ISSUE 07 | MARCH 2015
ANSWERS IN THE AIR
The Big Business Battle of The Bulge
7Elements ofIMPROV
Off BeatMagazine | MARCH 2015
A STORY of HOPE
Off BeatMa CONTENTS
04-05 Big Business Battle of The Bulge
18-19 Lucky Charms
06-07 Elements of Improv
20-21 True North
10-11 The Squat
22-23 Your Kids Are Springing
12-13 The Calandar is your Friend
24-25 Business Check Up
14-15 A Story of Hope
26-27 Working From An RV
16-17 I Found Answers
28-29 Bad Breathing Habits
Bernard A. Charter
Claire Binllinsley
John Carroll
Jeff klein
Jack Bick
Wendy Michaelis
Clint Fuqua
Monica Cornetti
Amy Hayes
Mariam LaSalle
Shari Voight
Kris DeFoer
agazine OFFBEAT BUSINESS
Susan Hamilton
susan@offbeatbusiness.com
SHOW & MAGAZINE
EDITOR’S NOTE Isn’t this magazine layout amazing? Thanks to Jonathan Bodnar and his faithful team of professionals at Dream Casters Marketing for all the hard work and professional detail! This is what happens when we learn to let go. The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine has evolved dramatically since our early days late last summer. What started out as an effort to make new media approachable for the average business has not only done that, but gone on to become a serious contender in the business showcasing arena. If it matters to you, it matters to US. This month we’re sharing MUCH about air. Much about breathing. Why? Because this is the time of year we become lethargic and tired. We’re either sick of the cold, or exposed to allergens in pleasant weather outside. Guess what? We might be exposed INSIDE, too. We’ve been working hard, but need to take care of ourselves so we can continue to do our best for our customers and clients. Our kids will be home for spring break, and we may be evaluating our progress over the first quarter.
Welcome our newest contributor, Chef Bernard Charter. A veteran and patriot, he’s sharing what he’s learned about food marketing in Chef’s Corner. Big food is big business, and we’re often too busy to think about the things we’re consuming every day. Check out his article, and let us know what you think at Info@OffBeatBusiness.com. The OffBeat Business Show & Magazine uses an editorial calendar to keep our content current and relevant to what you’re experiencing. Our communication columnist, Jeff Klein, shares some great ideas to put your calendar to work for you, too. Please send me your feedback about our new branding, content and layout! If you love it, we want to know about it, but if we’re not serving your needs, I want to know that, too. Enjoy! ~ Susan Hamilton
Off BeatMagazine Editor
Susan Hamilton
Art Director
Jonathan Bodnar
Graphic Designer Jonathan Bodnar
Manager
Susan Hamilton
Marketing
Dream Casters Marketing
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Off BeatMagazine
THE BIG BUSINESS BATTLE OF
THE BULGE
Bernard A. Charter is the owner of Bernard’s Fusion Cuisine. He uses his expertise as a veteran chef of 35 years to educate, providing safe, reliable heart healthy food concepts on the table that enhance mind, body and soul.
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ccording to the Federal Trade Commission, food makers spend some $1.6 billion annually to reach children through the traditional media, Internet, in-store advertising and sweepstakes. An article published in the 2006 Journal of Public Health Policy puts the number as high as $10 billion annually. The bulk of these ads are for unhealthy products high in calories, sugar, fat, and sodium. Promotions often use cartoon characters or free giveaways to entice kids into the junk food fold. Junk food makers spend billions advertising unhealthy foods to kids.
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On TV alone, the average child sees about 5,500 food commercials a year (or about 15 per day) that advertise high-sugar breakfast cereals, fast food, soft drinks, candy, and snacks, according to the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. Compare that to the fewer than 100 TV ads per year kids see for healthy foods like fruits, veggies, and bottled water which would be better for kids as they undergo their growth process. More processing means more profits for them, but typically, it makes food less healthy.
Minimally processed foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables obviously aren’t where food companies look for profits. The big bucks stem from turning government-subsidized commodity crops - mainly corn, wheat, and soybeans - into fast foods, snack foods, and beverages. High-profit products derived from these commodity crops are generally high in calories and low in nutritional value. Ultra processed foods, for example, lack fiber, micronutrients, and healthful plant substances called phyto chemicals that protect against heart disease and diabetes. Consider: A 10-ounce, 90-calorie portion of strawberries has 5 grams of fiber, abundant vitamins and minerals, and dozens of phyto chemicals, while a 1-ounce portion of Fruit Gushers alsohas 90 calories, but virtually none of the fruit benefits. If you are thinking about skipping vegetables, ‘pink slime’ is on its way out - but it’s not gone - consumed daily in foods we commonly eat. Ground meat is commonly bulked up with what critics call ‘pink slime’ - butchered scraps that have been cleansed with ammonia. While the industry insists that its “lean, finely textured beef trimmings” are harmless, some experts are questioning the safety of the ubiquitous filler. Following a public outcry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that school districts can choose between receiving beef with the trimmings or without, but at a higher fat content.
Since 1998, Americans have been wising up about the health risks associated with the beverages that are prominently displayed in grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, gas stations, and corner stores to increase sales. According to Beverage Digest, per capita consumption of carbonated sugar drinks that include regular soda, energy drinks, (but not sports drinks, fruit drinks, -ades, teas, and sugary waters) dropped a remarkable 25%. Regular Coke consumption is down 37% and Pepsi by 51%. These soda giants are doing everything they can to restore their profits globally. Coke recently announced adding $1 billion to its $3 billion annual global advertising budget. Companies are spending more ad money in pursuit of the minority population demographic. They are also buying up small companies whose flavored waters, teas and fruit juices sell at higher prices. Now the industry’s largest target is developing countries. Coca-Cola and Pepsi are investing $25 billion over the next 5 years in 4 countries, namely China, India, Brazil, and Mexico. Mexico has overtaken the United States in both per capita soda consumption and obesity. In response, Mexico recently levied an excise tax on sugar drinks and snack foods that quickly cut the consumption by 5%. It is sad to see one of our neighboring countries follow us down the unhealthy road, knowing that sugary drinks, salty foods, and larger servings will cause obesity and increase the risks for diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. A growing community of skeptics are warning us to beware of ‘Big Food’ intentions to saturate our diets with questionable products, knowing that the end results diminish the overall health of communities. References for this article and more information can be found through the following links: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/10/where-gmos-hide-in-yourfood/index.htm www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/ http://organic-center.org/organic-fact-sheets/
A growing number of grocery stores, including Safeway and Supervalu, have announced that they’re ditching so-called ‘pink slime.’ Still, it remains USDA-approved, and the food industry is free to use it at the cost of the consumers health and well being. So it’s not surprising that the idea of genetically-engineered (GE) food strikes a lot of Americans as, well, sketchy.
Bernard A. Charter is the owner of Bernard’s Fusion Cuisine. He uses his expertise as a veteran 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.
Whether that assessment is fair is another question. And the answer depends on whom you ask. To some, genetically modified foods portend environmental and health hazards; to others, they’re a boon that could feed the world’s growing population with needed healthier food items and crops that withstand insects and pesticides. Either way, you’re bound to hear plenty more on the subject, which has gained attention amid a swell of efforts calling for federal and state labeling of genetically-engineered foods.
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The bigger, juicier, saltier, sweeter, crunchier it is the more we want it. The food industry and its nonstop marketing is out to get us to eat and drink more of their products, and that has driven people to desire high-calorie foods and become a country of over eaters. The makers of popular junk foods have an obligation to stockholders to maximize profits, and that means encouraging consumers to eat more - not less - of a company’s products that are not the healthiest for you, the consumer.
Off BeatMagazine
Elements of Improv Can Foster a Great Work Atmosphere By Claire Billingsley
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Even though it is made up, improvisers are trained in basic rules or guidelines to follow that keep the scene or game moving forward. Consider these rules or guidelines as their mission or values statements, or code of conduct.
Running a business is no laughing matter. However, when you get right down to it, the people in your organization that have the most fun at work are the most productive and loyal. SO, how do you balance the serious nature of making a profit and allowing fun in your workplace?
Do you have anything included in your mission, vision, values, goals or code of conduct around creating a productive and fun work environment? If not, here are some things to consider as you put your ‘performers’ together in your ‘production.’
What if running a business was like producing an improv show? Not stand-up, not sit com, but that raw, made-up-onthe-spot stuff. Why consider this angle? Because we LIVE in improv. No one sits by our bed every morning and hands us a script to tell us what to do, where to stand, and where the lighting will be best placed for our best side to shine. We get to figure that out as we go.
The first thing improvisors have to do is trust their fellow players. If they don’t trust each other, creativity is stifled. Creativity is one result of improv. Does your work environment require creative, team oriented, problem solving? If you aren’t getting that from your team, chances are there is not a strong bond of trust.
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Trust
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These three things are crucial to a good improv stage performance. If you are thinking about what you want to say next, you miss what is going on right now. This is what many call ‘being fully present.’ Being aware of EVERYTHING that is going on around you is crucial to running a small business. Spoken works, body language, and underlying moods and emotions can make or break a company. How do you want to show up to your clients? It starts with what’s going on in your office.
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Make Active Choices
Action is better than standing around. Who wants to watch a bunch of people just stand there and talk? During meetings, always encourage open dialogue (this comes from the trust factor) and then review next steps before employees leave so everyone knows who is doing what. Avoid storytelling or ‘instructing’ – give people some leeway once you state guidelines so they can run with their ideas. Always give deadlines to help keep moving the project forward, and state them in the group meeting before dismissing so everyone has accountability.
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Always Accept
Improvisers are trained not to deny anything. This may not be completely realistic in business, but if you train yourself to think in terms of “Yes, and….” Versus “No, but…” you will have much more productive brainstorming sessions and opportunities to see things in a way you perhaps hadn’t considered before. You always have the last word as the owner, but sometimes if we just sit back and listen, we get that little piece of information that sparks another idea that ends up becoming your secret weapon, leaving your competition saying, ”Why didn’t WE think of that?!”
Give and Take
Off BeatMagazine
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Listen-Watch-Concentrate
Not everyone can talk at the same time. If you were watching a scene on stage, wouldn’t you want to be able to hear everything that was being said? The performers would like to be heard too. People have a tendency to support what they help to create. If there are dominant forces on your team, find ways to allow the others to speak as well. You may need to train the people that are used to being in the background to speak up, and it might look different than how you speak up. Maybe they’re more comfortable sending you an email. That’s ok. Contributions can come in many shapes and forms.
Don’t Tell Jokes
In improv there is no joke telling, because really, the funny comes from the truth. The truth comes out when there is trust. Encourage your employees not to make fun of other people. This includes teammates, clients, family members, etc. This trust and respect will empower your team to take risks, and learn how to distinguish between higher and lower percentage choices. In the example above, when you give and take, standing around and doing nothing is a choice, but it is a lower percentage choice that will yield very little in productivity.
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Make Your Partner Look Good
There is no room for ego in improv. The games move too fast. Decisions need to be made instantaneously. It’s my job to make you look brilliant. It’s your job to make me look brilliant. Wouldn’t that be an amazing workplace to go to every day?
Running a business isn’t all fun and games. It is what you create. Make the higher percentage choice and take action to move your team’s productivity and engagement forward with trust, being fully present, and taking care of each other. “Yes, and….!” 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
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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.
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10 Essential Habits of Sales Superstars: Plugging Into The Power of Ten By Butch Bellah “Butch Bellah makes selling fun again!” The Best $12.99 You’ll Spend All Year! If you’re as good as you’re going to be, life is as good as it’s going to get. Don’t limit yourself. EVERYBODY is in sales, like it or not. Sales is something we do for people, not something we do to people. Wrap your head around successful mindsets and start taking simple steps forward every day to dramatically increase your income NOW.
“The power of this book is how it gives the reader simple techniques that dramatically improve results. Butch's combination of creativity and common sense makes this a fun book to read. The strategy for getting past gate keepers makes the book worth the time and money ant that is just the tip of the ice berg!” Noble L. Feldman, Amazon review
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Off BeatMagazine
“Ultimately, staying motivated and avoiding complacency boils down to these five things - focus, commitment, determination, hard work and execution.”
DON’T GET COOKED IN THE SQUAT By John Carroll
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Don’t get cooked in the squat” is my all-time favorite Zig Ziglar quote. It is symbolic of Zig’s message to stay motivated and avoid complacency.
es, it is easy to become complacent and fall prey to the trappings that arise as we move into March. With the holiday season now well behind us, March offers many new opportunities for distractions. Here is a list of just a few that come to mind …
• Warmer weather and ‘Spring fever’ • March Madness – NCAA Basketball Tournament (my favorite) • Spring break and outdoor activities with the kiddos • Spring cleaning, yard work – ugh, already? • The dreaded allergy season – i.e. mountain cedar in Texas
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You get the point here. It is easy to get distracted or become lethargic, make excuses and lose focus when dealing with everything that is in front of us. Don’t fall into this trap! So, how can we avoid getting cooked in the squat as we move further into the year? Quite frankly, we spend too much time talking about goals, rather than action plans and results. Goal setting requires minimal effort; however, the actions that produce the desired results require much more from us, don’t they?
Off BeatMagazine
We are all procrastinators by nature. Many of those New Year’s resolutions and goals we set for 2015 are nothing more than distant memories today. Don’t allow yourself to be a ‘one of these days person.’ So, back to the original question … how can we avoid getting cooked in the squat as we move further into the year? Ultimately, staying motivated and avoiding complacency boils down to these five things - focus, commitment, determination, hard work and execution. It really isn’t brain surgery is it? All that is required is a little stick-to-itiveness on our part.
Having lofty goals, being well intentioned and having a desire for success is not enough. In order to be great, we must do great every day. That means staying the course and doing what it takes to achieve success through our daily actions, while minimizing distractions that would derail those efforts. As the great Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing.”
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/
The ides of March are upon us. If you don’t want to lose momentum going forward, the ball is in your hands. Don’t just stand there, get moving!
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Off BeatMagazine
THE CALENDAR IS YOUR FRIEND By Jeff Klein
You can find benchmark days, weeks, or months for your expertise or for your passion. Pick something that is an easy tie-in. I launched my eBook. 30 Seconds to Success, on National Salesperson Day, because that’s who the book targets. BTW, it’s March 6th this year. Kiss a Salesperson. Or just take them to lunch. (Note: We are ALL Salespeople.) You know what else is in March? Pi Day. 3/14/15 (3.1415) We’re going to see MANY creative uses of that date: Bakers, Accountants, Engineers; At least the smart ones. And clever people who can tie infinity or irrationality to the problems they solve for their clients. Pi is both infinite and an irrational number. I guess you could pick a day that many others will pick, like St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, but I say stand out more than that.
Brainstorm on some of these March dates: The Ides of March are on a Sunday this year.
We have a Friday the 13th in March. Can you tie your business to triskaidekaphobia? That’s the fear of the number 13. March 20th is the First Day of Spring. March 20th is also the International Day of Happiness AND World Storytelling Day.
Did you know that March 24th is Kick Butts Day? That’s part of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The Month of March is National Professional Social Work Month, National Nutrition Month, Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, and a couple dozen other ‘Special Awareness’ months. “What does this have to do with Business Communications and Offbeat Business?” you might ask. Easy. The Calendar can be your friend when it comes to promoting your business and your expertise. Let’s say you’re a fitness guru. It adds to your expertise when you tell everyone that the new program you’re launching is BECAUSE it’s National Nutrition Month. Or you are a success after learning to live with Dyslexia, so a percentage of all your earnings in March will be donated in recognition of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. Maybe your father survived Congestive Heart Failure, so a portion of all March business will be donated in honor of National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week.
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March 29th is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. March 31st is National Clam on the Half Shell Day.
I don’t know about you, but I thought of several clients who should be using some of these days. Stand out from the crowd. Show that you’re aware of how your expertise is appreciated in the world around you. Here are some resources for you: Awareness Calendar National Day Calendar Holiday Insights Cute Calendar I’ll see you at the movies on March 24th. After all, it’s National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day. 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 teaches the Art of Speaking to Market Business to entrepreneurs, subject-matter experts, and thought leaders. Jeff@JeffKleinSpeaker.com | speakercoop.com
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A STORY OF
HOPE By Jack Bick
The following is presented as an example of why we all should keep trying. We will call her Jane. Jane was unemployed for almost six years. She will admit that her determination to get a job and her trust in God’s help waxed and waned during that time. However, a close examination of the facts show that the hand of God was there guiding her every step toward success. Let’s start where Jane had a strong career path that took her to the top of corporate America as the executive assistant to the chairman of a large company. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, the company was sold and the local office liquidated. She was the final employee.
She was at the point of giving up. Prayer was difficult. She was ready to go to the nearest big box retailer and beg for any job, any level, any pay. One day Jane was at the parish volunteering as usual. Her despair welled up and she blurted out that she was at rock bottom. This was a desperate public plea for help as she closed in on giving up completely.
Her life turned positive It was then that she was told about an administrative assistant position posted for a prestigious non-profit. Jane was not familiar with their work.
For the first time in her life she had to look for a job. Previously, opportunities just seemed to come her way. But times had changed and a recession loomed.
Just a few months before, all those hours volunteering led to her receiving the Bishop’s Award for Volunteering. She was advised to put that on her resume.
“I thought I would get another job, no problem,” she said. “I was waiting to have a job fall into my lap.” Jane put that waiting time to good use. When she had a job she was a volunteer at her parish. Now those volunteer hours increased.
She researched the organization and the specific job description. She sent in the resume, developed some references that would be meaningful to the decision makers, was selected for an interview, and landed the job.
Her thoughts turned negative She still harbored ill feelings about being unemployed but she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind as she tried to concentrate on finding a new job. In the mean time, the family tightened the belt and prayer was a constant. She prayed that God would put her in a job that He wanted her in. Yet those prayers seemed to go unheard.
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This was the job she was meant to have. “It is such a supportive environment,” she said. .
“The moral of the story is to trust in God...”
“I kept believing ‘if the story is not one of success, it hasn’t ended yet’,” she mused. The moral of the story is to trust in God. He is always there, even if you do not realize His presence. Second, involve other people; involve everyone you can. If she had not shared her low point, she would not have been told about the job that was meant for her.
And there is one other aspect that Jane wants to share. One of the jobs she applied for was an administrative assistant at an institution connected to a prominent family before it opened. She was told that she came in third and that the top two candidates had references with close connections to the family. One day she told a fellow parish volunteer about how she came so close to landing that primo position. The lady silently retrieved her phone to show photos of her family and the prominent family. Had Jane shared with others that she needed a connection to that family, she would have had a close connection, too.
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God’s hand was guiding her in her volunteer efforts. God’s hand guided her past the agonizing years of unemployment. God’s hand led her past the despair and the low points. God’s hand put her in front of the person with the information about the right job.
Jack Bick Jack Bick is an expert in the publishing arena, a career coach and speaker. To learn more, go to http://JackBick.com
PrOzone Professionals ™ 469-224-7774
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I Found Answers In The Air I Breathe By Wendy Michaelis
What did you want to be when you grew up, a doctor, lawyer or even a veterinarian? How many of your childhood experiences made you who you are today, do you remember? I want you to recall a time when you were a kid. When you didn’t know how to do something or how it was going to turn out, and you took a risk. Go on, take that second now, close your eyes and remember the intense feeling you had in that childhood moment. Was it adrenaline? Joy? Freedom? Or Fear? Children are all about feelings of accomplishment and joy. We know they thrive on love and praise, learning and rising to high-set expectations when given loads of it. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world, and that is not always how we were treated as children. Over time, we learn we were programmed from birth to look, act and even think in certain ways. It molds us and shapes who we will become. If you were constantly told “You’re not capable of doing this.” or “No, you can’t do that.” Over time, you may start to actually believe it and subconsciously apply it to other things in your life. Like I did. As an adult, I realize we all have had different experiences and see things through the filters we develop during positive and negative experiences in our life. It’s our adult perspective. One day several years ago, I realized my child had actually forgotten to go out and play, because she was constantly told she couldn’t. Asthma had taken control. I realized that my life had to change. It wasn’t always like this.
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“Before I knew it, my life passed me by like a whirlwind.”
I come from a blended family of 6 kids and grew up as a devout Christian in the Mormon faith. Our grocery store was the gas station. K-12 met together in the same school building. It was truly country living, with huge open spaces; a gigantic orchard, garden, an acre pond (complete with water moccasins) and live chickens in the coop out back. I loved the fresh air of the country. My favorite memory was climbing all the way to the top of that big oak in front, where I could see the train tracks for miles. I felt so free with the breeze blowing in my hair. I couldn’t believe I had actually climbed that high! I was in ultimate bliss … success! Before I knew it, my life passed me by like a whirlwind. I had been married, had a daughter when I was 21 and then divorced 5 years later. When I remarried and had a son, our financial struggles caused yet another divorce. On the business side, I engaged several good mentors I had met through networking. Among them, a world renowned scientist and physicist, a homeopathic doctor, a CEO of a major fortune 500 company and an attorney. I didn’t end up in college because the profound life education I was receiving was far more valuable.
The more I learned, the more I was determined to start something of my own - but what? How do you get from the stability of steady income to taking a massive leap of faith, trusting your skills and your product are good enough?
“How do you get from the stability of steady income to taking a massive leap of faith, trusting your skills and your product are good enough? “
With the toxic world we live in, I was not surprised.
Off BeatMagazine
I learned everything I could and felt like a sponge; like I did as a kid. Consulting was where I found my corporate stride. I dove in and learned everything I could from each company I worked with; their marketing strategies, what the consumer was looking for, sales cycles, engineering, contracts, corporate politics and communication in and thru the corporate structure.
My mentor once told me: If a problem exists, and you can’t seem to find a solution, you just need to look at it a different way. So, I did. If you take a glass and fill it with dirty toilet water (you can see its dirty) and compare that to the air quality in your home. You wouldn’t want to drink it because it would make you sick, right? Okay, so dump out that same glass and fill it with filtered water without washing it. Would you want to drink it then? I wouldn’t, because the glass was still dirty when the clean water was put back in it. I learned it’s actually the same for your house – just like you have to wash and sterilize that glass, you have to totally clean and treat every surface in your home to improve poor air quality. It made total sense. I started researching, and located an underdeveloped technology used over a century ago. It needed some tweaking, and a rebuild, to the point I could patent the new equipment and my process. I’ve worked on the process relentlessly over the last year. I am utterly amazed at what it is able to do for ‘sterilizing the glass!’ Today, my daughter doesn’t have to use her inhaler as much, and we’re ramping up business. With 100% green technology and Certified Air Quality Technicians, we’ve become DFW’s leading odor removal service, and will soon franchise. I’ve never given up my vision to help my daughter and those around me take a healthy deep breath of clean air.
I had to look deep inside, past my fear of success, and piece together every thread of faith, every ounce of courage, and call on every moment of accomplishment I had ever had. I visualized myself having a successful venture until I really felt it. Until that moment, my golden opportunity had never presented itself. But preparation is key - mentally, physically and spiritually. I wasn’t ready before, but now, all my life experiences came together and it all made perfect sense. When I witnessed my daughter struggling with her asthma, I realized what I had to do for her and others like her. I hated that not only did she struggle to breathe, but when she did, there was so much junk in the air constantly aggravating her respiratory condition. In June of 2012, I set my mind to become an expert in air quality. I determined to discover a solution, since there didn’t seem to be a consistent one. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) even stated that poor indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental health problems.
I finally discovered what I want to be when I grow up! I’ve overcome all of my negative childhood programming and replaced it with positive affirmations. I know the years of financial struggle, the heartbreak, the lost relationships – all have been a significant part of my unique journey. I have rediscovered my inner child, and her joy, passion and sense of accomplishment permeate through me. It’s for her and my children, that through it all, I’ve never stopped learning, growing, or trying to make a positive impact on others. “I always do things that I am a little scared to do. It’s what pushes me to continue growing. When the thoughts come, when I’m not sure if I’m worthy of this success … I simply remember the divine nature of my spirit, and I am humbled. It’s in those brief moments, that I learn a lot more about myself.” ~ Wendy Michaelis Wendy Michaelis is a leader in the fight to improve air quality, President and CEO of PrOzone Professionals™, DFW’s Leading Odor Removal Service. She is a single mother of two and extremely passionate about giving people a healthy choice for cleaning their environment. Her tenacious efforts in raising awareness for the positive health benefits of ozone have attracted industry attention and praise. TuneIn to learn more about her on The OffBeat Business Show, March 24, 2015. Contact Wendy at 469-224-7774 and Wendy.Michaelis@PrOzoneProfessionals. com
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Off BeatMagazine
LUCKY CHARMS, FOUR LEAF CLOVERS AND A POT OF GOLD By Clint Fuqua
The Real Power of The Four Leaf Clover A field full of green can remain unseen in the search for a single extra leaf. Many will be so blinded in their search for that one single magical four leaf clover to make all their health problems go away, they will miss all the other great one, two, and three leaf clovers. Once they think the four leaf clover is found, the search is over and so is the effort and any chance they had to get healthier. The true magic of the four leaf clover is that it keeps you moving every day in search for it, but it is all the other clovers in the field that keep you nourished during the search. No one thing is the cure for everything, but the right combinations can cure anything. It’s the daily rituals of healthy living that make it so.
Leprechauns are funny little creatures that think anything golden belongs to them. They will lie, cheat, and steal to acquire control over each nugget to add to their collection, all while tempting the very same people they’ve stolen from with their ever growing pot of stolen gold. Your health is your wealth and that gold nugget is all you currently have in the world. Some have a nugget the size of a pea and some have a nugget the size of a mountain, but what you have and what you will have later are two different things. Careful investing can turn that pea into a mountain and unwise choices can make a mountain crumble to dust. Many will give their pea sized nugget away, tricked into hoping they will be given a pot full in return by a person making the same promise to everyone else. Do your research. “Several will be crushed by their mountain of gold, in the quest to gain more than any person can carry or hold. And a few will have their mountain crumble into a cloud of dust, due to all the fool’s gold they have been sold for it was cheaper, but better, or so they were told.” Hold on to your gold and invest only small bits of in ways and on things that will allow you to acquire more gold of your own. The best health programs won’t cost you a pot o’ gold.
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Never Stop Chasing Your Rainbow’s End The end of a rainbow is as far as the earth is round and chasing it will take you until the end of your days to never reach it. It is, however, the never ending movement forward that keeps us alive with one foot out of the grave. Aging less is not about moving more but rather continuing to move so there is less effect felt by age. Rusting and degradation are a process that happens to all materials in this world when they are allowed to sit dormant with no protection from the elements. The very matter we are made of is no different. Keep moving every day and protect your body with the liquid gold of essential fatty acids to keep the rust away.
Action Steps:
1Lucky charms are at best worthless bobbles and at worse
tasty harbingers of high blood sugar and diabetes. Leave the charms behind and get a bracelet, band, or clip-on that will help keep you lucky in health.
2The luck of finding a four leaf clover comes from the act of
looking for one. So the more you look the more you find and the luckier you get. Stay active in your daily health routines and the healthier you will be.
3Walking, jogging, or running for short distances every day
will keep the rust of aging and disease away. Keep on moving because that pot of gold called health is at the end of the rainbow, and consistency is the key to reaching it. 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.
The OffBeat Business Show interviews experts in all areas of business, dishing up practical commentary and encouraging, actionable advice!
Supporting YOUR small business AND your entrepreneurial lifestyle. How are you doing things in an ‘offbeat’ way? We want to know about it! Community - Business – Family – Health - Success Listen on PegasusNetWaves.com – We’re on TuneIn Radio! To listen to past shows, go to our website, click on ‘replays.’ Please contact us if you would like to be a guest on The OffBeat Business Show. Coming up in March: Marian LaSalle - Marian started her career later in life, and is now a renowned expert in the technology arena, especially where marketing is concerned. She’s had to learn, like I did, from ground ZERO. March 3rd John Carroll - Business and leadership coach, John Carroll, is out to improve the world one business at a time. So am I! Together we’re having a lively conversation as John shares his latest endeavor with you. March 10th CC Allen & Angela McCants - MANY seniors are opting to start a business after they retire, and embrace a new direction. What does this mean for the average business owner? You’d better not ignore what’s going on in the market place! March 17th Wendy Michaelis - When Wendy Michaelis began looking for a way to help her daughter breathe easier, she learned what’s really going on with our air – and it’s NOT what you think! This little understood issue is probably the reason you or yourchildren are miserable. For upcoming shows, replays and your own subscription to The OffBeat Business Magazine, go to OffBeatBusiness.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and YouTube If it matters to you, we talk about it on The OffBeat Business Show. Enjoy 20 minutes of lunch with us, and you’ll be ready to take your company to new levels the rest of the week!
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Off BeatMagazine
WHERE IS YOUR TRUE NORTH? By Monica Cornetti
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”
You know the saying, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” How much time do you spend thinking about where you are and where you want to be? Are you even on the right road? If you’re like most people, the business of everyday life keeps you from focusing on what it is you want in the different areas of both your personal and professional life. In relationships, business, career, finances - unless you know what you really want, how will you know what steps you need to take to move you there? I often use this activity in my keynotes and workshops to very quickly show everyone a stunning visual of the confusion most everyone has when trying to figure out where they are going. You can do it with your family or work team. I call it “True North”. How to: Ask everyone to stand and extend their right arm so it is pointing straight out in front of them. Explain to them that their right arm is in essence the needle of a compass. In just a minute you are going to ask them to close their eyes and follow your instructions.
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Off BeatMagazine
Say to them: “Everyone close your eyes and with your right arm as the needle of the compass I want you to turn your entire body and point in the direction that you believe to be True North.” After about 10 seconds ask them, “Imagine this is the team or family that you were trying to get all going in one direction?” and then ask them to open their eyes. It is quickly evident that everyone is pointing in a different direction. Now pick a spot in the room that everyone can easily see. With their eyes open ask everyone to point to that spot. The team is now all going in the same direction. Have you been on a team or in a family that looked like this? What happens when you and everyone else don’t know the objective? Every day you get a variety of choices – many that appear good for you or your organization. If the results of those choices don’t move you closer to your north, then it’s probably not a good choice for you. It’s easy to lose your way and get caught up in tasks and activities that produce very little for you.
A gamification keynote speaker and designer, Monica Cornetti is rated as the #1 Gamification Guru in the World by UK-Based Leaderboarded. She is the author of the book Totally Awesome Training Activity Guide: Put Gamification to Work for You and host of the weekly Gamification Talk Radio program.
Where is your North? Where do you want to go? How do you define success in your relationships? Health? Fitness? Finances?
She is a professional consultant and known for being one of the leading players in thinking differently to create different results. In fact, as an early adopter, she has been designing and delivering gamification programs for her clients since 2008.
Decide what it is you really want, point your compass north, and take the first step. Let’s play!
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Off BeatMagazine
“Children are always doing something new. They need a safe and healthy environment in which to bloom. ”
YOUR KIDS ARE SPRINGING UPARE YOU READY? By Amy Hayes
As we leave winter behind, nature comes alive with its spring crescendo. Everything bursts to life right before our eyes. The staccato drips of spring rain steadily beat upon the hard winter ground softening it for the new life that is about to spring up. Beneath the surface sleepy seeds are beginning to awaken preparing for their debut. Children also seem to have a spurt of growth during this time of year. And just like those seeds hidden deep inside the earth, if not properly nourished inside and out, their growth may be stunted. May I suggest a steady watering of encouraging words.
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Give them a healthy diet of varied and interesting things to do that awaken the mind and heart. A platform of acceptance and love will give them confidence as they grow and change each season of their lives; the perfect stage for their debut. Children are always doing something new. They need a safe and healthy environment in which to bloom. Given the opportunity, they will usually rise to the occasion. Don’t hold your children back, let them bloom wherever they are planted. Give them room to grow and water them with love and praise. Soon they will be a fruitful garden that you will be proud to call your own.
Off BeatMagazine
Here’s a spring break idea: If you can’t get away from your business, have your child come to work with you. Give them helpful things to do even if it’s just shredding old documents. Then, take a lunch break together. Maybe even pay them a little for helping out. Most kids feel a lot better about being useful than just being entertained all the time. Don’t feel guilty if you can’t take a week off and take your kids on a fancy spring break trip. They’ll get much more out of some quality time with you.
Children are always doing something new. They need a safe and healthy environment in which to bloom. Given the opportunity, they will usually rise to the occasion. Don’t hold your children back, let them bloom wherever they are planted. Give them room to grow and water them with love and praise. Soon they will be a fruitful garden that you will be proud to call your own.
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.
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Off BeatMagazine
BUSINESS CHECK UP
CREATIVE WAYS TO GROW AND STAY STRONG By Marian LaSalle
It’s very important to step back and assess the health of your business on a regular basis. Don’t stick your head in the sand and pretend that no one is talking about you. Take a look to see what people are saying and then respond to what you see. The next step is to become proactive and keep your HAPPY customers talking about you. What do the search engines say? Create a Google Alert to find out What are people saying on review sites? Check Yelp and others in your industry If you go to review sites like Yelp.com and you see your company name there you can claim your Yelp listing or, if you don’t see your name you can register your business and then start asking your happy clients to write 5 star reviews for your business. Don’t do too many too fast or it will raise a RED flag. Create a nice postcard and hand it to your HAPPY fans. Point out the link to the site where you want them to go on the card. If they truly are satisfied with your product or service they will be more than willing to do that for you. Make it easy for them.
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Here are some business check points to keep you on track and moving forward. • Look at your business from your audience or customer’s perspective • Get an outside, objective point of view (Mentor or Business Coach) • Set up a tracking system. Find tools that will give you the results you seek without breaking your budget • Ask for support or use tools to help and review the information on a consistent basis • Google Analytics –Look at your analytics every month • Cash Flow – Meet with your book keeper on a regular basis • Referrals – Track where the referrals are coming from and reward those people These business check points will keep your business healthy and growing. Marian LaSalle aka ‘By Your Side Guide’ is an author, speaker, trainer and show host. She is co-owner of Painted Path Designs, a web design and internet marketing Company and Tools Tips and Technology. Marian is the author of Affiliate Marketing for Fun and Profit and a Director for the Public Speakers Association. Contact Marian at 713-826-4942 for more information.
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Off BeatMagazine
WORKING FROM AN RV
A REALISTIC OPTION FOR TRAVELERS AT HEART! By Shari Voigt
We didn’t take many vacations while our kids grew up. We wanted to, but in practicality it was just too expensive. At least, we thought it was. If I had known then what I know now, we’d have managed to get away on a more regular basis. We’ve been on the road for 18 months now, and although it’s not one long continual vacation, we’ve learned that being on the road is less expensive than staying home. Does that surprise you? I’m not advocating that everyone should sell their home and move into a small, mobile space as we did, yet we’ve met people from all walks of life who have done just that. We’ve met many who live full time in one park, or move between two parks with the change of seasons, but many more who travel as we do, moving every two to three weeks. There were 25 families with children at our last park – most traveling full-time, all working or entrepreneurs. A few weeks ago, we spent a couple days at the 2015 Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa. There were new popups and travel trailers, fifth-wheels, and motor homes for nearly every budget level. We walked through everything from tiny pull-behind travel trailers with outdoor kitchens to fancy million dollar plus coaches by Prevost, and everything in between. An RV show is a great place to learn about what’s available and to begin to discover what type of unit you might like to own. Our goal was to find some new ideas of how we might modify our coach to better suit our needs. We heard some great advice early on while we were searching for an RV: a high end older unit is a better value than an entry level new one. This has proven to be true for us and for everyone we’ve ever talked to. Our motor home is a 38’ 2004 Holiday Rambler Ambassador with four slide-outs. It’s roomy and comfortable, and we bought it for less than the price of a new heavy-duty pickup truck (like you’d need to pull a comparable sized trailer).
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Other elements that makes RV travel affordable for us are camping memberships and discount programs. Our elite membership in Thousand Trails gives us 365 days of camping per year at no additional cost. We pay approximately $150 per month for this privilege. We also have a Passport America card for 50% off their parks, an Escapees membership for 15-50% off, a KOA value card for 10% off and perks, and the little used Good Sam card for at least a 10% discount at most parks. Each of these have come in handy in the past year, and each have brought us significant savings overall. The regular rack rate at most parks is $32 - $65, depending on the season. In Florida, during snowbird season, we’ve seen rates advertised at $85/night! Meanwhile, we’ve enjoyed warm weather, heated pools, great friends, and gorgeous surroundings at no nightly cost in our Thousand Trails parks for most of the winter. The final element in the cost of RV travel is the diesel or gasoline to get from Point A to Point B. We watch our speed to conserve on fuel, but I’d be lying to tell you that this part isn’t expensive. At 8 – 10 miles per gallon, we go through a lot of diesel. We plan our route so that there are stops where we can earn income along the way. All in all, when you compare the price of RV travel to airfare, a rental car, and hotel accommodation, an RV trip will be far less expensive. It also gives you greater flexibility and you’ll see things you’d only pass over taking the airline route. Added plus? You’ll sleep in your own bed every night and cook in your own kitchen. You’ll also meet some of the friendliest folks in America in RV parks along the way and at your destination. Shari Voigt and her husband Gerald are business owners on the move! Discover more about their experiences on USARVNomads.com, and connect with them on Facebook.com/ RV-Nomads
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 – Ø Collin Ø Dallas Ø Tarrant Ø Wise Ø Denton
Post Operative Recovery – Skilled Nursing Services - Elder Care – Physical Therapists Accepting Most Insurance and Private Pay ArielAmana.com, FB/ArielAmanaHealthcareInc 27
Off BeatMagazine
3 STEPS TO UNLEARN BAD BREATHING HABITS By Kris DeFoer
Your body is busy every minute of every day, pumping life-giving blood to every cell so you can function your best. We can live for a surprisingly long time without food, for days without water, but only for minutes without breathing. And we never give it a second thought. So, let’s think about it now: when we breathe, oxygen is carried to the heart and brain, and carbon dioxide is pushed out of the body. Our breath affects our circulation, metabolism and nervous system, to name a few. Quickly - pay attention to your breath right now. Is it shallow, where only your chest is moving? Or is it deep, down into the belly? Or somewhere in between? Have you ever watched a baby breathe? Their whole body is engaged; they’ve never learned any bad habits. But sometimes, as we get older, our breathing can become dysfunctional. The most common causes of that are stress and poor posture, as well as illness and other factors. Take a look at yourself at this very minute: How are you sitting while you read this?
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And what about your stress level? Take a minute to reflect on the past week, month, year. Have you gone through your days in a relaxed flow, or a frantic frenzy? When we’re under a lot of stress, our breath becomes shallow, and if we’ve lived that way for a long time, that shallowness becomes our norm. Under these circumstances, oxygen isn’t carried to the heart and brain the way it’s meant to, and we become fatigued, suffer memory lapses and brain fog, and just don’t function our best. Can we do anything about it? Yes. A regular focused breathing practice will make all the difference. Here’s what you need to know. Do this simple breath awareness practice: Breathe through your nose. If this is difficult for you due to respiratory issues, get to the doctor and take care of those. Nose breathing pushes the air down into the lower lobes of the lungs, where it’s more efficiently disseminated through the body. It also massages the diaphragm, making the breath more efficient.
Here’s the practice: Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest. Just feel the breath, and where it’s moving. Stay with this for a minute or two, whatever is comfortable for you. Check in with your body, beginning at the top of the head, and working your way down. Release any areas of tightness or tension. Now, begin to consciously direct your breath down into your belly. As you inhale, feel the chest rise, and keep going till you feel the belly rise. As you exhale, feel the belly and chest drop back down. After doing this for a minute or two, begin to consciously make your exhalation longer than your inhale. You can count the breaths so that you can see which is longer. If it’s difficult for you, don’t force. Your body will learn this as you practice it.
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Become aware of your breathing patterns. Consciously practice the exercise below anytime, no one will ever know. As you practice, the practice will become the norm, and your breathing will naturally return to a more functional state. Practice nose breathing during your exercise. Research has shown that this will reduce stress on the body, ultimately making you more efficient, although in the beginning, it will be difficult and slow you down a bit. For more information about this, check out the book Body, Mind and Sport by John Douillard.
For an audio version, click here. You can do parts of this at any time. When you’re standing in line at the bank or waiting for an appointment, check in with your body, and release any areas of tension. While you’re working, take 3 breaths, extending the exhalation so that it’s longer than the inhalation. Do these things before you walk into anxiety-provoking situations and see what a difference it can make. Then, after some time of practicing, take note of the changes in your body, energy levels and thinking! Kris DeFoer is a certified Holistic Health Coach who works with women individually and in groups, to help them rediscover their natural health and vitality. She believes that healthy living should be fun, that healthy food should taste good, and that good health is about much, much more than eating well and exercising – that how we live has an enormous impact on how we feel.
Continue to release any areas of tightness or tension. When you’re finished, just lie quietly for a minute or two, and notice the sensations in your body and mind.
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Off BeatMagazine
SUSANSAYS Don’t Be Defined By Your Worst Days Wouldn’t it be great if you were remembered for the best day you’ve ever had? For your greatest accomplishments? Yeah, in the minds of those we know well, and in the eyes of those who watch from a distance, the odds are good that our worst day may be more memorable to them. We allow that to happen, you know. We wallow in our failures and try to elude our past mistakes as much as possible. But what we focus on, is what we get. What we focus on, others get, too. Not everyone should be in your circle of influence. It’s OK to say goodbye to the ‘woulda, shoulda, coulda’ people for a season, and maybe for good. You aren’t on this earth for everybody, you have an assignment. Success doesn’t drop in your lap. You have to choose to win. Sometimes you have to make hard choices about which voices you’re going to allow to speak into you. Make a decision to list your business support group, and when THEY speak, give it attention. (I pray over mine, and it’s been well worth it.)
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“Don’t Be Defined By Your Worst Days” Great speakers imagine they’re about to present to a welcoming audience. Great salespeople imagine themselves closing the sale. Great web designers imagine what could be. Even when - not if - they screw it up, publicly, expensively or otherwise, they move on to try again, imagining they can do it better next time. Because those are the choices before you, my friend. “Whether you think you can or think you can’t - you’re right.” ~ Henry Ford “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” ~ Proverb We owe it to those who stand with us, those who support us, our clients and valuable customers - we owe it to them to get back up. Give it your best shot, and if that doesn’t work, give it your best shot again. You only lose if you don’t get back in the game. I believe in you. To your success!
Susan Hamilton 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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