Start Your Business Now
SBX 7525-501
What do you really need to start your own business? Much more than luck! Come listen and learn about the key business elements that are critical to your success. Free.
Date: Thursday, August 26
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Institute for Entrepreneurship
Market Research Tools
SBX 7813-501
Discover the variety of market research tools such as statistical websites, questionnaires, focus groups and observational research that give you critical information about potential opportunities and threats in your industry. Get the data you need to test feasibility of a new business or interest in a proposed new product or service.
Date: Monday, August 30
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Institute for Entrepreneurship
Nonprofit Trends SBX 7884-501
Nonprofit organizations are an integral part of today's society. Trend analysis is critical for start-up and established nonprofit organizations and helps them prepare for sustainability and growth. Stay "in the know" to plan and prepare for your nonprofit success! Free.
Date: Wednesday, September 1
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: North Campus
To register for seminars please call 704-330-4223
Naomi's Notes:"Don't Give Up"
Naomi
It is known in the business world that 10% of companies will go out of business each year. Not everyone is meant to own a business, and that is okay. Many have tried and have realized it is easier and better for them to work for someone else. If you don’t want to deal with the risks and pressures of so many responsibilities of running a business, don’t stress yourself out by doing so.
How will you keep from being part of the above mentioned 10%? There are many factors that keep someone in business.
1. If you do commit to running a business, take it serious and do it right. It will take a lot of capital, time, sweat, tears, and working a whole lot more hours than you would working for someone else. However doing so over a long period of time can be a very rewarding experience. Think positive all of the time.
2. Having a clear sense of focus and a purpose are two of the keys to get through the daily challenges. When we have a purpose, we will give it our all and even lose a lot of sleep trying our best to make it work.
3. Being able to foresee any obstacles, which there always are, gives us the ability to plan and manage profit and loss.
4. Marketing your brand, product, or company is critical to anyone staying in business. Look at Coca- Cola as an example. Everyone knows what the taste of a Coke is and clearly knows the brand name. Coca- Cola does not stop reminding you of their name. It is imperative for them to keep this marketing in their budget no matter what.
5. Have a daily system to present your product or service to produce revenue.
6. Be honest. Others will learn to trust you and respect you.
7. Make mistakes. We all do! Learn from them and strive to do better the next time. Work smart.
8. Think on your feet quickly. Sometimes we have to make immediate decisions that can either cost us or help make a profit, depending on the choice we make.
9. Spend time growing yourself. Learn from books, seminars, other successful business owners, or anyone that can give you positive guidance. Don’t ever stop learning.
10. Networking. Let others know about what you do and work to also help them. This takes time and practice, but can be very beneficial.
11. Pray. God can give us strength to make it through anything.
12. Love what you do, including the business side of it.
There are many other things that could be added to this list, which include constant budgeting, employees, training, insurance to protect your business (general liability, workmen’s comp, employer’s practice liability, business auto, hired/non- owned auto, etc.), taxes, office space, managing overhead costs, brochures, promotional items, coming up with new ideas, and many more. We will try to cover some of these in a later newsletter.
The main ingredient for anyone serious about staying in business is to never give up. Yes, it does mean that you will be working hard. See challenges as opportunities to learn something. Keep working smart and see yourself as a winner!
by Naomi Hulme
It is known in the business world that 10% of companies will go out of business each year. Not everyone is meant to own a business, and that is okay. Many have tried and have realized it is easier and better for them to work for someone else. If you don’t want to deal with the risks and pressures of so many responsibilities of running a business, don’t stress yourself out by doing so.
How will you keep from being part of the above mentioned 10%? There are many factors that keep someone in business.
1. If you do commit to running a business, take it serious and do it right. It will take a lot of capital, time, sweat, tears, and working a whole lot more hours than you would working for someone else. However doing so over a long period of time can be a very rewarding experience. Think positive all of the time.
2. Having a clear sense of focus and a purpose are two of the keys to get through the daily challenges. When we have a purpose, we will give it our all and even lose a lot of sleep trying our best to make it work.
3. Being able to foresee any obstacles, which there always are, gives us the ability to plan and manage profit and loss.
4. Marketing your brand, product, or company is critical to anyone staying in business. Look at Coca- Cola as an example. Everyone knows what the taste of a Coke is and clearly knows the brand name. Coca- Cola does not stop reminding you of their name. It is imperative for them to keep this marketing in their budget no matter what.
5. Have a daily system to present your product or service to produce revenue.
6. Be honest. Others will learn to trust you and respect you.
7. Make mistakes. We all do! Learn from them and strive to do better the next time. Work smart.
8. Think on your feet quickly. Sometimes we have to make immediate decisions that can either cost us or help make a profit, depending on the choice we make.
9. Spend time growing yourself. Learn from books, seminars, other successful business owners, or anyone that can give you positive guidance. Don’t ever stop learning.
10. Networking. Let others know about what you do and work to also help them. This takes time and practice, but can be very beneficial.
11. Pray. God can give us strength to make it through anything.
12. Love what you do, including the business side of it.
There are many other things that could be added to this list, which include constant budgeting, employees, training, insurance to protect your business (general liability, workmen’s comp, employer’s practice liability, business auto, hired/non- owned auto, etc.), taxes, office space, managing overhead costs, brochures, promotional items, coming up with new ideas, and many more. We will try to cover some of these in a later newsletter.
The main ingredient for anyone serious about staying in business is to never give up. Yes, it does mean that you will be working hard. See challenges as opportunities to learn something. Keep working smart and see yourself as a winner!
by Naomi Hulme
Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone by Chip Hartman
To all …
Not long ago I had lunch with ETP Network COO Carl Reid. During our conversation, Carl shared his thoughts on the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone in order to make progress in any endeavor. Long after Carl left, the message reverberated in my brain and it does so today still.
Because I believe this principle may be far more relevant to ETP Network members than first recognized, I will soon be writing an article about the various ways in which job seekers are giving new attention to this axiom in order to break free of their comfort zones and make true progress.
Then I had a better idea. Why not invite ETP Network members to submit their own stories about how they willingly abandoned the comfort of the familiar to embrace the challenges of the unfamiliar? It sounded like a good idea, so …
If you are interested in being “profiled” in the upcoming article, please send me a paragraph or two summarizing what you did to escape the dead-end tug of your comfort zone. Please be sure to answer the following questions in your write-up:
1. What did your comfort zone consist of? (What kind of a rut were you in?)
2. What did you do to “break free” of it? (What obstacles did you overcome?)
3. Were you successful? If so, can you positively link the success to your courage in confronting the unfamiliar?
4. Did you learn anything about your capabilities as a result of your experience?
If interested, please send me an e-mail message with your story. By sending the story, you will be giving me permission to use it as part of the article and allowing me to edit your words.
I must receive your e-mail message by Mon., June 21 in order to include your story in the article.
Thanks for your interest.
Best regards,
Chip Hartman
ETP Network, Editor-in-Chief
CEO, MeridiaSystems.com, LLC
973.331.0948 (tel)
973.331.0937 (fax)
862.207.9504 (cell)
http://www.meridiasystems.com
http://www.chiphartman
http://www.wintherace21.com
chip@meridiasystems.com
Not long ago I had lunch with ETP Network COO Carl Reid. During our conversation, Carl shared his thoughts on the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone in order to make progress in any endeavor. Long after Carl left, the message reverberated in my brain and it does so today still.
Because I believe this principle may be far more relevant to ETP Network members than first recognized, I will soon be writing an article about the various ways in which job seekers are giving new attention to this axiom in order to break free of their comfort zones and make true progress.
Then I had a better idea. Why not invite ETP Network members to submit their own stories about how they willingly abandoned the comfort of the familiar to embrace the challenges of the unfamiliar? It sounded like a good idea, so …
If you are interested in being “profiled” in the upcoming article, please send me a paragraph or two summarizing what you did to escape the dead-end tug of your comfort zone. Please be sure to answer the following questions in your write-up:
1. What did your comfort zone consist of? (What kind of a rut were you in?)
2. What did you do to “break free” of it? (What obstacles did you overcome?)
3. Were you successful? If so, can you positively link the success to your courage in confronting the unfamiliar?
4. Did you learn anything about your capabilities as a result of your experience?
If interested, please send me an e-mail message with your story. By sending the story, you will be giving me permission to use it as part of the article and allowing me to edit your words.
I must receive your e-mail message by Mon., June 21 in order to include your story in the article.
Thanks for your interest.
Best regards,
Chip Hartman
ETP Network, Editor-in-Chief
CEO, MeridiaSystems.com, LLC
973.331.0948 (tel)
973.331.0937 (fax)
862.207.9504 (cell)
http://www.meridiasystems.com
http://www.chiphartman
http://www.wintherace21.com
chip@meridiasystems.com
Guy Kawasaki's article Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn
Although a few years old, Guy Kawasaki's article Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn, is even more timely now.
For our Twitter users
RT @guykawasaki How to Change the World: Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn http://bit.ly/92lany
RT @guykawasaki How to Change the World: Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn http://bit.ly/92lany
Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn
* The average number of LinkedIn connections for people who work at Google is forty-seven.
* The average number for Harvard Business School grads is fifty-eight, so you could skip the MBA, work at Google, and probably get most of the connections you need. Later, you can hire Harvard MBAs to prepare your income taxes.
* People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less than five.
*All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in LinkedIn. In fact, 499 of them are represented by director-level and above employees.
According to my inside sources, the person with the most pending LinkedIn invitations is…Guy Kawasaki. (Though I’m not sure if I should be proud or ashamed of this factoid.)
Most people use LinkedIn to “get to someone” in order to make a sale, form a partnership, or get a job. It works well for this because it is an online network of more than 8.5 million experienced professionals from around the world representing 130 industries. However, it is a tool that is under-utilized, so I’ve compiled a top-ten list of ways to increase the value of LinkedIn.
1. Increase your visibility.
By adding connections, you increase the likelihood that people will see your profile first when they’re searching for someone to hire or do business with. In addition to appearing at the top of search results (which is a major plus if you’re one of the 52,000 product managers on LinkedIn), people would much rather work with people who their friends know and trust.
2. Improve your connectability.
Most new users put only their current company in their profile. By doing so, they severely limit their ability to connect with people. You should fill out your profile like it’s an executive bio, so include past companies, education, affiliations, and activities.
You can also include a link to your profile as part of an email signature. The added benefit is that the link enables people to see all your credentials, which would be awkward if not downright strange, as an attachment.
3. Improve your Google PageRank.
LinkedIn allows you to make your profile information available for search engines to index. Since LinkedIn profiles receive a fairly high PageRank in Google, this is a good way to influence what people see when they search for you.
To do this, create a public profile and select “Full View.” Also, instead of using the default URL, customize your public profile’s URL to be your actual name. To strengthen the visibility of this page in search engines, use this link in various places on the web> For example, when you comment in a blog, include a link to your profile in your signature.
4. Enhance your search engine results.
In addition to your name, you can also promote your blog or website to search engines like Google and Yahoo! Your LinkedIn profile allows you to publicize websites. There are a few pre-selected categories like “My Website,” “My Company,” etc.
If you select “Other” you can modify the name of the link. If you’re linking to your personal blog, include your name or descriptive terms in the link, and voila! instant search-engine optimization for your site. To make this work, be sure your public profile setting is set to “Full View.”
5. Perform blind, “reverse,” and company reference checks.
LinkedIn’s reference check tool to input a company name and the years the person worked at the company to search for references. Your search will find the people who worked at the company during the same time period. Since references provided by a candidate will generally be glowing, this is a good way to get more balanced data.
Companies will typically check your references before hiring you, but have you ever thought of checking your prospective manager’s references? Most interviewees don’t have the audacity to ask a potential boss for references, but with LinkedIn you have a way to scope her out.
You can also check up on the company itself by finding the person who used to have the job that you’re interviewing for. Do this by searching for job title and company, but be sure to uncheck “Current titles only.” By contacting people who used to hold the position, you can get the inside scoop on the job, manager and growth potential.
By the way, if using LinkedIn in these ways becomes a common practice, we’re apt to see more truthful resumes. There’s nothing more amusing than to find out that the candidate who claims to have caused some huge success was a total bozo who was just along for the ride.
6. Increase the relevancy of your job search.
Use LinkedIn’s advanced search to find people with educational and work experience like yours to see where they work. For example, a programmer would use search keywords such as “Ruby on Rails,” “C++,” “Python,” “Java,” and “evangelist” to find out where other programmers with these skills work.
7. Make your interview go smoother.
You can use LinkedIn to find the people that you’re meeting. Knowing that you went to the same school, plays hockey, or shares acquaintances is a lot better than an awkward silence after, “I’m doing fine, thank you.”
8. Gauge the health of a company.
Perform an advanced search for company name and uncheck the “Current Companies Only” box. This will enable you to scrutinize the rate of turnover and whether key people are abandoning ship. Former employees usually give more candid opinions about a company’s prospects than someone who’s still on board.
9. Gauge the health of an industry.
If you’re thinking of investing or working in a sector, use LinkedIn to find people who worked for competitors—or even better, companies who failed. For example, suppose you wanted to build a next generation online pet store, you’d probably learn a lot from speaking with former Pets.com or WebVan employees.
10. Track startups.
You can see people in your network who are initiating new startups by doing an advanced search for a range of keywords such as “stealth” or “new startup.” Apply the “Sort By” filter to “Degrees away from you” in order to see the people closest to you first.
11. Ask for advice.
LinkedIn’s newest product, LinkedIn Answers, aims to enable this online. The product allows you to broadcast your business-related questions to both your network and the greater LinkedIn network. The premise is that you will get more high-value responses from the people in your network than more open forums.
For example, here are some questions an entrepreneur might ask when the associates of a venture capital firm come up blank:
*Who’s a good, fast, and cheap patent lawyer?
* What should we pay a vp of biz dev?
* Is going to Demo worth it?
* How much traffic does a TechCrunch plug generate?
Addendum
These additional ideas came in through comments:
1. Integrate into a new job.
When people start a new job, ordinarily their roots aren’t that deep in the new company. However, with Linkedin, new employees can study fellow employees’ profiles and therefore help them get to know more people faster in a new company. (contributed by Vincent Wright)
2. Scope out the competition, customers, partners, etc. This seems like it’s a no-brainer, but you can use LinkedIn to scope out the competition’s team as well as the team of customers and partners. For example, your competitor’s vp of marketing came from Oracle…she’ll probably believe that business is war. (Kev)
Read more: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/ten_ways_to_use.html
Run Your Career as a Business ..... By Rod Colon
Who are the most important people in your life?
The most popular answer to that question is: “My family.” For most of us, “family” represents those individuals who believe in us and trust us to provide them with the necessities of life.
I now ask you to begin thinking of your family as your Personal Board of Directors. These are the people to whom you have the greatest responsibility and who will benefit the most from your successful job search. They are also the individuals who endure hardship if your search is unproductive and there’s no other source of income. Put another way, your Personal Board of Directors deserves to have you working at nothing less than peak performance during your search.
That’s why learning to detach from the grip of The Black Hole is so essential. While The Black Hole is a no-brainier to use, that personal comfort level comes with a steep price tag: no acknowledgment of resumes and cover letters, no status updates via e-mail or phone calls, and no invitations for interviews … just to name a few. And getting miserable results like that does nothing to support your Personal Board of Directors.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m in a job search and I have a choice between an approach that’s easy to use but lightweight on results or a methodology that requires me to work hard but produces consistently favorable results, I’ll go with the more demanding option every time. Why? There’s simply far too much at stake.
To get started and overcome the addictive force of The Black Hole and Black Hole-style thinking, I require all new members of the ETP Network to commit wholeheartedly to the following paradigm:
Each individual will promote himself or herself to the position of CEO of ME, Inc. and make a conscious decision to run his or her own career as a business.
What’s the benefit? By segmenting your job search into “branches” or “divisions” (e.g., Research & Development, Sales & Marketing, etc.) that correlate with a traditional corporate structure, you can train yourself to develop two key attributes that are missing from the Black Hole: personal accountability and workload distribution. Together they are an unbeatable combination compared to piling all tasks into one overstuffed filing cabinet in your brain — which often leads to chaos and the need to assign blame when the load becomes unmanageable.
This ME, Inc. paradigm is also the centerpiece for my 7-Step Job Search Methodology. The beauty of the program is that new ETP Network members learn how to integrate their business divisions into a meaningful, end-to-end process that’s sensible, manageable, and measurable; that’s right — you can develop metrics that will tell you if you’re making progress and help you pinpoint any disconnects.
About the ETP Network (Empowering Today’s Professionals)
The ETP Network has engineered an entirely new type of job search built on four key interrelated goals. Members will:
1. Develop and refine all networking skills
2. Adopt the CEO of ME, Inc. mind-set
3. Create powerful and compelling value propositions to attract potential employers
4. Use a precise, step-by-step approach that leverages the connecting power of advocates to help you “network your way” to key people in the hiring process
The power of this system is its ability to reduce the time between the next suitable opportunity and the call for an interview. It will help you connect the dots — but only if you work it properly. And that is a key point: first you need to learn it, then you need to “work it.”
I’d like to welcome you to this incredible organization. We are all about power networking, power business ownership, power value propositions, and an incredible new power job search methodology all rolled up into one.
Best wishes and keep networking alive,
Rod Colón
Chief Executive Officer
Empowering Today’s Professionals Network
Running the Business of "ME"
www.ETPNetwork.com
rod@etpnetwork.com
732.367.5580
Order Your Copy of My Book Today – Win The Race For 21st Century Jobs
Connect with me on:
http://RodColon.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/RodColon
http://www.linkedin.com/in/RodColon
http://www.facebook.com/RodColon1
The most popular answer to that question is: “My family.” For most of us, “family” represents those individuals who believe in us and trust us to provide them with the necessities of life.
I now ask you to begin thinking of your family as your Personal Board of Directors. These are the people to whom you have the greatest responsibility and who will benefit the most from your successful job search. They are also the individuals who endure hardship if your search is unproductive and there’s no other source of income. Put another way, your Personal Board of Directors deserves to have you working at nothing less than peak performance during your search.
That’s why learning to detach from the grip of The Black Hole is so essential. While The Black Hole is a no-brainier to use, that personal comfort level comes with a steep price tag: no acknowledgment of resumes and cover letters, no status updates via e-mail or phone calls, and no invitations for interviews … just to name a few. And getting miserable results like that does nothing to support your Personal Board of Directors.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m in a job search and I have a choice between an approach that’s easy to use but lightweight on results or a methodology that requires me to work hard but produces consistently favorable results, I’ll go with the more demanding option every time. Why? There’s simply far too much at stake.
To get started and overcome the addictive force of The Black Hole and Black Hole-style thinking, I require all new members of the ETP Network to commit wholeheartedly to the following paradigm:
Each individual will promote himself or herself to the position of CEO of ME, Inc. and make a conscious decision to run his or her own career as a business.
What’s the benefit? By segmenting your job search into “branches” or “divisions” (e.g., Research & Development, Sales & Marketing, etc.) that correlate with a traditional corporate structure, you can train yourself to develop two key attributes that are missing from the Black Hole: personal accountability and workload distribution. Together they are an unbeatable combination compared to piling all tasks into one overstuffed filing cabinet in your brain — which often leads to chaos and the need to assign blame when the load becomes unmanageable.
This ME, Inc. paradigm is also the centerpiece for my 7-Step Job Search Methodology. The beauty of the program is that new ETP Network members learn how to integrate their business divisions into a meaningful, end-to-end process that’s sensible, manageable, and measurable; that’s right — you can develop metrics that will tell you if you’re making progress and help you pinpoint any disconnects.
About the ETP Network (Empowering Today’s Professionals)
The ETP Network has engineered an entirely new type of job search built on four key interrelated goals. Members will:
1. Develop and refine all networking skills
2. Adopt the CEO of ME, Inc. mind-set
3. Create powerful and compelling value propositions to attract potential employers
4. Use a precise, step-by-step approach that leverages the connecting power of advocates to help you “network your way” to key people in the hiring process
The power of this system is its ability to reduce the time between the next suitable opportunity and the call for an interview. It will help you connect the dots — but only if you work it properly. And that is a key point: first you need to learn it, then you need to “work it.”
I’d like to welcome you to this incredible organization. We are all about power networking, power business ownership, power value propositions, and an incredible new power job search methodology all rolled up into one.
Best wishes and keep networking alive,
Rod Colón
Chief Executive Officer
Empowering Today’s Professionals Network
Running the Business of "ME"
www.ETPNetwork.com
rod@etpnetwork.com
732.367.5580
Order Your Copy of My Book Today – Win The Race For 21st Century Jobs
Connect with me on:
http://RodColon.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/RodColon
http://www.linkedin.com/in/RodColon
http://www.facebook.com/RodColon1
My Career -- Am I on an Emotional Rollercoaster?By Amanda Sherman, ETP Charlotte Network Group
For several years I have been on an emotional rollercoaster on what my career is supposed to be. Have I really grown up yet? What do I want to be when I grow up? What is my passion? Am I on an emotional rollercoaster? What is the best career choice for me?
I am looking to be an Entrepreneur - Can I start my own business? What kind of training do I need? Will I be successful? Looking back on my family tree I noticed that my grandparents were business pioneers, my great grandparents owned their own businesses – so should I follow my heritage?
So, I decided that I would get off of this emotional rollercoaster. Yes, I am making a run for it. I fled the corporate world; I sat in that seat for almost 20 years. The corporate world was glamorous and paid well but I was tired. I no longer want to listen to the manager who is 25 years old, the lead who is 18 years old tell me – ―Oh, oh, I need you stay and finish this last report that was due two days ago.‖ Nope, not anymore, I am not getting back on the rollercoaster. I do not want to get a ticket at this fair anymore.
Yes, I am free! It is kind of ironic because now that I am no longer on that emotional rollercoaster in the corporate world. I am back at the fair purchasing another ticket to get on the rollercoaster of my choice. The difference is I will enjoy the ride. I have turned my ‗6x10‘ space dining area into my office. (Hey the kids are gone no more sit down dinners). Entertaining with friends and family has moved to the living room. Now, I have created my office space, set up my desk, purchase my copier, fax and postage machine and I am in business for myself. Goodbye to my emotional rollercoaster in the corporate world.
I have chosen to be an Event/Wedding Planner. I love planning things and I feel that this is right up my alley. I am happy with my choice. All my business comes from word of mouth through effective networking. I don‘t have the fabulous platinum weddings yet or the black tie high society events but I know they are coming soon.
―Recent research on self-employment has emphasized the specific dynamic of the rise of female entrepreneurship. But self-employment is still dominated by men. Only about 25-30% of the self-employed are women and the female self-employment rate is often only half as high as the male self-employment rate.”
Amanda Sherman is the CEO & Founder Gala Affairs By AtUrBest
704-502-0312
704-625-7136 (fax)
http://www.GalaAffairsByAtUrBest.com
http://AtUrBest.blogspot.com
Emails: wedsaturbest@yahoo.com
Do you Own your Career?
www.etpnetwork.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/amandasherman
The Ribbon Gift of Choice : www.tsherman2.ordermygift.com
I am looking to be an Entrepreneur - Can I start my own business? What kind of training do I need? Will I be successful? Looking back on my family tree I noticed that my grandparents were business pioneers, my great grandparents owned their own businesses – so should I follow my heritage?
So, I decided that I would get off of this emotional rollercoaster. Yes, I am making a run for it. I fled the corporate world; I sat in that seat for almost 20 years. The corporate world was glamorous and paid well but I was tired. I no longer want to listen to the manager who is 25 years old, the lead who is 18 years old tell me – ―Oh, oh, I need you stay and finish this last report that was due two days ago.‖ Nope, not anymore, I am not getting back on the rollercoaster. I do not want to get a ticket at this fair anymore.
Yes, I am free! It is kind of ironic because now that I am no longer on that emotional rollercoaster in the corporate world. I am back at the fair purchasing another ticket to get on the rollercoaster of my choice. The difference is I will enjoy the ride. I have turned my ‗6x10‘ space dining area into my office. (Hey the kids are gone no more sit down dinners). Entertaining with friends and family has moved to the living room. Now, I have created my office space, set up my desk, purchase my copier, fax and postage machine and I am in business for myself. Goodbye to my emotional rollercoaster in the corporate world.
I have chosen to be an Event/Wedding Planner. I love planning things and I feel that this is right up my alley. I am happy with my choice. All my business comes from word of mouth through effective networking. I don‘t have the fabulous platinum weddings yet or the black tie high society events but I know they are coming soon.
―Recent research on self-employment has emphasized the specific dynamic of the rise of female entrepreneurship. But self-employment is still dominated by men. Only about 25-30% of the self-employed are women and the female self-employment rate is often only half as high as the male self-employment rate.”
Amanda Sherman is the CEO & Founder Gala Affairs By AtUrBest
704-502-0312
704-625-7136 (fax)
http://www.GalaAffairsByAtUrBest.com
http://AtUrBest.blogspot.com
Emails: wedsaturbest@yahoo.com
Do you Own your Career?
www.etpnetwork.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/amandasherman
The Ribbon Gift of Choice : www.tsherman2.ordermygift.com
"How to Get The Salary You Want" By JOE LIGHT, WSJ Careers
A tight job market might have taken away some jobseekers' leverage in a salary negotiation, but that doesn't mean they should roll over and accept the first offer, says New York-based executive coach Rabia de Lande Long. To get the top compensation possible—without putting a sour taste in your potential employer's mouth—take these steps.
1. Do your research.
It used to be hard to find out what your coworkers and other professionals in your industry get paid. But now, several resources have attempted to opened that black box, says Ms. de Lande Long. Salary.com and Payscale.com give salary ranges to expect based on a job seeker's position, location, and experience. Employees at the actual company you're applying to might have also posted their salaries at GlassDoor.com.
2. Don't give out the first number.
You'll be pressured to do this through the application process. "What's your salary requirement?" "What salary range are you looking for?" "What do you get paid now?"
Whatever you do, never give out the first number, says Ms. de Lande Long. If your answer is too high, you might not make it to the next stage. Too low, and an employer will either think you're not qualified or desperate. So, if possible, write "NA" on applications.
If you're pressured to say how much you make during the interview process, try giving your "total compensation," which many large employers will break out for you on the company's internal human resources website. If your current employer doesn't do that, just spell out your salary, benefits, bonuses, and anything else your current employer offers, says Decatur, Ga. career coach Walter Akana. If the new company doesn't offer some of similar benefits, the HR manager will know that your new salary would have to be bumped up to reflect that, he says.
Getting the salary you want requires smart negotiation.

If the interviewer still presses for a required salary, try giving a range of $15,000 rather than a specific number, Mr. Akana says.The low amount should be the minimum you'd be happy with and the high amount should be what would make you happy.
3. Don't lie.
"It's so easy to get someone in HR to verify a salary, even if they're not supposed to," says Ms. de Lande Long. Even if you make it to a job offer, the false salary could come out during a background check, which could result in an outright retraction of the offer or at least upset an employee's new boss. "And from that point onward, you might face trouble in negotiations not just with your new employer, but with everyone in your industry who has heard. Word gets around," says Ms. de Lande Long.
The author of "Death by Meeting" and "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" is taking questions about managing people, projects and workplace dilemmas from WSJ readers this week. Click here to submit a question.
4. Don't take the first offer.
Most employers expect candidates to try to negotiate. So they leave room in the first offer for a raise, says Mr. Akana. If possible, try to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager rather than someone in human resources. The hiring manager is more likely to be flexible, says Mr. Akana. "
Say that you're flattered to have an offer and really want to join the team, but that there are a couple specific items that you're sure you could resolve if you put your heads together," says Mr. Akana. Despite the pressure on salaries during the downturn, a good rule of thumb is to ask for a 10% higher salary, says Ms. de Lande Long.
If the hiring manager says budget restrictions keep him from going as high as you'd like, it might be that the position is "graded" to be within a certain salary band by HR, says Mr. Akana. It's worth asking if the boss can ask the appropriate person for the job to be re-graded. The worst he can say is no.
5. Once that's locked in, go for other benefits.
Despite what you might have heard, many benefit packages aren't flexible, says Ms. de Lande Long. So, while it's worth asking, it might be difficult to modify the health plan. Your success in getting more vacation days depends on the employer, says Ms. de Lande Long.
Your potential boss might be hesitant to give you more days if it will make other employees think they're being treated unfairly. Instead, focus on things that are easy for the employer to provide, such as a work-from-home arrangement for one day a week, if the employer has made such arrangements in the past, says Mr. Akana.
If you still feel your package is too low, ask if it can be reviewed again in six months. "That way, you can show them that you're worth the money," he says.
"Act Local. Think Global"
----------
Carl E. Reid, CSI
Chief Operations Officer
Empowering Today's Professionals Network
http://Twitter.com/etpnetwork
Tel: 201-222-5390
Sent via my BlackBerry, sponsor of newly released book "Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs" http://www.etpnetwork.com
1. Do your research.
It used to be hard to find out what your coworkers and other professionals in your industry get paid. But now, several resources have attempted to opened that black box, says Ms. de Lande Long. Salary.com and Payscale.com give salary ranges to expect based on a job seeker's position, location, and experience. Employees at the actual company you're applying to might have also posted their salaries at GlassDoor.com.
2. Don't give out the first number.
You'll be pressured to do this through the application process. "What's your salary requirement?" "What salary range are you looking for?" "What do you get paid now?"
Whatever you do, never give out the first number, says Ms. de Lande Long. If your answer is too high, you might not make it to the next stage. Too low, and an employer will either think you're not qualified or desperate. So, if possible, write "NA" on applications.
If you're pressured to say how much you make during the interview process, try giving your "total compensation," which many large employers will break out for you on the company's internal human resources website. If your current employer doesn't do that, just spell out your salary, benefits, bonuses, and anything else your current employer offers, says Decatur, Ga. career coach Walter Akana. If the new company doesn't offer some of similar benefits, the HR manager will know that your new salary would have to be bumped up to reflect that, he says.
Getting the salary you want requires smart negotiation.

If the interviewer still presses for a required salary, try giving a range of $15,000 rather than a specific number, Mr. Akana says.The low amount should be the minimum you'd be happy with and the high amount should be what would make you happy.
3. Don't lie.
"It's so easy to get someone in HR to verify a salary, even if they're not supposed to," says Ms. de Lande Long. Even if you make it to a job offer, the false salary could come out during a background check, which could result in an outright retraction of the offer or at least upset an employee's new boss. "And from that point onward, you might face trouble in negotiations not just with your new employer, but with everyone in your industry who has heard. Word gets around," says Ms. de Lande Long.
The author of "Death by Meeting" and "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" is taking questions about managing people, projects and workplace dilemmas from WSJ readers this week. Click here to submit a question.
4. Don't take the first offer.
Most employers expect candidates to try to negotiate. So they leave room in the first offer for a raise, says Mr. Akana. If possible, try to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager rather than someone in human resources. The hiring manager is more likely to be flexible, says Mr. Akana. "
Say that you're flattered to have an offer and really want to join the team, but that there are a couple specific items that you're sure you could resolve if you put your heads together," says Mr. Akana. Despite the pressure on salaries during the downturn, a good rule of thumb is to ask for a 10% higher salary, says Ms. de Lande Long.
If the hiring manager says budget restrictions keep him from going as high as you'd like, it might be that the position is "graded" to be within a certain salary band by HR, says Mr. Akana. It's worth asking if the boss can ask the appropriate person for the job to be re-graded. The worst he can say is no.
5. Once that's locked in, go for other benefits.
Despite what you might have heard, many benefit packages aren't flexible, says Ms. de Lande Long. So, while it's worth asking, it might be difficult to modify the health plan. Your success in getting more vacation days depends on the employer, says Ms. de Lande Long.
Your potential boss might be hesitant to give you more days if it will make other employees think they're being treated unfairly. Instead, focus on things that are easy for the employer to provide, such as a work-from-home arrangement for one day a week, if the employer has made such arrangements in the past, says Mr. Akana.
If you still feel your package is too low, ask if it can be reviewed again in six months. "That way, you can show them that you're worth the money," he says.
"Act Local. Think Global"
----------
Carl E. Reid, CSI
Chief Operations Officer
Empowering Today's Professionals Network
http://Twitter.com/etpnetwork
Tel: 201-222-5390
Sent via my BlackBerry, sponsor of newly released book "Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs" http://www.etpnetwork.com
Tip 220 - The Ultimate Time Management Principle
Excellent tip by Keith Ferrazzi, author of the ETP networking bible "Never Eat Alone". Get a copy at www.etpnetwork.com >Readers are Leaders menu option.
As proud as I am of the program we created for Relationship Masters Academy, I’m even more proud of the content that’s being published there by users themselves.
Here's one idea I loved, the ultimate time-management principle: Always tell the truth. That wisdom was served up on the RMA forums by Jason Womack of the Womack Company.
Simple but powerful!
Think of how much easier everything would be if you just told the truth. You wouldn’t have to waste energy posturing, or track the little white lies. Even better: Think of how much easier everything would be if everyone else told the truth! Office politics would fade away and solutions would be achieved so much more quickly.
To wit: A 2008 study by Salary.com found that office politics were a time-wasting distraction for almost half of American workers. Pull yourself out of the political posturing and experience an immediate jump in focus and effectiveness!
John Smith, another RMA participant shared the following story in the forums:
“A long time ago I was a supervisor for the Air Force recruiting mission in central Iowa. The first piece of advice I provided to new recruiters was to tell the truth. Your integrity is yours and how others measure you. Telling the truth saved time, because we did not raise false expectations. We did not have to scramble to apologize or correct our mis-truths. When I started out my team was ranked 203/207 three years later we were consistently in the top 10. I believe our simple philosophy worked well.”
Being unfailingly honest not only builds character and integrity, it is also efficient!
As the old saying goes – honesty is (truly) the best policy. Do office politics waste your time at work? Share on the blog! Warmest, Keith --------
Posted by Carl E. Reid, CSI
Chief Operations Officer
Empowering Today's Professionals Network
http://Twitter.com/etpnetwork
Tel: 201-222-5390
As proud as I am of the program we created for Relationship Masters Academy, I’m even more proud of the content that’s being published there by users themselves.
Here's one idea I loved, the ultimate time-management principle: Always tell the truth. That wisdom was served up on the RMA forums by Jason Womack of the Womack Company.
Simple but powerful!
Think of how much easier everything would be if you just told the truth. You wouldn’t have to waste energy posturing, or track the little white lies. Even better: Think of how much easier everything would be if everyone else told the truth! Office politics would fade away and solutions would be achieved so much more quickly.
To wit: A 2008 study by Salary.com found that office politics were a time-wasting distraction for almost half of American workers. Pull yourself out of the political posturing and experience an immediate jump in focus and effectiveness!
John Smith, another RMA participant shared the following story in the forums:
“A long time ago I was a supervisor for the Air Force recruiting mission in central Iowa. The first piece of advice I provided to new recruiters was to tell the truth. Your integrity is yours and how others measure you. Telling the truth saved time, because we did not raise false expectations. We did not have to scramble to apologize or correct our mis-truths. When I started out my team was ranked 203/207 three years later we were consistently in the top 10. I believe our simple philosophy worked well.”
Being unfailingly honest not only builds character and integrity, it is also efficient!
As the old saying goes – honesty is (truly) the best policy. Do office politics waste your time at work? Share on the blog! Warmest, Keith --------
Posted by Carl E. Reid, CSI
Chief Operations Officer
Empowering Today's Professionals Network
http://Twitter.com/etpnetwork
Tel: 201-222-5390
"New Member Orientation" call
Click here to register now for
"New Member Orientation" call Wednesday June 23, 2010 at 9PM EST. Rod Colon will host this call, with other ETP leaders in attendance.
Get your CEO of ME, Inc. business started right. Learn how to "Own Your Career" by leveraging ETP educational methodologies, benefits and tools.
Who should attend?
- New Members
- Members who need a refresher on ETP benefits and business intelligence tools
- ETP Network Leaders who wish to intelligently share ETP Network benefits with others
ETP Network Member Services - "Own Your Career"
Have a question? Membership@etpnetwork.com
ETP Network communities: ETP Networking Meetings | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
Keep up with ETP Network happenings! | Dial In for WEEKLY Job Search Q & A Call
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"New Member Orientation" call Wednesday June 23, 2010 at 9PM EST. Rod Colon will host this call, with other ETP leaders in attendance.
Get your CEO of ME, Inc. business started right. Learn how to "Own Your Career" by leveraging ETP educational methodologies, benefits and tools.
Who should attend?
- New Members
- Members who need a refresher on ETP benefits and business intelligence tools
- ETP Network Leaders who wish to intelligently share ETP Network benefits with others
ETP Network Member Services - "Own Your Career"
Have a question? Membership@etpnetwork.com
ETP Network communities: ETP Networking Meetings | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
Keep up with ETP Network happenings! | Dial In for WEEKLY Job Search Q & A Call
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