Be The Boss May-June

56

description

Be The Boss Magazine was created to inspire people to become their own boss and to inform business professionals on ways to start a business, improve a business and to grow a business. Also, this magazine is about connecting business professionals. Our live directory is a great way to grow your network, instantly! Designed and published by: Right Brain Publishing

Transcript of Be The Boss May-June

Page 1: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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coNTENTsLiving With Your Mommy Java 12

Dr carol 14

Driving Action to success 16i

A Novel slant 17

courageous creativity 19

Why You Need to Build Two Networks 20

Mobile Marketing for the Digital Age 22

Thoughts Before coFFEE 24

coping with the copy-Paste Misdeed 12

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rth 14

Driving Action to success 16i

creating a company Logo 31

courageous creativity 19

An Active Lifestyle isnt out of reach 32

insure YoU Too 33

Free Vs Paid Press Release Distribution 34

Business is Business is Business 36

Five Keys to cUsToMER Retention 38

social Media 101 42

Work the system 43

What is social Media 45

stay in Touch 46

Developing Multiple streams of Income 45

PUBLIsHERs

Right Brain Publishing

shelly Rice and Margie Baxley

coNTRIBUToRs

Patty Farmer

susan Endriss

carol Garrett

Ronette Wood

carol Watson

Lynn Zettler

Darby Rae

Kathy Friend

Amy Barnes

catherine Morgan

Robert christiansen

Michelle Ketterman

Dawniel Patterson Winningham

Dayna offutt

Matt Newman

Michael Battaglia

sandy Lawrence

Nancy Becher

Errrol Allen

Robert New

Julia Hull

Dan Perez

Katie Wegg

Danielle Mohr

Toni Harris

Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

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EDIToRIAL TYPE PAGEsVocrei sci ponsta puliaelici senatio stanter iam murei Unte iam diemerfectu is omnir cupplium8

PoDcAsTsA Great Way To Learn38

BUsINEss BooKof the Month6

WoMEN WHo MEAN BUsINEss7

AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE44

Managing the snake Pit 16

The Key to succeeding in Lying 17

style U 18

courageous creativity 19

chocolate Blues 4

could YoU Be our Next cover story8

Bizfestivalcom 9

Free Gift for Women only 44

Talk Fusion 44

Preferred Business Directory 50

Tuesdays At Two 55

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What is a Chocolate Blues And Business Networking Festival And Why Should You Get Involved

What is a Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Festival ldquoChocolate Bluesrdquo is a giant business to business networking event that brings together hundreds of business owners and professionals This event features a business expo open networking door prizes ice breakers networking games on the spot appointment setting round table workshops a giant business card exchange business coaching brainstorming circles book signings media mixers blues background music and of course chocolate treats We are one of the largest most successful and longest running networking events in the country Hundreds sometimes thousands attend our events Our goal is usually 500-800 participants but sometimes our crowds are much larger We have had as many as 2730 people show up for a single networking event So plan for 500 and donrsquot be surprised if we exceed your expectations Experience makes the differencewe produced our first business event in 1989 and have hundreds of successful events to our credit Wersquore currently in more than 40 cities and our events have resulted in thousands of connections and success stories for our clients There are many ways to participate at Chocolate Blues Attend as a Networker Bring business cards amp your appointment book

Be a Featured Vendor Showcase your products and services hand out literature book appointments sell products amp collect leads Our vendor fees are low and vendors receive admission tickets to pass out

Host a Round Table Workshop or Coaching Circle This is a vendor package with the added bonus of mini workshops or coaching sessions throughout the day (No extra charge)

Sponsor An Event Sponsorship includes our standard vendor package plus extra perks recognition and advertising in our national magazine

National No-Show Sponsor Chances are you canrsquot personally be at all of our events but now your business can be

Be an Ambassador Are you new to networking or maybe yoursquore a little shy If so working the door as a greeter or hosting one of our games is a great way to get involved learn the ropes and get connected

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We are currently in 40 US cities and wersquore expanding If yoursquore looking for a new business or a 2nd income love to network enjoy sales and want to make a strong positive impact on your local community consider joining us as a Chocolate Blues Area Director

Like any business there are some start up fees but the fees are reasonable Please contact us for more information 4173532610 Ask for Shelly

Travel agent Jeanne Felix traveled from CA to join us at the Vegas Chocolate Blues

A great time was had by all at the Tomball TX Chocolate Blues

Thanks to BMW for sponsoring Chocolate Blues Who won the door prize (wink)

Door Prize given out by our vendor LuxMagazine in Tampa Bay FL

Great networking connections were made at the Bowling Green KY event

Foot Solutions were great sponsors of the Stockton Chocolate Blues

Be The Boss Magazine

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Click To Read A Sample Chapter

Buy This Book Now

Meet The Authorscalled the ldquoFather of Modern Neworkingldquo by cNN Dr Ivan Misner is the Founder amp chairman of BNI the worldrsquos largest business networking organization BNI was founded in 1985 The organization has over 6200 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world Last year alone BNI generated 69 million referrals resulting in $31 billion dollars worth of business for its members

Join Dr Misnerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Hazel Walkerrsquos passion for lifelong learning personal growth and relationship-building has been invaluable in her evolution to serial entrepreneur seasoned author and dynamic speaker

Join Ms Walkerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Frank De Raffele incorporated his first business at the age of 18 while attending college at Syracuse University and an has been an entrepreneur ever since He calls himself ldquounemployablerdquo and has started grown and sold several companies Frank has learned the right things to do in business through his experience of doing many things wrong His ability to understand his mistakes learn from them and implement his corrections has been a key to his success This along with his inspirational communication style is what allowed him to found his Consulting and Training firm and become one of the most sought after speakers in the USA Europe and Asia Join Mr De Raffelersquos Facebook Fan Page

WorkshopsWorkshops

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Tips Advice

Feedback

Women Who Mean BusinessA private interactive website where women help women to grow and improve their companies

Reach ampExceed

Your Goals

PrivateInteractive

Website

Adviceamp

Feedback

Mentor Other

Women

SharpenYour Skills

Create Action Plans

DevelopReferralPartners

GrowYour

BusinessGrowYour

Network

ImproveYour

Business

Webinars Workshops Training Network Tips

WorkshopsWorkshops

Coaching Give Receive

Free 90-Day Full Access Pass-Private Site

At the end of 90 days if you want to remain on the WWMB site the membership fee is only $7 per month

No annual fees no long term commitments just $7 per monthNo credit card required to redeem your access pass

Use Promo Code 90DayPass wwwWWMBizcom

MastermindSuccess Teams

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Be the Boss Magazine

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Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

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RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

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Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

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Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

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NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

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NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 2: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page2

MAY-JU

NE 2012

coNTENTsLiving With Your Mommy Java 12

Dr carol 14

Driving Action to success 16i

A Novel slant 17

courageous creativity 19

Why You Need to Build Two Networks 20

Mobile Marketing for the Digital Age 22

Thoughts Before coFFEE 24

coping with the copy-Paste Misdeed 12

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rth 14

Driving Action to success 16i

creating a company Logo 31

courageous creativity 19

An Active Lifestyle isnt out of reach 32

insure YoU Too 33

Free Vs Paid Press Release Distribution 34

Business is Business is Business 36

Five Keys to cUsToMER Retention 38

social Media 101 42

Work the system 43

What is social Media 45

stay in Touch 46

Developing Multiple streams of Income 45

PUBLIsHERs

Right Brain Publishing

shelly Rice and Margie Baxley

coNTRIBUToRs

Patty Farmer

susan Endriss

carol Garrett

Ronette Wood

carol Watson

Lynn Zettler

Darby Rae

Kathy Friend

Amy Barnes

catherine Morgan

Robert christiansen

Michelle Ketterman

Dawniel Patterson Winningham

Dayna offutt

Matt Newman

Michael Battaglia

sandy Lawrence

Nancy Becher

Errrol Allen

Robert New

Julia Hull

Dan Perez

Katie Wegg

Danielle Mohr

Toni Harris

Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page3

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

EDIToRIAL TYPE PAGEsVocrei sci ponsta puliaelici senatio stanter iam murei Unte iam diemerfectu is omnir cupplium8

PoDcAsTsA Great Way To Learn38

BUsINEss BooKof the Month6

WoMEN WHo MEAN BUsINEss7

AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE44

Managing the snake Pit 16

The Key to succeeding in Lying 17

style U 18

courageous creativity 19

chocolate Blues 4

could YoU Be our Next cover story8

Bizfestivalcom 9

Free Gift for Women only 44

Talk Fusion 44

Preferred Business Directory 50

Tuesdays At Two 55

Be The Boss Magazine

page4

MAY-JU

NE 2012

What is a Chocolate Blues And Business Networking Festival And Why Should You Get Involved

What is a Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Festival ldquoChocolate Bluesrdquo is a giant business to business networking event that brings together hundreds of business owners and professionals This event features a business expo open networking door prizes ice breakers networking games on the spot appointment setting round table workshops a giant business card exchange business coaching brainstorming circles book signings media mixers blues background music and of course chocolate treats We are one of the largest most successful and longest running networking events in the country Hundreds sometimes thousands attend our events Our goal is usually 500-800 participants but sometimes our crowds are much larger We have had as many as 2730 people show up for a single networking event So plan for 500 and donrsquot be surprised if we exceed your expectations Experience makes the differencewe produced our first business event in 1989 and have hundreds of successful events to our credit Wersquore currently in more than 40 cities and our events have resulted in thousands of connections and success stories for our clients There are many ways to participate at Chocolate Blues Attend as a Networker Bring business cards amp your appointment book

Be a Featured Vendor Showcase your products and services hand out literature book appointments sell products amp collect leads Our vendor fees are low and vendors receive admission tickets to pass out

Host a Round Table Workshop or Coaching Circle This is a vendor package with the added bonus of mini workshops or coaching sessions throughout the day (No extra charge)

Sponsor An Event Sponsorship includes our standard vendor package plus extra perks recognition and advertising in our national magazine

National No-Show Sponsor Chances are you canrsquot personally be at all of our events but now your business can be

Be an Ambassador Are you new to networking or maybe yoursquore a little shy If so working the door as a greeter or hosting one of our games is a great way to get involved learn the ropes and get connected

Be the Boss Magazine

page5

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We are currently in 40 US cities and wersquore expanding If yoursquore looking for a new business or a 2nd income love to network enjoy sales and want to make a strong positive impact on your local community consider joining us as a Chocolate Blues Area Director

Like any business there are some start up fees but the fees are reasonable Please contact us for more information 4173532610 Ask for Shelly

Travel agent Jeanne Felix traveled from CA to join us at the Vegas Chocolate Blues

A great time was had by all at the Tomball TX Chocolate Blues

Thanks to BMW for sponsoring Chocolate Blues Who won the door prize (wink)

Door Prize given out by our vendor LuxMagazine in Tampa Bay FL

Great networking connections were made at the Bowling Green KY event

Foot Solutions were great sponsors of the Stockton Chocolate Blues

Be The Boss Magazine

page6

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Click To Read A Sample Chapter

Buy This Book Now

Meet The Authorscalled the ldquoFather of Modern Neworkingldquo by cNN Dr Ivan Misner is the Founder amp chairman of BNI the worldrsquos largest business networking organization BNI was founded in 1985 The organization has over 6200 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world Last year alone BNI generated 69 million referrals resulting in $31 billion dollars worth of business for its members

Join Dr Misnerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Hazel Walkerrsquos passion for lifelong learning personal growth and relationship-building has been invaluable in her evolution to serial entrepreneur seasoned author and dynamic speaker

Join Ms Walkerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Frank De Raffele incorporated his first business at the age of 18 while attending college at Syracuse University and an has been an entrepreneur ever since He calls himself ldquounemployablerdquo and has started grown and sold several companies Frank has learned the right things to do in business through his experience of doing many things wrong His ability to understand his mistakes learn from them and implement his corrections has been a key to his success This along with his inspirational communication style is what allowed him to found his Consulting and Training firm and become one of the most sought after speakers in the USA Europe and Asia Join Mr De Raffelersquos Facebook Fan Page

WorkshopsWorkshops

Be the Boss Magazine

page7

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Tips Advice

Feedback

Women Who Mean BusinessA private interactive website where women help women to grow and improve their companies

Reach ampExceed

Your Goals

PrivateInteractive

Website

Adviceamp

Feedback

Mentor Other

Women

SharpenYour Skills

Create Action Plans

DevelopReferralPartners

GrowYour

BusinessGrowYour

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ImproveYour

Business

Webinars Workshops Training Network Tips

WorkshopsWorkshops

Coaching Give Receive

Free 90-Day Full Access Pass-Private Site

At the end of 90 days if you want to remain on the WWMB site the membership fee is only $7 per month

No annual fees no long term commitments just $7 per monthNo credit card required to redeem your access pass

Use Promo Code 90DayPass wwwWWMBizcom

MastermindSuccess Teams

Be The Boss Magazine

page8

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page9

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

wwwherjourneypublishingcom

De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

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-JU

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2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

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NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 3: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page3

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

EDIToRIAL TYPE PAGEsVocrei sci ponsta puliaelici senatio stanter iam murei Unte iam diemerfectu is omnir cupplium8

PoDcAsTsA Great Way To Learn38

BUsINEss BooKof the Month6

WoMEN WHo MEAN BUsINEss7

AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE44

Managing the snake Pit 16

The Key to succeeding in Lying 17

style U 18

courageous creativity 19

chocolate Blues 4

could YoU Be our Next cover story8

Bizfestivalcom 9

Free Gift for Women only 44

Talk Fusion 44

Preferred Business Directory 50

Tuesdays At Two 55

Be The Boss Magazine

page4

MAY-JU

NE 2012

What is a Chocolate Blues And Business Networking Festival And Why Should You Get Involved

What is a Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Festival ldquoChocolate Bluesrdquo is a giant business to business networking event that brings together hundreds of business owners and professionals This event features a business expo open networking door prizes ice breakers networking games on the spot appointment setting round table workshops a giant business card exchange business coaching brainstorming circles book signings media mixers blues background music and of course chocolate treats We are one of the largest most successful and longest running networking events in the country Hundreds sometimes thousands attend our events Our goal is usually 500-800 participants but sometimes our crowds are much larger We have had as many as 2730 people show up for a single networking event So plan for 500 and donrsquot be surprised if we exceed your expectations Experience makes the differencewe produced our first business event in 1989 and have hundreds of successful events to our credit Wersquore currently in more than 40 cities and our events have resulted in thousands of connections and success stories for our clients There are many ways to participate at Chocolate Blues Attend as a Networker Bring business cards amp your appointment book

Be a Featured Vendor Showcase your products and services hand out literature book appointments sell products amp collect leads Our vendor fees are low and vendors receive admission tickets to pass out

Host a Round Table Workshop or Coaching Circle This is a vendor package with the added bonus of mini workshops or coaching sessions throughout the day (No extra charge)

Sponsor An Event Sponsorship includes our standard vendor package plus extra perks recognition and advertising in our national magazine

National No-Show Sponsor Chances are you canrsquot personally be at all of our events but now your business can be

Be an Ambassador Are you new to networking or maybe yoursquore a little shy If so working the door as a greeter or hosting one of our games is a great way to get involved learn the ropes and get connected

Be the Boss Magazine

page5

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We are currently in 40 US cities and wersquore expanding If yoursquore looking for a new business or a 2nd income love to network enjoy sales and want to make a strong positive impact on your local community consider joining us as a Chocolate Blues Area Director

Like any business there are some start up fees but the fees are reasonable Please contact us for more information 4173532610 Ask for Shelly

Travel agent Jeanne Felix traveled from CA to join us at the Vegas Chocolate Blues

A great time was had by all at the Tomball TX Chocolate Blues

Thanks to BMW for sponsoring Chocolate Blues Who won the door prize (wink)

Door Prize given out by our vendor LuxMagazine in Tampa Bay FL

Great networking connections were made at the Bowling Green KY event

Foot Solutions were great sponsors of the Stockton Chocolate Blues

Be The Boss Magazine

page6

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Click To Read A Sample Chapter

Buy This Book Now

Meet The Authorscalled the ldquoFather of Modern Neworkingldquo by cNN Dr Ivan Misner is the Founder amp chairman of BNI the worldrsquos largest business networking organization BNI was founded in 1985 The organization has over 6200 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world Last year alone BNI generated 69 million referrals resulting in $31 billion dollars worth of business for its members

Join Dr Misnerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Hazel Walkerrsquos passion for lifelong learning personal growth and relationship-building has been invaluable in her evolution to serial entrepreneur seasoned author and dynamic speaker

Join Ms Walkerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Frank De Raffele incorporated his first business at the age of 18 while attending college at Syracuse University and an has been an entrepreneur ever since He calls himself ldquounemployablerdquo and has started grown and sold several companies Frank has learned the right things to do in business through his experience of doing many things wrong His ability to understand his mistakes learn from them and implement his corrections has been a key to his success This along with his inspirational communication style is what allowed him to found his Consulting and Training firm and become one of the most sought after speakers in the USA Europe and Asia Join Mr De Raffelersquos Facebook Fan Page

WorkshopsWorkshops

Be the Boss Magazine

page7

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Tips Advice

Feedback

Women Who Mean BusinessA private interactive website where women help women to grow and improve their companies

Reach ampExceed

Your Goals

PrivateInteractive

Website

Adviceamp

Feedback

Mentor Other

Women

SharpenYour Skills

Create Action Plans

DevelopReferralPartners

GrowYour

BusinessGrowYour

Network

ImproveYour

Business

Webinars Workshops Training Network Tips

WorkshopsWorkshops

Coaching Give Receive

Free 90-Day Full Access Pass-Private Site

At the end of 90 days if you want to remain on the WWMB site the membership fee is only $7 per month

No annual fees no long term commitments just $7 per monthNo credit card required to redeem your access pass

Use Promo Code 90DayPass wwwWWMBizcom

MastermindSuccess Teams

Be The Boss Magazine

page8

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page9

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

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2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 4: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page4

MAY-JU

NE 2012

What is a Chocolate Blues And Business Networking Festival And Why Should You Get Involved

What is a Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Festival ldquoChocolate Bluesrdquo is a giant business to business networking event that brings together hundreds of business owners and professionals This event features a business expo open networking door prizes ice breakers networking games on the spot appointment setting round table workshops a giant business card exchange business coaching brainstorming circles book signings media mixers blues background music and of course chocolate treats We are one of the largest most successful and longest running networking events in the country Hundreds sometimes thousands attend our events Our goal is usually 500-800 participants but sometimes our crowds are much larger We have had as many as 2730 people show up for a single networking event So plan for 500 and donrsquot be surprised if we exceed your expectations Experience makes the differencewe produced our first business event in 1989 and have hundreds of successful events to our credit Wersquore currently in more than 40 cities and our events have resulted in thousands of connections and success stories for our clients There are many ways to participate at Chocolate Blues Attend as a Networker Bring business cards amp your appointment book

Be a Featured Vendor Showcase your products and services hand out literature book appointments sell products amp collect leads Our vendor fees are low and vendors receive admission tickets to pass out

Host a Round Table Workshop or Coaching Circle This is a vendor package with the added bonus of mini workshops or coaching sessions throughout the day (No extra charge)

Sponsor An Event Sponsorship includes our standard vendor package plus extra perks recognition and advertising in our national magazine

National No-Show Sponsor Chances are you canrsquot personally be at all of our events but now your business can be

Be an Ambassador Are you new to networking or maybe yoursquore a little shy If so working the door as a greeter or hosting one of our games is a great way to get involved learn the ropes and get connected

Be the Boss Magazine

page5

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We are currently in 40 US cities and wersquore expanding If yoursquore looking for a new business or a 2nd income love to network enjoy sales and want to make a strong positive impact on your local community consider joining us as a Chocolate Blues Area Director

Like any business there are some start up fees but the fees are reasonable Please contact us for more information 4173532610 Ask for Shelly

Travel agent Jeanne Felix traveled from CA to join us at the Vegas Chocolate Blues

A great time was had by all at the Tomball TX Chocolate Blues

Thanks to BMW for sponsoring Chocolate Blues Who won the door prize (wink)

Door Prize given out by our vendor LuxMagazine in Tampa Bay FL

Great networking connections were made at the Bowling Green KY event

Foot Solutions were great sponsors of the Stockton Chocolate Blues

Be The Boss Magazine

page6

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Click To Read A Sample Chapter

Buy This Book Now

Meet The Authorscalled the ldquoFather of Modern Neworkingldquo by cNN Dr Ivan Misner is the Founder amp chairman of BNI the worldrsquos largest business networking organization BNI was founded in 1985 The organization has over 6200 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world Last year alone BNI generated 69 million referrals resulting in $31 billion dollars worth of business for its members

Join Dr Misnerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Hazel Walkerrsquos passion for lifelong learning personal growth and relationship-building has been invaluable in her evolution to serial entrepreneur seasoned author and dynamic speaker

Join Ms Walkerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Frank De Raffele incorporated his first business at the age of 18 while attending college at Syracuse University and an has been an entrepreneur ever since He calls himself ldquounemployablerdquo and has started grown and sold several companies Frank has learned the right things to do in business through his experience of doing many things wrong His ability to understand his mistakes learn from them and implement his corrections has been a key to his success This along with his inspirational communication style is what allowed him to found his Consulting and Training firm and become one of the most sought after speakers in the USA Europe and Asia Join Mr De Raffelersquos Facebook Fan Page

WorkshopsWorkshops

Be the Boss Magazine

page7

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Tips Advice

Feedback

Women Who Mean BusinessA private interactive website where women help women to grow and improve their companies

Reach ampExceed

Your Goals

PrivateInteractive

Website

Adviceamp

Feedback

Mentor Other

Women

SharpenYour Skills

Create Action Plans

DevelopReferralPartners

GrowYour

BusinessGrowYour

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ImproveYour

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Webinars Workshops Training Network Tips

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At the end of 90 days if you want to remain on the WWMB site the membership fee is only $7 per month

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MastermindSuccess Teams

Be The Boss Magazine

page8

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page9

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

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LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 5: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page5

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We are currently in 40 US cities and wersquore expanding If yoursquore looking for a new business or a 2nd income love to network enjoy sales and want to make a strong positive impact on your local community consider joining us as a Chocolate Blues Area Director

Like any business there are some start up fees but the fees are reasonable Please contact us for more information 4173532610 Ask for Shelly

Travel agent Jeanne Felix traveled from CA to join us at the Vegas Chocolate Blues

A great time was had by all at the Tomball TX Chocolate Blues

Thanks to BMW for sponsoring Chocolate Blues Who won the door prize (wink)

Door Prize given out by our vendor LuxMagazine in Tampa Bay FL

Great networking connections were made at the Bowling Green KY event

Foot Solutions were great sponsors of the Stockton Chocolate Blues

Be The Boss Magazine

page6

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Click To Read A Sample Chapter

Buy This Book Now

Meet The Authorscalled the ldquoFather of Modern Neworkingldquo by cNN Dr Ivan Misner is the Founder amp chairman of BNI the worldrsquos largest business networking organization BNI was founded in 1985 The organization has over 6200 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world Last year alone BNI generated 69 million referrals resulting in $31 billion dollars worth of business for its members

Join Dr Misnerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Hazel Walkerrsquos passion for lifelong learning personal growth and relationship-building has been invaluable in her evolution to serial entrepreneur seasoned author and dynamic speaker

Join Ms Walkerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Frank De Raffele incorporated his first business at the age of 18 while attending college at Syracuse University and an has been an entrepreneur ever since He calls himself ldquounemployablerdquo and has started grown and sold several companies Frank has learned the right things to do in business through his experience of doing many things wrong His ability to understand his mistakes learn from them and implement his corrections has been a key to his success This along with his inspirational communication style is what allowed him to found his Consulting and Training firm and become one of the most sought after speakers in the USA Europe and Asia Join Mr De Raffelersquos Facebook Fan Page

WorkshopsWorkshops

Be the Boss Magazine

page7

MAY

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NE

2012

Tips Advice

Feedback

Women Who Mean BusinessA private interactive website where women help women to grow and improve their companies

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Your Goals

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Adviceamp

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Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

wwwherjourneypublishingcom

De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 6: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page6

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Click To Read A Sample Chapter

Buy This Book Now

Meet The Authorscalled the ldquoFather of Modern Neworkingldquo by cNN Dr Ivan Misner is the Founder amp chairman of BNI the worldrsquos largest business networking organization BNI was founded in 1985 The organization has over 6200 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world Last year alone BNI generated 69 million referrals resulting in $31 billion dollars worth of business for its members

Join Dr Misnerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Hazel Walkerrsquos passion for lifelong learning personal growth and relationship-building has been invaluable in her evolution to serial entrepreneur seasoned author and dynamic speaker

Join Ms Walkerrsquos Facebook Fan Page

Frank De Raffele incorporated his first business at the age of 18 while attending college at Syracuse University and an has been an entrepreneur ever since He calls himself ldquounemployablerdquo and has started grown and sold several companies Frank has learned the right things to do in business through his experience of doing many things wrong His ability to understand his mistakes learn from them and implement his corrections has been a key to his success This along with his inspirational communication style is what allowed him to found his Consulting and Training firm and become one of the most sought after speakers in the USA Europe and Asia Join Mr De Raffelersquos Facebook Fan Page

WorkshopsWorkshops

Be the Boss Magazine

page7

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Tips Advice

Feedback

Women Who Mean BusinessA private interactive website where women help women to grow and improve their companies

Reach ampExceed

Your Goals

PrivateInteractive

Website

Adviceamp

Feedback

Mentor Other

Women

SharpenYour Skills

Create Action Plans

DevelopReferralPartners

GrowYour

BusinessGrowYour

Network

ImproveYour

Business

Webinars Workshops Training Network Tips

WorkshopsWorkshops

Coaching Give Receive

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At the end of 90 days if you want to remain on the WWMB site the membership fee is only $7 per month

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MastermindSuccess Teams

Be The Boss Magazine

page8

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page9

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

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rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 7: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page7

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Tips Advice

Feedback

Women Who Mean BusinessA private interactive website where women help women to grow and improve their companies

Reach ampExceed

Your Goals

PrivateInteractive

Website

Adviceamp

Feedback

Mentor Other

Women

SharpenYour Skills

Create Action Plans

DevelopReferralPartners

GrowYour

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MastermindSuccess Teams

Be The Boss Magazine

page8

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page9

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 8: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page8

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page9

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 9: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page9

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

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LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

page31

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 10: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page10

RED HoTFRoM HoT PINK To

200 PM- Dallas TX Itrsquos an unusually warm April day as Patty Farmer maneuvers through the busy streets of Dallas she has just pushed all her appointments to the beginning of the week making time for the launch of her most ambitious endeavor a premier B2B online networking environment called Biz Link Global

With both hands on the wheel and speakerphone at full blast meeting a deadline is never dull when launching a business of this magnitude Patty leaves nothing to chance not even this interview and I (her writer) have been hired to help her meet her deadlines

As we converse her split-second responses are reminiscent of any sports coach readying her team for the big playoffs ldquoWell I do like that phrase but is it in line with our value system I want to encourage collaboration not competition Yes cut that part and reframe that ok Thanksrdquo click

Itrsquos clear while listening to this 22 year marketing strategist that while some details remain elusive her unwavering sense of purpose is what shersquos truly counting on to help her navigate through the blur of decisions she must make each day she later reveals to me that this fast-paced environment is what makes being a business owner so exciting ldquoItrsquos the thrill of creating outside of your comfort zone where you canrsquot afford to second guess yourself ndash thatrsquos where the magic happensrdquo

From Roller-skates to Riches

ldquooMG you are not going to put that in the article are

yourdquo Patty exclaims as an image of a young Patty on roller-skates in 1970rsquos Las Vegas forms in my mind I had inquired about her first job and how she had always managed to land jobs in management ldquoWell I was the second child of fiverdquo Patty explains ldquoand there were two choices in my family tell oth-ers what to do or be told what to do This mixed with the desire to earn my own money and spurred on by my love of fashion (a slightly expensive hobby for a teenager) forced me to devise ways around the limitations of my allowance After all my fashion needs far exceeded my fashion expense accountrdquo

I was beginning to see a pattern Pattyrsquos life had set

Interview with Patty Farmer ldquoThe Networking cEordquoand founder of Biz Link Global

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

wwwherjourneypublishingcom

De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

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ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

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2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

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NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

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NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

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NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

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Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

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About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

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The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

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Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

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social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 11: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page11

RED HoTher up to be a natural strategist and her ambition had only further strengthened that skill landing her in the exact spot she was today

When I inquire about college Patty becomes a bit wistful ldquoI did eventually go to college and get my degree but not until later in liferdquo Further probing uncovers a brave and moving life lesson about marriage divorce and filling the role of a single parent I get the distinct feeling when talking to Patty that her neverndashback-down spirit is exactly what has earned her so many awards and a thriving networking community

The Biz Link Global Benefit

Patty continues to enlighten me to the benefits of partnering with a global tribe ldquoYou see in todayrsquos busi-ness environment you canrsquot not work to network We all have businesses to run and clients to take care of I want the members of Biz Link Global to have the ability not only to make money and valuable connec-tions but to absorb new information and learn at a time and pace that works for themrdquo

Biz Link Global teaches entrepreneurs how to be strategic networkers and business owners By encourag-ing its members to forge strategic partnerships while exposing them to a global audience Biz Link Global gives new meaning to ldquoitrsquos not just who you know but who knows yourdquo

Patty has built Biz Link Global on the premise that itrsquos not about your return on investment (RoI) but more about your return on relationships (RoR) ndash after all networking is all about relationships

Pattyrsquos Mission

As we wind down to the last few minutes of our interview there is a sense of calm and clarity as Patty shares her vision for what Biz Link Global will mean for its members ldquoWe all have giftsrdquo she begins ldquoMy gift is connecting people to the tools people and resources they needrdquo

she further explains how her cutting-edge approach to building connections and expanding globally will take the networking world by storm ldquoEvery system must evolve including networkingrdquo says Patty ldquoWhile technology makes the world smaller Biz Link Global will help entrepreneurs expand their communities and position them to increase their reach and influence exponentiallyrdquo

Biz Link Global is more than just a culmination of the years she has dedicated to helping businesses thrive and grow ndash it is a way to feed a starving crowd ldquoWe are doing more than offering members a way to con-nectrdquo she expresses earnestly ldquoWe are offering the world a niche solution to a growing need in a global marketplacerdquo

Welcome to global networking unleashed connect with Patty on Facebook and Twitter

PATTY FARMER UNVEILs GLoBAL NETWoRKING UNLEAsHED

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

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LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

page31

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 12: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page12

MAY-JU

NE 2012 Living With Your Mommy Java

susan Endriss an organo Gold Independent Distributor

With over 25 years in the corporate world as an administrative professional and experiencing two reductions in force I began my company suzzzyGal Treasures handcrafted jewelry But with the cost of silver I needed to leverage my time and decided to enter a new direction After several months in direct sales with Arbonne and sendoutcards I found myself looking for something different and more appealing I am not afraid of hard work but I found that many similar direct sales companies had saturated the area and peoplersquos eyes glazed over when I talked about my businesses

In December of last year while at a vendor event with Arbonne I noticed the table next to me was promoting organo Gold What is organo Gold I thought The distributor shared a cup of coffee with me and said ldquoThis is the coffee that pays you to drink itrdquo What there is a lsquoDirect to consumerrsquo company that offers lsquocoffeersquo as their product line WoW I began to research on my phone about the Ganoderma ingredient and was truly pleased with the results especially with my personal health concerns This company is about 3 years old and I had not heard of it Interesting

Four days later at a vendor event there was another organo Gold distributor It was carole Garrett and certainly a sign she gave me the website wwwoGcoffeePayscom Within days and a few phone calls I became an investor in organo Gold since drinking oG coffee both my sugar levels and blood pressure have dropped to a healthier range It has been a coffee~licious ride ever since

wwwsuzzzyGalorganoGoldcom 727-738-1538 (T) 727-504-0822 (c) susansuzzzygalcom

Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos Simple Itrsquos Coffee

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

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2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 13: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page13

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

carole Garrett an organo Gold Independent Distributor

I began my career as a legal secretary in 1988 with the furthest thing from my mind hellip Direct sales By

1996 I took a leave of absence to care for foster children and after being a stay at home mom I realized we needed more income My husband and I were not getting ahead and the idea of working 9-5 for someone else did not appeal to me

I was introduced to PartyLite my first experience in a network marking business It offered the things I wanted like flexible hours great income opportunity and unlimited growth potential It was during this time I met Ronette Wood who then joined my team After some time Ronette decided to leave PartyLite but we continued to keep in touch

one day she called and said lsquoI have to tell you about this coffee thingrsquo I thoughtldquocoffee Are you kidding me Why in the world are you selling coffeerdquo I really thought she had better business sense Well ndash she does she continued to tell me how great organo Gold was and along with their compensation plan she had my attention I realized that this was an amazing opportunity Why Because everyone drinks coffee or tea itrsquos not a luxury but an everyday staple

I am so excited to be on the ground floor of this winning company The benefits are fantastic and thatrsquos starting with the coffee

wwwcUsucceedorganoGoldcom 8139971844 (c) cusucceedyahoocom

Ronette Wood an organo Gold Independent Distributor

As an MIs graduate I started my career with IBM and had never thought about owning my own business I was strongly encouraged to study computers in school and get a secure corporate job As a successful sales Manager with ATampT and climbing the corporate ladder I woke up one more morning and found myself in the unemployment line with 12000 other employees in 2008

Luckily I started my Plan B through network marketing with PartyLite before being let go from lsquocorporate Americarsquo Initially I did not jump at the idea of owning my own business because I was content with my six-figure income But the initial investment was minimal and the rewards were numerous

I almost missed the organo Gold opportunity because I enjoy tea over coffee Then I saw the bigger picture over a half a billion cups of coffee are consumed on a daily basis in the Us and itrsquos the second most consumed beverage next to water I knew I was in the right place and time with organo Gold With time I grew my business team and recently lsquofiredrsquo my second corporate job Now organo Gold is my Plan A Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee

wwwTeeRonicoffeeorganoGoldcom 813-312-3998 (c) TeeRonicoffeegmailcom

susan carole and Ronette are building successful businesses with individuals looking for a better lifestyle financial security and more all by helping others who help others These opportunities are placed in your path for reasons and most people let them go by Are You one of Them Get started today

currently susan and carole write a monthly newsletter known as the oG cafeacute Ladies entitled lsquoHealth Wellness Mind amp spiritrsquo They talk about coffee tea and ganoderma facts Get on their list send an email to oGcafeLadiesgmailcom with lsquoADD To LIsTrsquo in the subject line susan is also a guest with wwwRhinoonAircom host cece shatz on May 1st 10am EsT listen in

organo Goldrsquos gourmet coffee and tea is an excellent company to be with and is growing rapidly Itrsquos Easy Itrsquos simple Itrsquos coffee ~ change Your coffee change Your Life ~ A Great Tasting Healthier coffee

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 14: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page14

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Dr carol

I am a Registered Nurse and Naturopathic Doctor As an RN working in critical care I saw many people suffer and die excruciating deaths due to chronic disease My own father died of a sudden heart attack when he was only 56 and my mom has died of cancer I didnrsquot really want to die from chronic disease but I was doing nothing to reduce my own risk But in 1995 all that changed I made a total paradigm shift from disease treatment to disease prevention because of the discovery I made as it relates to nutrition and disease we really donrsquot have to be sick

At the time I weighed 450 pounds and experienced mul-tiple health challenges and was on several medications My body was ldquopayingrdquo the price of poor dietary and lifestyle choices But what I learned was that despite my heredity factors (both my parents were obese) my DNA was NoT my destiny I could change my DNA by changing how I ate how I thought and how I lived

At that time I made a deci-sion to change my life patterns from ones that were destroy-ing my health and robbing me

of vitality and my destiny to ones that would create a life of healthfiled with passion and purpose

During the next several years I made significant dietary and lifestyle changes and became an avid juicer to bridge the gap in my diet Then in 2001 (while working on my Doctorate as a Naturopath) I was introduced to a whole food product called Juice Plus+ In just 6 capsules every day I could get an abundance of phytonutrients to reduce my risk of disease It made

so much sense that I started taking it immediatelyit cost much less than my juicing pro-gram and there was no messy clean up Letrsquos face it even with the best of intentions I donrsquot eat as much raw produce as I need for prevention so I will take it forever It is also way more affordable than an insurance policy and it has 3rd party scientific research back-ing what my body has experi-enced for 11+ years now too I no longer need all those drugs and I am known by my friends as the ldquoEnergizer Bunnyrdquo

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

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LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

page31

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 15: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page15

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Juic

e Pl

us+

reg

Within 3 12 years I reached the top position in my company and had become an international speaker and trainer on health and financial freedom with Juice Plus and our Franchise I retired from nursing in just 2 12 years and in 5 years I retired my husband from his J-o-B in another 3 years My home-based business has become a vehicle for me to fulfill my mis-sion of bringing a message of health hope amp healing through inspiration and education to families around the world I feel so blessed to get paid for doing what I love to do help other people

Being of service and contribut-ing to the world around me has always propelled me to suc-ceed While millions of peo-ple sit and wish for things to change I discovered that I had to be the one who changed I had to work diligently to change my thoughts in order to get the results that I wanted in life The trials and struggles that I have been through to reach this level of financial free-dom and ldquosuccessrdquo has been so worth it as one just canrsquot put a price-tag on the emotional revenue that I experience every day from doing what I do

A year from now you may wish you had started on your jour-ney to ldquoturn a new leafrdquo today You can either suffer the pain of regret or reap the reward of dis-ciplineitrsquos your choice What are you waiting for

I wish you every success in your journey of living life and serv-ing others

Dr carol

wwwDrcarolWatsoncom

I became so passionate about Juice Plus and how I could help so many people that I decided right away to become a repre-sentative I made the transition from critical care Nursing to Direct sales but my journey was not an easy or smooth one because I needed so much per-sonal growth to get over my fears doubts and insecurities so I went to work on myself more than I did my business I invested in personal and busi-ness growth so that I could attract more of what I wanted rather than what I was

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

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The Dream Event Creator

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wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 16: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page16

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Managing the Snake Pit

Here are two words to propel your business to the top

Empowerment and Trust

What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into a management position to improve the pro-ductivity of a 10-woman order entry team who work in a dungeon-like room that they refer to as the lsquosnake pitrsquo and have an order turn around time of over a month

This is exactly where Michele Meyer found her-self at the age of 23 Michele knew instinctively that she needed to find a way to empower these women and make them feel valued and part of the solution she quickly found a way to change the physical environment then streamlined pro-cesses with their help trusted them to make deci-sions and turnaround time decreased to hours Talk about an impact

A new goal for the team Get gifts from your cli-ents This not only improved relationships within the team but also enabled ongoing feedback

for them as individuals great customer service and improved morale all around

Michele is now the cEo of cscI consulting in Indianapolis and her motto is ldquoTrue richness is making someone else betterrdquo shersquos been highlighted in the November 2010 issue of Indianapolis Woman Magazine and was also the 2011 Woman Business owner of the Year by the National Association of Women Business owners Indianapolis

But beside all of the accolades and accomplishments Michele exemplifies good leadership by instilling empowerment and trust to a team

In the book ldquoThe speed of Trustrdquo by stephen MR covey notes ldquoa 2002 study by Watson Wyatt shows that total return to shareholders in high-trust organizations is almost three times higher than the return in low-trust organizationsrdquo

so what should you do to instill empowerment and trust in your team or organization

First of all empower and trust yourself Do you follow through on your own commitments to yourself and to others Who trusts you Walking the talk is key As the leader you set the tone for your stakeholders and staff Much like children do they look to you to lead the way and show them where the lines are drawn If you donrsquot have strong lines for yourself hold yourself accountable and hold others accountable theyrsquoll take that message and run with it (amok)

Be consistent in your behavior This enables others to behave and react accordingly They donrsquot have to second guess you or wonder which persona they will encounter today when you meet This will enhance relationships and thus improve results whether you are in an organization or operating within a family

Finally admit when you are wrong and seek input from your team Allow your team to talk about the big issues on the table Make it a safe place for your team to air out issues challenges problems and communication gaps This doesnrsquot mean you need to have weekly lsquogripersquo ses-sions Encourage your team to identify the issues and then require them to follow with suggested solutions

DRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

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LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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ww

Ga

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ixco

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

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2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

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Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

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Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

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Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

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Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

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Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

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sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

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page54

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Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 17: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page17

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The Key to Succeeding in Lying

The average person lies over 100 times a day When I heard that statistic I was horrified Maybe the research was done on convicts or toddlershellipbut certainly not the average citizen right Wrong Fortunately or unfor-tunately for society it is also true the average person lies more to themselves than to others

one morning I decided to keep track of my lies By 815 I was up to 9 lies Here were some of them

bull I can sleep 20 more minutes and still be on time (I told myself that lie twice)

bull I have nothing to wear today (Big lie)

bull coffee is all my body needs for breakfast (conflicts with lie 5)

bull I canrsquot keep up with all my email (closest thing to the truth Irsquove told so far)

bull Irsquom going to eat healthy today (Ended up being a lie)

bull I donrsquot have the time or energy to workout (only true because of lie 1 3)

Doing some quick math if I was going to be awake for another 14 hours I was likely an above average liar Not necessarily bad but in my early morning lying spree most of my thoughts were negative This was not a surprise since typically 78 of our thoughts are nega-tive not good either Is this where the clicheacute we are our own worst enemy comes from

I could just as easily have started off the day with a positive stream of lies Keeping in mind a lie is some-thing that isnrsquot truehellipyet

bull I have plenty of time and energy to do everything I need and want to do today

bull Itrsquos going to be a fabulous day

bull Money comes easily and frequently to me

bull I am a calm and peaceful person

bull When I travel everything goes smoothly

bull I am a tri athlete in training

bull I am a best selling author

seth Godin in his recent blog conflicted tells about the conflict between I and me John Rosso in his recent keynote address at sandler Trainingrsquos client summit in orlando Florida spoke about the Battle of Beliefs between a buyer (prospect) and a seller (salesperson) Rhonda Byrne in The secret teaches about The Law of Attraction and the power of affirmations In all instances the experts point out the power of positive self-talk or affirmations Therefore the challenge with these internal con-versations or statements is not whether they are true or false (a lie) it is whether they are positive or negative

If you are going to lie to yourself you might as well make them work for you Tell yourself you are the best in the world at what you do Tell yourself success comes easy Tell yourself you are beautiful inside and out some days yoursquoll feel like its true other days it feels like a lie Never the less make a commitment to start each day with a good break-fast and ten big lieshellipthen watch your dreams become reality

A NoVEL sLANT DARBY RAEDRIVING AcTIoN To sUccEss LYNN ZETTLER

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

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ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

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The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 18: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page18

MAY-JU

NE 2012

customer serviceI was in an airport recently and had a bad customer service experience at a coffee counter This is a coffee store that I frequent and have come to expect a fairly standard level of service This interaction really knocked me sideways and honestly set the tone for the rest of my day I decided to take my concern (oK irritation) to the corporate office I sent a complaint via the company website and fully expect-ed that nothing would be done

Much to my surprise within 24 hours I received a reply email from the corporate customer service department The note apologized and asked me to give them another try They also asked if they could send me some drink coupons 7 days later I received the drink coupons with a very nice note thanking me for giving them a second chance I told everyone about my experience I posted it on Facebook and talked about how shocked I was at the level of commitment to retain a ldquohappy customerrdquo this company seemed to haveWhy is it that when we receive good or even excellent customer service we are surprised Why do we settle for mediocre We seem to be prepared for bad service frustra-tion when we dial an 800 number and are ready to defend ourselves when we need to employ a call center help line Unlike the typical first impression your store or business has many entry points for a client (or potential client) The customer service the client receives will have an everlast-ing impact on the longevity of the relationship you have Likewise the way any issue is handled will move the client to either one of your biggest fans or someone who you need to defend yourself against

customer service1 oN THE PHoNE ndash How are you and your employees answering the phone What kind of language is being used What key phrases have you instructed your team to use in awkward client conversationsUsing phrases like ldquomy pleasurerdquo or ldquomy sincere apologies for this inconveniencerdquo go a long way toward turning a potentially negative call into a positive one 2 VIsUALs ndash when your client hits your front door what do they see smell Does your lobbywaiting area convey a message that THEY are the most important one who will enter the building that day What about the guest chairs in your office Are they small and uncomfortable or the nicest in the buildingThe fact is your clients are the reason your company exists Make sure they know you sincerely appreciate their busi-

nesshellipfrom the front door all the way through the sales process and beyond 3 AT THE coUNTER ndash are your employees gathering around the counter area (or reception area) What is the conversation The idle chatter that may happen around the reception area in an office can be very awkward for a client The conver-sation may be about a co-worker or other client The one thing the client will wonder is if you are talking about them (behind their back) when they leave the building Not a great feeling 4 GEsTUREs and LANGUAGE ndash if you are in retail when a customer asks where something is located what is the standard policy you have in place to answer ques-tions Walking a customer to show them where something is located is a much better ldquoimpressionrdquo than pointing and saying ldquoover there in aisle 4rdquo The truth is that we donrsquot know what every clientrsquos back-ground is We canrsquot appreciate cultural differences if we donrsquot know and understand them Pointing is offensive to many Vulgar language (or even borderline profanity) can lose a client and risk the credibility of your professionalism 5 ATTITUDE ndash some of the finest organizations in terms of customer service have a ldquoyes we canrdquo attitude from the top down Does this mean that they say yes to everything No but their internal attitude is one of lsquoyesrsquo That positive corporate attitude seeps out of the boardroom into the call center onto the sales floor and customers canrsquot get enoughJust as important maybe even more so than first impres-sions is your companyrsquos perceived level of customer ser-vice What message is your companyrsquos customer service delivering to your clientscustomers Is it one of a ldquocan-dordquo attitude Is it a warm welcome If you donrsquot know already you need to find out ndash and fast ndash you can be sure your cus-tomers already know

sTYLE U KATHY FRIEND

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

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2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 19: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page19

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

The courage of Being Fully Yourself

Rhonda Mills incorporates her gifts for movement dance and spirituality in all she does Fourteen years ago Rhonda deliberately set out on a journey to fully be herself As a Yoga Teacher coach and Playshop leader Rhonda exemplifies being a person of courageous creativity courageous creativity is having the courage to fully be yourself to create what you most want in your life to make a difference in the world and to have amazing relationships

When Rhonda was pregnant with her first child she realized that she wanted ldquoto leave a legacy for her children that was the real merdquo Her divorce fourteen years ago confirmed that she was ldquoready to discover and be myself whatever that meant I was ready to live my life not somebody elsersquos idea of what my life should berdquo

ldquoMy lowest points were before I understood how important it was to commit to be myself Everything is possible in the way of change I think change hap-pens when we tune into and connect with the power and the longing of our heartsrdquo Rhonda describes change as a process that starts with a longing The path to turning this longing into a reality may be filled with obstacles Whether it is over weeks or months or years change happens Rhonda adds ldquoWhat a celebration for all of us that I or any of us can change We can createrdquo

ldquoWhen I feel alone disconnected and by myself that is definitely a low place for me I feel this journey is both a solo journey and one with mentors support and connection I think that we humans are wired for connection We need to know that we are not alonerdquo

In st Louis Rhonda offers classes in physical yoga breath meditation and coaching Rhonda says ldquoThe key to our hearts and living authentically is integrating our body sensations and tuning into our inner landscape This is a key part of all the work I do Movement brings me joy My spirituality is important to me spiritually is in the possibility that change is possible I find that being myself and bringing myself into my relationships is being spiritual Thatrsquos what that isrdquo

ldquoI have changed my liferdquo Rhonda values the mentors coaches and workshops that have supported her along the way and feels she is of service as she shares what she has learned with others ldquo I am doing work I love I have precious friendships where I feel met and loved I have created a life that I love and that means something to merdquo

Rhondarsquos soon to be released book is entitled The Heartrsquos Gift You may contact Rhonda at wwwRhondamillscom

I admire Rhonda for her courage to fully be herself to live life authentically and with integrity Rhonda has created a life she loves As a coach for living a courageously creative life I encourage everyone I meet to stretch a little bit and try something innovative challenging and new You never know where it will lead

Here is my challenge to you in the next thirty days do something for yourself something you consider courageously creative and tell me about it (amycourageous-creativitycom) Who knowshellipnext month I may be writing about you

coURAGEoUs cREATIVITY AMY BARNEs

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

page31

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 20: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page20

MAY-JU

NE 2012

WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKscATHERINE MoRGAN

Being your own boss isnrsquot for the timid starting a business isnrsquot a fly-by-night affair It is more like a marriage between you and your company ndash and hopefully you are in it for the long haul Because like the romantic kind quickie business divorces can break your heart

so how do you set yourself up for success How do you ensure that you keep showing up How do you make sure that you are doing the right things at the right times The answer is to build two net-works

The first network is to support your business and feed you leads for potential clients We all know that we need to do this or we wonrsquot be in business very long However as a small business owner you need to surround yourself with other entrepreneurs who also are building businesses Why To help you find resources make recommendations on technology tools validate your marketing strategies and so much more

And then there is the emotional support this network can provide The successful business owner shows up every day and does the work But staying motivated can be difficult some days You may wonder why you chose this path You may doubt your business concept or revenue model You may wish that just one time someone else could make a decision This is where your fellow entrepreneurs will jump in and support you

Your network will tell you that they too have days when it is hard to get out of bed and hard to focus They will tell you that sometimes their to-do list is overwhelming And then they will gently remind you of all the amazing things that you have done You wonrsquot feel so scared or isolated or alone some folks may offer to help you with a task that is easy for them but difficult for you or they may know of a specialist who can assist you at a reasonable cost

Please always remember that collaboration is a great way to ensure success as a solo or small busi-ness owner Even people who do very similar things can be a great source of support and may even provide leads because they will understand your business and what you are hoping to accomplish Your second network will help you stay out of the dips and help you celebrate your successes

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

page31

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 21: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page21

MAY

-JU

NE

2012WHY YoU NEED To BUILD TWo NETWoRKs

cATHERINE MoRGAN

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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De

sign

cou

rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

lan

Gra

ph

ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

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-JU

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2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

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NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 22: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page22

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The Mobile Marketing Association definition of Mobile MarketingldquoMobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or networkrdquo

Mobile marketing is often confused with mobile advertising Mobile marketing is utilizing a mobile device to deliver your message to con-sumers This can be via sMs (short Message service) utilizing a short code mobile apps send-ing audio or video coupons and QR codes just to name a few options Mobile marketing also has nothing to do with sPAM as many think of send-ing messages to purchased contact lists Mobile campaigns utilize opt-in to build contact lists The user has the option of opting out at any time and must confirm

Mobile Marketing stats (provided by mobithink-ingcom)

bull There are 59 billion mobile subscribers (thatrsquos 87 percent of the world popula-tion)

bull Mobile ad spend worldwide is predicted to be Us$33 billion in 2011 sky rocketing to $206 billion in 2015 driven by search ads and local ads In the Us over half of Us mobile ad spending is local

bull sMs is the king of mobile messaging 8 tril-lion text messages sent in 2011

bull Paying by mobile (ie m-payments) will be worth Us$240 billion in 2011 and could be over Us$1 trillion by 2015

Your Customers Are Mobile Shouldnrsquot You Be

The exceedingly rapid growth of smartphones and tablets in comparison to the overall cell phone market makes Apps and Mobile Websites critical must-have marketing tools Quickly ldquosavvy customersrdquo are migrating to a variety of mobile devices with the rest of the market aptly following right behind

Every business professional and organization - must have their own Marketing App andor Mobile Website to compete in todayrsquos highly mobile marketplace Visit wwwInnovarusMobilecom for a free ldquoMobile Marketing ReportrdquoD E N I s E

RELAXING WITH

What is Mobile Marketing and is it right for your business This is a question that many entrepre-neurs have been pondering in this age of mobile devices It has been stated that more people have mobile devices than computers Just think about it your mobile device brings email and internet to your fingertips 24 hours a day Imagine having your branding or message in front of your customers around the clock

MoBILE MARKETING FoR THE DIGITAL AGE WRITTEN BY ANDRE ANKToN

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

LA

DIE

NIQ

UE

H

ER

JOU

RN

EY

PR

EG

NA

NT

WIT

H A

PU

RP

OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

tionships and past decisions she carries a secret that could truly affect her connec-tions with the people who are closest to her Vanessa is faced with the decision to produce the gift she holds or give it away Will her decision make or break her

At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

HERJOURNEY PUBLISHING CO ~~~~~ INC~~~~~

MAKING QUALITY PUBLISHING AFFORDABLE

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rtesy

of w

ww

Ga

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Gra

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ixco

m

T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

Saturday March 3 2012

Bayou Belles amp Beaux

Hotel Sorella | Citycentre Magnolia Ballroom

HotelSorella-citycentrecom

RenHitchedOnABudgetcom

The Dream Event Creator

18007413716

Ren

wwwHitchedOnABudgetcom

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

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sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 23: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page23

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

We also design custom Facebook banners amp Twitter

backgrounds

Call for a FREE QUOTEon your projects

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DIE

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PR

EG

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OSE

LADIE NIQUE

Vanessa Johnson has life within her but has yet to determine who she is Struggling with broken rela-

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At a young age Ladie NiQue developed a passion for writingGoing into her Junior year of college with a major in English she is publishing her first book Pregnant with a Purpose She enjoys creative writing and one day hopes to travel overseas to teach English Besides having a love for writing and educa-tion Ladie NiQue enjoys music movies and singing

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T h i r d A n n u a l C h a r i t y G a l a P R E S E N T S

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Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

page31

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 24: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page24

MAY-JU

NE 2012 THoUGHTs before coffee

Robert christiansen

Worth is a most interesting and powerful word that many use without full comprehension Maybe you knew this already but lsquoWorthrsquo is simultaneously a verb (action) an adjective (description) and a noun (per-son place or thing) The verb form of lsquoWorthrsquo actually generated this entire article

ldquoA single idea the sudden flash of a thought may be worth a million dollarsrdquo Robert Collier

lsquoWorthrsquo turns out to be a very ancient word1

Though spelled differently by cultures throughout history the value of the word lsquoWorthrsquo as a verb means lsquoto becomersquo lsquoto turnrsquo lsquoto overturnrsquo lsquohe turnsrsquo The lsquoWorthrsquo of anyone or anything is not what it has been - or is now in the moment - but what it can become from this moment

1 [Merriam-Webster dictionary Middle English from old English weorthan akin to old High German wer-dan to become Latin vertere to turn Lithuanian versti to overturn sanskrit vartate he turns First Known Use before 12th century]

No matter how people pronounce the word lsquoworthrsquo around the world in the end the concept translates into a form of valuation Worth is the value of a person place or thing and that value is completely subjec-tive to whoever is assessing that value lsquoNet Worthrsquo - the accounting calculation that subtracts all known liabilities from all known assets in a business resulting in a positive or negative net worth ndash is the common western measurement of being successful It is a form of simplified lsquoscoringrsquo system that shows quickly how much a place or thing is worth how well a person is doing financially

ldquoEducation is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is

worth knowing can be taughtrdquo Oscar Wilde

With a little practice you can train yourself to add up values and net worth in your head The problem with net worth is it is a flat straight-line equation You make up numbers about the value of a person place or thing compare it to others of lesser equal and greater value then place its worth on a chart for all to review challenge or agree with

Thing is Net Worth is a linear calculation lsquoHeartWorthrsquo is not Ultimately anything or any-onersquos net worth can be added up Even when involving a million parts Net worthrsquos are written recorded as yet another score in some chart or book HeartWorth is more of a quantum effect incalculable as a real number though some do try because well thatrsquos what makes reasonable sense to them It is for this very need to make reasonable sense of HeartWorthrsquos effect in the world which those who seek to record it fail They miss the point in a big way

ldquoThe glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than moneyrdquo Thomas Jefferson

What is lsquoHeartWorthrsquo What is it all about HeartWorth is about the possibilities that exist within the minds imaginations and desires of human beings There has never existed does not now exist nor ever will exist a method mathematic or machine that can even remotely calculate the potential of a purpose-driven human being Especially if you have imagi-nation and desire to accomplish something far greater than building a big bank account

ldquoThe unexamined life is not worth livingrdquo Socrates

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

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NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 25: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page25

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Heartworth verses

Networth

THoUGHTs before coffee

At seven years old I asked my father what the largest number was He told me to think of the largest number imaginable and then add lsquo1rsquo to it He said ldquoNo matter how big a number may be it can always have one more added to itrdquo Powerful information for a seven year old

My mother raised me with a liberal entrepreneur perspective My father raised me to respect the creative power of ideas be a good steward of my finances and to never shy away from hard work The results Irsquom a liberal capitalist with a work ethic and that pretty much sums up my world view Whereas I donrsquot expect something for nothing on the same token what I earn is my right to do with as I choose and no one elsersquos It also means that I am very generous with my time money and abilities because ideas are the fuel of our futures Believe in ideas and the people who create them There are no lsquomeaning-lessrsquo ideas

ldquoFar and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doingrdquo Theodore Roosevelt

lsquoMeaninglessrsquo to one person may be lsquopricelessrsquo to another As the old adage goes ldquoone manrsquos garbage is another manrsquos treasurehelliprdquo oftimes in the pursuit of higher and higher net worth we fail to find the real treasures within ourselves and those around us The real treasure is not Net Worth but HeartWorth HeartWorth will ener-gize your business relationships and commu-nity Net worth will impress your investors Your HeartWorth is what resonates emotionally with the majority of people case in pointhellip saving thirty cents per gallon on a thousand gallons of

fuel is interesting to accountants Using ten gallons of that fuel to deliver food to the elderly is inspiring to everyone

ldquoFeelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated mis-takes are tolerated communication is open and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing familyrdquo Virginia Satir

People like to confuse lsquoworthrsquo with lsquowealthrsquo The ques-tion always comes up as to lsquowhat is he or she worthrsquo and the response is in terms of dollars That is all too often the easy answer to give However HeartWorth is anecdotal Your lsquoHeartWorthrsquo value is in the effect of your actions on the lives of others Mind you it is not necessary to donate an unhealthy number of hours or dollars to generate large returns of HeartWorth You must be willing to commit consistency of your com-mitment will be seen heard and felt by those around you

You may even be noticed by the media and acknowl-edged for your commitment Then tens of thousands of strangers will know about you your business and what you are really up to making happen in the world This is powerful To them you are worth one above average To your partners employees family and com-munity your worth is a gazillion trillion billion million + 1

ldquoI never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident they came by workrdquo Plato

ldquoOnly a life lived for others is worth livingrdquo Albert Einstein

Be The Boss Magazine

page26

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 26: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 27: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page27

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 28: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page28

MAY-JU

NE 2012

ever before has so much informa-tion been so readily available We have more information at our fin-

gertips than ever and it gets easier every day to gather more data and facts The Internet has opened more doors for infor-mation exchange than previous genera-tions imagined

As many sites found on-line there are just as many reasons to gather information savvy business owners use the Internet to stay current on industry events and news to communicate important details quickly and across large audiences increase their network and sphere of influence and so on As with everything negative effects can be found aplenty Disreputable or lazy business owners have equal access to the

same unlimited source of information The reality is that the more credible you are and the larger your network becomes the more likely you are to fall victim to a ldquocopy Paste Misdeedrdquo What would you do if you discovered someone had copied your orig-inal work and signed their name to it What should you do when your work is regularly copied I am routinely the recipient of the dreaded copy Paste Misdeed and it tastes terrible Nothing can prepare you for the sinking feeling of discovering someone blatantly taking credit for your efforts This happens to me regularly and really stinks

As many times my work is copied pasted and re-credited some things have helped me successfully plow forward

N

coPY-PAsTEMIsDEED

coPING WITHTHE

MIcHELLE

KETTERMAN

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 29: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page29

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

ldquoAs many sites found

on-line there are just

as many reasons to

gather infomatiionrdquo

1 Remain focused ndash This is hard when the copy Paste Misdeed is discovered but it is critical to not let the unethical behavior of others sway you from your path Do not get caught up in the crisis of being copied

2 Be flattered ndash The old adage of imitation being the best form of flattery is true I cre-ated the industryrsquos first certification program when none others existed It was loudly ridiculed and condemned but since then there have been at least 4 imitations none as comprehensive as oursLaugh ndash If you look for humor in the copy Paste Misdeed you will inevitably find it For example someone actually copied our code of Ethics There is true comedy in that

3 Be Grateful ndash copies are copies Typically the message is further diluted with each imitation In every case the culprits were discovered by their own actions I had no hand in it

4 Donrsquot stoop ndash Being a victim of the copy Paste Misdeed does not give permission to stoop to the same level Ever Period

5 Educate ndash A positive awareness campaign is priceless and can be used to your advantage

If you become a victim of a copy Paste Misdeed do not despair Take control stay the course take heart and carry on

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

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NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

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2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 30: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page30

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Your Netw$rk = Your Net W$rthBy Dawniel Patterson-Winningham

Growing up I always heard from my grandfather ldquoit is not what you know but who you knowrdquo As children however we often do as we see and not as we are told My grandfather was a hard worker and so I learned from him that hard work was the end all and be all

As I ventured into corporate America his words continued to haunt me over and over however it was not until I started my transition into the private sector that his words really hit home

I began to see small business owners who were pouring their lifeblood into their businesses but continuing to fail all around me By that same token there were business owners that were balancing hard work and the art of networking and coming out successful

Yes you read that right the ART of networking because it is indeed an art

There are many ways that you can network both online and in person that will serve to build your business ventures

social Media1 Make it your business to know your facebook friends and twitter followers Donrsquot just grow the number Reach out to them to see what you can do for them and I can assure you they will return the favor2 Work to grow your social media with those who have similar businesses along with those who may need your business For example if you are a publisher then of course you would look for aspir-ing authors and authors as well as other publishers to be a part of your network3 Watch and learn from your network once your network is built you will receive clues about industry happenings and events that you may want to attend based on what your ldquofriendsrdquo are doing

In Person1 Make sure you balance business needs with getting out and meeting people each month2 Take plenty of business cards with you and donrsquot be afraid to mix and mingle with the people you donrsquot know3 Look for opportunities to attend sponsor and host events that will keep the mix of people you are meeting diverse There is no need to attend an event in which the same people attend repeatedly Each new contact is a potential new business customer partner or supplier4 Be prepared to speak on your business offer a door prize or other opportunity to the host in order to gain time just to speak about what you do Just developing one valuable contact will be more than worth your donation5 Make yourself memorable When you return to your office connect with all of the people you met via email social media or phone Donrsquot overdo it but let them know you remember them what they do and that you will keep them in mind in case a need for their services arises and that you hope they will do the same for youRemember in business a lot is riding on those who you associate with If you donrsquot know who the players are in your city and in your industry a quick glance at social media will give you the clues you need Who knows maybe in time people will be looking to gain introductions to YoUBuild your network and build your net worth

wwwgirlpowercom

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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-JU

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2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

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2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

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NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 31: Be The Boss May-June

THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMPANY LOGO DAYNA OFFUTT

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a logo is a noun defined as ldquoa device design or figure used as an identifying markrdquo

Determining how your organization will be viewed can be an overwhelming task With the abundance of companies and the multitude of logos in existence there are numerous factors to consider when creating a unique and effective hallmark

1 Color Which color(s) will be associated with the company and why are these colors appropriate How many colors will be used for the full-color version of the brand identity Should the logo consist of more than one color Always request a black or grayscale version of your logo for advertising media printing in only black ink

2 Memorable As my Aunt Margaret says ldquoYou have to train the brainrdquo The selected logo for any company should be appealingly memorable Is a symbol necessary or would a word mark suffice Notable logotypes consisting of only text include Carolrsquos Daughter (wwwcarolsdaughtercom) and Inc (wwwinccom) Click the links to view the logos

3 Multifunctional During the creation process it would be wise to request a multifunctional logo This refers to how the logo will ldquoworkrdquo when used in various formats and output in several dimensions Unless you are using a word mark it may be useful to have at least two versions of the logo created including a horizontal and a vertical identity Imagine the logo being used in an advertisement The only available space is portrait measuring 2rdquo wide by 35rdquo in height It may not seem like much but 15rdquo of space could make a huge difference in how legible the logo is when resizing it to fit into a 2rdquo ad space

These are just a few parts to a whole system of what to consider when creating your company logo Visit your local library bookstore or surf the web to become more educated on the subject

Have a graphic design question Send an email to Dayna bossdayofdesigningcom

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

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MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

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MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 32: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page32

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Yoursquore healthy Maybe you donrsquot work out or find yourself in a gym regularly but you keep busy ndash laundry dishes washing your car ndash and those all count right

Listen up If you are a healthy individual with no risk of cardiovascular disease these types of light activities donrsquot meet the daily exercise requirements stated by the American Heart Association and American college of sports Medicine In fact their daily requirements are quite a bit higher ndash but not unachievable especially with the help of a personal trainer

The AHA and AcsM recommend that you do at least 30 minutes of moderate activity 5 days a week and 20 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week in addition to regular aerobic cardiovascular exercise Add in the fact that muscular endurance muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise needs to be performed at least two times per

week on nonconsecutive days and it all starts to sound a bit overwhelming

so what does all that mean exactly Vigorous activity can be jogging running gardening or manual labor while moderate activity would be walking a flight of stairs or walking a pace of about 4 mph Endurance strengthening and flexibility exercises should involve 8 to 10 exercises with a weight that can be lifted a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 repetitions

I understand that even for the most motivated individual it can be difficult to meet your fitness needs on your own ndash mapping out a fitness routine that fits with your current fitness level lifestyle and schedule can be difficult This is where help from a certified and educated individual can get you started on a

routine that is right for you

Your fitness goals do not have to be out of reach ndash donrsquot let fear of failure or fear of taking that first step keep you from enriching your life Itrsquos a scary thought but sedentary individuals are two-times as likely to develop coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease compared to someone who leads an active lifestyle As a certified trainer itrsquos a personal mission of mine to help my clients reach their goals and add years to their life in the process

Looking for a certified personal trainer in your area I can help Interviewing trainers can be a daunting task especially when you donrsquot know the right questions to ask With our Find Me a Trainer program we will research your area the available gymstrainers within your specified distance availabilities within your desired times personality preferences etc Then I will interview and collaborate with the top three trainers within your parameters to find you the right fit Interested Email me and mention Be The Boss for special pricing

As a certified Personal Trainer with an Ms in Exercise science from Indiana University Purdue University Matt Newman AcsM ndash cPT uses his experience and training as cornerstones of his training philosophy Matt creates a unique training experience for every client Mattrsquos number one priority is to help his clients succeed in their fitness journey by giving them the best answers and solutions for their personal exercise needs whether training directly under him or not

Email mgmnewmannyahoocom

An active lifestyle isnrsquot out of reach

by Matt Newman

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 33: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page33

MAY

-JU

NE

2012Written by Michael Battaglia

A text came into my phone yesterday my client was in the hospital due to an accident at work he was going to have surgery in the morning His wife is worried because he is self-employed now he canrsquot work for a few weeks and they have a deductible to pay I text her back and get some claim forms together At the end of all this they will have around $10K to live on after they pay their deductible You see this problem was solved 8 months ago when we put the right insurance in place Itrsquos the best feeling in the world to have made the solution possible Thatrsquos why I do what I do

Isnrsquot it every childrsquos dream to grow up to be an insurance agent Itrsquos right up there with policeman and fireman ok Irsquoll admit it the last thing I thought I would ever be is an insurance agent But after a twenty-year career as a consultant helping business with software development business process reengineering and disaster recovery I was looking for something different Long story short letrsquos say I stumbled upon the individual insurance market

I started working as a captive agent (an agent that can only sell for one company) and quickly learned the industry and rose through the ranks I was able to develop a consultatory approach for maximizing benefits by utilizing needs analysis techniques and customizing insurance products to meet my clientrsquos needs After working for two agencies it became apparent that the products I could offer as a captive agent were too limiting and I was held hostage to the agencies whims It was time to use my entrepreneur experience and started my own agency

InsureYouToo is full service insurance agency offering Health Life Dental Accident Disability Long-Term care and other supplementary insurance products We represent all of the major health life disabilities and Long-Term care insurance carriers This allows us the flexibility to locate just the right insurance companies as well as insurance policy to accomplish your goals InsureYouToo has forged strategic partnerships apply non-traditional insurance products in ways that allow self-employed individuals to maximize cash flow and capture lost dollars

No matter where InsureYouToo goes in the future we will always be client focused our goal will be to stay focused on educating our clients because what we do is important

You can find out more about InsureYouToo by visiting our website wwwInsureYouToocom We are always tweeting useful information so be sure to follow InsureYouToo or just lsquolikersquo us on facebookcomInsureYouTooFan

www InsureYouToocom ndash twitter InsureYouToo ndash LinkedIn wwwlinkedincominmikebattaglia

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 34: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page34

MAY-JU

NE 2012

After yoursquove written a press release now you want someone to read it Right The next step will be to distribute it After all thatrsquos why you wrote the press releasemdashto announce news about your company to the world

Publishing press or news releases is an effective way to boost your ranking in the search engines and drive traffic to your site The links created by publishing a press release can continue to send visitors to your site for months even years

Yoursquoll find there are two main ways to distribute press releases also called PRs free and paid distribution services

Free services include PR Log 24-7 Press Release and Free Press Release

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

L

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

FREE Vs PAID

Written by sandy Lawrence

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 35: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page35

ook Good and Inspire others to Actwhether to use free or paid press release distribution services

Paid services include PRWeb PR Newswire and Business Wire

Often press release distribution sites offer both free release and premium (paid) release options Many will distrib-ute the press release at no charge and then charge a premium (usually about $50 for sending to blogs search engine optimizers and other specific markets)

Before discussing whether free or paid distribution services are the way to go for your business here are a few tips on how to find a good PR site

bull SEO Reputable PR sites will allow you to use anchor text and text links back to your website You should be able to easily opti-mize your release for the search engines (usually a premium fea-ture)

bull PageRank The PR site should have a PageRank of at least 5 The higher the PageRank the better because sites with high PageRank are considered authority sites in search engine results

bull Helpandtestimonials Most high-caliber PR sites are transpar-ent and show you testimonials and samples of effective press releases They want your PR to succeed so they will give you online tips to help you write a winning PR and show you examples of what the service has done for others

bull Tags The site should never use NoFollow tags As the name implies NoFollow tags stop the reader from following the link so they wonrsquot see your website NoFollow tags defeat the purpose of sending out a press release

Now that you know what to look for in a press release distribution site how do you decide whether to use a free or paid service

Keep in mind that paid sites will typically give you more features than free sites Compare the free distribution with the paid upgrade on any PR site and yoursquoll see that the paid options have more ben-efits Free PR sites work very well for many types of releases but the paid sites give you extras such as live social media streams more links and anchor text media attachments and faster publishing

Free sites with PageRank 5 or above work well if yoursquore submitting releases on a regular basis Even if they take a few days to publish your PR yoursquore creating a steady stream of (free) publicity for your company However if your company tends to issue only a few press releases a year you may want to pay for the perks that premium sites offer In particular you may want the metrics that paid distribu-tion often includes

The free sites also tend to take a little longer to use than the paid sites You may need to format your PR a little dif-ferently for a free site This takes time which may not be a good tradeoff for free PR distribution

Carefully consider which route you want to go when itrsquos time to distribute press releases Free PR can be wonderful but sometimes the paid services give you more bang for your buck

Contact me if you have any questions or thoughts

Sandy LawrenceEmail sandylawrenceperceptivemarket-ingcom Website wwwperceptivemarketingcom

Follow meFacebook - wwwfacebookcomthesandylaw-renceLinkedIn - httpwwwlinkedincomsan-dylawrenceTwitter - httpstwittercomsandylawrence

P R E s s R E L E A s EDIsTRIBUTIoN sERVIcEs

Written by sandy Lawrence

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 36: Be The Boss May-June

Business isBUsINEss Is BUsINEssWe choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be The Boss Magazine

page36

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Business is business is business right If yoursquore a small business owner you may disagree with this statement I bet you know that if yoursquore a BIG business you have an entirely different set of worries ways of marketing methods of running your business than if yoursquore a micro enterprise ndash a mom and pop business Another statement that doesnrsquot ring true to me (and Irsquoll bet to you either) is that the government considers a small business to be anyone that has fewer than 500 employees Tell me would you like to trade your small business for one that has 499 employees sure they have issues to deal with but Irsquoll bet theyrsquore not the same as yours for the most part

While all businesses have to market have to balance the books have HR issues when yoursquore a very small

business yours are multiplied 10-fold ldquoFor an entrepreneurrdquo says Phillip Forsythe president of Forsythe and Long Engineering ldquoyour number-one resource is time You canrsquot afford to hire other people so if you canrsquot do something yourself you canrsquot do it your time limits the growth of your company and you can get into a real hole All those little back-office distractions take away from the thing you should be focusing on which is your businessrdquo (Internet)

so given a finite amount of time to work oN your business as well as IN your business (especially if yoursquore like me and are a one person operation) what are the most important things for you to concentrate on I read an article not long ago that was talking about the four important parts of running a business and asked us to rank them from 1 to 4 Production marketing price and customer service were the different parts and what they believed to be the 1 item was marketing They showed that you can have the best widget in the world but if people donrsquot know about it they canrsquot buy it Price while important is not number one because people will pay a high price for something if they deem it valuable enough customer service too is very important for if you buy something and the service that surrounds it is not high quality people will tend to not come back even if the product is great That leaves marketing If a company markets something well it doesnrsquot have to

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 37: Be The Boss May-June

We choose to work with clients who strongly beleive in the power of design

Be the Boss Magazine

page37

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

About Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher is the creative Director of Business success Unlimited an educational and training program for entrepreneurs and small business owners Ms Becher started this organization in the Washington Dc area in 1990 when she realized that there were a great many solopreneurs and homebased businesses that were looking for ways to share in networking ideas and philosophies Hearing ldquoIrsquom so alone I donrsquot know where to turnrdquo she felt that it was time to create a program that not only brought people together so that they werenrsquot so alone but to help guide them through training and education that brought out hands-on ldquobeen there done thatrdquo experiences led by experts in their fields

she has also owned and managed The Work Place since 1978 During her college years she started this administrative services organization to help pay tuition but before long she and her parents ran 5 offices in Michigan and two in the Dc area Here Ms Becher worked with various businesses (both renting them office space and handling all aspects of their administrative needs) she put her research background to work in writing and documenting many different projects for her clients and was instrumental in creating a joint business between an American firm and a saudi business doing import-export Much of her work has been in helping her clients write business plans as well as doing marketing research

Ms Becher has been involved in various organizations both in Washington Dc area and in Michigan

be the best item and people will still want it The price can be high but if marketed well people view it as valuable and will pay the price And even if customer service is not all that great with good marketing people will flock to the product anyway Interesting huh

successful small business owners recognize the need to educate themselves on a tremendous variety of subjects in order to stay current and relevant small business marketing is at the top of the list so my advice to you is to find everything you can on marketing ndash and ask yourself does this make sense for you and for your business How do you incorporate similar marketing What all is involved in marketing once you have these questions answered then sit down and draw a plan that uses different marketing techniques to showcase your business

Like us on Facebook wwwfacebookcomsmallbizjunkie

connect with us on LinkedIn httpwwwlinkedininnancybecher

Twtter connect httpstwittercomsmallbizjunkie

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 38: Be The Boss May-June

Five Keys to cUsToMER RetentionThe purpose of being in business is to grow you business over tme I canrsquot think of too many businesses (not any really) where the goal is to open and remain exactly the same size

Be The Boss Magazine

page38

MAY-JU

NE 2012

The most effective way to grow your business is by retaining your present customers customer retention is important to the long ndashterm success as the cost to gain a new customer is anywhere from 5 to 10 times the cost of retaining an existing customer

According to the Technical Research Assistance Program (TARP) 68 of customer defections occur because the customer feels poorly treated This next statement is shocking only 4 of the defecting customers bother to tell the business owner why they chose to do business elsewhere ndash the other 96 of defecting customers just silently disappear

Retention efforts must be a priority for the following reasons ndash 1 Retention is the key to long-term growth 2 Retention efforts create loyal customers 3 Loyal customers help to establish your brand in the marketplace 4 Loyalty leads to referrals According to a TARP study when interviewing marketing executives from 200 companies all state that at least 25 (and in some cases as high as 75) of their new customers were obtained via referrals Here are 5 keys to customer retention that will turn your customer into a low cost marketing department

1 Determine whatrsquos important to your customers This is done during the initial contact with your customer Assess what your customer needswants and get agreement on what your customer expects to receive This sets the tone for the relationship

2 Meet or exceed your customersrsquo expectations Deliver what you agreed to deliver and what your customer expects you to deliver You must be consistent here if you hope to retain customers Get this one right Your reputation is at stake How much will it cost you to fix any issues in order to meet your customerrsquos expectations Letrsquos do the math if your

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 39: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page39

MAY

-JU

NE

2012service is worth $7500 per hour and it costs you 2 hours to correct an issue thatrsquos $15000

Now remember you could have possibly utilized those 2 hours to service another customer so thatrsquos an additional $15000 The inability to meet customer expectations may result in a lost customer How much is that customer worth Letrsquos get the calculator out again If your customer spends an average of $15000 per month thatrsquos $180000 annually Not much you might say but what if that number increases to 10 lost customers Thatrsquos possibly $1800000 in lost revenue Now remember customers talk to others about your business even more so when their experience is negative If 10 other people are told about the not so pleasant experience thatrsquos another possible $1800000 in lost revenue

3 communicate regularly with your customers Provide timely updates and progress reports solicit performance feedback via customer service surveys or phone calls Your customer feels valued when you seek out their opinion Advise of new offerings upgrades or productservice enhancements that create a better experience for your customer Find ways to say ldquoThank Yourdquo on a regular basis

4 Empower your employees Provide your employees with the proper ldquotoolsrdquo to service your customers The ldquotoolsrdquo that I am referring to include productservice knowledge training and customer service skills training Give your employees options for resolving customer issues Proper ldquotoolsrdquo create confident employees who in turn create loyal customers

5 Value customer complaints A complaining customer is your best friend I can already hear you saying ldquocome on Errol how is a complaining customer my best friendrdquo Glad you asked A complaining customer provides an insight into areas of opportunities within your business before a negative pattern develops possibly resulting in a defection of customers In bringing their dissatisfaction to your attention the complaining customer is providing you with the opportunity to retain their business by correcting the issue versus just silently disappearing and telling 10 to 20 others about their negative experience create a database to monitor complaints by type and occurrence Develop corrective actions to insure that you are consistently providing a great customer service experience

Take the time to focus on your customer retention strategy Your long ndash term success depends on your ability to get your present customers to be your referral ambassadors

Errol Allen has over 25 years of experience in the customer service

industry including 13 years in a management role Errol has worked

in several industries within the service sector He has hands on

knowledge of interacting with customers whether in person or over

the phone Having held positions as an Internal customer service

consultant call center Quality Manager and operations Analyst Errol

understands the need for a ldquosystemsrdquo orientation to providing excellent

customer service He is experienced in facilitating interdepartmental

process improvement projects to insure efficient service delivery

to both internal and external customers Errol has also designed

customer service training programs for the ldquofront linerdquo associate to insure employee confidence when interacting

with customers He is a member of the American society of Quality which promotes the practical application

of quality knowledge across multiple industries Errol is the publisher of ldquoNow Thatrsquos customer servicerdquo a

monthly online newsletter offering practical customer service tips and real life customer service experiences

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 40: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page40

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Recently I got into a discussion with a friend about podcasts A few years ago podcasts were all the

rage and everyone was jumping on board There are podcasts I would subscribe to and after just a few weeks the authors would lose interest and the feeds would stop updatingToday most of that has run its course and weeded out the ones who are less serious Podcasts today can be very entertaining but also very educational Irsquod like to take a minute to share with you some podcast tips on how to improve your business Podcasts can be a very good way of keeping up with new business tools technology and ideas dur-ing the day on your commute or while you are exercising

Just about any MP3 player smart phone tablet or computer will play a podcast I have an iPod I use just because my Bionic battery struggles enough getting through the day I also use iTunes to update my podcasts although there are many ways of subscribing to updates and putting them on your device You can search and find one that meets your needs easily

some of my favorite podcasts that I would recommend are from a vari-ety of sources I listen to a lot of tech heavy podcasts Leo Laporte is considered by many to be the definitive source for tech podcasts He has built an entire brand around this This Week in Tech pod-cast He now has that one as well as This Week in Google (which also talks a lot about cloud technologies) These are two of my favorites Leo and his guests are entertaining and informative and all of his catalogue of podcasts is very professionally doneThe Wall street Journal also has an excellent catalogue of podcasts My favorites from them are Wall street Journal This Morning Wall street Journal on small Business and Wall street Journalrsquos Your Money Matters

The Harvard Business Review also has the HBR Idea cast with the tagline ldquoBringing you the analysis and advice of the leading minds in managementrdquo The HBR is one of the biggest names in small business and entrepreneurship and I highly recommend this weekly podcast It covers everything from work-life balance to motivation

Written by Robert New

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARN

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 41: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page41

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

PoDcAsTs AGreat WAY

To LEARNone more that I recommend is The smallbiz Brain This podcast is hosted by David Wolf and includes experts and leaders in the world of small business This podcast is also a weekly podcast

There are many ways of finding new podcasts and I hope if you arenrsquot familiar with podcasting you will give a few of these a listen Who knows you might hear a solution to problem or a get an idea for a great start-up If you find any not mentioned here let me know Irsquom always search-ing for new podcasts to check out

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 42: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page42

MAY-JU

NE 2012

social Media has been a passion of mine for a number of years Anyone that knows me knows I know social media like the back of my hand When I started this journey it wasnrsquot with the intent of becom-ing an sM Guru it was so that I can understand how these sites worked and how I can maximize them to increase my own network sphere of influence and business opportunities Through the years I have found that the words social Media boils down to only one word

RELATIoNsHIPsLet me take a moment to hand off some of the pertinent information I have learned and save you some of the time it took me to solve this sM puzzle Four necessary websites are

Twitter - Twitter is a site that allows you to search out keywords known as hashtags so you can find rel-evant information to you Through the relationships you build you will be able to find what you need when you need it The key is to post or tweet at optimal times

Facebook - It can be used in any number of ways but when used for business it can expand your reach indefinitely Post information that your network will use When they are in need of your product or ser-vice they call you first This is called ToMA - top of mind awareness

Bundle Post - BP helps you find content in a matter of minutes instead of hours with the use of keywords through Google Alerts

Hootsuite - Hootsuite allows you to schedule the content that Bundle Post has found so it looks like you are always on Facebook and Twitter

With that connect build and nurture your online relationships they can make all the dif-ference in your business and life

socIAL MEDIA 101 JULIA HULL

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 43: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page43

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

list of sixteen objections written on the backs of 3rdquox5rdquo cards with the answers written on the other side I would lay them out in front of me when I made my calls and when someone gave me an objection over the phone I would pick up the card and read the answer on the other side

Lead organization - I always and I mean ALWAYs have my leads ready to go before I make my calls Have enough leads pres-ent that you can call through each one and hit your call goal

Your schedule - commit an hour on sunday nights to create your schedule for the entire week

so I will leave you with this work the system the system works Happy selling

Work The systemhellip because the system works Anyone that has read my facebook page will see me post that state-ment whenever I get off the phone with clients

Let me define the system The system is a specific number of phone calls you commit to making on a daily basis However it is not just the phone calls that define the system There are other factors involved A call script or bullet points to help keep you on track with your calls A list of objections and rebuttals to assist you through the countless rejections you will receive Have your leads ready ahead of time Your schedule is necessary as well But the key ingredient to making the system truly work is a zen like release of the results Keep in mind you can only influence the results not con-trol them You have zero control over who answers the phone or when as well as what is going on in that personrsquos life when they do answer the phone They may have just gotten the call from the doctor to tell them that the cancer results came back pos-itive The only two things you can control are your attitude and effort hence the reason for letting go of the results and commit to the process The law of averages will take over in direct proportion to the number of calls you make on a daily basis and you WILL set appointments or make sales no matter what

Letrsquos delve further into the elements of the system

The call script or Bullet Points - the reason for this is simple it will give you confidence when you call You have a firm foundation to work from on the call The confidence will come through on the call and will increase your chances of having positive results

objection List and Rebuttals - when I first started with cutco cutlery and Vector Marketing I had a

WRITTEN BY DAN PEREZ

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 44: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page44

MAY-JU

NE 2012

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 45: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page45

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

What is social MediaFacebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

social media is a type of online media that speeds up conversation as opposed to traditional media which delivers content but doesnrsquot allow followers to interact It allows you to participate in conversa-tions sharing and networking online Giving you what Newspapers Magazines Radio and TV never could - a chance to be engaged and engage with otherssocial media has gained the attention of people all over the world because itrsquos fun and a great way to connect with new friends and reconnect with friends and family Thanks to social media itrsquos easy to share your ideas photos videos likes and dislikes with the world at large - and find out what they think of them

You can now find friends business contacts and become part of many different communities Businesses of all sizes are experimenting with social media marketing and many are gaining new cus-tomers by connecting visibility and self-promotion

Facebook is the 1 social networking site in the world With the new Timeline it is easier for entrepre-neurs non-profits and small businesses to share pagestabs and communicate with potential customers to increase profits reduce advertising expenses and market business by leveraging the power and reach of Facebook Jim Lupkin of summa social in a recent interview with Inc Magazine said ldquoWith a powerful social media plan in place any small business owner can level the competitive playing field If you have a product that people want and it is priced correctly then you have no competitionmdashexcept yourselfrdquo He has been using social media marketing for 15 years before it was known as ldquosocial mediardquo He and his part-ners recently launched the first-of-its-kind ldquoVirtual Total social Media Agencyrdquo service being marketed by consultants with social outbreak Katie Wegg offers this amazing service that allows a small business to have direct access to a full-service social media agency for $50 a month she also offers workshops in the Indianapolis area for businesses in a user-friendly hands-on format to help participants understand how to make social media work for them Not claiming to be an expert in social media but is proof that anyone can learn social Media if used effectively your business will be thriving in 5 years those that donrsquot wonrsquot so what do you have to lose

socIAL oUTBREAK KATIE WEGG

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 46: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page46

MAY-JU

NE 2012

stay InTouch

Written by Danielle Mohr

Are you one of the 40 of sales people that do NoT follow-up with a prospect If yes I applaud you However if you are one of those that do follow-up how do you keep in contact with those you have networked with or met How do you set yourself apart from others in your industry

The first idea someone has to stay in touch is using e-mails While it is convenient to send emails you need to make these attempts personal Write and send a personal e-mails asking how the customerclient is and briefly share a couple sentences what you have been doing This isnrsquot a sales solicitation And yes the phone still workshellip pick it up dial and say ldquoHellordquo

The goal is to try to stay in touch with your customers clients and prospects on a regular basis Eighty percent of sales are made between the 5th- 12th interaction A hand-written note is a great way to show you care and stand out from the crowd send the card to your customerclient on special occasions and send them ldquojust becauserdquo for fun amp a positive contact with your

recipient send out seasonal cards ndash I have a client who swears by sending Thanksgiving cards for his business It is his moment to express his gratitude for their relationship and business By sending Thanksgiving cards he believes he is standing out among the traditional holiday card

While holidays are a great time to send out cards you can get pretty creative when to send other cards to have an opportunity to make those customerclient contacts Try sending recipe postcards or themed cards ldquospring Ahead ndash set Your clocks Forwardrdquo or notes of appreciation ldquoThanks for your business or Thanks for the Referralrdquo with a gift card to a coffee shop or such send notes about career changes marriage new houses babies and sympathy cards The gesture goes a long way These handwritten notes carry a great return on the networking you began

The underlying key no matter what form you use to stay in touch is to build the relationship You will quickly learn that appreciation will ldquowinrdquo over self-promotion every time and I have just the tool to help you succeed The first step is up to you

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 47: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page47

MAY

-JU

NE

2012AIM FoR THE BULLs EYE

WRITTEN BY ToNI HARRIs

Have you ever played darts and hit the bullseye or shot a gun at a tin can Hit a hole in one or more importantly set a goal and achieved it In all these scenarios it feels great when you actually hit the target But before you have the success of hitting the mark you first have to aim for the target Picture this you are doing target practice and you want to hit the bullseye but you just pick up the bow and arrow and let it go Is it likely to hit the target Not hardly Now letrsquos do it again You see the target and you examine it for distance size and the center bullseye You pick up your bow and arrow you strategically use your eye hand coordination and you aim carefully for the

target At the point when you think you have it lined up just right you let go of the arrow with just enough force to reach the target and to hit the center

Itrsquos the same way with hitting your goals and dreams The number one thing is you have to know where you are aiming Whatrsquos your vision can you picture it Personally my vision is to be on the big stage in front of more than 50000 sharing my message of success I am laying the foundation to get there and am on target to hit the bullseye

The second step is to have the right tools If I was throwing a steak knife at the target would I likely hit the bullseye Not likely I have to have the tools of a bow and arrow to make sure I hit my target What tools are you using to hit your target Are you doing the right things and laying the foundation you need to make sure that you hit the target Networking is my ldquobow and arrowrdquo that I use to hit my bulls eye As a result of networking I have the privilege of speaking at the Frasernet Powernetworking conference the largest Black business conference in America in Dallas this June I have had a coaching session with the great Iyanla Vanzant who has her own program on the oWN network and as a result of networking I have my own radio show beginning June 4th on 1230 KQUE AM certainly the tool of networking is serving me well in hitting my bulls eye What tools are in your quiver

The third step is to shoot the arrow It does you know good to look at the target or get the right tools if you never shoot the arrow When looking to achieve your goals it is imperative that you take aim and fire Execute your plans Go after what you want Ask your network to support you Tell everyone what you are aiming at and they will help you If you do these things you are sure to hit your target Ready aim fire

Toni Harris also known as the Turnaround Queen is a speaker Radio show host certified Dream coachreg and author she is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal professional and financial goals contact Toni at 713-387-9273 or tonitoniharrisspeakscom

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 48: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page48

MAY-JU

NE 2012 sTREAMs oF

INcoME

DEVELoPING MULTIPLE

As a new business owner we often look at our current salary and guess that we will make a bit less when we start out on our own That at least is what I thought I figured that by going out on my own I would eas-ily still be able to pay the bills and make my dreams come true This is definitely possible but the secret to your success lies in multiple streams of income

First identify what will be your core source of income This will be your bread and butter Think of the 8020 rule-most of your income will come from 20 of how you spend your time Write down this key competency and then think of ways to branch off of it For exam-ple as a certified nutritionist I knew my core was going to come from meal planning and private nutritional consulting However I also thought that if I became a certified personal trainer I could develop additional revenue This was a fantastic move because I was able to do private personal training as well as write cus-tomized fitness programs Next find a close friend or colleague and brainstorm on different things you could do Have them give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses (honestly) You may be pleasantly surprised on the possibilities At first you may think that these ideas are impos-sible-but I promise you theyrsquore not Every great thing in life starts with an idea Write down these ideas and start with your first few steps for each on how you can get started

Following this take a time to entrust your future with God This is hands down my favorite method for seeing more prosperity and abun-dance in my life I will tell God what I would like to see happen let Him know that I have no idea how it will and just trust he will give me the wis-dom to be competent And guess what so far I am batting 100 with Him on my side Itrsquos crazy but even if you go into something feeling you are not competent and you canrsquot even fathom a posi-tive outcome He will help make it happen Itrsquos so amazing Finally stay cutting edge What I mean by this is make sure you are staying current to see what opportunities comes you way I just had someone find me on Pinterest and they ended up contacting me about nutritional consulting I also discovered how easy it is to write your own book and self-publish it digitally-this is a great stream of revenue so before you put all your eggs in one basket take a look at your revenue stream and identify ways to expand that Whether it is your core area of competency or a new idea based on current trends you can easy generate many ways to earn additional income sometimes you have to take your initial perceptions and give them a new perspective-you may be pleasantly surprised at the resultsr

Written by Kim coventry

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 49: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page49

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 50: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page50

MAY-JU

NE 2012

carol smithconnect with carol

650-275-3817

Danielle Mohr cards and Mohr

connect with Danielle

sabine BarnettLiving Well with Healing Essentioal oils

connect with sabine

Michelle KettermanThe Inventory Institute connect with Michelle

Melissa AllenDominoe Barter

connect with Melissa

Laurie sullivanPlexus simply Pink

connect with Laurie

Margie BaxleyVirtual Margie

connect with Margie

PREFERREDBusiness Directory

The Preferred Business Directory is no

ordinary directory This is not just a list of businesses

This directory is designed to help you to grow your professional network instantly Everyone in our directory is a business owner who is a true lsquobusiness connectorrsquo dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the personrsquos Facebook fan page or to their website When you join their fan pages be sure to leave a note and introduce yourself

Building a strong network is vital to business today Be sure toconnect with each person in our directory and start the process of building new friendships alliances and referral partners

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 51: Be The Boss May-June

Be the Boss Magazine

page51

MAY

-JU

NE

2012

Marla stochXocai

connect with Marla

Bob New Linton-cole

connect with Bob

Patty FarmerBiz Link Global

connect with Patty

shelly RiceThe Referral Machineconnect with shelly

Katie Weggsocial outbreak

connect with Katie

Dayna offuttDay of Designing

connect with Dayna

Julia Hullcalifornia Real Estate Mart

connect with Julia

catherine MorganPoint A to Point B Transitions Inc

connect with catherine

Mark Werner Miracles Through Water

connect with Mark

Amanda Parkercollective Alternative

connect with Amanda

Kristi WillisRodan and Fields Dermatologists

connect with Kristi

Alice schmittKara Vita

connect with Alice

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 52: Be The Boss May-June

page52

Kathy FriendFashion Writer

connect with Kathy

Linda FitzgeraldAffiliated Women International

connect with Linda

Lynn ZettlerLifeaction coachingconnect with Lynn

Debbie MurlinItWorks

connect with Debbie

Bonnie KarpaycEo space Houston

connect with Bonnie

K Andre AnktonInnovarus

ldquoconnect with K Andre

Darby RaeMerciful Law

connect with Darby

James BoggusGenesis Life Travel

connect with James

Dana MazureksoZo Life

connect with Dana

Purse Party Incconnect with Purse Party

888-367-0416

Angie RyaniZigg

connect with Angie

Dale LittleBusiness strategistconnect with Dale

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 53: Be The Boss May-June

page53

Joe chandlerconnect with Joe

Jennifer VarnderhoffLrsquoBEL

connect with Jennifer

Dawniel Patterson-Winninghamconnect with Dawniel

sandy LawrencePerceptive Marketingconnect with sandy

Ronette Woodorgana Gold

connect with Ronette

Robert christiansenchocolate Blues Director

connect with Robert

carole Garrettorgana Gold

connect with carole

Peggy LeNoueRodan + Fields

connect with Peggy

Dr carol WatsonJuice Plus

connect with carol

Toni HarrisTonia Harris speaksconnect with Toni

susan Endrissorgano Gold

connect with susan

sharon RowleyDove chocolate Discoveries

connect with sharon

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 54: Be The Boss May-June

page54

page54

Nancy BeecherBusiness success Unlimited

connect with Nancy

Michael BattagliaInsureYouToo

connect with Michael

Errol AllenErrol Allen consultingconnect with Allen

Dan Perezconnect with Dan

Kim coventryFitKim

connect wtih Kim

If yoursquore a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory you can

register on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation wwwBeTheBossMagazinecom or

Margie 8036731487

Amy Barnescorageous creativityconnect with Amy

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 55: Be The Boss May-June

page55

page55

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom

Page 56: Be The Boss May-June

Be The Boss Magazine

page56

MAY-JU

NE 2012

To subscribe please send your request with your address label to Address company House Business ParkTel 01234 567890Fax 01234 567890Web wwwyourcompanycomEmail infocompanycom