I Have Found the Answer to End All World Conflict

I was just reading the book "Feeling Good, 100 ways to feel better every day" and found the secret to peace and harmony in our life.

Massage.

Have you ever treated yourself to a massage? Perhaps your company offers chair massages or you've received a gift certificate to a spa and reveled in the pure joy that comes from the relaxation of a great massage.

Well, here's what the book says:

"According to one Swedish study, young children who massage one another do not fight."

Just think about that. If we start young, that sense of well being would permeate our youth, stress levels would decrease, and peace would fill the air.

Yep, that's it. Massage. It's the answer to world peace.

photo courtesy of eggybird.

I attended a seminar today and in the opening of the speech, the speaker talked about the fact that there were three categories of attendees in the audience:

- The group whose boss made them come – he called them Hostages
- The group that just wanted time away from the office – these were called Vacationers
- The group that was there to learn – he called them Sponges.

Sponges are people who are successful in business and in life and he said they all had three things in common:

They manage their career
They are great communicators
They are life long learners

That last trait reminded me of a book a friend of mine has written called Learning For Profit.

It is an easy read, less than 100 pages, filled with easy to follow instructions to help prepare your mind for learning. Some you’ll have heard before, some you’ll say, “yeah, I’ve tried that and it works,” and most you think – “now why didn’t I think of that.”

I love his advice on how to read books. He provides a step-by-step guide to reading for retained learning.

Check it out, Learning For Profit by Daniel Sitter. You’ll be glad you did.

Welcome Akron Beacon Journal Readers

In today's ABJ - there is a great article by Sarah Filus entitled "More owners have new chore as they take Web plunge - Small-business blogs grow."

She features a few bloggers and their view points in her article (yours truly as well) and does a nice job of providing an overview of blogging and its benefits.

But I take exception to the word "chore."

For me, blogging is a pleasure. It is an opportunity to talk about different aspects of the business world from my point of view. It's better than a conversation because you can't be interrupted! Others can comment - which creates a wonderful dialog and the more you blog, the more your name is visible on the Web.

I would encourage you to visit Technorati and type key words into the search bar to see what people are saying. What key words reflect your business or industry? How many bloggers are writing about your topic. Do you have something unique to add? Make a comment! Get involved. It's easy - jump in, the water's fine!

For the complete ABJ article, click here.

Set Appropriate Expectations

This summer I have been working on refining my brand message. As a writer, I help companies communicate their message in all types of venues, but have decided that I needed a phrase that encapsulated what I do for my customers.

After reading Robin Fisher Roper's book, Making a Name For Yourself, I came up with a new description for my business. I'm DCB from AllWrite Ink and I write "words people read SM."

I checked with the US Patent Office and the phrase wasn't taken. So I decided to complete the form necessary to make the phrase mine.

The process was simple, however, I will tell you that you need to be prepared before going on line with a credit card and a JPEG file that can be attached of your phrase or word in use.

I hit the "send" button and off my information went to the great cyberspace in the sky. I quickly received a confirmation from the government - they are so efficient, I thought as I saw the email was from the Patent and Trademark Department.

And then I opened the message:


"In approximately 6-7 months, your application will be assigned to an examining attorney; however, the critical date for determining registrability is your filing date, NOT the actual examination date. You will not receive any further USPTO communications until examination. At this point, your mark is not registered it is only a "pending" application. The overall process, from the time of initial filing to final registration, can take 13-18 months, and even longer depending on many factors, e.g., the correctness of the original filing, or the type of application filed."

I could be dead by then! I knew there would be a delay but a year and a half????

So take my advice - if you are planning on registering a trademark, set your expectations appropriately.

Need the form to register a mark? Click here.

Name, Rank and Serial Number

When you are at a business or networking event - how do you introduce yourself: with your name, company and job function?

So how's that working for you?

Do people's eyes glaze over?

"I'm a financial planner or I sell insurance, or I'm in the manufacturing and waste management industry."

No matter what your role, by just stating your name and job function, you'll be hard pressed to excite the listener. I mean, think about the last time someone came up to you and said "Hi, I'm Joan Smith with ABC Corporation and I sell widgets."

Oh boy. Not only do you NOT need widgets, you don't really understand what kind of widgets Joan sells and she hasn't described them in a way that makes you want to ask, right?

So try this, the next time you have an opportunity to introduce yourself.

Forget your name, company and job title and just tell them what you DO for your customers.

What if you sell widgets that help a company's existing equipment work fast, more efficiently and cost effectively?

Put your hand out there and proudly say, "Hi, I help my customers be more effective and drop more money to the bottom line."

WOW. I bet you'll get some interesting responses.

For more information on networking and in particular overcoming your fears of networking, check out my latest post on Biz Informer.com.

Photo by x180s

Giving Back - It Feels So Good

Recently in a commentary entitled "Beyond wine, cheese: Third phase of aging", in the Akron Beacon Journal, writer, Laura Ofobike, talked about the trend of baby boomers looking for ways to give back to the community.

I say - hurrah.

In a day of "what's in it for me" and "gimme gimme" it is refreshing to see a trend of volunteerism. Ms. Ofobike states that as baby boomers age and leave the full time workforce, they are looking for ways to use their experience, knowledge and energy in a way that will benefit others.

Locally, we have a new organization building steam called the Women's Central Project, led by Deb Lemire of Queen Bee Productions, Theresa Beyerle, Ph.D. of the University of Akron and Roberta Aber, of Planned Parenthood. The Women's Central Project seeks to bring women and women’s organizations together in collaboration, as well as to reduce competition among service providers.

Look around - is there a way that you can get involved?

For Ms. Ofobike's complete commentary, click here.
For more information on the Women's Central Project, click here.

Photo by Fatal Cleopatra

August 7 A Day To Say THANK YOU

According to Entrepreneur Magazine, August 7th is set aside as a day for saying thank-you to your customers.

We just don't do that enough.

Consider picking up the phone and calling your favorite customer just to say thank-you. It will make both your days.

Photo courtesy of EMDOT

Are You Considering Writing a Book?

Peter Bowerman, author of the critically acclaimed book, The Well-Fed Writer, has just published a new book, The Well-Fed Self Publisher.

If you have ever considered writing a book, whether fiction or non-fiction, at some point you've wondered how you get it published.

Do you need to hire an agent?
Do you need to join a guild?
Do you send your precious writing off to every publisher in the industry?

A growing trend in the publishing field is that of self-publishing. I have also recently joined the ranks of writers who have self-published their works. In June, I wrote a workbook called "It's a Party, Planning a Successful Retail Sales Event."

I wrote the words, laid out the text in a book format, hired a designer to create a lovely cover, researched printing houses and printed 100 copies.

Ever since I have been sending press releases, showcasing my book when I give speeches, featuring it on my website and believe it or not - I've been selling them!

If you have something to say but hesitated because you didn't know how to go about finding a publisher - look no further. Check out Peter's latest book - and give self-publishing a try.

Could You Feed a Village for $400?

Imagine if $400 would be enough to start a business, buy the supplies, make the product, sell to consumers, have enough left over to feed your family and maybe even your next door neighbors and buy the supplies you'd need to do it all over again.

Welcome to KIVA.

"Kiva, which is Swahili for "agreement" or "unity," is harnessing the power of social networking to support microenterprise in the developing world."

Similar to borrowing money from friends or family members to achieve a dream, KIVA is helping enterprising people in developing countries by organizing loans that provide the support necessary to start a small business. Villagers are using the money for small craft businesses, food sales, clothing retailers and with the profits are able to support many members of their community and pay back the loan.

You can help. KIVA has established the opportunity for multiple people to donate small amounts of money (as little as $25) to help these entrepreneurs. Check out this recent article in Business Week or check out KIVA's website for more information and for some of the people currently seeking finanical assistance.