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INSPIRING YOU! INFORMING YOU! CONNECTING YOU!

Margie Baxley: Margie@BeTheBossMagazineShelly Rice: Shelly@BeTheBossMagazine

Inspiring You!Informing You!Connecting You!

Be The Boss MagazinePractical Advice for Business Success

Personal Stories of SuccessBusiness Opportunities

AndThe Preferred Business Directory

With Live Links to Grow Your Network Instantly

Margie Baxley: Margie@BeTheBossMagazineShelly Rice: Shelly@BeTheBossMagazine

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mBE THE BOSS MAGAZINE TABLE OF CONTENTS

8 Driving Action to Success

9 Style U

10 A Novel Slant

15 It’s February Already

19 Paying It Forward

22 Take Drastic Steps to Turn Your Life Around

26 In Love & In Business- Ross & Amanda

27 In Love & In Business- Scott & Camber

28 In Love & In Business- Gina & Tom

29 In Love & In Business- Janet & Everett

30 In Love & In Business- Tim & Danielle

31 In Love & In Business- Frank & Michelle

32 In Love & In Business- Simon & Nikole

33 In Love & In Business- Dennis & Sandra

34 Putting Your Relationship on a Diet Free From Negativity

38 Goal Setting: Aim for the Sweet Spot

39 Small Business Collaboration

43 Looking good and Inspiring Others to Act

47 Productive Relationships with Contract Employees and Interns

49 3 Ways to Turn Barter into Cash

Cover Story

IN Love AND IN BUSINeSS24

FeAtUre ArtICLeS

4 Be the Boss Blue Ribbon Awards

5 Right Brain Publishing

6 Facebook Fan Page Contest

7 Happy Valentines Day

12 Tuesdays at Two

16 Chocolate Blues and Networking Festivals ™

20 Thoughts Before Coffee

23 Women Who Mean Business

37 Mommy First

46 Speaker Spotlight

51 Preferred Business Directory

DepArtmeNtS

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BE THE BOSS BLUE RIBBON AWARDS

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RIGHT BRAIN PUBLISHING

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FACEBOOK FAN PAGE CONTEST

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HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

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cRUciaL connections

Whether you’re the top dog who owns your own business, or you’re the boss in a larger organization, connections with others outside of your four walls are more important than you may realize. We’ve all heard the old adage that ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ – and in the business world, who you know can open the door to career advancement and huge business opportunities.

Even though ‘networking’ seems to be such an overused term, it’s what we typically refer to as the activity of meeting others outside of our organization and exchanging contact information. The truth is, there is a difference between networking and making crucial connections. Networking builds your contact database. Making crucial connections builds your team of fans and referrals.

The key is, the more people who know what you do and how well you do it, the better your career and business will be. What’s the best way for people to remember you and what you do? Make a difference to them. Be genuinely interested in others. Look for how you can help them by connecting them to others who would benefit from knowing them. Be a connector.

are you networking or making crucial connections?

Check all those that apply.

1. I could easily contact at least 10 people who went to my high school or university. 2. I could easily contact at least 10 people from prior jobs that I’ve had.

3. I could easily contact at least 10 people that are contacts of my friends and family. 4. I could easily contact 10 people that I’ve met through an organization or club. 5. I make it a point to sit next to someone that I haven’t met when I attend a meeting of any kind. 6. I have an excellent ‘elevator’ speech and it’s very memorable. 7. I seek out opportunities to meet new people and ask about what they do. 8. I collect information about everyone I meet and add it to my Outlook contact list or I connect with him or her on social media. 9. I look for opportunities to connect people I’ve met to each other. 10. I look for opportunities to help and refer my connections in order to increase their business or contribute to their goals.

score:0-3 You are just getting started so i’m glad you’re reading this.4-7 You are on your way, but need more intentional action.8-10 You are a crucial connector!

If you scored less than an 8, you can probably benefit from some ideas on making more connections and finding more crucial connections, rather than just networking. Here’s just a few:

• Join groups like Toastmasters, golf leagues, gym/exercise classes, training classes, and civic organizations. • Volunteertogetmoreinvolvedintheorganizationsthat you join. Take on assignments that give you more visibility and the ability to get to know other members. • Schedule one-on-one meetings with people youmeet at lunches and networking events. • Volunteerforcommunityprojects.• Startyouownformalnetworkgrouporbookclub.• Volunteer to serve on a nonprofit board whosemission you are passionate about. (www.boardnetusa.org)• Volunteertopresentataprofessionalmeeting.

• Volunteer to work with your neighborhoodhomeowner’s association. What better way to make crucial connections than to start with your own neighbors!

Making Crucial Connections takes commitment and dedication. Benefits may not be seen immediately, but building your connections over time pays off exponentially in the long term.

If you’re interested in the complete Crucial Connections Workshop or other ways for you to improve your networking skills, please contact Lynn Zettler at lzettler@lifeaction-coaching.com and mention Be The Boss for a complimentary, one-on-one,hourcoachingsession.

DRIVING ACTION TO SUCCESSLYNN ZETTLER

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Does YoUR 2012 bUsiness PLan incLUDe image management?

This time of the year we review our personal and business lives; make a plan, create goals, develop action steps to achieve the goals and implement. Right?

As a small business owner it is easy to lose sight of what the real commodity is at your company…YOU. Your customers and potential customers look at YOUR personal image as a reflection of your ability to deliver the product or service you sell. Your image tells the world you can (or can’t) do the job. Your image is your First Impression; that First Impression is vitally critical to the success of your company.

Perfecting your image takes time and money; things entrepreneurs don’t set aside for themselves. Here are simple things you can do for yourself to check YOUR image in the New Year:

haiR• Changethecolor.Alittlelighteroralittledarker, and then add some highlights. If you commit to color, then commit to the upkeep. • Afreshopiniononyourhairfromanewstylist. Someone that doesn’t know you is best. Many salons offer a free consultation service. • Isyourstylecurrent?Ifyourlookappearstobeoutofdate,itisassumedthatyourideasand/orproducts are too.

maKeUP• Throweverythingoutandstartover.Makeup has an expiration date and I bet most of what is in your makeup bag is past its prime. Make an appointment with a professional makeup artist to make sure you invest wisely.• Cosmeticdermatology?Theadvancementofscience means there is a solution for everything that you aren’t crazy about. Remember: if you look out of date,itisassumedthatyourproductsand/orideasare too. Look as fresh as you can. • Payattentiontoyourbrows.Eyebrowsarequite possibly the most important thing about your face. Poorly shaped brows can give your eyes an unnecessary droop; correctly shaped and colored brows can give your eyes some pop, and give you a

brighter more youthful appearance.

WaRDRobe• Sticktobasicsthatflattereveryfigure:bootcutjeans/pants,a-lineskirts,wraptops,jacketswithprincess seaming. • Pickaneutralcolor(black,brown),thenaddeither white or cream, and finally a pop color (red, pink, blue – whatever your WOW color is) – build your wardrobe around these 3 colors. • Shoes.People(i.e.clients)payattentionto shoes. You should too! Don’t make excuses like “I have problem feet, so I have to wear these ugly shoes”. Listen to me: EVERYONE has problem feet! There are a lot of companies out there who sell great looking, very polished professional shoes for those with “problem feet”.

WeLLnessIf you get nothing else from this article, please hear me…do what you need to in order to manage your stress. Stress does horrible things to your body, to your health, your skin, your attitude, your being. Being able to get rid of the stress and decompress is important. Here are some ideas on how to do that:• Massage.Treatyourselfonceamonthtoagood massage• YogaorPilates.Asidefromthephysicalbenefits of exercise – these are great ways to relieve stress.• Prioritizeagirl’snightout.Putitonyourcalendar, find a sitter and call your friends. Girl’s night can be something as simple as meeting at your friend’s house and sharing a glass of wine, or as extravagant as a weekend away.

STYLE UKATHY FRIEND

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aRe YoU PennY Wise anD DoLLaR FooLish?

When you take away vacation time, holidays, sick days, professional development days, volunteer days, and days you show up to work, but don’t…most people work 1600 -2300 hours in a year. What are you doingduring those hours that you should delegate?

Successful executives know how to delegate. But what if you are a one-person company?How do you follow their example? Simple. Figure out your hourly rate and outsource. To earn a six figure income, don’t continue to do work you could pay someone $25.00 an hour (or less) to do unless you plan on compensating by working an incredible amount of hours. Also consider if it takes you 5 hours to learn (how to) and execute the same work you can hire a professional to do in 1 hour at $125.00 an hour, you’re really at the $25.00 hourly rate, right?

As an author, there is more to my business than writing. As in all businesses, there are 3 major areasofmycompany:Operations/Production,Marketing/Sales,andFinance/Legal.Inaperfectworld, I would delegate everything but writing and appearing at high volume book signings. In reality, I have prioritized what I hire out based on hours it would ‘cost’ me to do it myself.

For example, I could have edited Merciful Law myself…it would have taken literally months of my time, and the final product would have been poor. Editing isn’t my gift, so I paid to have it done.

I have a bookkeeper. It takes her about 6 hours a month to pay all my bills (on time), appropriate the costs, enter everything into QuickBooks, reconcile my accounts, and run monthly profit and loss statements (P & L). Before hiring her, it took me three times longer to complete these tasks and there were always

mistakes. Bookkeeping isn’t my gift either.

Although I have a degree in Marketing & Sales, I hired a Marketing company. Collective Alternative did all the foundational work--established my ‘brand,’ built a website (and continues enhancing it), created business cards, mailers, my FaceBook Fan page, Twitter account/background, and so, somuch more…then they promoted me. While I could have done some of this myself, (admittedly, nowhere near as well), I wouldn’t have appeared on television, radio, or had the web presence I have. Google Darby Rae, and you’ll see what I mean. I also wouldn’t have had time to write, which IS my gift!

What is your time worth and how are you choosing to spend it? Sometimes we need to focus more on investing in ourselves first.

A NOVEL SLANT DARBY RAE

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COLLECTIVE ALTERNATIVE

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7.41

7.21

41Social media is a passing trend.Today’s customer wants to be talked with, not talked at, as in traditional marketing. Connecting with your customer through social media gives you a distinct advantage over the companies who are just waiting for this social media thing to pass. There are almost 1 billion people on Facebook. Let the naysayers say nay.

Collective Alternative is offering a Social Media package special that includes a custom company Facebook page, Twitter background and

Call us today at 317.417.2141, or visit collectivealternative.com.Marketing, advertising, and public relations.

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TUESDAYS AT TWO

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CAROL SMITH

Imagine you started a business and generated over $1 million dollars in revenue the first year. Would you feel successful?Revenue more than triples over the next few years and international clients and potential partners are asking you to consider expanding. Can you smell sweet success?Profits skyrocket! Expect to see significant rewards for your incredible accomplishment? Alas, you’re an employee. You are rewarded by praise, a pat on the back, and continued but not guaranteed employment. Can you see yourself continuing to work for the company or do you want to….

be YoUR oWn boss

That’s my story. I loved the company and was proud of my team and our successes. But, I wanted more. Do you want more? More from your business? Your life? Save time, money and avoid common pitfalls by asking these simple questions:• Isyourtrustedadvisorsomeonewho’sbeensuccessfulintheirownbusiness?• Havetheyfoundedstartups,andaward-winningnationalandglobalcompanies?• Dotheyhave30yearsofexperiencedrivingrevenue,andgrowingorganizations?• Aretheyconsultingforstartups,entrepreneurstoFortune50executives?• Dotheyhavealargewellconnectednetworktohelpyouwithyournetworth?• Dotheyinspireyoutogreatness?Profit is critical to any business. But so are people. I help motivated business owners go to the next level and create a life where they have the flexibility to spend time with family while exploding income. Whether you are an executive, business owner, consultant or employee looking for the right opportunity, I help people create the ultimate freedom: the ability to....

cReate YoUR DReam LiFestYLe

I light fires under business owners and executives. If you want a trusted advisor, interim CXO or help on a project by a“beentheredonethat’,multimilliondollarbusinesscreator-Let’stalk.

Carol SmithDRIVING REVENUE AND SUCCESS

Strategy | Marketing | Leadership

SERVICES Revenue Generation Business Strategy Marketing Interim CXO Executive Advisor

What Customers Say About Carol

“ .. ultimate business connector and master strategist….uncanny ability to spend just a few minutes …before she creates a crystal clear vision for achiev-ing success. …She truly is the best of the best.” Michelle Ketterman, Founder, The Inventory Institute

“….laser focuses on objectives, quickly and accurately prioritizes, and drives game-changing results in very complex environments.,,, She is sought ..because she wastes no time, and she's fun!” Dr. Barbara Waugh, Fortune 50 Executive & Author

“Carol lives from the heart of leadership, empowering her clients to a higher level by leading from a higher level..”. Barbara Fittipaldi, CEO Center for New Futures

Carol Smith, MBA Millionaire Club & Founder before 40

www.CarolSmith.com

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A thorough understanding of the entire Home Inventory Process...from setting prices and packages, to performing the inventory, compiling reports, and everything in betweenFull social media training with strong emphasis on HIP social media best-practices with accounts fully verified and readyAll forms, contracts, and scripts needed to set-up and maintain profitable operations, networking, referral and strategic partnerships, and marketingYour professional profile set-up on the 50 major on-line business directories - the fastest and best way to ensure high search engine rankingsFull business plan including your individual logo, mission and vision statements, and roadmap for upcoming year‘Your First 100 Steps to HIP Success’ and ‘The 75 Authoritative HIP Lists’ digital books12 months of weekly group coaching calls12 months of monthly one-on-one coaching12 months of group industry master mind participation

This full-immersion program is designed for experienced executives ready to join the exciting Þeld of third-party Home and Business Inventory. Created for the serious and ethical professional who understand that success is realized inÞnitely faster when property equipped. Learn industry secrets, real tools, expert coaching, winning techniques, and best-practices shared by the recognized industry expert with a proven track record of success. Limited seats available. Request an application at Masters@LearnInventory.com.

February 1 - 3, 2012 in Dallas, Texas May 2 - 4, 2012 in San Diego, California August 1 - 3, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois October 1-3, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts

THE INVENTORY EXPERT, MICHELLE KETTERMANMichelle wrote the industryÕs Þrst recognized certiÞcation program, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice. She is also Founder of The Inventory Institute and The Inventory Experts, author of many industry books, co-host of Home Inventory Panel Podcast, and publisher of Inventory News.

$1825This intensive three day program provides all of the necessary tools for success including:

“Michelle Ketterman is the real deal with a fresh and unique passion for ethical standards and consumer expectations. She is truly passionate for the industry as a whole and HIPs are lucky to have her in their corner.” --Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Magazine

“This is hands down the most customizable and thorough industry program to come along in years.” --Be The Boss Magazine

(that’s only $5 per day to learn a new & exciting profession!)

HOME INVENTORY MASTERY PROGRAM All of the resources and tools needed to start your new business

*Payment plans available

THE INVENTORY INSTITUTE

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A thorough understanding of the entire Home Inventory Process...from setting prices and packages, to performing the inventory, compiling reports, and everything in betweenFull social media training with strong emphasis on HIP social media best-practices with accounts fully verified and readyAll forms, contracts, and scripts needed to set-up and maintain profitable operations, networking, referral and strategic partnerships, and marketingYour professional profile set-up on the 50 major on-line business directories - the fastest and best way to ensure high search engine rankingsFull business plan including your individual logo, mission and vision statements, and roadmap for upcoming year‘Your First 100 Steps to HIP Success’ and ‘The 75 Authoritative HIP Lists’ digital books12 months of weekly group coaching calls12 months of monthly one-on-one coaching12 months of group industry master mind participation

This full-immersion program is designed for experienced executives ready to join the exciting Þeld of third-party Home and Business Inventory. Created for the serious and ethical professional who understand that success is realized inÞnitely faster when property equipped. Learn industry secrets, real tools, expert coaching, winning techniques, and best-practices shared by the recognized industry expert with a proven track record of success. Limited seats available. Request an application at Masters@LearnInventory.com.

February 1 - 3, 2012 in Dallas, Texas May 2 - 4, 2012 in San Diego, California August 1 - 3, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois October 1-3, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts

THE INVENTORY EXPERT, MICHELLE KETTERMANMichelle wrote the industryÕs Þrst recognized certiÞcation program, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice. She is also Founder of The Inventory Institute and The Inventory Experts, author of many industry books, co-host of Home Inventory Panel Podcast, and publisher of Inventory News.

$1825This intensive three day program provides all of the necessary tools for success including:

“Michelle Ketterman is the real deal with a fresh and unique passion for ethical standards and consumer expectations. She is truly passionate for the industry as a whole and HIPs are lucky to have her in their corner.” --Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Magazine

“This is hands down the most customizable and thorough industry program to come along in years.” --Be The Boss Magazine

(that’s only $5 per day to learn a new & exciting profession!)

HOME INVENTORY MASTERY PROGRAM All of the resources and tools needed to start your new business

*Payment plans available

WRITTENBY:MICHELLEKETTERMAN-TheInventoryExpert

To enjoy and prosper to the greatest extent, business owners use December andJanuarytoplanfortheupcomingyear.Ifyoudon’thaveatypicalyear-end routine, it’s not too late to adopt a couple powerful and useful tools. These simple tools have helped countless entrepreneurs reach goals, realize powerful benchmarks, and have extremely productive and profitable years.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin, set aside a couple of undisturbed hours and hammer out these few documents:

1. Complete a written annual marketing plan. This just includes stating your annual goal, annual revenue projections with monthly benchmarks, monthly marketing projects, along with networking and social media strategies

2. Write five big (really big) goals for the year in these categories: physical, spiritual, financial, relationships, and business.

3.Thinkaboutandwriteaconciseandclearfive-yeargoal.

4.Thinkaboutandwriteaconciseandclearten-yeargoal.

As simple and basic as these four exercises seem, they are incredibly powerful and have helped many people with existing businesses along with those starryeyedwould-beuniversechangersaccomplishtheirgoalsandreachdreams they never believed were possible. Here’s to 2012, plan it, write it down, and own it – 2012 could truly be your year…and it’s only February so you still have plenty of time!

ITS FEBRUARY ALREADY

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Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Festivals™

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TONI HARRIS

For more information, contact Toni Harris at (713) 387-9273

Presents

The Turnaround Book & DVD Series

Toni wants publish your story! It is her vision to produce a book of triumph and success over adversity. The Turnaround Series is a compilation of stories from women who have turned their lives around personally, professionally, and financially. This will be a three book series; one for personal, one for professional and one for financial.

Have you overcome adversity in your life? Have you stepped outside your comfort zone to obtain success? Have you taken drastic steps to obtain a goal? Have you triumphed over setbacks?

Some of the benefits include: Full, international marketing and publicity campaign Participate as speaker on Turnaround Sisters panel at women’s conferences Ability to represent project in print, radio and TV media Rights to your chapter Enhanced credibility as an expert in your field Excellent source for lead generation Ability to participate in webinars to promote the book Back of the room sales opportunities at speaking events Purchase books at wholesale and resell at full retail Receive enough books to recoup initial investment And many more!

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Written by: mark WernerI’ve made lots of pledges in my life. I think the first I can remember is taking the Pledge of Allegiance. I’m not even sure if they do that in school any more. But there was something very unifying about all of us 8 year olds standing up in class together. We were a unit. We were solidified. We stood for something, even if we didn’t get the full meaning of the words.

When I was in Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout with 3 palms here by the way for anyone who has been in Scouts)…we had a pledge or oath, as well. The quote was “On my honor, I promise to do my best, do to my duty, to God and my country, to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” When we went on camp-outs,theLeadersalwaystoldusbeforewepackedup,thatweshouldleavethe camp site in as good as shape, if not better, than when we found it.

As I’ve become an adult (scary word) I realize that I’ve taken on a pledge or oath as well in a Leadership capacity, as President of a local networking organization. This organization holds close to 50 business professionals. This position means making some hard choices sometimes. I believe networking to be serious business, and I run this organization as such. Sometimes hard decisions must be made. Sometimes members who don’t live up to the oath or pledge must be let go. As in any business or corporation, these decisions can lead to hard feelings from other members or staff, who don’t have full knowledge of a situation.

What I don’t think people realize, or even myself until I was put in this position, is that these decisions aren’t made on a whim. They aren’t made out of malice. They aren’t made for political or personal decisions. They are made with a heavy heart and the best advice a leader has at the time, and instinct. Decisions are made with a mentality of “this is for the betterment of the group.”

So the next time you question a Leader’s decision, ask yourself: Do I know all that actually went on behind the scenes? Do I know what I would have done in that position? And finally, am I actually a Leader myself?

Until you have been in such a role, you have no idea how you might answer. For me, I intend to follow the advice I was given in Boy Scouts. I fully intend to leave my organization in at least as good as shape, if not better, than when I found it.

PAYING IT FORWARD

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mROBERTCHRISTIANSEN,JR.

Chocolate Blues™ Long Island Area Director

thoUghts beFoRe coFFee- Rule of three

Whenitcomestomakingyourdreamsandideasreal,caniteverbeassimpleas1-2-3?

“What the mind can conceive, it can achieve.” – napoleon hill

Answerisyes.1-2-3iseasy.Itisthe999,997otherthingsthatarecauseforconcern.Therefore,asanentrepreneur,you are fully within your rights to ignore them and keep your focus on your vision of your future* crafted by your own hands.

*[After all that is what excites and inspires you isn’t it? If the thought of processing endless pieces of paper and data were the thing that excites you, then perhaps, you would be better served reading ‘Be the Clerk’ than ‘Be The Boss.’}

Don’t put off living to next week, next month, next year or next decade. the only time you are ever living is in this moment.

In any endeavor, plan, or event, there are a multitude of tasks, milestones and goals to complete before even reaching thefirstlevelofyourdream.Somuchso,thattheentireideamaybecomeoverrunwiththingsto-doandthedoer,you,becomes overwhelmed. The ‘hugeness’ of your dreams and ideas may at times frighten you.

“Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. if you can dream it, you can make it so.” – belva Davis

That is when you know your ‘comfort zone’ is being stretched. It is also the times when you can expect to grow! It is like going to a gym and working out. The more you do, the sorer your muscles are. The sorer your muscles, the stronger they get. After a while, you do not notice ‘soreness’ any more, but look forward to the opportunity to get stronger and stronger!

“all our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

Here is a hint about being the boss… You are never ‘truly’ comfortable living your life in a comfort zone. Why? Because you were born possessing abilities, and mental capacity, that just will not permit you to be ‘comfortable’ in the traditional sense. The futures you see possible while in your ‘Inspirational Environment’ are not the world you live in now. You are not here to work at routine employment. Why? Because you don’t appreciate working at an occupation, commuting with the masses; consuming dinner at the accepted hour, or parking your butt in a barcalounger and push the lever to ‘D’ for ‘Dead’ until bedtime.

“history shows us that the people who end up changing the world – the great political, social, scientific, technological, artistic, even sports revolutionaries – are always nuts, until they are right, and then they are geniuses.” – John eliot

You have dreams, drive and determination. That is the gift you are to the world. Even if you weren’t the team captain ofyourHSteam,theleaderofyour‘clique’,orthecenter-of-influenceinyourcommunity–whatyoudohaveisincredible ideas, passion and desire to make your thoughts real!

“holding on to anything is like holding on to your breath. You will suffocate. the only way to get anything in the physical universe is by letting go of it. Let go & it will be yours forever”. – Deepak chopra

By the way, please do yourself a huge favor; stop beating yourself up for not getting things done sooner, or comparing yourself to other ‘more successful’ people. Here is a Life 101 lesson for free… Some learn fast, and some learn slowly, what is important is that everyone eventually learns what they need to in their own time!

the mystery of life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced – art Van Der Leeuw

As for a good mystery of life to be solved, how about this one? Why do things happen in three’s? Births. Deaths. Problems and blessings? Can’t answer that for you. Sorry. But, what I can tell you is that things do happen in threes and if you keep your eyes open, and your attitude ‘up’, you’ll tend to notice the three good things happening around you more often than not.

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“be present – it is the only moment that matters.” Peaceful Warrior

Take time for instance. Happens in threes, well – all of the time… Past, Present, Future. The thing about time being a thing is that you cannot save it; only use it better now and in the future than you ever did in the past. In place of ‘multitasking’,whichisamuchoverusedword,insteaduse‘purpose-tasking’.Purpose-taskinggetswhateverneedstobe done in the time frame you created, using whatever resources you have available. Need more time or resources? Then I recommend you involve no less than two other people to help you get it done. Here’s where the Rule of Three comes into play!

“make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.” – niccolo machiavelli

There is powerful magic in having three people working together to accomplish anything. Of course, you will be the pointperson-itisyourdream.But,imaginehowgreateryourachievementwillbewhenyou’vesharedtheendeavorwith others! It will be at least three times greater than if done all by you. Plus… It will be a lot more fun when you go out to celebrate a job well done!

“You will not do incredible things without an incredible dream.” – John eliot

Sharing dreams and creating excitement about them is what entrepreneurs do. You are the ultimate cheerleader, chief cook and bottlewasher for your dreams. Your enthusiasm is what reaches out and makes your dream real in the minds of others. A fire lit on one log may burn out, but a fire lit on three logs can forge metal.

“Don’t be pushed by your problems; be led by your dreams.”

Problems will arise. Remember the 999,997 other things you have yet to deal with? Everyone has strengths, but no one has can do it all. There are gaps. Find two others who can fill in your gaps. It’s your dreams shared within those who share your dreams that will cut through the problems like a hot knife through butter. That’s just too cool of a concept not to try, right?

“every second you spend thinking about someone else’s dreams you take time away from your own.” – Yogi Ramen

Look. You have big ideas. Big dreams. Big goals. That is your gift. Be as big as your ideas, dreams and goals by sharing with others. Not only can they participate in making something great come alive in the world, they can celebrate with you, and you can celebrate with them!

“20 years from now you will be disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did. so throw off the bowlines. sail away from the safe harbor. catch the trade winds in your sails. explore. Dream. Discover” ~ mark twain

ChoColate Blues™ area DireCtor roBert ‘BoB’ Christiansen, Jr. is a Dreamer, imaginist, ConCeptualizer, DaBBler anD optimist; his greatest strength is inspiring others to Believe in their iDeas. a native of long islanD new York, BoB has traineD people arounD the worlD with effeCtive humorous interaCtion, while generating struCture anD integritY for their Dreams. whether leaDing Classrooms, BoarDrooms, or auDitoriums - on topiCs ranging from CommunitY proJeCts to Business leaDership - his simple Yet inspireD event management anD soCial marketing praCtiCes proDuCe real positive results. ConsistentlY raising the Bar anD Bringing it Crashing Down on stagnating anaChronisms, BoB personifies possiBilitY – “see something, Do something! whY? BeCause You Can!” BoB’s personal CreDo sums up his perspeCtive on life.

Maximum Celebratio - Vitam Diligere! (Maximum Celebration - Love Life!)

Contact Robert Christiansen by E-mail at Bob@Bizfestival.com or by phone 631-334-1766. Let’s Connect! Via facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rchristiansenjr

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Every year around this time, many of us restate our resolutions or goals for the upcoming year. Many of those resolutions are the same ones we stated last year. You know the ones, lose weight, improve my health, eat right, save more money, spend less, start my business, go to

school, etc., etc. Some of the reasons we don’t achieve these goals is because we don’t take DRASTIC steps and move outside our comfort zone to obtain the goals. I know there are many experts that will tell you to take small, consistent steps to your goal and you will eventually get there. But as the Turnaround Queen, I’m here to tell you that sometimes, most times, you need to jump in with both feet.

There have been times when I was faced with the choice to choose the safe, easy route and I chose to take a risk and it paid off immensely. My husband and I took a drastic step and paid a local weight loss center to achieve our weight goals and we lost over 150 pounds together. Our story was featured in Ebony magazine and we were on top of the world. However, we moved away and began to fall back into our old habits, the next thing I know, I was weighing over 250 pounds. I was humiliated and mortified! At this time, I had a choice to resign myself that I was just going to be overweight and unhealthy or to do something about it. I took “baby steps” and tried several diets and weight loss programs but I just could not get the weight off the way I had in the past. So in 2004, I took a DRASTIC step and had gastric bypass surgery and have kept the

weight off for over seven years.

My question to you is what are you willing to do that’s DRASTIC to achieve your goals? You may not do anything as radical as having a surgery, but maybe you should. Only you can answer the question for yourself. However, are you willing to take a DRASTIC step and pay for help to reach your goals? Perhaps you need a life coach, someone who can motivate you and hold you accountable. Paying someone for support may be your DRASTIC step.

What happens when you don’t take a DRASTIC step? My husband mentioned above also regained his weight. He had high blood pressure and diabetes and always talked about doing something to improve his health but he was unwilling to take a DRASTIC step. Unfortunately, as a result he passed away at a young age of 48 from complications of these diseases. So when you are talking to yourself about whether you are going to step outside of your comfort zone to achieve your goals, ask yourself, “If I don’t take a DRASTIC step today, what will happen to my future?” I hope the answer is living life you imagined to the fullest extent possible. But just remember without a DRASTIC step, the opposite is also possible.

_______________________________________

Toni Harris, also known as the Turnaround Queen, is a motivational speaker, Internet radio show host, Certified Dream Coach® and author. She is passionate about helping others to step outside their comfort zone to take drastic steps to achieve their personal, professionalandfinancialgoals.ContactToniat713-387-9273ortoni@toniharrisspeaks.com.

TAKE DRASTIC STEPS TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND

Please “like” our fan page on Facebook:

www.Facebook.com/BeTheBossMagazine

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TAKE DRASTIC STEPS TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND WOMEN WHO MEAN BUSINESS

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Before we met, we both had dreams of being entrepreneursinahome-basedbusiness.Partofthatdream was to have the pleasure of being with a spouse to work side by side with; however, at the time, both of us were committed to jobs and contacts that prevented that vision from becoming a reality. Cozet was an Account Manager for AT&T and I was a contract trainer. Even though I already owned and operated my own business, I traveled extensively (11 out of 12 months) and the actual joys of being a business owner was lost in all the levels of red tape that comes with being a contractor. One day, while on the job in Houston TX, I met Cozet! She literally blew my right out of my wing tips! Big pretty eyes and a smile, if you could take it off of her face and throw it up in to the air, it would turn to sunshine! I knew that she was going to have a permanent place in my heart and my life. What I didn’t know was that I was stuttering and stumbling in front of my future wife, business partner and best friend. When I first saw Todd, my stomach literally jumped! There was something about him that led me to believe that I HAD to know him. I said to myself, “I don’t know who he is, but I HAVE to make a connection!” I felt as if he had something I needed. Once we finally met, I there was an instant connection. I was so excited! In all my years of dealing with the public, especially in a classroom setting, I had never approached a student and a trainer had never approached Cozet!! One afternoon at lunch, we both were in the break room and I noticed she was eating a very lovely salad…THAT WAS MY OPENING!! I commented how appetizing it looked and how I didn’t get to eat healthy foods like that as much as I would like to because of my traveling. The next day, she brought me a salad buffet!! Feeling luck was with me; I then commented how I would love to see all the sites that Houston has to offer. As it happened, luck WAS with me because she volunteered to show me. Our first date was something of a fairy tale. We will notgiveall thewonderfuldetailsofour initial out-of-officemeeting,butwewillsaythatitstartedat8am,ended at 12 midnight and included 3 meals, 2 shopping malls and a hour long carriage ride through downtown Houston! Since then, we have been on a non stop roller coaster ride that has ended with us STARTING our lives together, building a business and working together as partners.

oUR DReams became a ReaLitY!! Reality, at that time, mandated that Cozet learn about Ross Group Consulting and not only the world of training and development, but also about being a business owner. Believe it or not, as simple as it sounds, that was a process. Although Cozet had earned her masters degree in Business Administration, she had yet to experience the rigors and sacrifices needed to successfully run a business. Fortunately for us, we shared the same goals and desires that served as a Launchpad for our blast off. We both wanted:ð To work and travel togetherð To build a business and secure our retirement by age 60ð Our business to have a positive impact and make a difference in the lives of othersð To leave a legacy for others to seeAt that point, we made sure that everything we did was directly related to one or more of those four items. Working with Todd has been a life changing experience. He has pushed and stretched me in ways that I did not know were possible. Sometimes, I did not want to hear what he had to say and all his expert advice on business ethics, keeping overhead low, always smiling and managing to perception just got on my NERVES!! I also knew that Todd, being a New Yorker, was getting frustrated with my Texas analytical mind. What kept up focused was the tight timeline we were on. Both of us being in our 40’s are very aware of just how fast 10 years can go by, so wasting anytime at all has never been an option to us. What was overwhelming was that Todd has already built his business with an active client list. He has designed an entire training library, published a book and is a motivational speaker. It was a lot to learn and the process is on going. What I did not want was for my learning curve to be a hindrance or slow the process down in any way. Because

IN LOVE & IN BUSINESS TODD & COZET

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of the aforementioned, I found myself being more open minded and more willing to learn; however, this is where the tightrope walking came in…while I was learning, I wanted to be an asset. It was like giving Bobby Flay tips on seasoning food while he’s giving YOU cooking lessons! So while I was mastering the art of receiving feedback, I also found ways to identify areas where I could use my business degree to target and strengthen specific aspect of our company. I made sure I aligned my strengths to his areas of opportunity and vice versa. We have a strong mutual respect for each other and our individual ideas. No idea is stupid or silly. No suggestion is put off or shot down. We constantly keep in mind that we are both working toward the same goal, the same vision. If it’s not happening right now, it’s not happening fast enough! That’s the driving motto of my company; a good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. Instilling that into someone that has never subscribed to any portion of that thought process was a bit of a challenge. What I did know was two things, one, I knew Cozet wanted to use her degree and this was the perfect opportunity for her. Two, I knew she loved me and would not do anything to hurt me. All that equaled this; regardless if she moved too slow or not at all, if she did something the complete opposite of what she was taught or just did not do it all together, no matter what…it was not intentional or deliberate, therefore it was a training opportunity for me. What I have enjoyed the most about this ride so far is the foundation we made mandatory for our partnership…at all times, in all places, no matter what the task is, HAVE FUN!! We fully believe the words of holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl, “Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing…the last of human freedoms, the ability to choose ones own attitude in any given set of circumstance, the ability to choose ones own way.” We choose, above all else, at all times to have fun and to laugh, especially when the situation does not call for laughter, we choose to laugh anyway. When we are panning out our week, we choose to laugh. When we are balancing our budget, we choose to laugh. When we break the budget, we still choose to laugh…and if there is nothing to laugh about, we take a break and find something to laugh about. This is key with us because we realize that wedonotget togotoseparateofficeseveryday, thencomehometoeachother. OurofficeISourhomeandourhomeISouroffice.Sofun,laughterandlevityistheglue that holds our relationship together, both personal and professional.

My company, Ross Group Consulting, specializes in management and leadership development with a focus on the trainer and training team functions. Currently, I am hosting classes for people that have never been a corporate or contract trainer, but aspire to do so. This class is 8 to 10 weekslongandfullofeffective,realliferole-playexercises,train backs, classroom management activities, and knowledge checks. Cozet decided to participate in one of these classes as an actual student to learn the business from the bottom up. In class, she is viewed and treated as every other student. Now she says I am harder on her, but I think she is imagining things! She also actively participates in the operation of my other endeavors, one being Church Builder International (C.B.I.). this portion of the business assists small to medium sized religious organizations with managing and leading their volunteers and other basic organizational development. She plays an integral part in another branch of the company, The Delores Ross Foundation for Victims of Domestic Violence. Here, we locate and funnel funds and resources from individual donators as well as large corporations to small safe houses and shelters. In the past, some of our corporate sponsors have included Best Buy, Home Depot and Loews. Last year, I published a book, Words of Encouragement for Teachers and Trainers. A compilation of poems, motivational quotations and stories that inspire and encourage the traditional classroom teacher as well as their corporate training counterparts. Cozet has been amazing in getting this wonderful book into the hands of educators across the country. It has not been ALL about Ross Group Consulting though. Cozet recently launched her own business, Sidney-Ross & Ross HR Systems! Hercompanyoffersvirtualassistanceandbackofficesolutionsto small businesses as well as individuals. Only operating for a short time, her client list is quite impressive and rapidly growing! We have a lot planned for the future; national expansion of our career college as well as full accreditation, government contract acquisition and a train the trainer DVD set. We’ve got some long hours ahead of us, a few million miles to travel and, more than likely, a few heated discussions! However, through all the ups and downs, with all the success and failures…good days and not so good days, three things are for sure, we will laugh, giggle and chuckle every change we get, always give honor and praise to God and have fun with everythingwedo!RossGroupConsultingandSidney-Ross& Ross HR Systems is open for business and ready to serve YOU!!

http://www.rossgroupconsultingllc.com/http://www.sidney-rossrosshrsystems.com

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makes the separation of work and personal lives even more important. According to Ross, the difficulties lie in knowing where to draw a linebetween personal and professional lives, and learning to be strict about not crossing that line.

“Itcanbedifficultattimestokeepourpersonalandprofessional lives separated,” Amanda said. “All our eggs are in one basket – financial worries, deadlines and pressure can mount, and it’s easy to carry that all into the evenings or weekends and essentially never be off the clock. For a husband and wife to work together successfully, you have to be strict about your downtime.”

so how do the Parkers do it?

“That is something we are always working on,” Amanda said. “One thing I think is extremely important, is that we are strict about is our ‘date night’. We always keep it and don’t let anyone or anything interrupt it. If we have to move it or switch nights we do, but we always have one date night perweek-nophones,nobusiness,justus.”

Open communication -- sharing schedules,deadlines and expectations, – learning one another’s strengths and weaknesses and how to complement those in one another are tools that will strengthen both the business and marriage partnership.

www.collectivealternative.com

IN LOVE & IN BUSINESS ROSS & AMANDA PARTNERS IN LIFE AND PARTNERS IN BUSINESSBy Bridget Levitz

When a husband and wife decide to take the plunge and enter into business together, the marriage of these two worlds can be tricky, and could potentially make or break the business or even the nuptials.

ForRossandAmandaParker,ownersofIndy-basedadvertising and public relations firm, Collective Alternative, working together has been the best decision they’ve ever made.

“We’re best friends, soul mates, and to be able to spend our days and nights together is the greatest gift anyone could ask for in a marriage,” Amanda Parker said. “I love having someone who knows me so intimately, can read my facial expressions, step in when I need it or push me when I’m not pushing myself. And the same goes for Ross.”

Amanda had spent 10 years in the Marketing industry and was ready to make a change in an effort to work with her clients in a more personal, invested way – when life gave her and Ross an opening.

“Ross traveled with his job for many years and when he was laid off in the economic crash three years ago, we took that as an opportunity to make up for lost time,” explained Amanda.

For the Parkers, the pros far out way the cons when it comes to working together.

“We depend on each other and trust each other,” said Ross. “We know one another’s strengths and weaknesses, complement each other, enjoy being together and feel blessed to be able to work together. We’re a team in our lives so it’s comforting that our teamwork crosses into our professional world.”

Couples who work together often put in longer hours than others who are self-employed – this

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Scott and I have created many businesses over the 7 ½ years we’ve been married. We had big goals and dreams for our family and wanted to achieve them together. Through each business effort we learned many things, most the hard way. We struggled with the frustrations and devastation of businesses not succeeding as we had hoped. It wasn’t until we were at our lowest, with $3 in our bank account, two young children, a mortgage and the world on our shoulders, that we decided we needed to look inward. It wasn’t easy, but we knew we were the only ones to blame for our failures, not the economy, not a business associate, not a friend or family member. As we carefully thought and prayed, we couldn’t help but feel that we’d be alright. A few days later, we had an incredible epiphany. We felt we’d learned those powerful lessons so that we could help so many others like us, working hard, trying to do the right things, and wondering if their efforts would ever pay off.

We felt inspired to create a story teaching the powerful life changing principles we had learned through our failures. We simplified them initially into a children’s book called Fox and the mountain –a Parable to reach not only the parents making difficultdecisionsbutalsotoblessthelivesoffamiliesas a whole. Our hopes were to ease the fear and burden of the unknown, teaching children, teens, and adults the critical principles of success necessary for accomplishing each and every goal they may ever have. Together, we created the story and finished the entire project, with phenomenal illustrations done by a close friend. We practiced our own principles within the story and made a special children’s parable that became a number one bestseller. We have been blessed to share the story with children and families around the world. Due to the response to the first book, we next created a tool specifically for adults. Our second book, Fox and the mountain: creating Your Path to abundance, has given us the opportunity to speak to adults about achievement; our story and the principles that helped us turn that $3inourbankaccountintoasix-figureincomeinonly6months.

Our business is being who we are, as individuals, as a couple and as a family. We don’t feel like we’re working, but sharing our optimism with the world at a time when it’s desperately needed. The children’s book has allowed us to include our children and teach them how to set goals for themselves and accomplish them. We are an inseparable team and our love for each other grows each day. As a family we work hard to represent our business and the principles we teach in every way that we conduct ourselves. Those principles have become the lens through which we view our entire world. We have found our calling, and it has powerfully altered our lives forever.

Scott and Camber Simson

www.scottandcamber.com

IN LOVE & IN BUSINESS SCOTT & CAMBER

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IN LOVE & IN BUSINESS GINA & TOM By Gina Branch, I.R.E.S., ABR

My husband Tom and I are The Branch TeamofRE/MAXDallasSuburbs. Thereare many married couples selling resi-dential real estate, but Tom and I are very unique. Our strengths are truly comple-mentary, so while he is very tech savvy and knowledgeable of real estate law, I’m stronger in marketing and commu-nications. Our personalities are different as well, so I think it gives us an advantage when meeting prospective clients.

Tom and I formed an independent real estate brokerage in 2005. I joined Tom full-timein2007afterbeinglaidofffrommy corporate job. Together we super-vised 35 agents over several years. Un-fortunately, this meant we spent more time on the business rather than in the business. So in 2009, we decided to park our brokerage under the RE/MAX um-brella and go back to selling real estate, which is what we both love.

Our decision to work together was an easy one. We’re super compatible, and together I felt like nothing could stop us! We’ve written two books to-gether and we often speak publicly together. However, that doesn’t mean every day is champagne and roses. When we get super busy and the stress of the business is bearing down, we can get on each other’s last nerve. Luckily, at the end of the day, we can apologize and move on. The pros of working together far outweigh the cons. Being our own bosses allows us complete flexibility with our time and unlimited earning potential. It’s nice to be able to take a vacation whenever we want to or go to the movies on a Tuesday afternoon when no one else is there. It also allows one of us to be home when our teenage daughters get home from school.

Wehavealargeofficeinourhomethatweworkfrom.Thismakesitdifficulttoseparatebusinesslifefromhomelife. We integrate the two sometimes as we introduce our daughters to the business, but I have to have separa-tion.I’mmuchbetteraboutwalkingawayfromtheofficeat5:30thanTomis.Ihavetomakeamentalbreakandspend time with the girls and the dogs. Personal time is harder to come by, but I do take time for hair and nails and an occasional girls’ night out with friends.

I really believe working together has strengthened our marriage. We enjoy each other and feel lucky to be able to work together. We undergo the same job stress, so we can totally relate to what the other one is going through. We often share stories and commiserate over a glass of wine at the end of a rough day. We celebrate ourvictoriestogetheraswell,realizingitwilltakebothofustoachieveanevenhigherlevelofaward-winningsuccess. Maybe it’s best summed up by one of our past clients, “You are a great team and really balance each other with both strategy and execution – a real winning combination!”

http://www.thebranchteam.com/

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Welcome to our Chocolate Love story.

Everett and I were high school sweethearts, in 1970 went our separate ways . We had the good fortune to reunite & fall in love all over again in 1998. Life is amazing . We were married in 2002 in a romantic sun soaked ceremony on the white sands of Punta Cana. We picked up where we left off at the tender age of 17, romantic , playful and enjoying life to the fullest:) The only thorn was my career as it involved travelling for several weeks at a stretch. Because the income was terrific I continued , missing my soulmate more with each trip. The Universe has a magical way of giving us what we want. Someone was thinking highly of us when they invited us to take a look atjoiningtheXocai,HealthyChocolateNetworkinJune,2007. A die hard chocoholic, although intrigued, initially thought I was too busy to take this on. My daughter, a naturopathic doctor, took a look and said “ Mom , you would be crazy not to be a part of this. Xocai is a functional food, you should be eating it anyway, regardless of if you develop a business !” That’s how it started for us .

It gave Everett and I great pleasure to experience genuine health benefits personally, and to promote this to those we cared about. Chocolate & Romance fit well with our date nights .Who wouldn’t want to savour this luscious, delectable, joyful, guilt free chocolate. This is good for the heart in even more ways than the romance:) Pretty soon,the income we were creating with this delicious love potion was matching what I was earning with a career that did not give me as much joy as Xocai . The day I resigned from the corporate world was the day I took total charge of my life, and we have never looked back. We promote this incredible, emotional product with wonderful people we meet in everyday life, and this suits our personalities very well. We are both very health conscious, love to be fit and experience great joy knowing we are adding value to others by introducing them to this food of the gods, brought back to a functional food.

AFourSeasonsSunroom,builtwithChocolatemoneyismyoffice.Nomorealarmclocks.BothEverettand I love the people that are drawn to this kind of business and have made friends we will keep for life. We have both lost weight and feel better than we did in our 30s .This is a social business, it is fun. We have earned 5 Caribbean cruises in addition to the enhance health & income:) We LOVE this company & this product. We love our life with wild abandon.

Everett & I work really well together . Working on a common goal has strengthened our relationship & we have more time to enjoy our passions. We cruise Lake Ontario on our sailboat all summer & indulge inourothergreatpassion-gardening.Itiswellknownthatourteamcanfindmeoutsideallsummer,nurturing our garden, phone & bberry in pocket, so I am totally accessible to them . We have the time and resources to travel to exotic destinations, better time freedom to visit our family that stretches from coast to coast. It does not get any better than this and we encourage other fun loving, health conscious,’ people loving’ people to look at this . We help others create significant income, doing the things they love, spending time with those they care about. It does not get any better than this. We welcome inquiries at 888-770-4418.Wannagoonthenextcruisewithus?

http://facebook.com/janet.hurley1

INLOVE&INBUSINESSJANET&EVERETT

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of view and we aren’t compromising well, then we “table it” and we’ll come back to it later, when we are both refreshed and have had time to step away from the problem.”

When asked for an important tip for others who are contemplating being in business with a spouse, Danielle responded, “Set aside business-free time, which is hard to do when your home is your office. We have a rule – no talking business at the dinner table. That’s our time to talk to our three boys about their day and hear what great things they are doing at school or give them the opportunity to tell us what they are frustrated about.”

Setting aside time where business talk if off-limits is important even for every married couple whether they work together or not. It’s important to remember that you are together for many other reasons, and not just for business. “We’ve been on trips to San Francisco, Napa Valley, Las Vegas, and the Grand Cayman Islands because of our business,” said Danielle “it helps to know that our business is allowing us to work together and play together.”

www.cardsandmohr.com

IN LOVE & IN BUSINESS TIM & DANIELLE Couples that work together, play together and

build a future to stay togetherby Lynn Bergman, Frisco PR Girl Public Relations

Working with a spouse is generally not something that most couples see themselves accomplishing, let alone doing it successfully! Even the happiest of couples do not always agree on everything, especially when it comes to money.

College sweethearts, Tim and Danielle Mohr, married partners of CardsandMohr distributors of Send Out Cards, Inc. started their business for different reasons. According to the Mohrs, Danielle saw the fluff and kindness of sending cards to people and Tim saw the business as a great investment, which falls right in line with how men and women approach money and business differently. While men are usually good at problem solving, and prefer to simply look at “facts”, women look at the emotional components.

“Wanting to live for the present and not the someday, was the real reason we went into our own business together,” said Danielle, “We wanted to have a business that offered us flexibility to see our children’s sporting events and to be able to travel to see family whenever it was convenient, since they live out of state.” Having the same goals in marriage, leisure, and obviously the future are the success factors for many couples who are able to work together.

“You need a strong marriage before you work as a business partner with your spouse” suggests Danielle, “otherwise everything will crumble.” If your marriage is already rocky, working together can be similar to trying to have a baby to save the marriage – a disaster waiting to happen. You could end up with more complications and reasons to disagree than before.

The Mohrs’ excellent communication and respect for each other’s gifts in their marriage and talents in business are factors of their success. “We really don’t fight” said Danielle while giggling, “Except when it comes to driving and giving directions” but quickly added, “If we have a different point

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Thankyouforthisopportunityforustoshareourlong-standing love affair…with each other and with life! We areFrankandMicheleCurtin,awork-from-homecouplewhose main goal in life is helping people get more.

Whether they want health or weight management solutions, more energy, better sports performance or more money, we have something we can offer that will change their lives in a positive way. That is so important to us, as we strive to be servant leaders, and pay forward the blessings we have been given.

Our business is Good Health Made Simple (www.FuelWithSpark.com.) I have been a home-basedentrepreneur in the nutrition field since 2005, and my husband joined me in February of 2011, when we discovered AdvoCare.

This product line helps us play off each other’s strengths and weaknesses to guide our customers and teammates most effectively. For instance, if their main concern is weight management and good, solid nutrition, I’m their girl! If they want to talk about sports performance or better workout results for themselves or their children, then I lob those questions over to Frank. At 48, he still playsice-hockeyandsportsperformanceishispassion!

Togivealittlebackgroundonus,inJanuaryof2005,Iseeminglyhaditall.Iwasmarriedtoawonderfulman,mom of 2 beautiful little boys and had a growing management career. Life, while chaotic, was good! However, that still, small voice inside of me kept saying, “Your kids need you more than you need your job!” The other voice, the logical one, answered, “Are you crazy? I can’t just walk away from a paycheck that size!” After much soul-searchingandprayer,thatisexactlywhatIdid.ItwasthebestdecisionIhaveevermade.

Laterthatyear,myseeminglyhealthy8-year-oldson,James,diedfromacuteliverfailure.Thatwastheonlysummer he ever had where he could just sleep in and be a kid, not rushing out the door at 7am to get to daycare so mommy could make it to work on time!

This experience fuels my passion for helping other moms with options for health and finances. I love that my “office”isinmycaroratmyyoungersonAndrew’sbaseballpractice!

Working together has strengthened our marriage in many ways. Instead individual career pursuits, now we do “our thing” and we can divide tasks based on our skillsets and strengths.

Sometimes we struggle with the separation of work and home. Our business is woven into all aspects of our lives. This “weaving” aspect can be a “Pro” because our business allows me to focus on my main priorities of being a great wife and mom; “Con” because at times it feels like we are always “on.” However, I would say the pros far outweigh the cons. We get to spend the majority of our time every day with the people we love the most. That makes every day Valentine’s Day!

IN LOVE & BUSINESS FRANK & MICHELLE

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alsoaformermagazineco-ownerandeditor.

Onenightperweek isconsideredcompletelyoff-limits for discussing anything business related. Whether or not this is “date night” depends on the situation. Sharing calendars through google and also having access to each other’s day planners helps to keep them both on track.

A recent date night included working on their “dream board.” From vehicles to houses to traveling, they both picked out items that tickled their fancy. Once the board is completed it will be hung in a prominent place in the house – reminding both as they come and go out the (revolving) door of their home, what they are striving for.

Simon and Nikole are expecting their first child in March. This will be sure to add another “ball in the air” to juggle, but they are focused on creating a quality of lifestyle they want in order to raise their future children in a very hands on approach.

They both realize that sacrificed time now will result in an abundance of time together in the near future. To learn more about Simon and Nikole, visit their website at www.theIFD.com or email simon@theifd.com or nikole@shopnik.net. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

IN LOVE & IN BUSINESS SIMON & NIKOLE HaumontHoldings,LLCisco-ownedbyhusbandandwife team Simon and Nikole . The business includes an internet franchise, www.shopnik.net; and a small vending route with future plans to expand into real estate investing.

In September of 2007, during their engagement, they decided to purchase an internet franchise through Market America/Shop.com. Originally theagreement was Nikole would build the business, and Simon would be the supportive spouse. Fast forward 4.5 years and they are both equal partners when it comes to running their internet franchise. They both enjoy helping customers and junior business partners achieve their goals – whether it’s saving or making money.

ThevendingroutewasstartedinJanuary2011,andis mainly Nikole’s concern.

Working together has been about learning how to balance each other out. Nikole is quick to make decisions and wants to get things done now. Simon is methodical in his approach and weighs all pros and cons before making a decision. Each has gained the strengths of the other while minimizing each other’s weaknesses.

Open lines of communication, whether talking face-to-face, texting or emailing are of extremeimportancetoboth-theyalsoholddownfull-timejobs.Simonisasoftwareengineerwithawell-knownavionics company; Nikole is an internet consultant for the largest domain registrar in the world; she is

there are three quotes that simon and nikole heed to:

“Discipline is the bridge between •goals and accomplishment,” – Jim Rohn

“there is only one success: to be •able to spend your life in your own way.”

“success depends on your •wishbone, not your backbone.”

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MybusinessisBASSCO,Inc.(BeversAdvertisingSpecialtySales,Inc.).Istartedmyhome-basedbusinessback in1984onaverypart-timelevel. Inthebeginning, itwasstrictlyaone-manoperation, other than my wife occasionally answering the phone when I was out calling on clients.

But, as my business grew, Sandy gradually took on a more active role in the company. As our childrengrewolderandneededless“Mom-time”,Sandywasabletohelpevenmore.Myeffortsare focused more on the outside sales and marketing, as I cover SW Louisiana and make a monthlyovernightsalestriptoHouston. TheHoustonsalestripswouldbemoredifficulttomakeifSandywasn’tavailabletoworkinourhomeoffice.

In addition covering telephones and email, she handles the online order entry process, sample requests, and fields a lot of customer questions.

I don’t recall any specific date when we discussed her taking a more active role in the business, itwasmorejustalogicalextensionofherbeingaStay-at-HomeMom,availableassistmeingrowing our customer base and volume.

Sandy and I have been married 37 years, and have been working together several hours per week from the time I quit my “job” and made BASSCO, Inc. our sole source of income 24 years ago. Working together doesn’t mean spending the ‘40 hour’ work week together since I spend manyhours in face-to-face timewithclientsandprospects. But, evenwhen I’moutof theoffice,wetalkseveraltimesadaycoordinatingonbusiness.

One of the biggest problems with separating family from business was solved when Sandy orderedabrassplaqueandhungitonthedoorofthesparebedroomthathousedouroffice.Ithad a lot to do with helping our kids ‘see’ the bedroom as a place of business.

Another way we kept business and family separate was always making time for family trips and activities as least one weekend a month.

I would have to say that our working together has made our marriage stronger. Instead of me having a job that Sandy isn’t a part of, where we were separated 40 or more hours every week, ourbusinessmeanswearecommunicatingfrequentlyduringtheday,whetherI’mintheofficewith her, or on the road. And when “WE” go to convention, “WE” share in the recognition for our achievements.In15ormoretripstotheK&BConvention/FamilyReunion,I’veonlyattend2or3 times that she didn’t travel with me.

Our three children are all grown now, two of them with spouses, and presently five grandkids. So, balancing time between business and family is much like it is for employees as far as making timefortripsovernightstays. And,workinginthehomeofficeallowedSandytobeaStay-at-HomeNanatoouroldestgrandchildfornearlyayearwhilehemotherwasworking.Thatgave them a special bond that no job would have given her the time and freedom to help with raising her.

While working together may not be for everyone, it has certainly worked well for us.

Dennis & Sandy Bevers

www.facebook.com/dennis.bevers

IN LOVE & BUSINESS DENNIS & SANDRA

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PUTTING YOUR RELATIONSHIP ON A DIET FREE FROM NEGATIVITY

quickest way to change the quality of a relationship. I invite, in fact I challenge you to show only appreciation and gratitude for thirty days. For many focusing on heartfelt appreciations creates profound changes in their relationships. You may choose to make appreciations a permanent part of your life. Let me know how it goes. Contact me atamy@courageous-creativity.com.

Amy Barnes MBA MA LMHC is a relationship therapist and certified relationship coach in the Indianapolis area.

Courageous Creativity is what Amy Barnes, counselor and life coach, calls having courage to create what you most want in life - to be fully yourself, express ideas, make a difference in the world and foster amazing relationships.

Through her coaching methods, Amy empowers individuals, couples and entrepreneurs to step into their full power and creativity to express themselves in the world and in their relationships. Amy ties together skills from her varied background in business, counseling and psychotherapy, life coaching, conflict resolution, and relationship work. Amy is certified as a Conscious Relationship and Body-Mind Vibrance Coach by the Hendricks Institute.

By Amy Barnes MBA MA LMHC

As a relationship coach I know that the quality of our relationships affects the health of our bodies just as the food we eat affects our health. When we are stressed or unhappy our brains send out stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol that effect our health. Investing in the quality of your relationships is one of the best things you can do for your health.

One of the quickest most effective ways to improve the quality of your relationship is to put yourself on a diet – a diet from negativity that is. Much like excluding excess fats and processed sugars can benefit your health; excluding negativity can lead to better relationships. What’s Negativity? Sarcasm, insults, blame (e.g. “YOU always..”), criticism, the “look” (you know the one), eye rolling (“Here we go again..”), a disapproving tone of voice, etc. Most of us can easily come up with a list of negative actions and words we receive from our partners, instead focus on the negative things you may do or say to your partner, family or friends. Remember, if you choose to be negative, your attitude is not your partner’s fault. You can stop the blame, criticism and negativity now.

Replace the blame, criticism and negativity with heartfelt gratitude and appreciations. Just asa diet plan may suggest substituting apples in for cookies, I recommend substituting heartfelt gratitude and appreciations for negativity. The next time you’re tempted to dip into the cookie jar of negativity, take a step back and tell your partner or friends something you truly appreciate about them instead. This might be hard at first, but it will get easier. Actively appreciate your partner and your friends– I believe you’ll find that once you’ve started this diet, the results will be so wonderful that you won’t want to stop! Exercise your gratitude muscles! Give appreciations daily.

Appreciate yourself, find ways to love and nurture yourself. Take a step back from the internal dialogueofself-criticismandregret,andtakethetime to find ways to love and nurture yourself. Spend quality time with yourself and with friends. Take time to appreciate yourself daily

Giving sincere heartfelt appreciations is the

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60 day results with the Anti-age AMP MD™ micro-roller system & Reverse Regimen“The only thing that should age is wine & cheese” Rodan+Fields – Changing skin & Changing Lives!

What is the name of your company? Rodan + Fields Dermatologists

Tell us about your products? The Drs. who created ProActiv® Solutions brings dermatology-based skincare treatment to everyone. They have the only anti-age skincare lines to contain “over the counter” strength medi-cation so there are no comparisons. They are redefining independent business ownership with brand presence, clinically proven products & the income potential to change lives.

Why did y ou choose Rodan + Fields over so many other business opportunity options?I chose to work for Rodin + Fields Dermatologists because I get to be one of the 1st to partner with 2 of the biggest names in the skincare industry in their “ground floor” company that will redefine the direct sales model. It’s not a party company and I believe it is the smartest, proven business model on the planet! This is a clinically proven product with no competition in an untapped market. I just couldn’t poke a hole in it no matter how I tried.

What do you love most about Rodan + Fields? The generosity of the Drs. They created this company as an enduring legacy for inde-pendent consultants & employees. They did it because they wanted to not because they had to. They are truly changing skin & creating opportunities to change lives.

What advise can you give first time entrepreneurs? Be coachable. Listen & learn as much as you can.

Do you do anything special to support your team to growing their business? I support my team 110%. Being the 1st consultant in Oklahoma,. I know that overwhelming feeling of where do I begin?

How has being with Rodan + Fields changed your life? This has been the mostincredible personal journey. I have been challenged & have conquered demons that I thought I never would. I have been touched by people that I would have never had the opportunity to connect with. Yes, R+F products are great, but it is simply the catalyst that leads me to such greater adventures. I want a life full of excitement! Each morning I ask God “where we going today” because his GPS is way better than mine!

Tell us a little about your background. What did you do before venturing into this business and what made you decide to start your own business? I taught English as a Second Language in Sapulpa, Ok schools. What caught my attention was being first in a ground floor company. When does that ever happen? I saw rare opportunity with a “real hope” for something better. It was exciting, but intimidating. I heard that little voice say “What are you waiting for? I now have the chance to not only chance my family’s life, but the lives of so many others.

How can people reach you for more information? Email: kristi.willis@cox.net Website: Kwillis.myrandf.com

Kristi Willis, Independent ConsultantRodan + Fields DermatologistsKwillis.myrandf.comkristi.willis@cox.net

RODAN + FIELDS DERMATOLOGISTS

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SENDOUTCARDSDanielle Mohr is a Mompreneur with SendOutCards, the #3 greeting card company behind the known storefronts. SendOutCards is affectionately considered the Netflix of the Greeting Card world and made the Inc 500 list of one of the fastest growing companies since 2009. Danielle’s role with SendOutCards is to remove the inconvenience and expense from sending cards and gifts for personal or business relationships. SendOutCards offers an opportunity to immediately act on a thought or feeling; after-all the mission is to “change lives…one card at time.”

What is the key to Danielle’s success? The answer is duplication! Danielle &

her husband gather customers and teach others how to gather customers. Danielle smiles, “It is that easy! We ask the following three questions: 1) “Do you buy greeting cards or gifts? (2) Do you know anyone who buys greeting cards or gifts? (3) “Would you like to make money on the cards and gifts you and others send?””

The other key to the Mohr Family’s success and their team success is that SendOutCards has No Inventory, No Home Parties and No Monthly Quotas. According to Danielle’s husband, Tim, SendOutCards is a “husband endorsed” company. He continues, “SOC was a winning opportunity for our family and now for others that we sponsor, coach and mentor.” Speaking of family, Danielle and Tim have three boys who they describe as the center of their world. Daniele shares, “SendOutCards has given us that opportunity to be more focused on providing quality time & experiences together as a family and living in the NOW and not the someday.”

Visit the Mohr Family’s site www.cardsandmohr.com for a chance to try the system and send a FREE card. Experience first-hand how easy it is to send personalized, real greeting cards with your handwriting, your signatures and your photos from your computer in minutes. Tim said “After you create and click “send,” SendOutCards will then print, stuff in envelope, stamp and send it to a mailbox across town or across the country. And we do that for one card or one thousand… with or without a gift.”

Danielle concluded our interview by tearing up, “SendOutCards is providing opportunities for our family that once were a dream; and can be the key to new opportunities for so many this year. We wish everyone Mohr Possibilities this year!”

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February, Valentine’s Day, expressing love for those around you. I am not one for buying cards, love the homemade ones by the kids. How about this Valentine’s Day stopping and doing something special for your self. If you are like 85% of the population you have not followed through with

your New Years resolutions. Here is your second chance. It is a whole lot easier as the sun is starting to shine, to make a commitment.

What one thing could you give yourself this year, to help you! Now dig deep, not something frivo-lous, but something that will make you healthier and perform better overall. Buying a book – profes-sional or pleasure, making time to exercise, time to meditate, leisurely walks, kid time, planning meals, treat yourself to someone else clean-ing your house, what could you do with those hours?

As busy moms (and dads) we some-time spread ourselves too thin. Stop and enjoy the day, show those around you that you appreciate them and most importantly love yourself.I leave you with these thoughts -

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection – BuddahLove yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world. – Lucile BallToday you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.-- Dr. Seuss.

Marla StochGive the gift of Health!Invigorate and Nourish yourself with Healthy Chocolate!

MOMMY FIRST

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mGOAL SETTING: AIM FOR THE SWEET SPOTCATHERINE MORGAN

I am guessing that you are in the middle of setting goals, achieving goals, or more likely ignoring the goals that yousetafewweeksago.Someofyouwillbeaimingforthestarswithsky-highgoalsthatifyouevengethalfwaytoward you will be thrilled. Others of you will be setting the bar low hoping to blow them out of the water, and then be able to feel really good about yourself.

When you are doing your goal setting, you will think about your business and the personal income that your business will hopefully provide. Some of you will just want to be comfortable and some of you will want to be friggin’ famous and filthy rich.

There’snorightorwronganswer,andone-sizegoalscertainlydon’tfiteveryone.(Neitherusuallydoestheone-size-fits-allsweaterbutIdigress…)

I always tell my clients that nobody makes a good business decision when they are thinking about money all the time. You need to have your finances in a decent place so that you can look at situations objectively and make therightdecisionsforyourselfandyourbusiness.Note:Theknee-jerkfearresponseisalmostalwaysthewrongdecision. It’s just like spinning the roulette wheel with your last dollar and usually not a good business strategy.

As you are setting (or trying to achieve) your personal financial goals, I think the trick is to aim to have enough moneytopayallyourbillsandlivecomfortably-butnottohavesomuchmoneythateveryoneisthinkingaboutyour money.

The key to happiness seems to be having an income that falls between those two bands. Aim to have enough money to live the life you want. Too much money has its own problems. You don’t want to be thinking about it all the time, and you certainly don’t want to have every deadbeat friend or relative come out of the woodwork looking for a handout.

My advice? aim for the sweet spot of money.

So what are your personal financial goals? Are you aiming to be comfortable? Or do you want to own an island?

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when there was a local screen printer half a mile away. Part of the reason for this is that small businesses here were not joining the Chamber of Commerce because they felt the cost was too high.

In order to help solve this we are doing a few things, one is a meeting with the Chamber to convey with them the issues we found. Hopefully we can convince them to have an introductory small business dues price for a time to entice the small business owners to join. A second program is starting an online group, such as a Facebook group, for the local small business owners to join and interact. We are hoping this will give them a chance to promote their business and enter in to collaboration where they can share resources or trade with each other.

I urge you to look around your town for opportunities. Look for other small businesses and join together to support each other. If a group like this doesn’t exist, consider starting one. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

ROBERT NEWOur small town is currently undergoing an economic development study. We have an economic development coordinator on the city pay roll, but for this exercise they decided to go outside and hire a consultant in order to get a fresh perspective.

The consultant the mayor and council decided on was Michael Shuman, author of The Small-Mart Revolution.Mr. Shuman came in, did some groundwork, and then led a meeting of interested business owners, citizens, and city employees in conducting a SWOT analysis. We listed the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to economic development in our town. What we found out is that our community is leaning pretty heavily toward relying on large, outside manufacturers.

Mr. Shuman’s idea of a healthy local economy is based on exactly the opposite direction that our town has been focused in the past. With the economy the way it is right now, there are a lot of towns struggling right now with high unemployment, reduced payroll taxes, and empty officeand retail space. But even with financing and employment hard to come by, the time has never been better to start your own business. The trick is to venture out with something that you can start without a lot of investment.

One of the areas Mr. Shuman identified in our town that was prime for startups is business and professional services. These are mostly businesses to support other businesses, such as doing billing, legal services, accounting, bookkeeping, web design, consulting, etc. Most of the time these can be run from the comfort of your own home.

In doing some focus groups of small business owners, we discovered an interesting fact. Most of the small businesses did not know what other small businesses were available. One of the companies in our town buys a lot of screen printed items, but went to a larger nearby town to get them

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SMALL BUSINESS COLLABORATION

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Meet Sharon Rowley. Sharon lives outside of Nashville Tennessee and spent many years as a business owner of a western store and hari salon. In 2008, she left the traditional business world to start a new career as an Independent Contractor with Dove Chocolate Discoveries.

Sharon is now a Senior Manager with Dove Chocolate Discoveries and is having the time of her life growing her team throughout the U.S. Sharon calls her team “Chocolate Lovers” and seh loves the recruiting, training and mentoring process of helping her team to achieve Sweet Success as Independent Contractors with Dove.

If you’re looking for a home based business where you can make money and have a great time doing it, give Sharon a call and she will share the details about becoming a chocolateir with Dove Discoveries.

If you would like to try the delicious products or need a great gift, you can order prodducts from Sharon’s website:www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/chocolatelovers

Sharon Rowley is living the sweet life. She’s found business success and now spends her time helping others to find it too!

DOVE CHOCOLATE DISCOVERIES

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GALAN GRAPHIX

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INNOVARUS MOBILE

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Top Five Reasons To Seek Publicity For Your Business

Someone once said, “Any publicity is good publicity.” Is that the truth? What do you think? Would negative publicity help your business or hurt it? Is there good “bad” publicity or even bad “good” publicity? What is publicity anyway? We will explore these and more questions as we discuss a well-knownand little-understoodtopic in the coming

months. For this article though, let’s explore when one should seek publicity – five key excuses (or reasons) to look for publicity for you or your company. In other words, when should you send a press release or a press kit?

First things first though – what is publicity? Dictionary.com (easier to use now than the previously used Webster hardback) defines publicity as “Extensive mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication.” Our 2012 resource Wikipedia says, “Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public’s perception of a subject.” That thought could lead to another article.

From a marketing perspective, publicity is only one piece of an entire marketing campaign. And when implementing the marketing effort, the marketer (or publicist) creates opportunities to generate word of mouth discussions and communication. When, where and how to get publicity are other pieces of the puzzle we will explore. For this particular session, let’s think about “when and what.” When is a good time, and what is a legitimate reason, to generate communication about you or your business and get “extensive mention in the news.”

initial Launch –1. You are launching a new business or a new department. When you first think of starting a business, you begin to think about how to let people know that you are there. After all, how can they do business with you if they don’t even know that you exist? If you have unlimited money or resources, you can advertise, advertise, advertise! You can have ads in magazines, commercials on radio and television, even billboards. And if that is your budget for business, Congratulations! That kind of “advertising” can go a long way to getting you visibility, which can lead to clients. That’s not the case for many

new business owners, or entrepreneurs who have limited means for marketing and even less for advertising, so sending a press release, contacting the media, even sending a complete press kit, will go a long way – when it is part of a complete marketing plan – to get word out about the new business.

anniversaries –2. If you celebrate an anniversary or special event, send a press release. There are many ways to get the press release in the hands of the media. Do your homework and find out how they prefer to receive the information. Reporters and media personnel are unique. Some like emails, some like faxes, some like regular mail – although that number is shrinking in the midst of the Digital revolution.

new products or services –3. Are you adding a new service or product to your portfolio? Make sure you tell your target market about it. Be specific, even in your contacts to the media. If your product or service is industry specific, then find the appropriate reporters to contact with the information. There are “trade rags” for every profession. Be careful! Make sure you send to someone who writes about your industry or your profession or your business.

awards and recognition –4. Has your company or anyone in your company received an award or been recognized for any reason – remember reporters are people and people like to hear about people. Maybe one of your employees performed some volunteer work and received recognition; maybe your company was in the top 25 of your local Business Journal.Tellpeople! Shout it from the rooftops! Success likes success and we all want to buy from a successful person.

new situations –5. Have you recently hired someone and need to let your industry know about their credentials, also adding to your credibility? Did you recently acquire a new client and want to give them some recognition? Are you joining forces with another company to provide a unique solution to your clients and theirs? Let the media know! Get publicity!

So many reasons, so many opportunities and it all takes time! Get a format (template) that you can use easily. Be efficient!UseoneofthePRwireservicestomakesureyou reach the current media people. And remember, do your homework! It’s quality and not necessarily quantity when it comes to reaching the media! We will talk later about how to “hook” the media. How does a great headline look? What can you expect if you are going to, as Wikipedia says, “attempt to manage the public’s perception of a subject.” See you next month!

LOOKING GOOD AND INSPIRING OTHERS TO ACT

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PURSE PARTY

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I got into this business by way of, what else, networking! I was working in sales at a print company, and unfortunately, my boss had the business sense of a sea lion and insisted on running things like it was 1995. I was frustrated and unhappy with the outdated and overpriced options I could offer to clients. However, part of MY marketing strategy to get new business was networking. I was a member of four area Chambers of Commerce, and two other business networking groups. It was there I met Larry, who represented a company making machines that produce alkaline antioxidant water.

Now, no offense to any other MLM or network marketing organization. However, as I’d been a sales professional for 10years,Ihadbeenpropositionedbyanyoneandeveryonetoselltheirproduct/service:Allofthehealthpills,allof the health drinks in a bottle, all of the legal services, all of the credit card processing systems, the list goes on and on. Something about this water business struck a nerve with me though. I had done some research about giving your body a more alkaline base to help fight off disease. When I found out that this company produces a medical grade,alkaline,anti-oxidantrichwater,Iwasintrigued.Ifurtherdiscoveredthatthesemachines,madeinJapan,aretheonlywateriozneronthemarketactuallylistedasamedicaldevicebyJapan’sversionoftheFDA.

I have more belief in this product and what it can do for ones health, as well as income, than anything I have ever sold. We let our prospects try the water for FREE for 30 days. What other product lets you sample their goods for a month? Call our weekly conference calls to listen to the extraordinary health and wealth testimonials from people all over the country. We truly believe this to be the best water on the planet. And we do not want anyone to buy a machine that does not experience life altering results.

Our compensation plan is patented. There are no “binary” legs or anything else you have probably encountered upon a meeting with other MLM’s or network marketing. We do not ask you to make a list of 30 people who have thousands of dollars to invest in a “new business opportunity.” How do you get started? Buy a machine for yourself. Experience what it can do for you. And then, GIVE the water away, for FREE. We cannot, and will not, charge for this. Share this water with as many people as you can. Your results will come back to you ten fold.

MIRACLES THROUGH WATER

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“Sometimes You Have to Take Drastic Steps to Turn Your Life Around”Toni Harris, The Turnaround Queenwww.ToniHarrisSpeaks.com

“Do it Yourself Online Marketing BootcampSandy Lawrence, Publicistwww.mylifecompass.com/sandylawrence

“How to Grow Your List and Put Butss in Seats”“The Six Figure Follow Up”Patty Farmer, The Networking CEOwww.PattyFarmer.com

“Making the Most of Your Business Assets”“Being Credible in a Dime a Dozen World”Michelle Ketterman, Founder, The Inventory Institutewww.MichelleKetterman.com

SPEAKERS SPOTLIGHT

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PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CONTRACT EMPLOYEES AND INTERNSAs our economy continues to shift, many small business owners are utilizing contract employees and interns as a method of reducing overhead. The decision to utilize contractors and interns rather than employees, allows your company to complete projects in a professional and timely manner while reducing operating costs such as required employee workspace, and management and human resource tasks. Contractors and interns are also a cost-effective solution to fluctuating customer demands. Contracted specialists provide experience and expertise that might otherwise be unavailable to your business for a variety of reasons. Interns are valuable resources of enthusiasm and a fresh perspective.

I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories about contractor or intern relationships that were unproductive or even toxic. There are steps that can be taken to prevent an unfortunate turn of events.

Set the tone. When preparing to hire a contract employee or intern, outline your company’s expectations and the expectations of the client during the initial interview meeting. Once you’ve selected a perfect fit for your company initiate a planning session. The initial planning session should include enumeration of all goals and specific deadlines for accomplishment of various milestones of the project. Break down the goals into company specific and client specific categories.

Company specific goals may include brainstorming and strategy meetings with other employees and/or client representatives, a phased completion of the project, review sessions prior to client submission, and a review of the process of the project upon completion. Client specific goals may include planning, and production and submission of the project. Some clients will prefer to be an integral part of your planning process, while others prefer to allow your company complete freedom to accomplish the project at your discretion. This client preference should also be part of your decision-making and planning session with your contractor and/or intern. Determine whether or not the contractor or intern will interact with your client? How will you monitor this interaction?

Stay in the loop. It’s not uncommon for a project to get off to a great start, then gradually supervision begins to slide, and it takes quality job performance with it. Supervisors may take on new projects or become involved in other aspects of the business. When this occurs a consultant or intern may inadvertently begin to steer the project down a path that follows their interpretation rather than meeting your or the client’s requirements.

Maintain open communication with your project manager as well as the individual contractor or intern. Request and thoroughly review regular updates on the status of the project. Schedule regular meetings to discuss project direction and review goals as well as the approved process for achieving those goals.

Communicate. When a client hires you to perform a service, obviously they trust you to provide the end result they require. Keep your client apprised of the project status. If there are delays in the completion process, make your client aware that the deadline may need to be shifted. Work with your contract employees and interns to fix glitches as soon as they occur. Address issues openly, with professionalism and courtesy. Above all, you don’t want to subject your client to a barrage of excuses or criticisms of your staff. Your client wants and deserves results, not interoffice drama. Your contractors and interns will emulate your consistent example of professional communication and courtesy.

Show appreciation. As the job progresses, and certainly upon completion, recognize the efforts of those that “made it happen”. This recognition isn’t just for the superstars of the project, but each individual on the team including contractors and interns. Kudos are always welcome and are great motivators as a project moves forward or a new project begins.

Review and prepare. Upon project completion have a final meeting with your entire team. Review the project including the unexpected (good and bad) that occurred. Brainstorm about what could have been done differently that would have made project completion more expeditious. Share ideas for a more productive process for the next project.

Utilizing contractors and interns can give your company the ability to take on projects more inexpensively. This can be a positive adventure. It doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Plan your project, maintain clear and consistent communication, and evaluate your completed process. Following these steps will ultimately make your project a moneymaker rather than a profit-eating monster.

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What are you giving your loved ones this Valentine’s Day?

Give the gift of HEALTH!CONTACT: Text to ‘58203 Healthful’, to �nd out about our products

‘58203 MadMoney’, for business opportunitiesOR, Call 877.286.1729

(Without giving up the chocolate)

XOCAI-THEHEALTHYCHOCOLATE

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What are you giving your loved ones this Valentine’s Day?

Give the gift of HEALTH!CONTACT: Text to ‘58203 Healthful’, to �nd out about our products

‘58203 MadMoney’, for business opportunitiesOR, Call 877.286.1729

(Without giving up the chocolate)

http://www.dominobarter.com/ ~ 502-713-4031 ~ melissa@dominobarter.com

3 Ways to Turn Barter into Cash

While the main focus of barter clubs (a.k.a. trade exchanges) is on saving cash and maximizing resources for its members, they also present opportunities to turn barter money into cash. Barter members can experience lower cash expenses (allowing more cash to stay in the bank) and even increased cash sales as a direct result of how they utilize their barter memberships. Here are 3 ways this can be achieved.

1. Spend barter money on marketing and advertising. Advertising and marketing are amongthe most widely available commodities in barter. Spending barter money on the things that most businesses need (like printing, signs, web design, tv ads, billboard space, etc.) will result in bank accounts with higher balances since barter dollars were spent, not cash. The cash sales generated from those wisely spent barter dollars will only add to the very attractive bottom line.

2. Buy items or services on barter, and resell them for cash. A jeweler may buy items from someone in barter who wants to get rid of old jewelry. Then, the jeweler is free to sell those items along with the rest of their inventory. Let’s say web designer Alpha has acash web design client. Alpha may outsource that project to web designer Bravo and pay Bravo barter dollars for the work. Then web designer Alpha collects cash from his client.

3. Earn cash referrals by doing great work for barter customers. One of the main goals of any barter member is to attract new customers. Along with each new customer comesthe opportunity to make them so happy that they refer a friend to you. Even though the computer store sold a laptop to a barter member, that member could refer a friend to the store … and that friend might not be a barter member. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.

There are tons of bartering benefits that most people can’t even imagine. With a little practice, almost any company can turn barter into cash.

BARTERING: IS THERE A CATCH? DOMINO BARTER MELISSA ALLEN

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Over the years my life has taken many twists and turns and I sometimes wonder how I’ve been able to hold it all together as a wife, mother, military widow, stepmother, business owner, community volunteer and now a Grama. By sharing my experiences I hope to touch others that feel they can’t move forward after life got in the way.

At 32 years old I had to deal with the death of my first husband and father of our three children then two months later my baby daughter’s cancer diagnosis. Almost two years later I somehow managed to move across the country to Texas knowing no one. Open an Interior Design business, hold positions with multiple non-profits and run fundraisers. I remarried years later and moved to Germany where I created a school volunteer/fundraising program andran the military community charity bazaar. After 6 years I abruptly returned to Texas for my daughter to receive a heart transplant. Eventually life once again had some normalcy and my husband and I were able to build a couple successful home based businesses. But then God obviously once again felt I could handle more when my daughter died unexpectedly at 22 years old and 4 years later my marriage ended.

After returning to designing and tinkering with a couple MLM’s I soon realized I was lacking my passion. But when I saw a post by a Facebook friend about a new

system that will help any business using Social Media I knew I had to learn more.

After hearing what Social Outbreak can do for the person that is looking to brand themselves or expand their business I realized it was just what I was looking for. I’ve always enjoyed helping people and this allows me to offer products that will assist any business, entrepreneur,non-profit…tobesuccessfulwiththepower to promote their product or service through digital social networking.

‘Social Outbreak’ opened worldwide in August of 2011 and in October of 2011 they joined forces with ‘We Build Your Social Media’ to create the world’s first ‘Virtual Social Media Agency’. By combining SO’s distribution model with WBYSM’s social media technology I’m able to offer professional social media systems and services to the small business owner, entrepreneur, non-profit, etc. I love my business because it is a legitimate opportunity that will allow everyone to benefit from the power of Social Media. Networking, offering facebook training and the new technology our sytem offers will allow me to travel worldwide as I educate people and businesses. Knowing your “WHY” and a passion for the products or services you’re offering can equal success.

www.KatieWegg.com ~ 317 517-5277 ~ katiewegg@yahoo.com ~ Skype @katie.wegg

SOCIAL OUTBREAK

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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 ‘business connector’, dedicated to helping others succeed while they grow their own businesses.

Each listing features a live link that will take you directly to the person’s 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.

If you’re a business connector who would like to bepart of our Preferred Business Directory, you canregister on our website or contact Margie for moreinformation. www.BeTheBossMagazine.com orMargie: 803.673.1487

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Jennifer Varnderhoff

L’BEL“Order and receive a special gift from me!”

Connect with Jennifer 678-428-9747

Danielle Mohr

Cards and Mohr “Appreciate others with MOHR success”

Connect with Danielle

Dayna Offutt

Day of Designing“Let us help you with your print & web design needs.” Connect with Dayna

Mark Werner

Miracles Through Water “Discover the amazing benefits of drinking alkaline antioxidant water!”

Connect with Mark

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Bonnie KarpayCEO Space Houston Connect with Bonnie

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Carol Smith

CarolSmith.com “Improving Profitability and Success”

Connect with Carol

650-275-3817

Katie Wegg

Social Outbreak “Social Outbreak can build a unique, professional Facebook pres-ence in minutes.”

Connect with Katie

Marla Stoch

Xocai “EAT IT ~ SHARE IT ~ LIVE IT, Invigorate and Nourish your LIFE with Healthy Chocolate!”

Connect with Marla

Kristi Willis

Rodan and Fields Dermatologists “The only thing that should age is wine & cheese” Rodan+Fields – Changing skin & Changing Lives!

Connect with Kristi

Laurie Sullivan

Plexus Simply Pink “At last an Affordable Weight Loss System that does Work! Plex-us Slim is the Healthy Way to lose weight! ”

Connect with Laurie

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Alice Schmitt

Kara Vita“I help women STOP AGING. Pharmaceutical Grade Skin Care, results guaranteed in two weeks.” Connect with Alice

Ellyn Traub

High Performance Leadership, Inc. “High Performance Leadership, INC Coaching makes the Critical Differnce”

Connect with Ellyn

Ken Rochon

Perfect Publishing “Perfect Publishing....We Bring The Book Out of You

Connect with Ken

443.904.4545

Julia Hull

California Real Estate Mart “Your Real Estate Connector still believing in the American Dream...even in the toughtest times!”

Connect with Julia209.604.5028

Sabine Barnett

Living Well with Healing Essentioal Oils “Living Well, Wellness within Reach!”

Connect with Sabine

(615) 714-4269

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Patty Farmer

Patty Farmer & Associates Your Visibility, Referability, Marketability Expert… Helping you turn your ability into profitability!

Connect with Patty 972.603.8209

Catherine Morgan

Point A to Point B Transitions Inc. “Create clarity and confidence | Find focus | Move forward”

Connect with Catherine

Shelly Rice

“If you’re looking for SOLID business connections, you’ve found the right gal, I’m a REFERRAL MACHINE!”

Connect with Shelly

417.353.2610

Dana Mazurek

SoZo LifeEmpowering People Worldwide Through Superior Wellness Prod-ucts! Be Healthy, Be Wealthy, Be Free!

Connect with Dana

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Amanda Parker

Collective Alternative“Making Business Personal”

www.collectivealternative.com

Connect with Amanda

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Bob New and Margie Baxley “Linton-Cole is there to help you manage your online presence”

Connect with Linton-Cole

859-905-0580

Linda Fitzgerald

Affiliated Women International “Enriching Women Worldwide”

Connect with Linda

Michelle Ketterman

The Inventory Institute “Educating Consumers. Setting the standard. Raising the bar. For the Industry.”

Connect with Michelle

Dale Little

Business Strategist“dale little Speaker... Business Strategist... Consultant” Connect with Dale

Angie Ryan

iZigg “I would rather be texting”

Connect with Angie

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Michelle Ketterman

The Inventory Institute “Educating Consumers. Setting the standard. Raising the bar. For the Industry.”

Connect with Michelle

James Boggus

Genesis Life Travel Connect with James

Sharon Rowley

Dove Chocolate Discoveries “ Eat, Share and Love Chocolate”

Connect with Sharon

Margie Baxley

Virtual Margie “Always only an IM Away”

Connect with Margie

803-673-1487

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Lynn Zettler

Lifeaction Coaching“Driving Action to Success”

www.lifeaction-coaching.com

Connect with Lynn

Kathy Friend

Fashion Writer/ Speaker/Wardrobe Coach/Stylist

www.KathyFriend.com

Connect with Kathy

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Dennis Hunter

Custom Print Products “Your Message Our Imagination Unlimited Possiblities”

Connect with Dennis

K. Andre Ankton

Innovarus “IDigital Security...Mobile Solutions”

Connect with K. Andre

Melissa Allen

Dominoe Barter“Trade what you have for what you want”

Connect with Melissa

Debbie MurlinItWorks!

Connect with Debbie

Darby Rae

Merciful Law

www.darbyrae.com

Connect with Darby

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Shelly Rice

Chocolate Blues and Business Networking Festivals “Exclusively for Decision Makers”

Connect with Shelly

417.353.2610

Peggy LeNoue

Rodan + Fields “ Use it, Tell it, Get Paid, I will Train You!”

Connect with Peggy

Toni Harris

Tonia Harris Speaks Motivational Speaker and Sales Trainer

Connect with Toni

Purse Party Inc.“Fashion, Friends, Fun...YOU Deserve It!“

www.purseparty.com

Connect with Purse Party888-367-0416

Sandy Lawrence

Perceptive MarketingConnecting ~ Coaching ~ Collaborating

Connect with Sandy

PREFERRED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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48495051

BE THE BOSS MAGAZINE