The Magazine for Growing Professionals OCT – DEC 14
Hiring Process: Gaming Rules Pg. 31
Roadmaps Co-Pilot Pg. 32
How Much Should I Charge? Pg. 22
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
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ASOPYMES, es una
The Magazine for Growing Professionals WINTER 2014 OCT - DEC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF VANESSA OLIVERAS COLLABORATORS HERMES LARA NANCY BOYRIE BRENDA ORTIZ IRADIZ ESCALANTE DIGITAL EDITION NORMAN TOTTI
TIP -‐ THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS Established 2012 | All Rights Reserved This magazine is published on a quarterly basis in a digital format. We are different from others magazine because we promote entrepreneurship and growing professionals to dare themselves and expand to their next level of achievement. We are breaking through the language and concept paradigms in our lovely island of the Caribbean. PBSC & TIP does not reflect the opinions of the sponsors, adverWsers and contributors. Ads and offers published in this magazine are responsibility of each adverWsed business. We support DACO Law Number #5, from April 23, 1973
organización sin fines de lucro orientada a promover el desarrollo económico y social de sus miembros y la comunidad en general, con la cual se integra e interactúa. Como parte de sus esfuerzos, en este senWdo, ASOPYMES lleva a cabo varias acWvidades de carácter social con diversas poblaciones y grupos especiales. A conWnuación algunos de los proyectos y acWvidades desarrolladas directamente o con apoyo de nuestras Alianzas Estratégicas: Seminarios Gra,s Mensualmente ASOPYMES ofrece de 3-‐4 charlas graWs, abiertas a la comunidad en general de temas de empresarismo y de desarrollo personal, moWvación y crecimiento; entre otros.
The POWER to do
Contact: Areli Nieves PH: (787) 315-0447
Email: areli.nievesgarcia@us.aflac.com
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Feliciano, Gonzalez and Co., P.S.C. Cer:fied Public Accountants and Consultants Condominio Torre de Oro, 2175 Ave. Las Americas Ste 100 Ponce, PR 00717-‐0760 Wilfredo Gonzalez, CPA CMA, MBA Parter P.O. Box 7727 Ponce, PR 00732-‐7727 Phones: (787) 840-‐5875 (787) 840-‐ 6875 Fax: (787) 259-‐4412 Cel: (787) 487-‐7977 email: wilfredo14@prtc.net
Definitely a year of reflections and new challenges. A year where my Co-Pilot was a key element for my success, teaching me how to calculate How Much Should I Charge, What to Consider during the Hiring Process and inspiring me to break through my own paradigms. I can hardly wait for next year, a year to make all the dreams come true !
What’s Next for 2015? • Increase my readers list by 50% • Create jobs • Export the magazine to new markets
6 | TIP – The Magazine for Growing Professionals
TIP – The Magazine for Growing Professionals
Professional & chic
Motivation goes beyond business plans and marketing strategies.
Empowerment is the powerful force inside you. Is the click that makes the difference –
tip top 4
Vanessa Oliveras Editor-‐In-‐Chief
14
LEADERSHIP
Time Management ProducWvity periods are possible only if you have a plan.
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27 START UP Page 20 -‐ 4 Things I Want to See Blogger preferences insight Page 25 – Buying a Commercial Property What the expert is saying?
Hiring
31
TRANSFORM Page 13 – Limites que Limitan Transformando el poder en q Page 28 – Play it all Out ! Bet it all and transform your future
INNOVATE
10
Page 10 – Do it like a PRO Innovate your communicaWon skills Page 27 – Large, targeted, responsive email list But how do you build that list?
9 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
DO IT LIKE A PRO
SIMPLE TIPS LIKE … q DON’T TALK ON THE RUN q LISTEN (CONSCIOUSLY) q DON’T CONFUSE PASSION WITH PURPOSE 10 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
Here are a few TIP’s that will help you and your listener to engage on an effective communication mode:
1. Time it right !Let’s say you want to approach your
boss to discuss the possibility of a promotion or visit a new customer. The first step is to pick a time where you know he/she will be free from distractions.
2. Be present For the larger part, good communication entails giving the speaker full and undivided attention. Often, this involves how present you are when other's are talking. Rule #1 of being presentmaintain eye contact with the speaker.
3. Be concise You have a spam of 8 seconds to capture
your listener attention without distractions. Be like a bold email header, make sure that you are clear and concise when engaging in face-to-face communication.
4. Re-phrase To make sure the both of you are in sync,
repeat what the other person said in your own words. This will also clarify potential misunderstandings. Allow the other person to either confirm or deny your understanding.
5. Provide feedback Sometimes our minds can get
distracted in the middle of a conversation. To demonstrate that you are listening, give the speaker an intermittent nod or “ok”. But, please make sure you don't sound like an interrupter!
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Leadership & Performance Coaching
Brenda Ortiz, CC brendaortiz@live.com
¿Por qué nos limitamos? ¿Por qué insistimos en quitarle valor a nuestra capacidad? La realidad es que aunque parezcan preguntas complicadas, tienen contestación simple en tu interior. Quizá la rutina del día a día, miedo a lo desconocido, el que dirán o simplemente conformismo, te han llevado a pensar que no tienes el poder de realizar lo inalcanzable. Permítame decirle, estimado lector, que está equivocado. Sólo se limita quién quiere.
Los únicos límites que en realidad existen son los que llevas en tu interior.
Los que llevas dentro como marca; a veces sin quererlo. Porque realmente, puedes cambiar tu vida si estás determinado a hacerlo. Por eso, atrévete a ser capaz de ser el dueño de tus acciones, tus planes y de tus propias decisiones. Aprende a confiar en que todo lo que harás de algún modo, resultará. ¡No te limites! Las oportunidades están allá afuera… ¡sal a conquistarlas! 13 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Limites que limitan
MA AGEMENT
time N
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
You can’t be productive if you are NOT ready
Set a timer before you star9 listing the tasks you want to work on for the day. This will keep you @om spending too much time on your plan.
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Remember, the goal is to get you to be productive, so make your goals realistic.
Once you have your forGat for your daily plan you can begin to get organized. However, you don’t want to spend more than a few minutes on this aspect – the object here is productivitF, not busy work. 17 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
It doesn’t really maDer how or where you keep your plan as long as you are able to access it easily and quickly once your productivitF period star9
ProductivitF periods are possible only if you have a plan
Think of time management as budgeting your daily hours 18 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Spit the tasks into smaller tasks
Social Media for a Religious & Non-Profit Organization Converge
Nancy Boyrie
4 Things that I want to see in a business blog
I am not a professional blogger. Actually I don’t have a blog. My professional background on digital marketing specifically social media is 6 months of experience. Maybe you are thinking what should I care to read this article? Despise the lack of experience as blogger/social media; I am professional, just like you. I do the same as you do, look for content that will help me to enhance my knowledge in a particular topic. A professional with responsibilities, crunching time because I cannot afford 3 minutes of wasted time. That’s how we roll. What attracts me from a blog? Well, besides a good appearance, fonts, colors, organization (layout) and of course good grammar, there is other things for a business to catch my attention as a professional. I will give 4 things that I want to see in a blog: 20 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
n.giovanna728@gmail.com
Relevant Content– whatever the company or enterprise is trying to sell or promote is has to be relevant to me, therefore your focus is to develop RELEVANT content. I found an article about content marketing where Jeff Freund put it this way “content is the vehicle by which a company tells its story.” Content help you either engage a new customer or direct him/her to another company. He proposed a framework for creating content with a purpose through a pyramid, just as Maslow’s pyramid. He defines it like this: Inspire Motivate Instill emotions Context Give information Be relevant and be human. (http:// contentmarketinginstitute.com/ 2014/09/framework-creatingcontent-vital-levels/)
Audience - Yes, audience. I need to know that you know your audience. I need to know that you know me. Pam Moore from Marketing Nutz explained like this: “How can you be successful in your purpose "If don't know WHO it is you want to have a conversation with so you can nurture a relationship? How will you know what content you should write, tweet, post, pin and +1 on Google if you don't know who you are writing for? Therefore before you can start writing, know your audience." Take the time to know your customers, to know me. (http://themarketingnutz.com/2013/05/ social-media-for-business-do-you-reallyknow-your-audience/) Blog Length - this might sound like, do you really pay attention of how long is a post? Yes, I do. Limited time and short concentration span. Recommendation for a blog 7 minutes read which around 1,600 words as per Buffer App. Longer content I can suggest you to develop a series. I believe there is great benefit on blog series: help you to develop more content, enhance your online business presence, and helps in developing a relationship and trust with your future client. Social media friendly - good content it is worth to share to my circle of friends and peers. Add social media plug-ins on the blog post. Bonus: Keep it fresh. Be consistent on your post. Don’t be bored. Use variety of means to convey your message. Use visuals, info graphics, vblogs, etc. Finally, have fun while you doing it.
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
finance The dream of working independently is a reality for almost 10 percent of the workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rewards of self-employment include • independence from supervision • the ability to set your own hours • the satisfaction of knowing you are writing your own ticket • And yes, if you want, you can often as confortable as you want Nevertheless, there is the question on:
How Much Should I Charge?
Regardless of the freedom and opportunity, self-employed people, like all businesspeople, still must answer to a customer or a client. Moreover, self-employed people bear all of the responsibilities for their success, including doing all the work that can't be billed to a client or charged to a customer. To get paid, you have to do it all. • Office management - time management, client collections, and supply purchases. • Administration and accounting - records, invoices, bill payment, and taxes. • Finance - cash management, accounting, financing, and pricing. • Marketing - advertising, networking, developing marketing materials, and building relationships. • Technology - hardware and software purchasing and maintenance. • Training -trends in the industry, conferences, new skills to keep pace with the market.
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
finance As a contractor, your fees should be close to the market. To calculate this rate, start assuming a full-time salary for that job. Then divide by 2080, the number of work hours in a year (2080 = 52 X 15). This is the hourly rate for your job if benefits are being paid for by the employer. But as a contractor, you need to pay for your own benefits, so the number needs to be higher. During our investigation, we found out that one way to calculate the pay rate is by using an adjustment factor of 30 percent to convert an hourly wage for a salaried employee to an hourly wage for a contract employee. Just multiply your unadjusted hourly rate by (1 + 0.3) to get your adjusted hourly rate. For example, if your unadjusted hourly rate comes out to $15 per hour, your contract rate should be $15 * (1.3) = $19.50
You do the math and pay yourself enough money taking into consideration: • Sick leave, holidays, and vacation time • Healthcare • Retirement plans • Life and long-term disability insurance • Social Security and Medicare • Office expenses are a cost of doing business
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Accountant and Owner of Compass Real Estate
Hermes Lara Part II by: Hermes Lara-‐ Realtor® Buying Commercial Property If you are planning to buy a commercial property, there are a few things that you have to keep in mind before jumping into your car and making appointments or any type of compromise with a seller. If you have an excellent idea of a business, first, prepare a giant cup of coffee and make a drax of your business plan. If you don't know how to make one, "Google it”. Making a drax of a business plan will give you an idea of most of the things that you’ll have to do to make your dream come true. The second thing to do is to consult a bank. Ask the requirements for a commercial loan. Also verify with state agencies that may provide loans, tax credits or even exempWons for your business. Usually the down payment on government loans are less, but interest rates tend to be higher. As menWoned before on Part I, things to consider: LocaWon-‐Is it visible to the public? Does it need to be visible? How many parking spaces do I need? Not all businesses need to be visible, especially if you are providing a service. Permits-‐Verify with the agency who grants permits, if the business you are planning to start can be establish. Even if you see other establishments near the property, don’t jump into conclusions, confirm the zoning. Laws or agencies that regulate your business-‐Visit agencies like the Fire Department, Health Department among others, and get advise in order to comply with all their requirements. Ask them what laws regulate your business. Axer you have gather and study this basic informaWon, look for professionals that can give you their advice in order to achieve your dream. The benefit of acquiring this basic knowledge is that you will be able to understand and to transmit your ideas in an orderly manner. It is very important to demonstrate that you know what you are doing and that you are clear of what you want to achieve.
“Usually the down payment on government loans are less, but interest rates tend to be higher…” 25 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
hermeslara@hotmail.com
Give amazing value in your writing
Create a strong incentive to subscribe
Build relationships with your current subscribers
Use a nonannoying popover 27 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Creating a large, potent, responsive email list with engage followers is never an easy task. Specially with the digital competence that most of the times is disrupting to the daily activities than productive. With these simple TIP’s you will be able to create that large, potent and responsive email list that your business deserve !
President and Founder of Mujer Empresaria de Hoy
Idaliz Escalante
mail@mujerempresariadehoy.com
Before I became an entrepreneur, I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life and had no idea what was my passion or purpose. I knew there was more for me than what I had become, but I felt like I hadn’t achieved anything and was getting nowhere. All of my hopes and dreams seemed to be fading away and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I was a stay at home mom with half a bachelor’s degree in Business Management which I had practically lost hope to ever finish. Months and years went by and even though I had the most important things in life, like love and family, I was frustrated and unsatisfied with life in general. I was nagging and complaining all the time and I simply couldn’t see the blessings that surrounded me. When I felt like I had reached rock bottom, my frustration led me to look for a way out, a solution to my problem. So I asked and I seek until I got answers. And in my search I learned one of the most powerful lessons to this day: we create our own reality. Looking around at my reality, this really shocked me! How could I be responsible for creating this reality when it was not even close to what I wanted?
But the more I thought about it the more it made sense to me. Of course, until then I had been creating a reality based on the illusion that circumstances simply “happen” to us and that we are not responsible and have no power to change them! But if it’s true that my thoughts are powerful and I can create change, then it meant I could begin to take charge of my own life starting right then and there. And that’s an empowering idea! Once this new belief sunk into me I began to put it to the test. I created positive and very powerful affirmations, I practiced visualization of the reality I wanted and started talking like it was all real. I clearly remember my closet was full of business suits I had no use for; I bought them because I liked them. So I began to use them, just to take the kids to school and come back home. Yes, a few neighbors saw me more than once and who knows what went through their minds. But you know what? I didn’t care! I was so focused on what I wanted and believed so much that it worked that I knew someday they too would see it. The important thing was how dressing up like a professional made me feel and the effect it had not only in my own mind but also in transforming my outer reality as well.
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Be who you want to become and play it all out!
“…I was nagging and complaining all the time and I simply couldn’t see the blessings that surrounded me”
“We create our own reality !” Idaliz Later on I became an Empowerment Coach and I’ve been mentoring women entrepreneurs ever since. I found my passion and fulfilled my purpose, with the power of thought, words and action. At the time I had no idea what I was doing. Actually I still hadn’t even decided what I really wanted to do! What I did know is how I wanted to look, what I wanted to feel and how I wanted others to see me. And that little game of “faking it till you make it” got me exactly to that point. So the key is this: imagine the reality you want for yourself, visualize it and play the game like it’s already happening; speak, walk, act and be who you want to become. When you synchronize your mind, heart and body with your intention, achieving your dreams is inevitable. So decide who you want to be and play it all out!
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
I took advantage of the fact that my husband had a business and I offered to help in whatever I could. I gave myself a title and created business cards with my picture on them. We had “business meetings” and I would clearly ask that he met me for business lunch elsewhere rather than at our home office. Soon people started to notice the suits, the business card and the attitude, and began to ask questions to which of course I would answer with a big smile, “Yes, I’m Vice President of Puerto Rico Sealers”. Seems silly? Maybe. But this was a powerful message I was sending out to the universe of who and where I wanted to be. And it worked! Just a year after I began this little game, I was back in college to complete my bachelor’s degree, I created a group in Facebook which then became the largest online community for business women in Puerto Rico, became a sought out leader with invitations to participate in radio shows, TV shows, conferences and forums throughout the Island and online to a global audience
Hiring One of the biggest challenges of any entrepreneur is hiring the first employee. Typically wrestling with are the: whom to hire, when and where to find good candidates – after all, we just need a loyal, flexible and not challenging person.
Consider these:
• Do you need a full time employee or just outsource some tasks to consultants or free-lancers? • Always consider the friends, colleagues or advisors. This could it make to easier to find a new employee • Don’t get to excited with the big business credentials, focus on the smaller organizations, this could save you some money • Be prepare with a job description and expectation for the new employee. Keep it simple and straight forward to avoid confusion in the short run. 31 – TIP – OCT DEC 14
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
Roadmap Co-Pilot Most of the time, we prepare our roadmap by ourselves because it is a very personal journey and we are not ready to share what direction we are planning to take.
Still, having a co-pilot is the best TIP we will offer you !
Co-Pilot’s will:
• Help you control the fear of failure • Facilitate a specific strategy • Motivate you to reach your goals
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TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS
TIP. THE MAGAZINE FOR GROWING PROFESSIONALS