Is there a boom in that doom & gloom?

Happy post Thanksgiving! Hopefully, amidst the news, you found many people and things to be thankful for. I find that taking inventory of everyone and everything I am appreciative of is very revealing and healing. In the meantime, a slightly different take on our worldly situation occurred to me…
Einstein said he first spent more time thinking about how he wanted to look at a problem before he set about solving it. What if we looked at our current economic “crisis” another way? Here goes… What if Wall Street collapsed and nothing more happened? You are still sitting there. The job still needs to get done — Everyone needs to work... The oil companies want you to buy gas. We all need to eat. (Even if you are unemployed, you could be cleaning your home and/or working here and there to help out others…) If everyone does what everyone does anyway, what difference does it really make?
At risk of seeming simplistic, what is Wall Street anyway? Sure, companies raise capital by selling shares on the market, but beyond that it seems little more than a gambling casino... When most people "invest", let's face it, they're gambling. Sure, you may have a "system," but most are still gambling. (And, behind the scenes, the money is creatively recycled so the same money can be used again and again before its original owner wants it back…)
Anyway, when we walk into a casino, we know that the odds are against us. If it’s not the cards, it’s the programming in the machines. Betting on companies is actually betting on the people running them. Why are we gambling on someone we don't even know to do more with our money than we can? Yeah, yeah, established companies with seasoned managers... Nevertheless, the curtain has been pulled back and it looks like they aren't performing very well (or, no matter what they do, things still go wrong.)
Here’s where I’m going…
It seems we've become mesmerized by the money itself — the money for it's own sake — no longer for what the money can really do. Isn't it time we got real again and put our money behind the real innovators. What if many more people with more money were inspired to invest it into aspiring new businesses instead? No one cares more about your money than you do. You can watch it grow, help it along yourself, roll-up your sleeves, call friends for favors, etc., and have a little fun. Now you can contribute to creating new things for the world. And your profit in true wealth starts on day one.
It’s what America does best — it’s one thing the rest of the world admires about Americans.
Finding the boom amidst the doom & gloom…
It may seem like the doom and gloom is all there is these days, but let’s keep going. Let’s take “positive mental attitude” a step forward. I never could really believe that glossing over my observations of things amuck would really work, but I’ve done my best at applying my “positive mental attitude” to every situation. There is another way to look at it… For example, you buy a new car and suddenly you see them everywhere. The thing in your brain called the reticular activating system (RAS) is what makes you suddenly see so many cars just like the one you just got. Your new car is what’s on your mind... Hmmm… And now you see them everywhere. Likewise, if you can tune your mind/RAS for situations and opportunities that will work for you, you just might start seeing them everywhere too.

JIAN was founded with the intention of helping you to deliver your solution to the world and succeed in building a business around it. Today, the world needs you and your solution more than ever. If you need an investor, tune your RAS for the ones who will work with you. If you are an investor, tune your RAS for a deal you can get your hands on and help. Stop gambling on the deal behind the curtain and bet on an idea whose time has come.

~ Burke Franklin, Founder & CEO of JIAN, Developer: BizPlanBuilder Software, Author: Business Black Belt

Tips & Tricks: Stay in touch with customers

Our marketing team uses this innovative, automatic CRM email system. Let’s face it — out of sight, out of mind.  If you’re not communicating with your database, someone else is. I’ve known the creator of QuoteActions for 28 years. When Rick Itzkowich brought Productive Learning & Leisure’s QuoteActions contact management system to my attention, I knew adding this tool to our CRM bag of tricks was a no-brainer. For less than a $1 a day, you send pre-written, short, uplifting, inspirational quotes, accompanied with an action item to your contacts. The response we’ve received from our clients has been great. Creating goodwill with positive, no-sell messages is the secret sauce of QuoteActions.

Thank you for the Quote Actions!  I read them everyday.  They are very positive and upbeat and it is a good way to start the day.  They do have an impact on everything that you do.  I find them to be very valuable and have told several of my family members and friends. ~ Richard Reynolds

• Click here to try it yourself one week for free.
• Click here to receive QuoteActions free from JIAN
  

Watch Me Online: “What special knowledge you need to launch a business...”

I’ve observed and learned a lot in my experience over the past 30+ years in business. Click on me to watch this short (2:17) video on YouTube. This is one of a series of videos from an interview I did with marketing professor Terry Noel. If you're willing, please add a comment and give it your rating.

Finance Tips: "By The Numbers"
INVESTING AFTER A RECESSION BEGINS — The S&P 500 has gained an average of +13.1% per year (total return) for the 10-year period that started on January 1st of the calendar year following the official beginning date of each of the last 5 recessions (source: BTN Research).

HOME MORTGAGES — The total amount of home mortgage debt held by Americans was $10.5 trillion as of the end of last year, an amount that has doubled over the last 6 years (source: Federal Reserve Flow of Funds, Investment News).

JUST BEING CAREFUL — 57% of American retirees are living on their defined benefit pension distributions and their monthly social security benefit checks and are not currently spending any income that is generated from their pre-tax retirement assets, e.g., income produced from assets in an IRA (source: Nationwide Retirement Income Confidence Survey).

BIG SPENDER — The US government is projected to spend $2.93 trillion during the current 2008 fiscal year, equal to $1 billion of government spending every 3 hours throughout the year (source: Treasury Department).

TWICE AS MUCH — US exports to China are on pace to reach $71 billion in calendar year 2008, more than double the $35 billion of American exports sold to China in calendar year 2004 (source: Department of Commerce).

BY THE DECADE — The cost of living (as measured by the consumer price index) in the USA increased +24% in the decade of the 50s +28% in the 60s, +103% in the 70s, +64% in the 80s and +33% in the 90s. For the first 8 years of the current decade (2000-07), the cost of living nationwide has increased +25%. The consumer price index is a measure of inflation compiled by the US Bureau of Labor Studies (source: Department of Labor).

ONE WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM — The age at which an American can receive full Social Security retirement benefits is a function of an individual’s date of birth and can be no higher than 67 years old under current law. In response to the program’s long-term projected financial problems, the American Academy of Actuaries has proposed increasing the maximum age to receive full retirement benefits to 70, an age that would be phased in over an 18-year period (source: American Academy of Actuaries).

BORROW AND BUY — The average US home increased in value by +36% over the years 2001-04. During this 4-year period, 25% of homeowners extracted some of the equity build-up in their primary residence through a home equity loan. Of those homeowners who borrowed against their home equity, 34% reinvested the borrowed funds into other investments, e.g., the stock market, other real estate, or a business venture (source: Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Center for Retirement Research).

WHERE CREDIT IS DUE — Nearly all of the +3.3% growth in the US economy reported for the 2nd quarter 2008 (i.e., quarter-overquarter growth rate expressed as an annualized total) was attributable to the surge in our nation’s trade numbers. Net exports sold to foreign buyers accounted for +3.1% of the +3.3% growth rate, i.e., 94% of the growth reported was directly tied back to our rising exports (source: Commerce Department, AP).

~ Marian Lenz, Merrill Lynch, marian_lenz@ml.com

We like to pass along useful ideas to our entrepreneurial customers. When you have something to share, please email us here: Editor-Business Black Belt

Talking Tip: A good voice mail message

How most voice mail message go is blah, blah, blah... ad nauseum, then a rapid-fire phone number. If I dont; get the # the first time, I then have to listen to the entire message again! Please, help me out. Always leave your number slowly an clearly at the beginning of your message. "Hi, this is Burke, 5-3-0--2-6-7--6-2-9-3. I called to tell/ask you... blah, blah, blah..."

Next thing: virtual conversations. Voice mail is a beautiful thing. You call to ask a question or to tell me something—please go ahead and ask/tell me all of it in your message. (Not, "Hey, it's me. Call me.") Even though I may miss you live when I call back, at least I can fully respond to your message. We've had a virtual conversation. We've accomplished something.

Please pass this on to others so our world is a better place.

More to Learn: Recession Data on the Value of Marketing Through an Economic Downturn...

The economy is going to do what the economy does, but you can't the that stop you. It may be tempting to slash your expenses -- marketing is one of the areas that seems to go first. But wait...

Even in a "good" economy you should always be doing what you can to maximize your marketing resources. Now we have some lessons from history to show us that now is not the time to cut your marketing investment.

In fact, in Lee Iacocca's book <i>Talking Straight</i>, where he describes the tough time for Chrysler and how they cut expenses almost everywhere -- he even took a $1/year salary -- they kept their entire $100+ million marketing budget intact!

Here are some of the facts from past recessions:

* 1970 recession year — American Business Press (ABP) and Meldrum & Fewsmith study showed that “sales and profits can be maintained and increased in recession years and [in the years] immediately following by those who are willing to maintain an aggressive marketing posture, while others adopt the philosophy of cutting back on promotional efforts when sales appear to be harder to get.” ~1

* 1974-1975 recession years — ABP/Meldurm & Fewsmith 1979 study covering 1974/1975 and its post-recession years found that “Companies which did not cut marketing expenditures experienced higher sales and net income during those two years and the two years following than those companies which cut in either or both recession years.” ~2

* 1981-1982 recession years — Click here to complete this article

We like to pass along useful ideas to our entrepreneurial customers. When you have something to share, please email us here: Editor-Business Black Belt

Selling Tip: 5 Keys to Conversations About Value

It's one thing to understand the concept of value as a collaboration. It's another thing to have the conversation that gets things going. Somehow, when we sit down to talk, a fog bank seems to move in.

These five keys will help you navigate through the fog.

1. Let go of the result.
2. Be willing to be surprised.
3. Ask questions.
4. Listen.
5. Check your conclusions with the client.

Let Go of the Result

The first and most important key to having conversations abut value is to let go of the result.

A conversation about value is not a sales pitch in disguise. The goal is not to make a sale, but to reveal the value of your work so that the client can make an informed decision about buying.

Every client that walks away from this conversation feeling heart and understood but without buying remains a prospective client and referral source.

Every client you convince to buy who doesn't benefit from the investment becomes a mill stone.

Be Surprise-able

If you were crystal clear about the value your work provides clients from their point of view, you wouldn't need to read this article.

Since you aren't crystal clear, open your mind. Drop your preconceptions about value. Let the client surprise you. (And you can surprise them by really listening. But I'm getting ahead of myself.)

Ask Questions

Your job in the conversation about value is to ask questions, not to answer them.

Imagine that you are helping a friend make an important decision. Instead of giving advice, ask questions that help your friend, in this case, a prospective client, articulate what's most important to them.

• What do they want to achieve?

• Why is that important?

• What's in the way of achieving that?

• What can they build on?

• If they could have any kind of help they wanted, what would that look like?

Listen
If you aren't asking a question, your mouth should be closed. And if you don't know what to ask, silence can be okay, too. I guarantee that when you stay silent longer than it's comfortable, your client will start talking. And the best part is that what they say will be coming from them, not from you.

Check Your Conclusions with the Client

Periodically stop and review what you've heard with the client. This gives them a chance to clarify or elaborate. It will show you where you may have imposed your thinking on theirs. And it will suggest new questions to ask.

That's it. No selling. No pressure. Just an open mind, interested inquiry, and careful listening.

Value Is a Collaboration

When it comes right down to it, the value of your work emerges from a collaboration between you and your just-right clients. What's more, this collaboration begins long before you are hired.

Start asking questions and listening to the people you'd love to work with. Watch the value emerge. And watch your client list grow.

~ Unless otherwise attributed, all material is written and edited by Molly Gordon, MCC. Copyright © Shaboom Inc.® 2008. All rights reserved. Visit our extensive archives at www.mollygordon.com.

We like to pass along useful ideas to our entrepreneurial customers. When you have something to share, please email us here: Editor-Business Black Belt

Awareness: Catch a Whiff of this!

Everything smells. From your local convenience store, to the hotel room you stayed in on your last business trip.  Even your mother-in-law.  Everything and everyone has a distinct scent. Amazing new research reveals that when you smell, you feel. Imagine … with every whiff you take, you imprint your emotional experience on your brain.  Like a scent tattoo.
How can that be?  It’s all explained for you in this fascinating new book.
Whiff! The Revolution of Scent Communication in the Information Age
Authors Russell Brumfield, James Goldney, and Stephanie Gunning will unveil for you a powerful future trend.  A trend based on primal human biology. Discover the brilliant and meaningful applications of scent. http://www.whiffoffer.com/index.php?id=f

We want to make you an offer you can’t refuse. 
Buy just one copy of Whiff! Today.  Look at all the bonuses we have for you! 

• Learn the method that took one man from $1 million in debt to financially secure in only 18 months
• Unleash the passion of your creative genius
• Discover how to enjoy a smooth publishing experience for your next book
• Receive simple tools to uncover your Inner Wizard
• Be empowered to communicate and negotiate using seven secret words
• Listen as Wayne Dyer explains the power of inner choice
• Tap into 12 ways to make your intuition work for you – Einstein did this too
• Proven ways to keep you positive and upbeat as a Leader – during tough times

Over $1,000 worth of bonus gifts when you buy just one book today.
Don’t linger.
Catch the Whiff! http://www.whiffoffer.com/index.php?id=f

We like to pass along useful tips to our entrepreneurial customers. When you have something to share, please email us here.

For You: The Worst Question in Business

... is "How much does it cost?" Yes, I sincerely propose this everyday question for the dubious 'honour' of being declared "The Worst Question in Business".

I'm sure we can all think of times when we bought the cheapest car, Christmas decorations, computer, kitchen knives, electric shaver, perfume, or something — and deeply regretted it. Sure, sometimes cheap is best, especially if it's something that we'll only need to use once or twice, or quality just doesn't matter. Not a great idea in business, though, when making critical, far-reaching decisions. I suggest that when it comes to such vital business choices, deciding by which alternative is cheapest can be a drastic error.

I respectfully propose that the most important evaluation criterion is not “How much will it cost?”, but rather, “How much return could it bring?” Then the remaining point to be determined is how likely it seems that each alternative can produce that return.

Perhaps you have already gone the econo-website route; maybe you have a website that cost you a mere $500. (Or maybe it cost you no cash at all; just quite a lot of your time.) But the return is unsatisfactory. Almost nobody's coming, and nobody's buying. Spending another $500 is unlikely to bring the transformation and greatly multiplied profitability you want.

Absolutely you should be wise. Absolutely you should be economical and try to get the most results for your dollar. But what is the use of spending (for example) $500 and making a few thousand, when spending $5,000 could bring you half a million? That is false economy in the extreme.

In this time of economic uncertainty, being wise with your money is even more critical than ever. But don't ever think that going "cheap" automatically equals being wise.

~ Michael Linehan, Marketing Alchemy, www.marketing-alchemy.com

We like to pass along useful ideas to our entrepreneurial customers. When you have something to share, please email us here.

Business Funding: 5 Simple Strategies...

To Help You Attract Investors and Sponsors to Your Business

Most people don’t realize that potential investors are all around you—there is no shortage of money—and the more prepared you are, the more compelling your investment opportunity becomes. Raising capital from investors or acquiring the proper resources you need is a right of any entrepreneur and one of the best ways a growing business can assure its success. Know how to compel others to invest rather than you "chasing" the money. Here are top 5 things you can do right from the beginning to build value in your business and help you become more attractive to the money:  

1. Develop a healthy relationship with money and know that you deserve to have it. Money is just energy and capital is just one of the many resources necessary to grow your business. If you become too attached to this process or have a sense that your self-worth is tied into the money, you may actually repel investors.
 
2. People invest in PEOPLE so make sure you’ve taken the time to attract the right mentors and advisors to support you during this process to help you attract the resources you need. There are others who have made this journey successfully before you so find out who they are and attach them to your project somehow. Investors and sponsors are more inclined to put their money into a project with a management and advisory team that has a proven track record. If they’ve done it once, they are more likely to re-create their success.

3. Do what you can to prove out your concept by developing your markets, monetizing some aspect of your business, building a database of prospective customers, forming strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures, and obtaining purchase orders and letters of interest whenever possible. Investors and sponsors are more inclined to take notice if you can show that there really is interest in your products and services.   

4. Obtain as much protection for your Intellectual Property (IP) as possible. Having a patent, or the opportunity to patent your IP, is generally the most attractive opportunity to an investor. If not a patent, make sure you have the opportunity to create future IP such as trademarks and copyrights to show that your products and services will not become obsolete. Protect what you can up front to assure interest from investors but if that’s not possible, make sure you have a plan to do so in the near future.

5. Make sure you are passionate and invested in this process yourself and be able to clearly articulate that to investors. Investors want to know how much time and money YOU’VE invested, how passionate you are, how far you’re willing to go with it and how stable you are emotionally and financially so that they know you will have staying power.

Application of these items will help you become super-attractive to money and other resources!

~ Maria Simone helps those who are in various stages of planning, packaging, and launching their businesses acquire the financial resources they need at http://www.passion2prosperity.com

When you have something to share, please email us here: We like to pass along useful ideas to our entrepreneurial customers. When you have something to share, please email us here.

For fun: Stock Market Terminology (revised)

CEO — Chief Embezzlement Officer.

COO ---  Cooking (the) Organization's (books) Officer.

CFO — Corporate Fraud Officer.

LINEMAN --- Poor sap, little guy, worker bee left behind who will soon stand in a bread line.

BULL MARKET — A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.

BEAR MARKET — A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.

VALUE INVESTING — The art of buying low and selling lower.

P/E RATIO — The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.

BROKER — What my broker has made me.

STANDARD & POOR — Your life in a nutshell.

STOCK ANALYST — Idiot who just downgraded your stock.

STOCK SPLIT — When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.

FINANCIAL PLANNER — A guy whose phone has been disconnected.

MARKET CORRECTION — The day after you buy stocks.

CASH FLOW — The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.

YAHOO — What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.

WINDOWS — What you jump out of when you're the sucker who bought Yahoo @ $240 per share.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR — Past year investor who's now locked up in a nuthouse.

PROFIT — An archaic word no longer in use.

We like to pass along [silly/profound/fun/ny stuff] to our entrepreneurial customers. When you have something to share, please email us here: Business-Black-Belt

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