2015 will be the year wearable tech gets under the skin

Want to know how much ultraviolet exposure you’ve had on a summer’s day? Next year, a hair slide could tell you.

Need to monitor your heart’s electrical activity? A pair of headphones could do that and feed the data to your smartphone.

Both are just around the corner. For the past year or so, the main application of “wearable” technology has been for very simple tasks – measuring how many steps you’ve taken, guessing how many calories you’ve consumed doing so, and measuring your heart rate as you did so. But in 2015, we’ll be moving past that, experts say, with a panoply of products about to be launched. Apple’s Watch, expected to go on sale in spring, will take the wearable idea beyond eager technology and fitness users, to the general public. “It will probably get more uptake than anything so far, just because it’s Apple,” says Ruth Thomson, campaign manager for consumer product development at Cambridge Consultants, who has been following the wearables space intently. “They seem to have this magic method of getting people to buy things.”

Though its full capabilities aren’t yet known, the watch has already grabbed a tonne of publicity simply by being announced – eclipsing other smartwatches announced earlier this year from companies including Samsung, LG and Motorola. “There isn’t a mainstream smartwatch yet,” says Thomson. But she sees potential for wearables to expand beyond simple counting – steps, calories – into something that truly connects.

The UV hair slide is one idea Cambridge Consultants is working on; another is a suit embedded with technology that communicates with itself, so that the different elements “talk” to each other. “The next step is to make wearables truly wearable,” Thomson says.

Smartwatches, which (generally) connect to your phone to display notifications from apps running there, are likely to be in the forefront to begin with. Research company Futuresource found interest in buying smartwatches more than doubled, and there had been a 50% rise in intention to get a fitness tracker between May and October 2014; the biggest change was among iPhone owners, possibly once they saw Apple unveil its watch in September. Another analysis company, Juniper Research, believes it will take four years before smartwatches overtake fitness trackers in sales volume, simply because trackers are cheaper.

A key focus for 2015 will be health. Microsoft has already shown off its Band, a wrist-mounted fitness and health tracker (that also measures UV exposure). Microsoft, Google and Apple have launched their own “health” platforms, for aggregating data about what we have done, or to measure essential data on people who may have a health condition. (My own GP’s system can hook into Apple’s HealthKit on an iPhone, if the user gives permission.) Doctors are increasingly interested by the uses of wearables to give information about health. And even the finance world is interested: Canadian banks are looking at the potential for a wristband made by a startup called Bionym that measures unique elements of your ECG pattern to authenticate payments.

Most wearables still have to pass the “turn around” test, according to Sonny Vu, founder of Misfit, which makes the Shine activity tracker. That is, would you turn around to go home to get it if you found you’d left it behind in the morning? But as they become more popular, and more flexible (after UV sensing-hair slides, why not pollution-sensing clothing?), they could become essential.

The only drawback might be that really successful wearables could be used to spy on us. A case in Calgary, Canada, could be a first, where data from a Fitbit is being used to try to show that a fitness trainer who suffered an accident had lower activity levels than would be expected for someone in her profession. The case is claimed to be unique – but that’s only so far. Perhaps in the future, our wearables will be used to prove if we really are as active as we claim to be, and really did run (or walk) where and when we said we did.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/

Funny Thanksgiving Quotes: Presenting the USDA's Top 5 List

When it comes to funny Thanksgiving food stories, few can beat the USDA's own Top 5 entrants.

Who's ready for some funny Thanksgiving stories? Thought you might be.

It sounds more like something you would hear on a late-night comedy show, but these are strange but true Thanksgiving Day stories as told by the US Department of Agriculture.

The USDA operates a hotline for people to call in with questions about food safety and preparedness. The hotline helps reduce foodborne illnesses that people may contract and be deadly in some cases. The hotline remains open on Thanksgiving Day to give people last-minute advice and Kristina Beaugh, a spokeswoman of the USDA offered up some of these interesting tales from the 2013 hotline as told to food safety specialists

They're definitely hard to believe but after watching some of the reality TV shows on what people do, it sounds plausible.

It's not quite David Letterman's "Top 10 List," but here's the USDA's Top 5 list from 2013 as recounted by Beaugh. You won't see this on the USDA Website, but here's for a good chuckle via Beaugh who asks if people would eat these turkeys. She says she hopes they wouldn't.

No.5: Lifeguard Not On Duty
Never leave your turkey by the pool unsupervised. A couple found a wild turkey in their swimming pool, apparently drowning the night before. The caller actually considered serving it to their guests for dinner. This takes being economical to a whole new level.

No.4: Tumble Dry Low
Make sure you have the tools before you commit. One clever caller didn't have a large enough container to brine his large turkey. So of course, the washing machine is next best thing, right? Wrong. After putting ice and brine solution into the machine, his roommate put in a load of laundry with detergent and bleach.

No.3: What's That Fowl Smell?
It's true that cold water can be used to defrost frozen poultry, but one should really consider where that water comes from. One Thanksgiving host had a large frozen turkey and a small amount of time, so he put the turkey in the toilet and continuously flushed to allow water to run all over it. Somebody get a plunger and a take-out menu.

No.2: In By 9, Out By 5
One "resourceful" Thanksgiving hostess forgot to buy a cooking bag for her turkey. Instead she slipped the bird into a dry cleaning bag. During cooking, the bag melted around the turkey and produced a strong, chemical smell. This is a great way to get the family on the fast track to Black Friday.

No.1: You Are Now Free To Move About The Country
Ever find a great clothing sale when you're on vacation so you take some things back home with you? Yeah, you probably shouldn't do that with poultry. A woman found a turkey on sale while visiting family and decided to pack it in her carry-on for the flight home. To make matters worse, her flight was delayed overnight so she kept the turkey on ice in the hotel bathtub. "Ma'am, you're gonna have to check that bag... for Salmonella."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

What is the single biggest mistake that most businesses make?

If I had to give one simple answer to this question I would have to say communication is the biggest weakness of many, if not most businesses. It frustrates me no end because it really is such an easy issue to remedy.

A business owner can find a pile of money to set up a business, rent premises, fit it out, find staff, advertise, build a website and do everything else right to get customers knocking down the door - and then they bugger it up by failing to deliver when it comes to communication.

They take forever to respond to a customer enquiry, promise to get back to you and never do, fail to take the right instructions or orders, make you chase them day after day and week after week, or even worse, they simply ignore you.

We have all experienced this frustration time and time again and around the world, the biggest consumer complaint is always around a lack of communication.

There is little doubt that the business world, and the small business world in particular is changing dramatically. As customers we have choice when it comes to buying anything and the amount of choice is extraordinary. We don't need to accept second best anymore, not should we or will we.

This is going to be a shock for many business owners who will wake up one morning to an empty shop and a very quiet phone because they have treated their customers badly, through lousy communication (and taking them for granted). Put simply, their customers finally got sick of being ignored and treated badly so they went elsewhere.

Now is the time to really service our customers. Follow up and deliver on our promises. If there is a problem call them, don't make them chase you. Listen to what they want and most importantly make sure you give it to them.

Look at response times to emails - taking a week to get back to a customer is not OK. Using the excuse that you are busy is not what a customer wants to hear - because this is implying that your time is more valuable than their time.

From my experience most people who are poor at communicating are generally disorganised, so if this applies to you, get organised.

Generally we put a lot of time, money and effort into getting new customers but very little if anything to keeping them. Anyone who wants their business to not just survive but to actually grow stronger in the years ahead needs to sit down and have a good long look at how they communicate with their customers.

Find ways to improve response times, make follow up a must do activity within your business, listen to what your customers are saying and build a reputation for being a business that delivers what it promises and one that communicates with its customers.

To me this is a real opportunity for any business owner to not only strengthen the business they already have, but to increase word of mouth referral. Quality communication leads to loyalty. We are in a time where surely we want as many loyal customers as we can get? And best of all the cost is zero.

My view is that for a business to thrive in the coming years, they need to master the art of communication. Do this and you will have good times, ignore this and your days are numbered. This applies to every business, online and bricks and mortar, across every industry and in every country.

Source: https://www.thesbhub.com.au

Where does Halloween came from?

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31.  The word Halloween is a shortening of All Hallows' Evening also known as Hallowe'en or All Hallows' Eve.

Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom as well as of Australia and New Zealand.


Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win").
The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.

The festival would frequently involve bonfires. It is believed that the fires attracted insects to the area which attracted bats to the area. These are additional attributes of the history of Halloween.

Masks and costumes were worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or appease them.

Trick-or-treating, is an activity for children on or around Halloween in which they proceed from house to house in costumes, asking for treats such as confectionery with the question, "Trick or treat?" The "trick" part of "trick or treat" is a threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating is one of the main traditions of Halloween. It has become socially expected that if one lives in a neighborhood with children one should purchase treats in preparation for trick-or-treaters.

The history of Halloween has evolved.  The activity is popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and due to increased American cultural influence in recent years, imported through exposure to US television and other media, trick-or-treating has started to occur among children in many parts of Europe, and in the Saudi Aramco camps of Dhahran, Akaria compounds and Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. The most significant growth and resistance is in the United Kingdom, where the police have threatened to prosecute parents who allow their children to carry out the "trick" element. In continental Europe, where the commerce-driven importation of Halloween is seen with more skepticism, numerous destructive or illegal "tricks" and police warnings have further raised suspicion about this game and Halloween in general.

In Ohio, Iowa, and Massachusetts, the night designated for Trick-or-treating is often referred to as Beggars Night.

Part of the history of Halloween  is Halloween costumes. The practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holidays goes back to the Middle Ages, and includes Christmas wassailing. Trick-or-treating resembles the late medieval practice of "souling," when poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1), receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2). It originated in Ireland and Britain, although similar practices for the souls of the dead were found as far south as Italy. Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1593), when Speed accuses his master of "puling [whimpering, whining], like a beggar at Hallowmas."

Yet there is no evidence that souling was ever practiced in America, and trick-or-treating may have developed in America independent of any Irish or British antecedent. There is little primary Halloween history documentation of masking or costuming on Halloween in Ireland, the UK, or America before 1900. The earliest known reference to ritual begging on Halloween in English speaking North America occurs in 1911, when a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, near the border of upstate New York, reported that it was normal for the smaller children to go street guising (see below) on Halloween between 6 and 7 p.m., visiting shops and neighbors to be rewarded with nuts and candies for their rhymes and songs. Another isolated reference appears, place unknown, in 1915, with a third reference in Chicago in 1920. The thousands of Halloween postcards produced between the turn of the 20th century and the 1920s commonly show children but do not depict trick-or-treating. Ruth Edna Kelley, in her 1919 history of the holiday, The Book of Hallowe'en, makes no mention of such a custom in the chapter "Hallowe'en in America." It does not seem to have become a widespread practice until the 1930s, with the earliest known uses in print of the term "trick or treat" appearing in 1934, and the first use in a national publication occurring in 1939. Thus, although a quarter million Scots-Irish immigrated to America between 1717 and 1770, the Irish Potato Famine brought almost a million immigrants in 1845-1849, and British and Irish immigration to America peaked in the 1880s, ritualized begging on Halloween was virtually unknown in America until generations later.

Trick-or-treating spread from the western United States eastward, stalled by sugar rationing that began in April 1942 during World War II and did not end until June 1947.

Early national attention to trick-or-treating was given in October 1947 issues of the children's magazines Jack and Jill and Children's Activities, and by Halloween episodes of the network radio programs The Baby Snooks Show in 1946 and The Jack Benny Show and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in 1948. The custom had become firmly established in popular culture by 1952, when Walt Disney portrayed it in the cartoon Trick or Treat, Ozzie and Harriet were besieged by trick-or-treaters on an episode of their television show, and UNICEF first conducted a national campaign for children to raise funds for the charity while trick-or-treating.

Trick-or-treating on the prairie. Although some popular histories of Halloween have characterized trick-or-treating as an adult invention to re-channel Halloween activities away from vandalism, nothing in the historical record supports this theory. To the contrary, adults, as reported in newspapers from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s, typically saw it as a form of extortion, with reactions ranging from bemused indulgence to anger. Likewise, as portrayed on radio shows, children would have to explain what trick-or-treating was to puzzled adults, and not the other way around. Sometimes even the children protested: for Halloween 1948, members of the Madison Square Boys Club in New York City carried a parade banner that read "American Boys Don't Beg."

Source: http://www.halloweenhistory.org/

1890's Burwell House

This Saturday, the 27th, is the last regular day of the season to stop in for a historic tour of the 1890's Burwell House on Minnehaha Creek in Minnetonka. Tours from 12-4pm. And while you're there, take a stroll through the peaceful Burwell Park; bridge over Minnehaha, picturesque bench areas, boardwalk & rock wall scavenger hunt for the kids.

Join Creative Director, Erik Johnson, and his passion to help preserve history, by becoming a member of the historical society by joining with the "FALL back into history" promo for only $15, and receive a FREE Minnetonka history book. And of course, our spectacular eNewsletters.

Be a part of history, before it becomes... HISTORY!
More information, directions & secure online order form at:
www.MinnetonkaHistory.org

Meeting Oprah Winfrey — briefly: Bartolotta gets 5 seconds with fame

You'd think from the picture that Jennifer Bartolotta and Oprah Winfrey have been close for years. In reality, it only captures an instant, but one that resulted in a great photo and memory for the prominent Milwaukee restaurant executive.

She was always inspired by Winfrey, but never made it to one of her shows, said Bartolotta, president of Train-2-Gain and head of the Bartolotta Restaurants' charitable arm.

In April, she jumped on a chance for tickets to Winfrey's "Live the Life You Want" tour — including passes to meet and have her photo taken with the talk-show icon.

Bartolotta and a friend saw Winfrey's speech, then took an elevator up to the post-show reception, where they were told to line up.

"This is actually going to happen," Bartolotta remembers thinking, "I'm going to have five seconds with Oprah in my life."

Five seconds was about all she got. But as she stood in line, Bartolotta thought about what she wanted with those few seconds, and recalled an appearance in Madison by the Dalai Lama.

"So, when it was my turn, I said, 'Actually, if you don't mind, I have a favor to ask,'" Bartolotta said.

Initially, Winfrey wasn't familiar with the request, but Bartolotta explained the Dalai Lama's traditional greeting.

"And next thing I know, she grabs my face with both of her hands," Bartolotta said. "They snap a picture, and then I'm gone."

The warmth in Winfrey's eyes and smile is evident in the photo. Bartolotta draws a bigger lesson from the brief moment.

"I think that's the beauty of someone who has spent her life living with intention, recognizing that she — as we all do — has the opportunity to impact another person," Bartolotta said. "You can light up or diminish a person's life."

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/

Meet The World’s Poorest President, Jose Mujica

In a generation where you might think all politicians are ruling the world and continuously becomes rich and powerful by stealing money from its citizens, you may think that all of them are the same.  The story today proves otherwise as a man from the country of Uruguay who is globally known as “the poorest president” demonstrates that you can still rule a country by living your life in simplicity.

Here’s how Jose looks like (where it is also not uncommon that you see him dressed this way)

He spent most of his life fighting for his country
He was a Guerrilla leader in the mid 1960’s whom battled the war for the rights of his country’s citizen where he was also got imprisoned twice and shot 6 times
Instead of living at this presidential house, he chose to live in this simple farm.

He drives a 1987 VW beetle

He only has two guards positioned on his road. Along with his beloved 3-legged dog

Another fun fact is his salary is $12,000 per month (not bad) what’s great about it is that he donates 90% of it to charity to help his country.

This is a truly heartwarming story of a very inspiring president. I believe if our leaders would follow more of Jose’s example, the world would become a much better place.


Source: http://ohviral.com/

On yer marks, get set, September!

Accepting the end of summer has been a bit hard, as we had quite nice weather here in Ireland this year.  But for the last couple of weeks autumn has been beckoning loudly, and with just two days left in August, it’s time to embrace it…

I actually always liked September.  Even when I was in school.  Not that I loved school, but I always enjoyed the anticipation of the new year.  Getting a new timetable, new books, new stationary.  And the sense of possibility of the new year stretching ahead.  What adults feel in January, school kids feel in September.

never too lateBut I never lost that in adulthood.  I still get that Back to School feeling.  It’s like a New Year reboot.  As we start hunkering down for winter, it feels good to have a plan as to how we’ll make the most of the long, dark evenings.  Aim for something better than vegging in front of the telly…

Of course, like New Year’s resolutions, September intentions also have a way of falling by the wayside when the winds are howling and the rains are lashing against the pane.  “I’ll go to Bootcamp another evening, tonight my body just wants to rest in front of the fire and my mind wants to numb out watching drivel on TV.”

Oops, there I go again – not following through on my promises to myself!  (A big No No for a certified Life Coach – oh well!)

But thankfully, over the last few years I’ve learned to treat goals as Could Do’s instead of Should Do’s.  Shoulds are not good for us, in my opinion.  In fact, in my case, I actively resist them.  And when I do set goals, they start to generate a kind of “should-ing” energy.  And then I start to lose interest in them very quickly.  So, for me, goal-setting is often counter-productive!

But here we are again, on the cusp of September, and I’m itching to set myself a few goals.  I want to establish a routine that will set me up for a productive winter.  But I’m also keenly aware that the first step, a supportive morning routine, the one that will help me follow through on the others, is one I’m verrrry likely to fail at.  But that’s ok, because these days I’m more tuned into the optional approach.

So much so that as I write this I’m laughing at myself.  Because I have actually being practicing this particular option, with very little success, all summer.  (Unless you count as success, which I kinda do, the fact that I haven’t beaten myself up for not following through on it)  For months now, I’ve been setting my alarm for 6.30am, with a view to snoozing until 7.00, allowing myself plenty of time to meditate, wash, have breakfast and read something inspiring before 9.00am.  Setting myself up for the day in a positive way, and having loads of time then to get through whatever tasks I am facing.

I could probably count on one hand the number of times that has happened.  Usually it’s 8.00 by the time I’m getting up to meditate, and while I never skip that, the inspiring reading part has totally suffered.  That’s a great pity.  Because when I have time for it, that always makes a huge difference to my attitude throughout the day.  Instead, I found myself skipping that most days as it’s already 9.30 – 10.00 before I’m finished breakfast and ready to start work…

So, the first step of my new autumn regime is to actually implement the summer one that I fell down on.  Well, I’m just keeping it never give up on a dreamas an option instead of dismissing it because it hasn’t worked for me so far.  Of course, if it was difficult to rise earlier in the summer, when it was bright outside, it’s going to be a more challenging ask as the mornings get colder and darker.

But I’ve realised that that is just part of life.  Wanting to do something.  Failing in some way.  Trying again.  I have a vision for myself – being the person who gets up reasonably early, without any great struggle, and spends two hours in self-care activity before getting into anything that falls in the category of tasks.

I haven’t managed to get there yet.  But I’m holding on to the vision.  This is the morning routine I aspire to, and if I can keep an energy of preference around it, avoiding the ol’ Should Syndrome, I believe I can get there eventually.  I might not be there by October.  But if I’m there by this time next year, that will be success.  And everything in between will be progress.

Source: http://www.thehappinessbusiness.com

Becoming Husband and Wife Entrepreneurs

Husband and wife entrepreneurs are popping up everywhere. Working together and having a home based business or running a business as a couple in your community is becoming main stream again. It is also very popular and couples who know how to work together are reaping the rewards of having a successful home based business.

It is important to know that successful husband and wife entrepreneurs have a code that they live by. They take their roles and responsibilities seriously and work to continually improve on them. Success with your spouse is not easy, but it is definitely worth it.

Here are 3 tips to help you grow into a strong husband and wife entrepreneurial team.

1) Leave your egos at the door. Having a business together means learning to work together and in order to run a business, create a great product and have systems working smoothly, you must be willing to give and receive feedback from each other. You will benefit most by being willing to receive suggestions without you seeing it as a personal attack on your abilities or character. You both will benefit most by becoming more emotionally adult and that means letting your ego have a back seat.

2) You will both benefit from knowing what kind of culture you want to have in your business, especially if it is a home based business. Sure you will start with the end in mind, however, you will be starting in your home office and couples treat each other differently in the home vs. an office.

If you have a home based business you must treat your spouse as if you were in an office setting. Practice being professional with each other right now, so that you become a strong united front from the start. Otherwise you will be caught off guard and treat each other marginally later and this will affect your success.

3) If you are starting a home based business it will benefit you both by running a business in a separate space in your home. Get it out of the main part of your home. Somewhere where you will not be disturbed much and do not disturb the rest of your household much. Think about accessibility. If you have a product based business in your home then think about deliveries and pickups. Make it so that you have good access for you and your vendors.

There is a lot of planning that goes into running a home based business and becoming husband and wife entrepreneurs. However, if you look at these 3 considerations up front, they will help you achieve success together.

The Emotions Behind Decision Making

Try to remember a time when you went to the negotiating table armed with irrefutable facts, airtight reasoning, and common sense on your side, believing that no one could resist your masterfully constructed argument. You figured there was no other logical conclusion, and failure was impossible. Then—surprise!—the person on the other side of the table had the audacity to question your logic and propose something completely different.

You’re not alone! Many negotiators believe logic, reason, rationality, and research can sway their opponent. What they don’t realize is that the process of going from considering to deciding is 100% emotional. Logic has nothing to do with it.

This is a critical fact for negotiators to grasp. Once they accept this, it will completely change the way they interact with their respected adversary in the next negotiation.

The Neuroscience of Decision Making

Not too many years ago, a neuroscientist named Antonio Damasio conducted a study of test subjects who had suffered damage in the section of the brain where emotions are processed. He observed that although they were unable to experience emotions, they were normal in every other way—except that they were unable to make decisions!

Each test subject could articulate in logical sentences what they should be doing, but found that even simple decisions, such as what to have for lunch, were difficult to impossible. “Shall I have soup or a hot dog?” Although most of us don’t give these simple, everyday decisions a second thought, these people were unable to arrive at a decision. Without their emotions, they were stuck!

We may waver back and forth over a big decision, but at the moment it must be made, we will base our choice on emotion. In fact, even decisions we believe to be purely logical ones are 100% driven by emotions.

Why Emotions Matter to Negotiators

For those in the negotiating profession, Damasio’s breakthrough has far-reaching implications. It means that many of the whiz kids coming up through the ranks who are being trained in the cold logic of negotiation as pure science are destined to be failures, because they are not taught the real motivators driving the opposite party’s decisions: emotions.

We see that rookie negotiators who come prepared to rely only on logic end up stranded, left with assumptions, guesses, and opinions as to why they don’t succeed. They were trained to think, “If my argument is logical and theirs is not, they are sure to be won over eventually.” It never works that way. If the opposition agrees with the logic, it’s because their emotions led them to agree.

Logic, as it turns out, is not the logical answer. The most logical and successful method of negotiation is to paint a vision for the other party of their pain and problems, based on what they’ve revealed in the negotiation. Allow them to come to the conclusion that you and your proposal offer a way out of that pain, and a solution to their problem. This makes the decision to hire you, use your services, agree to your price, etc., painless. It’s an emotional decision driven by the desire for relief.

The negotiator’s job is getting them to want to agree, employing a step-by-step method of asking questions and creating a vision. You can assist them in discovering for themselves what will be most helpful to them. Let self-interest guide them and you will reap great results. That’s because self-interest, the “I want/need this!” response, elicits strong emotions, and emotions are what drive us into action.

Their decision won’t be based on logic. It will be based on the insight that it’s to their advantage to agree to your proposition. All you did was to help them feel it more clearly!

Source: http://allbusiness.com

Ethics in Business...A Lost Art

While watching Face the Nation one Sunday earlier this year, Bob Schiffer discussed the airline industry, his mother and ethics in business. Like Bob, I think it is a sad commentary today, that we have to police businesses. Whatever happened to going into business to provide a needed service, being loyal to employees, and keeping promises.

It seems like no one today is concerned about doing good business or being ethical in the process. Our forefathers would be ashamed at what this society has come to. I know I am.

Chuck and I teach our students how to run a good business, by being ethical, and making sure that everyone is happy. We run our business using the adage, "The customer is always right". We know, however, from looking at others in business both on and offline, that we are in the minority. For most it is all about making money. They don't care who they have to step on, how many lies they tell, just "show them the money". As I pointed out in my article regarding "The Almighty Buck", this should not be your only incentive for going into business, and if it is, you won't be in business long.

We see sites every day that you can't find a telephone number on, an address for, they just want you to take it on faith that they are on the up and up. Years ago, a business would never even think of operating this way. Their name, address, phone number, slogan etc. was very prominent on everything they did. Unfortunately today, you can't take people on faith anymore. It's very sad, but it seems if you do so, most of the time, you will get burned.

Years ago, companies were known for their honesty, their integrity, and their good products. They had to be to stay in business and keep the good image they wanted to project. This gave their company a good name. As many of you know, we come from New York. Kodak, Grumman, and IBM were major companies in down and upstate NY. If you got a job with them you had a job for life, and once you retired you didn't have to worry. Today, people are losing their medical benefits, their pensions, their life savings; due to businesses thinking of only the bottom line.

Every time you open a newspaper or watch the news today you hear about another business' unethical business practices. They cook the books, take bonuses they don't disclose, while they expect employees to work for less. There is something very wrong with this picture. It also says to our future entrepreneurs, that this behavior is alright, just don't get caught.

Like Bob Schiffer, I'd much rather go back to the time when businesses dealt with us in an ethical manner and didn't only concentrate on lining their pockets, like today. Also, like Bob, I think what we need are different teachings in our business schools. The philosophy of today's teachers, needs to re-vamped to reflect the philosophies of old. What we need is to "throw out the new, and bring back the old". As Bob said, if his mom was teaching today, students would get a completely different view...an old fashioned one. Kudos to Bob's mom!

Source: http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com

A Golden Rule for Winners

One of the top values I coach people on is to live each moment with integrity. This summer, Olympic gold medal winner Cameron van der Burgh admitted using an illegal dolphin kick on his way to winning the 100m breaststroke gold medal. His rationale: "I'm not willing to sacrifice my personal performance and four years of hard work for someone else who is willing to do it and get away with it, and has proven to get away with it, as they did last year."

So, my questions for you are:

Just because 99% of other competitors are doing it, and the rule is not enforced, does that make it acceptable?

How important is integrity to you in business?

Is winning at all costs more important to you than losing with honor in tact?

These are important questions to ask ourselves in our struggle to grow our business, our name, our company, our brand.

Personally, I am surprised and saddened that no-one called van ber Burgh out on his chosen course of action. Not because I want to put Cameron in the spotlight and give him bad press, but because letting it slide is spreading the global message that as long as no-one is holding us to this standard, as long as we don't get caught, it is okay to cheat. It goes against what the Olympics is about. Not only that, when we're not acting with the highest integrity it actually affects our health and our immunity on a cellular level.

Cameron van der Burgh take note of this golden advice because if you do, it just might just be the biggest gift you have been given:

You actually won the last time round when you held yourself to higher standards than you did this summer. You lost the moment you decided to out-swim the others by bending the rules. Work on mastering your stroke not cutting corners. Live each moment with integrity... that's the kind of play that is worthy of a gold medal.

You will stand out in your industry as a winner when you raise your standard to exceed that of those around you. People will want to do business with you because they trust that you will act with integrity no matter what. You may not win the big bucks in the short term, but in the long term you will last long after others have fallen by the wayside.

Source: http://www.leenapatel.net/

Crystal/New Hope Business Council Annual Golf Outing - 2014

Date: July 25, 2014
Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Event Description:
If you are looking for a casual, fun, community-oriented nine-hole golf event, look no further than the TwinWest Crystal/New Hope Business Council's 17th Annual Golf Outing!

Join a great group of business and community leaders at the New Hope Village Golf Course beginning at 12:30 p.m. and wrap up with a barbecue at 3:30 p.m. (Registration starts at noon.)

Proceeds from this event benefit area charitable organizations. This past year we were able to give $400 each to PRISM, New Hope Safety Camp, Northwest YMCA, and Seven Dreams Foundation.

Event sponsorships and hole sponsorships are available to promote your business and support the local community. You may also want to donate a door prize for the event.

Thank you to our generous event sponsors:

Horwitz NS/I Gold Sponsor
Liberty Diversified International, Silver Sponsor
McKinstry Silver Sponsor
Sign-A-Rama, Signage Sponsor
North Memorial, Food Sponsor


Thank you to our hole sponsors:

AEM
Ehlers & Associates
Good Samaritan Society
Stantec
Twin Realty Investment Co.


Gold Sponsorship - One available, investment $500

Sponsorship benefits:
* Gold sponsor recognition on all pre-event promotional materials and at event
* Golf for four people, including dinner and beverages
* Includes banner signage

Silver Sponsorships - Three available, investment $350

Sponsorship benefits:
* Silver sponsor recognition on all pre-event promotional materials and at event
* Golf for four people, including dinner and beverages
* Includes banner signage

Bronze Sponsorships - two available, investment $250

Sponsorship benefits:
* Bronze sponsor recognition on all pre-event promotional materials and at event
* Golf for two people, including dinner and beverages

Hole Sponsor - maximum of 18 sponsorships available, investment $125

Sponsorship benefits:
* Hole sponsor recognition on all pre-event promotional materials and at event
* Golf for one person, including dinner and beverages
* Hole sponsorship, including signage

Door Prize Contributor - your investment is your donation

Sponsorship benefits:
* Contribute a gift valued at a minimum of $50 to be used for the event door prize drawings
* Recognition at the event.


Great networking!

Join the Crystal/New Hope Business Council golfers for a late afternoon BBQ and networking event with business and community leaders.

-$30 for the networking BBQ; food, beverages, and beer included. Proceeds from this event benefit area charitable organizations.


To play, sponsor, or donate items, call TwinWest at 763.450.2220,or register online.

http://business.twinwest.com

Freedom in Who I Am

Our forefathers fought for their freedom from the external controls of taxes, religion and government on their lives. They stepped foot into this country to be free from any chains that bound them in thoughts, ideas, expression and life. The land was open and spacious to explore for their new life and they did so with fervor and determination.

What does freedom mean today? Are we free or are we bound to many of the same ideals our forefathers intentionally fought for? This country was built on 'In God We Trust'. Do we trust God, the Source, the Universe? Do we allow for free will in ourselves and others?

Our beliefs, ideals and way of living are just as important today as they were when this country was first settled. We are in a new time of evolution where we are called to be conscious and conscientious of our impact on our life and those around us. Living and being conscious and conscientious requires much thought, care, time and attention to both the big and small things that appear in our life.

I urge you to reflect on the idea of freedom and its meaning in your life today. Release any old thoughts or ideas around freedom and allow yourself to enter a new spacious pathway. There are many practices that can guide you to your individual pathway filled with wonder, beauty, peace and freedom.

Questions and truly wanting to know and understand set you on a course of self-discovery and self-awareness. A simple question that invokes and evokes deep inner reflection is Who Am I? When asked in the spaciousness of your heart, this question orchestrates your inner and outer life sweetly. An integral part to the symphonic movement is being able to accept and receive the answer graciously. Rather than get attached to the answer, realize that true wisdom comes when you release and return it to God, the Source or Universe from whence it came.

The beauty of this practice requires continual asking, accepting, receiving and releasing. Each round creates deeper understanding in your spirit, soul, mind, psychology and body and weaves a rich texture. The rich texture of freedom and free will emerges to connect you with God, the Source and the Universe in you, with you and through you.

Ditch the Pitch - Seal the Deal With Hardwiring

Many business professionals fail miserably at converting a promising lead into a client.
Why?
Could it be their sales process?
Yes.
Could it be because they didn't pre-qualify the prospect?
Yes.
Could it be because they haven't asked enough questions before pitching their products or services?
Yes.
And, there's something few people ever consider. They operate from their very own wiring which often gets in the way.
Your natural wiring is present at birth and stays with you throughout your life time. Yet, very few people actually know how much their wiring affects their decisions, relationships and their sales. They spend time and money looking at the latest pitch but fail to consider the very thing impacting the sales process: hardwiring.
Would having a deeper level of insight into how people tick help you to close more sales?
You bet!
Notice how others need to receive their information, and watch as you improve your relationships, communication and results.
Whether you're conveying an idea, networking or working with an existing client, there is an element of your natural wiring that can make or break any conversation - and that is pace.
So where does pace come from in your natural wiring? Pace comes from your patience level. There are those people who have a low amount of patience as part of their wiring; and conversely, those who are higher in their patience.
It doesn't mean either can be patient at times. Rather, it tells us how we work. If you have low patience, it creates a short attention span, which creates more of a juggler. If you have a greater patience level, it creates more long term focus; therefore you'll be more sequential in your work flow.
What's the value in knowing this?
Recently, I was reminded of an interaction between two of my clients. One was naturally impatient and one was more methodical. The methodical client asked for some feedback; and, in rapid fire, the impatient client had already thought of a solution and was rapidly firing questions at her.
Before my methodically-wired client could answer his first question, the impatient client was firing another question at her.
My methodical client became frustrated because she was unable to think through her thoughts fast enough to respond. Meanwhile, my client who was wired more impatiently wanted to get all of his ideas out before he forgot them. I gestured to my impatiently-wired client to slow down.
We all laughed at the situation recognizing what had just happened. Imagine this same scenario if you were talking to a prospect.
When someone talks quickly or reacts quickly they typically like to receive their information in the same way. Conversely, if you're wired to talk more methodically, you like to deliver your information in the same way.
However, when talking with a person who is your opposite, your message can get lost or they may tune out.
So the next time you're networking, talking to a prospect or interacting with a colleague, remember to honor the other person's pace. This might mean that when you are delivering information, you need to speed up or slow down.
When you become skilled at recognizing the pace at which to deliver information the way the other person wants to receive it, you will become masterful at closing more sales. You will also notice how your rapport improves with others.

Source: http://www.freebusinessplanformat.com

St. Paul parks, businesses partner for free ‘Fitness in the Parks’ program

St. Paul is now bringing fitness to a park near you – and it won’t cost you a dime. Fitness in the Parks is a brand new program that offers free exercise classes taught in St. Paul’s parks.

The classes are a partnership between the city of St. Paul and a number of local businesses.

Sarah Moran, owner of Sarah Zen Yoga, one of the businesses participating in the free fitness program, told KARE 11 she think it’s important to “build community through fitness.”

Fitness coordinator Gregory Dodd told the station the program will continue to grow as area businesses volunteer their expertise.

While many of the businesses are yoga-focused, there will also be classes for tai chi, kickboxing, pilates, dance and more.

There are five to ten classes scheduled each week, but expect more to be added as the summer continues. The class schedules can be found on the St. Paul website.

Classes are open to all fitness levels with no registration required. All ages are welcome.
Other Summer Activities

St. Paul is also offering free music and movies throughout the season. Concertgoers can expect genres like folk, jazz, blues, pop, electronic, pop and more. Movies will be shown July through September at St. Paul parks and recreation centers.

The schedule for music and movies is available on the city’s website.

Minneapolis has its own host of summer park activities available.

One of the main attractions is Music and Movies in the Parks. The event allows participants to enjoy free movies and concerts at the city’s public parks.

The concert schedule includes over 200 outdoor concerts. Genres include classical, jazz, Latin, rock, folk, swing and bluegrass.

The Movies in the Parks Series began in 2007 and allows moviegoers to view films from multiple genres starting at sundown. The 2014 film themes include Animals, Cult Classics, Family Favorites, Minnesota Made, Movies that Inspire, and New Releases.

The Film Society of Minneapolis-St.Paul will show films from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival Minnesota Made category. The Twin Cities Black Film Festival is also showing selections.

In addition, there will be movie and music combo nights throughout the summer. Live on the Drive will take place the second Thursday of each month. The event will showcase back-to-back movies and musical performances. The month of August brings Vita.MN Music and Movies series, featuring national artists followed by a movie for four consecutive Fridays at Lake Harriet Band Shell. Father Hennepin Bluffs Park will have both music and movies every Tuesday, as well as Food Truck Tuesdays.

So gather up your lawn chairs, sneakers, and bug spray and see what the Twin Cities’ parks have to offer this summer.

Source: http://bringmethenews.com

Credit Card Security

We have all heard the news concerning the theft of credit card information from 70 million customers of a large retailer.  This is not the first time this has happened, other companies have been compromised.  It won’t be the last either.  The bad guys are very good at what they do and they won’t stop.  So what can you do to protect yourself? Under Federal law a company must notify its customers when it learns of a credit card security breach and the extent.  Many companies will provide free credit monitoring for a certain period of time if you have been compromised.  If you have been notified that your credit or debit card has been stolen you should immediately call your credit card company or bank and ask them cancel that card and issue another one.  Then you should set up your credit monitoring and check it often. Above is an example of massive theft, but you should also be aware of day to day ways that your credit or debit card information can be stolen.

    Gas stations-“skimmers” are used to steel your credit or debit card numbers
    Restaurants-when your server takes your card for payment they will usually go somewhere outside of your sight
    ATMs-skimmers are also used along with someone who will visually try and get pin number

Those are just a few ways to get you thinking.  If your card is stolen, the bad guys can go on to compromise your identity “Identify Theft”, which is very serious.  With your card, they have your name, they can go to social media and find out where you live, your address and all kinds of other information. Shopping on-line is actually safer, because you card is never out of your control, you never give it to someone, and all your card information is encrypted from your computer to the card processor.  You should also consider using a credit card instead of a debit card when shopping on line.  With a debit card the merchant has your money from your account, in most cases, before you even get the product.  If there is a problem you can contest it, but it might be a while before you see that money in your account again.  With a credit card if you put something into dispute you don’t pay that bill until the credit card company investigates. If you feel that your ID has been stolen you should consider putting a “Credit Freeze” on your credit with all three credit agencies.  You can find information on their web sites.

Source: http://lockingsystems.com

Is Sharing Link Bait a Huge Mistake?

You've probably done it too. Shared an article you didn't fully read or absorb because the headline grabbed your attention. If you're guilty as charged—don't feel too bad as there is a legitimate reason we sometimes do this. As I've said many times before, content is currency and it's human nature to want to share things that resonate with us and we know will resonate with others.

I did this recently with a Business Insider article titled:

"We Got A Look Inside The 45 Day Planning Process That Goes Into Creating A Single Corporate Tweet"

So here's what I did; I read the headline and visually skimmed the article. Note that I said "visually skimmed"—which means a few key phrases popped out, but I didn't read or digest it. But I did share it along with snarky quip that read:

"Cue the beginning of the end of social media marketing"

So do I really think it's the end of social media marketing? No, but the headline got me thinking that if it takes so long to craft and perfect a single tweet—we need to examine what we are all trying to do here. The only problem is that when you read the article in full—while it does technically make the case that a tweet was planned well in advance, the context illustrates that it was part of a pre planned content calendar—a common practice in marketing.

It was a colleague's comments on the subject that got me thinking about thinking twice in regards to how we share, as well as operating within the reality that attention grabbing headlines are likely not going away. I have two take-aways from this:

1. Content Is Currency—Spend It Wisely
Would I have shared the same article? Yes—it's of interest to myself and my peers. What I would have done differently is bookmarked it for a time where I could have read and thought about the content before sharing it with a snarky take away. I would have probably shared it posing a question like "can planned content be less time consuming" or asking others if they have had similar experiences.

2. Be Ready For Anything
The agency featured in the piece (Huge) didn't just sit around letting the headline of the piece speak for them—they spoke up.

Net net, it's on us as individuals to think through what and how we share to ensure the maximum value of the currency of content and it's on all brands and organizations to be responsive in any scenario, or be defined by the narrative others draft for you.

Source: http://darmano.typepad.com/

Wanna go to Super Bowl 52? You'll have to buy Vikings suite season tickets

Minnesota is super pumped about the NFL awarding Super Bowl 52 to Minneapolis, but fact is very few of us will be able to afford to go to the game.

That's because to merely have the possibility of getting a crack at tickets, you'll have to buy season tickets for a suite in the new stadium, a Vikings employee told us today.

The employee's comment is confirmed by a post on the Vikings' website.

New stadium suite prices aren't listed yet, but considering high-end club seats cost $400 a pop (with a $9,500 seat license to boot for those who want season tickets), there probably aren't enough banks to rob or people to scam to come up with that sort of dough.

Speaking of money and being super pumped, check out this video (unfortunately it's un-embeddable) of how the Minneapolis Super Bowl delegation, led by U.S. Bank CEO Richard Davis, reacted when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the somewhat surprising announcement that Super Bowl 52 would be played in Minnesota.

Think they'd get nearly that pumped if the actual Vikings team ever won a Super Bowl?

Source: http://citypages.com

Small Business Awards Luncheon 2014

Name: Small Business Awards Luncheon 2014
Date: May 15, 2014
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Website: http://www.twinwest.com/sbal

Event Description:
On May 15, honor the entrepreneurial spirit, see the Entrepreneur and Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year finalists, meet TwinWest Foundation High School scholarship award recipients and donors, and hear entrepreneur Mike Tattersfield, President and CEO of Caribou Coffee Company, pictured to the right. WCCO Television's, Frank Vascellaro, returns as the event's emcee.

Small Business Awards Luncheon
Thursday, May 15, 2014
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Minneapolis-Park Place
*TwinWest Foundation scholarship reception to be held prior to the luncheon.

Tickets: $45; $400 table of ten.





Source: http://business.twinwest.com

On This Earth Day, It's Actually Easier To Be Green

Those of us who grew up watching Sesame Street sang along to Kermit the Frog’s lament, “It’s not that easy being green.” But for many Americans, it’s actually easier than ever to be green.

Sustainability has quietly become an every day event, less a statement than a way of life. That is something experts at Stanford University call “pro-environmental socialization.” In other words, if you are expected by your refuse collection system to separate your cans and bottles and your newspapers, you do it, without feeling you are making a social statement.

On the first earth day in 1970, it was a common sight for skies in industrial cities to be gray with pollution, and for a thin film of soot to cover cars and clothes hanging out to try. Litter flew across American highways, and cigarette butts were strewn on restroom floors.

By the time American millennials became aware of dirty air, smog was something they saw in pictures of Beijing and Shanghai. No one in a state with a recycling law would dream of throwing away a soda bottle; in Michigan, it yielded a 10 cent deposit.

People now regularly tote their own canvas shopping bags to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, as well as to local farmer’s markets. The statements that our parents’ generation made by being environmentally conscious is just part of the landscape for those born after 1980.

In the middle of all this, millennials are responsible for their own significant shift. A study by the advocacy group US PIRG found that Americans between 16 and 24 years of age reduced their driving by 23 percent between 2001 and 2009. Granted, this federal highway data is a little old, but those years were not a time when much emphasis was placed on creating greener college campuses, aside from some recycling programs.

Now, however, 30 plus campuses are offering bike share programs. Colleges like the University of Dayton are offering free bikes to incoming freshmen if they do not bring a car to campus for two years. Campuses, like Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, are redesigning their landscapes to cut down on automobile use and promote the use of bikes, as well as walking.

It will be interesting to see the impact this will have on millennials as they get older. If this generation is discouraged from using automobiles when they’re in school, and taught it’s easier to be green, their behavior could carry over into adulthood. And that could affect the transportation choices they make, and demand, for years to come.

Start-Ups and Success

There has rarely been a more challenging time to work for a large corporation. Layoffs, pay freezes and the elimination of retirement and other benefits are daily occurrences. More and more people are deciding to start their own businesses. Unfortunately most of them fail within two years. While there is no one secret to success as an entrepreneur, there are step that every entrepreneur should follow to increase their potential for success.

Focus. It is easily for entrepreneurs to lose focus. Make sure that your new business has a mission statement. Print it and post it on your office wall and even on your bathroom mirror. Everything you do must directly support your mission.

Strengths. Focus on doing what you do best and what you are passionate about. Just because there may be a market opportunity for something does not mean you should peruse it. Follow your strengths.

Strategy and Business Development. While early stage companies are built with one or two people doing all the work, focus on the strategy and on business development as much as you can early on. Do not delegate these to contractors or employees once you have them.

Branding. Develop a brand, stick with it and build on it. Many new companies jump from brand to brand to brand and never have an identity to build on for marketing and name recognition.

Resources. Do everything you can yourself initially to reduce expenses. But if there are areas where you have no skills or experience contract it out to the best people you can afford.

Partnerships. Businesses - even new businesses - can grow quickly thought partnerships. Take advantage of those who have established distribution networks that you can build utilize. But remembers, partnerships should be entered into carefully (due diligence to establish that there are common values, goals, a business win/win).

Value. Even new businesses should not undervalue their services and products. Everyone wants something for nothing. It is important to establish a rule of thumb regarding when to walk away from potential clients and deals.

Metrics (or scorecard). All new businesses, even one person start-up operations, must establish clear business objectives. Performance needs to be tracked against those goals on at least a monthly basis. Metrics are essential to the success of the business.

Starting a new business is tough. By following these rules combined with a customer focus and persistence, any new business can grow and become successful over time.




Source: http://franksconsultinggroup.com

Bill banning "Asian carp" advances; Asian leaders say term is offensive

Yesterday, the Senate Environment and Energy Committee unanimously voted to ban the term "Asian carp" from Minnesota statute. The bill now advances to the Senate floor.

The vote came after testimony by two Asian leaders who characterized the term "Asian carp" as offensive and racist.

"The commissioner of natural resources shall not propose laws to the legislature that contain the term 'Asian carp,'" the bill says. "The commissioner shall use the term 'invasive carp' or refer to the specific species in any proposed laws, rules, or official documents when referring to carp species that are not naturalized to the waters of this state."

During testimony, Sia Her, executive director of the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, said, "The response to this species has been and we believe will continue to be overwhelmingly negative, and thus we feel reflects very negatively on our community of Asian Americans."

Her's sentiment was echoed by Jean Lee, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of Children's Hope International.

Using the term in statute and state-produced materials is tantamount to "using government agencies to promote racist and government attacks on people as a race," Lee said.

Lee said she recently saw a Minnesota Department of Agriculture-produced poster at the airport that exemplified her concerns.

"It said 'Wanted, Dead or Alive' -- in big letters it said 'Asian,' [and] in small letters it said 'carp,'" Lee said. "The message was very clear."

The bill's chief author is Sen. John Hoffman, D-Champlin.

"Why would we voluntarily nickname an invasive species after a group of new and important citizens and a continent representing their homeland?" Hoffman asked.

"It's not going to be a part of Minnesota statute," Hoffman continued. "It's [in] one statute at this point and this changes that."

Hoffman said the DNR has no objections to the bill.

"The problem is [the fish are] invasive, not Asian," Hoffman said. "It's kinda like the word 'handicapped' -- we don't use that anymore."

Source: http://citypages.com

Ribbon Cutting at Yard House Restaurant

Name: Ribbon Cutting at Yard House Restaurant
Date: March 11, 2014
Time: 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Event Description:

Come welcome new TwinWest member, Yard House!  Opening March 13th, Yard House is a brand new restaurant in St. Louis Park featuring American cuisine and a wide variety of beers on tap. 

The restaurant took its name from the 3-foot-tall glass containers originally designed in Great Britain and used to hand stagecoach drivers after a long journey by horse drawn carriage. Each Yard House location features a center island bar and an endless fleet of tap handles ranging from classic lagers to more obscure ales. The glass-enclosed keg room is essentially the pulse of the operation housing as much as 5,000 gallons of beer at a time. Three to five miles of individual beer lines stretch overhead from the keg room to the island bar maintaining a constant temperature of 34-36 degrees keeping the beer consistently fresh and perfectly chilled for every pint. Guests can sip their favorite draft beer from the popular half-yard, traditional pint or six pack sampler.




Source: http://twinwest.com

Timeless Advice For Small Business Costs

Small business costs are often the reason that many businesses either fail or do not begin in the first place. For some small business owners, the business startup cost can be so intimidating that they lose their dream before they even get started. For other small business owners, small business costs can put a strain on the finances set aside for the business. Between paying employees, stocking inventory and finding the time to manage a business, small business costs can be a good reason for a small business to fail rather quickly. Fortunately, entrepreneurs have access to a number of options to relieve some of the stress of small business costs.

In order to access the financial assistance to help cover your small business costs, your first essential step is to create a business plan. A well-written business plan will lay out your plans for how you plan to create revenue for your company along with attaining a certain amount of success. Additionally, a business plan also gives you a plan to follow along for your new venture. Most importantly, though, a business plan helps to convince investors and other institutions that you are a good risk for them to put their money into. Put more simply, without a business plan, you are unlikely going to get a business startup loan.

A business plan for the sole purpose of receiving a small business startup loan must contain several components. The first few pages include the Executive Summary and the Table of Contents. After this is the company description. This is one of the most important sections of a business plan. Your company description will give potential investors a short history of your small business along with the future you are planning for it. It describes plans you might have to expand your business. For purposes of getting small business startup loans, this is one of the sections that loan providers and investors are most interested in.

In the company description, you will want to avoid mentioning that your business is a startup business. Startup businesses are considered very risky investments by most investors. As an alternative, outline details of what you have contributed to the industry that you are currently in or plan on entering. Without sounding arrogant, mention some details or things that you have changed or something you have done differently than others in your market that has proved to be successful. Also, discuss how your business has grown in recent months or years and don't be shy about your predicted growth. Your excitement and passion regarding your new business needs to be seen in the writing of your business plan to help increase your chances of getting a business startup loan.

One of the last parts of a well-written business plan, but certainly not the least important, is your marketing plan analysis. This is an explanation of your demographics using facts and figures and a study done about your new, potential customers and clients. This section also explains your advertising plans, especially your target market and how you intend to reach them. This section must show that you have done extensive research, appropriate with your market to ensure that your product or service has a large demand. In order to obtain small business startup loans, you will also need to include a sound financial plan, including pro-forma financial statements for your new business.

With the worries and frustrations of starting a small business, small business costs are generally the biggest worry. Thankfully, in today's society entrepreneurs can obtain business startup loans and other forms of capital to carry them through the slow times and help them finance their small business. The professional and most effective way to acquire a small business loan will be to create a well-written, though out business plan. Without a plan, most investors and banks will not give your business a second look.

Source: http://www.business.vic.gov.au/

Minnesota farmer erects 50-foot snowman [PHOTOS]

 Needing to move snow away from his greenhouses, a Gilman farmer named Greg Novak got creative.

With the help of a silage blower, fenced-in silos, a 61-foot auger, and a 55-gallon barrel, Novak built a gigantic snowman, Granddaddy, that is 45 feet wide at the base and 50 feet tall, according to the St. Cloud Times.

Wanna head up to the St. Cloud area and get a look at Granddaddy for yourself? The extended forecast indicates temps won't rise above freezing until the end of the upcoming weekend, so you've still got a handful more days before Novak's creation begins to go the way of the wicked witch.

Source:  http://citypages.com/

5 Signs this is the Worst Winter Ever in Minnesota

No, it's not just you: This is the Worst Winter Ever in Minnesota.

Although it's something we all feel as soon as we walk outside, quantifying why this is the Worst Winter Ever isn't as straight forward.

Is it the snow? Is it the number of days when the temperature never got above zero? Is it the sheer number of pot-holes?

It's all of those things. Here are the five signs this is the Worst Winter Ever in Minnesota.

Source: http://blogs.citypages.com

How Seasonal Marketing Opportunities Can Drive Sales

As many retail businesses have discovered, holidays and special events are perfect opportunities to run limited-time promotions. E-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores alike make concerted efforts throughout the year to attract customers with sales and markdowns coinciding with major gift-giving holidays like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Christmas. As New York and New Jersey-based businesses recently experienced with this year's Super Bowl, local and regional special events like this can also serve as an opportunity to drive sales.

 Any seasonal sale you choose to host can be a potential profit-booster, but it must be properly publicized.

"You need to have an internal marketing calendar and make sure customers know [about sales] ahead of time," said David Goldin, president and CEO of alternative business financing company AmeriMerchant. "Don't wait until the last minute."

 Goldin offered four more tips to help your business make the most of seasonal sales opportunities.

•     Make sure you have enough capital. Before you dive headfirst into planning your sale, it's important to make sure you have the capital to do it. Marketing, inventory and seasonal hires all require money, so if you don't have enough, you'll need to seek loans or other funding to pull it off.
•     Give yourself enough lead time. All campaigns require time to work out the details. Months before your sales event occurs, you should be determining how much of an inventory and labor increase you'll need, as well as what kind of tactics you'll need to spread the word 
•     Have a strong team. Business owners tend to think they need to do everything themselves, but an entrepreneur's best role is as a strategic visionary, Goldin said. Having a trusted team of people in place to delegate some of the smaller tasks of the sales event is crucial to success.
•     Keep up with industry and tech trends. Business tech is evolving quickly, and small businesses need to be more nimble than ever to keep up with the most recent trends. Using the latest technology can help you stay ahead of the competition.

Source: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com

St. Petersburg Restaurant named one of USA Today's 10 best vodka bars

Robbinsdale is quickly gaining a lot of national attention and this time it has nothing to do with the Travailian revolution that's been going on over there. This week, USA Today named St. Petersburg Restaurant & Vodka Bar to its list of the 10 best vodka bars in the country.

   "Today more than ever, vodka drinking is considered multifaceted and nuanced," the article states. The piece then goes on to explain the growing trend of vodka drinking across the country and calls out several bars across the United States that specialize in the spirit.

"St. Petersburg Restaurant and Vodka Bar offers Russian hospitality, an extensive selection of Russian vodka, and a wide array of traditional dishes to nibble while sipping the smooth libations. With 100 different vodkas and chilled flight combinations, guests can discover for themselves which Russian region has the most interesting tastes and intriguing flavors."

Other vodka bars on the list include Sub Zero Vodka Bar in St. Louis, Czar Ice Bar in Atlanta, and Red Square in Las Vegas.

The article also articulates the nuances of American and Russian appreciation of vodka. Louis Aceves, general manager of Las Vegas's Red Square, says, "For Russians, it is culturally acceptable to drink vodka every day, while Americans view it as more of a social activity and typically indulge in vodka for special occasions and in the evening while hanging out with friends. Traditionally, Russians drink vodka straight, cold, and not shaken or mixed."

Source: http://www.citypages.com