and resource sharing. We know that within a 12-month Philanthropy Mastermind, our members can expect to raise more money, operate more efficiently and improve missional viability. Philanthropy Mastermind cuts research time when you have a specific issue, by tapping into the group’s collective mind to secure specific knowledge without hours of searching online for potentially less-than-credible answers. With 55 years experience in non-profit management, we’ve been there before, and know how to navigate these waters successfully.
To be absolutely clear, let me describe what Philanthropy Mastermind is NOT. It is NOT group coaching; it is NOT group consulting. Participants have unique needs and plans, and we address them fully. Philanthropy
Mastermind is not a group class, neither is it a ‘pity-party’ or ‘feel good’ session. Each individual comes prepared to take action and report progress from previous meetings. Group discussions are absolutely confidential, solutions and action plans are developed for each individual - but counseling is NOT part of the process. The 2016 Philanthropy Mastermind class is forming NOW, to begin in January. For a small monthly fee and a 12-month commitment, participants can glean valuable assistance from seasoned NFP facilitators through case studies, hot-seats during group sessions, personalized individual coaching for professional development, phone accountability and unlimited email consultation with experienced, knowledgeable resources who can help you get moving quickly.
John Gilchrist, FAHP, CFRE, is a leader in the nonprofit sector, guiding business owners with philanthropic outreaches to fill board positions, generate productive funding and create an overall rewarding scenario that impacts positively the community at large.
Visit http://FundraiserStrategies.com to discover what John can do for YOUR nonprofit and contact John@ PhilanthropyMastermind.com or call 469-215-1651 today. Look for the Philanthropy Focus advertisement in The OffBeat Business Magazine.
YOUR nonprofit CAN improve the world, or it can rob you of time, energy and money. Position your nonprofit to be successful when you position yourself for guidance FIRST.
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HOLIDAYS AND THE INDISPENSABLE By Dorothy Skinner GARBAGE DISPOSAL You should keep a drain cover over the mouth of the disposal when not using just to make sure this does not happen. But if it does, unplug the disposal, find a tongs or long nosed pliers to get it out. Don’t take a chance on getting injured by the sharp blades.
Now if your disposal is just humming when you turn it on, it may have something stuck inside. We have taken out bottle caps, shards of glass, potato roasting picks, you name it – and we have pulled it out. We have to replace it if you put down cat litter as one of our customers did! If none of the above solutions work for you, it is time for you to call a reputable plumber who can bring and install a new garbage disposal for you.
First of all there are some things that the disposal was not intended to handle.
In spite of all of the above your disposal might just stop working for you. When you turn it on, nothing happens. No noise. Your disposal is plugged into an electrical outlet under your sink in most cases. Maybe it became loose because you jostled something around under there and did not realize it while searching for something.
Things like celery or corn husks – or even artichoke leaves, for instance. They have long fibers that can cause your drain to plug up even after you have put them through the disposal.
Garbage disposals have a reset button on the bottom. You can press the reset and see if that will start it. Lastly, go check your circuit breakers to see if the breaker for it is tripped.
You know you use it every day. We don’t even think twice when we flip the switch and it just magically makes food waste disappear. The only time we pay any attention is when we turn it on and it doesn’t grind away. Panic sets in – and often along with the disposal not working, we have a backed up kitchen sink drain. The big cooking holidays are here, folks! I want to give you a few pointers to keep your disposal up and running like the champion it is.
Never put potato peels in there either. They really clog up the drain in a hurry. Coffee grounds and eggshells are also no no’s. And I think you already know that anything with metal or glass should never get in there. We suggest that you turn on the cold water before you start the garbage disposal. This will keep your blades in good shape and flush food particles down thru through the drain. Don’t use hot water because although it seems like a good idea to begin with, that grease will accumulate and cause a clog further down your drain.
“Never put your hand in the disposal to get something out that dropped in.”
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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 call 972-424-6479 for your gas or water plumbing needs.
Business owners have many challenges,
but one of them can seem more personal than most. During the crazy hustle-andbustle of the holiday season, between work and family, we might find ourselves dreading intimate moments we should be looking forward to. A million things demand our attention, and we often discover we’re exhausted, dehydrated, and unable to relate. For women, this compounds if sex is painful. Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse (also known as dyspareunia) are very common symptoms associated with menopause, breast cancer treatment or after effects of a hysterectomy. It can be a miserable experience. This often interferes with a couple’s ability to remain intimate and can create significant stress and strain on relationships. Traditional treatments have focused on vaginal estrogen therapy in the form of either creams, vaginal tablets or vaginal rings. Women often tire of the need for consistent usage and the fact that these treatments are often ‘messy,’ so they tend to stop over a period of time. Newer oral medications taken on a daily basis also have the potential for side effects. In addition, some work, some don’t.
Enter a completely novel approach to treating vaginal symptoms! The MonaLisa Touch™ is a new CO2 laser which offers a brief in-office procedure to treat these symptoms. Three 3-5 minute treatments taken 6 weeks apart solve this issue more effectively than anything I’ve seen. The laser stimulates vaginal walls to produce collagen, which restores the moisture and elasticity to the vagina. Over 5000 patients have been treated worldwide, showing significant improvement after following their cases for 18 months. There is no need for anesthesia and no downtime associated with the laser therapy. Women can resume normal activities immediately. It is recommended to abstain from intercourse for 48 hours but there are no other limitations. There are no significant discomforts associated with the treatment, either. Many women describe it as a gentle vibration sensation. The MonaLisa Touch™ provides excellent long term improvement. Once yearly maintenance treatments help to maintain vaginal health.
I am one of the first physicians in the North Dallas area to offer this procedure and am very excited about the ability to help so many patients who have been suffering with these symptoms. Azure Med Spa is under the experienced direction of Kathryn E White MD. A leading physician in North Dallas since 2008, Dr. White specializes in gynecology, gynecological surgery, bio-identical hormone therapy, weight loss and aesthetic medicine. Azure Med Spa offers a wide range of aesthetic, laser treatments, body sculpting and skin rejuvenation. Get your life back, call 972-294-6992 today or email AzureMedSpa@Gmail.com to learn more. Look for her ad in The OffBeat Business Magazine.
This therapy is also a wonderful option for young breast cancer survivors or other women who cannot use hormonal therapy and have been suffering with significant symptoms.
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INTIMACY ByOVER THE HOLIDAYS Dr. Kathryn E. White
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The Power Of Possession Orders Make The Holidays Easier On Children Here’s How You Can, Too By Lisa Zahn
The holidays are here! There is so much to do and see and experience. It is a joyous time to celebrate with family and friends. However, if you are a divorced parent, the holidays can be more stressful than for others with children. More importantly, the stress and despair felt by children during the holidays often goes unnoticed and unaddressed.
that parents follow these Orders. Below I’ve explored some ways that you can strive to improve the holidays for your children and ultimately, for yourself.
of hurting Mom’s or Dad’s feelings.
Parents do a grave disservice to their children when they question their children about time spent with the other parent. Instead, let your Contrary to what many parents children come to you to volunteer believe, in most cases, children information about their experience do look forward to being with with the other parent. the other parent. A child may tell one parent that she doesn’t want Don’t cry and fret or get angry in to spend time with her father in front of your children about them It doesn’t have to be that way. order to please her mother, or vice going to see the other parent during versa. the holidays. This creates guilt in Most divorced families in Texas your children and serves to stress follow possession orders that In spite of this, unless there is an them as well. dictate when their children immediate danger to the child, if will have parenting time with there is a court Order that sets out Eventually, these same children will each parent during the week of parenting time for each parent, pull away from you and tend toward Thanksgiving and during the the child should freely go between the parent who is not exhibiting this Winter break. It is important each parent’s home without fear kind of behavior.
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Eventually, these same children will pull away from you and tend toward the parent who is not exhibiting this kind of behavior. Even if you loathe your ex and wish he or she would be hit by a Mack truck, take your children to buy a Christmas present for the other parent or help them make something. This is important to your children. Encourage your children to enjoy their time with the other parent. Instead of telling your children how lonely you will be without them over the holidays, reassure them that you will be enjoying your own holiday time and look forward to seeing them when they return home. It is natural for feelings of anger and even hatred to come up when you think of your ex-spouse. When
those feelings arise, remember that your children come first. Lisa Zahn is a family law attorney who protects your best interests and works hard to ensure you, your family, and your business are prepared for whatever journey lies ahead. A partner at Mackoy, Hernandez, Qualls, Brown & Zahn and Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Lisa is a recognized expert in the family law arena. If you need family law services in Denton, Dallas and Collin counties, wait no longer. Call 888-308-9434 today. http://www.hqattorneys.com/lisa-zahn. Look for her ad in The OffBeat Business Magazine.
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TAYLOR’S TIPS By Taylor Kay Stephens
SHOW ME THE MONEY In 2005, I found myself struggling just to make ends meet. My credit cards were maxed out and I lived in constant fear of not having money to cover emergencies. I needed a solution fast! Then I remembered something that I learned from my mother which I still use today and it’s so simple a child could do it. Whenever I bought anything with cash, even if it was only 39 cents, I didn’t paid for it with coins or a one dollar bill, I used a five dollar bill or larger. If I didn’t have a five, I used a ten or twenty. If the amount was, say $1.27, then I used a five dollar bill or larger and any coins that I had so I’d get four, one-dollar bills back. If the amount was over $4.00, I would use a ten or twenty plus coins. The object was to receive as many one dollar bills as I could. At the end of each day I removed the one dollar bills from my wallet, put them in a hiding place
and forgot about it. Imagine how I felt when there was $302 a month later. WOW! That’s pretty good for someone who just couldn’t seem to save any money and didn’t have much income either. If I were to have taken $300 out of my income all at once, I would’ve said, “I can’t afford $300!” and wouldn’t have been able to actually come up with the money. Saving all my coins was very timeconsuming, counting, sorting and rolling all that change - I also didn’t save very much either. The amazing thing is with this method, you don’t even miss the money – it’s like finding free money in the middle of the street. I used this to help pay off debt and put hardwood floors in my house. One of my coaching clients told me that she wanted to take a vacation, but didn’t have the money. When I told her about this method she said, “ I never use cash. I either write checks
or use a credit card.” I suggested that she take at least $75 - $100 out of the ATM at the beginning of each week and start paying cash for things. She was amazed at how much she’d saved in the first month and six months later, she had enough to go on a vacation. Need holiday cash without going into debt?
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
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SUSANSAYS Ending The Year On A High Note WOW, I can hardly believe 2015 is almost over and we’re about to embark on another chapter in our lives. Business is exciting, gruelling, frustrating, fascinating and fun all rolled up together! Add our families to the mix, and we’re a mess of neurons and circuit breakers the minute our feet touch the ground. I tend to take every second I can this time of year to put my shoulders back and take a deep breath. If I’m not careful, I’ll find myself so go-go-go, that I feel like I’m stealing every moment I can to be still. But I’m starting to think that’s the wrong attitude, and this year, I’m going to try something different. This year, I’m going to make a list of everything that went RIGHT all year long. Our event was rescheduled to April 22, 2016 for all the right reasons, and tickets have been re-released for stocking stuffers
at the early bird rate - WHOOHOO! That’s only $47!
improvements have a time slot also, but FIRST - focus on what went right.
Also, our goals to increase our audience to 100,000 by the end of the year will catapult our media influence dramatically, and we’re well on our way. Our magazine will go to subscription pricing of .99 a year starting in January, and since we’ve started aggressively marketing our app, downloads are picking up. Our networks are increasing, and the word is getting out. We want to be your go-to resource for successful life in business, and after much hard work, that’s happening!
Merry Christmas!
My hubby survived a stroke late October with flying colors, my grandchildren are lights in my life, and our relationships are good. We’re blessed, we’re favored, and we’re on the way. End your year on a high note, too. Take some time to reflect and enjoy your progress. Review and
Susan Hamilton is your host and editor of The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine, showcasing businesses through video, audio and magazine content for maximum exposure. Susan believes that by sharing great business and entrepreneurial lifestyle tips and advice in an easily digestible format, businesses can grow to become a significant influence within their communities, causing progressive improvement on legislative and community levels for our children, seniors, veterans and businesses.
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What makes Battle-Buddy Info unique among Resource Directories: Battle-Buddy Info resources are prevetted 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, honorably-discharged veterans of the U.S.
Armed Forces, 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
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than just one traumatic incident. The following information on PTSD anecdotes 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.