MOLI: Small Business: Better Business Blog

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(713) Barack Biden and Business (604) What is FYI? (569) How do I choose a tagline or slogan? (460) Who is Alvin Glymph? (446) Take initiative (433) Where should I go to network? (423) Better E-Business (407) The simple things (385) Explore all your options (382) Starting a non-profit?

Posts: 14

Keep your eye on the ball
16.Sep.08, 16:09 EDT
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Wow! What a week. Stay focused! Times are extremely critical. Wasteful will make you wantful - my mother used to say. The closing of huge financial companies. The natural disasters. The spiking in fuel costs. So much to pay attention to. All of these factors should be paid attention to as you plan your business operations. We know many costs are related to the costs of fuel, so you need to keep that in mind. I want to share this article about SBA funding - http://smallbusiness.aol.com/article/_a/businesses-find-cheap-capital-in-sba/20080731134009990001. Great insight. Keep on the grind and do get discouraged.
Starting a non-profit?
05.Sep.08, 11:47 EDT
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<place st="on"><city st="on" /></place>Hey FYI, I recently was asked by one of our members (<a href="mailto:D@REady">D2REady</a>4u) for some helpful hints to start a non-profit org. So over the next couple of days I am going to shoot out some insight on three topics to help the folks on their journeys. 1 - Organization Development2 - Marketing 3 - Fund Development I hope others from the non-profit field will join in and give their input also. Thanks Hope you had a great week and have a great weekend. <city st="on"><place st="on">Alvin</place></city> <place st="on"><city st="on" /></place>
Better E-Business
03.Sep.08, 00:29 EDT
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I was online on the WSJ site in their small business section - came across a great article “How to Create a Successful Web Site” by Vauhini Vara, Really helpful and insightful piece. Had seven major steps
1. BUY A WEB ADDRESS - buy a domain name. 2. FIND A HOME - find a hosting services. 3. BUILD YOUR SITE - design your site. 4. GET PAID - let customers pay you online (PayPal). 5. GET SPONSORS - add advertisements to your site to make extra cash. 6. GET KNOWN – use search engines to increase exposure. 7. TRACK YOUR TRAFFIC - track who visits your Web site.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121803326363016929.html

Another WSJ article by KELLY K. SPORS offered some good insight on better understanding search engines.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117769688676085058.html?mod=SmallBusinessBuildingAwareness_RelatedHeadlines

Happy reading....
The simple things
01.Sep.08, 20:03 EDT
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Keep it simple my philosophy professor used to tell me.

Quick – story. I was in a Jamaican restaurant for dinner recently. I have patronized this restaurant for the many years I have been in Atlanta.

Once I entered, I quickly noticed the renovations in the restaurant. New paneling, tables, and a huge trophy sitting in the corner of the room.

My first thought was new management. As I engaged the staff and peeped their lack of a Caribbean accent, I soon learned I was right.

Ok that isn’t a big issue for me because where you are from does not determine how well you can cook. Although, often if is a bad omen. In this case I should have trusted the omen.

The true warning sign was the hot sauce on the table. It was an American brand. My favorite brand, but it did not fit the Caribbean theme.

That is what I mean by the little things. Whether they were Caribbean or not, they should of had some authentic pepper sauce on the table.

It is the consistent management of the little things that separates better businesses.
Explore all your options
30.Aug.08, 09:18 EDT
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If you are young and have any interest in being an entrepreneur, take some of the time you spend on IPods, Facebook, text messaging and downloading music and start your own business. Twenty years ago, youth were presented three options: get a job, military, or go to school. While I always considered the third option of starting my own company, the youth now have the opportunity presented to them like never before. I was fortunate to witness my mother as an entrepreneur in the 80’s. By my college years, my hustling spirit led me and some college friends to start a t-shirt business. Today’s generation has high schools with entrepreneurship as their central themes. They have grown up witnessing young adults becoming successful outside the traditional “get-a–job” paradigm. Both the technology and hip hop industries have created business opportunities for young adults that were not readily available twenty years ago and should supply many more in the future. In many ways the path of today’s young entrepreneur should be easier than of their predecessors. This can lead to unrealistic expectations of the grind in building a business. We know not every business is going to be a financial success and anyone can own a business. Our country is full with small businesses and entrepreneurs that followed their dreams to be successful. But not everyone has the motivation and support to be successful. Some people need to work for a boss. Learning which type of person you are while you are young is one of the positive outcomes of young entrepreneurship. Additional value can be found in the lessons learned. Learning how to be creative, accountable, and resilient in the business arena. Identifying problems, devising solutions, and exercising initiative are tools to be carried on in future endeavors. For the young, the personal challenge is often procrastination. Or, we hear the youth say they don’t have the resources to start a business. When you are young, your endurance and willingness to hustle will allow you to accomplish the grunt work with thriftiness. The process should build character and experience and sometimes it might put money in the bank account. Due to the several agencies that work with young entrepreneurs you don’t really need much money. Some offer assistance with business plans and business promotions. Another common belief is that running a business is too complicated. But today’s young entrepreneurs have far more resources available to them than ever before. There are websites, magazines, books, and organizations geared specifically towards them. Learn what it means to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs are not just “born that way”. Being an entrepreneur is much moiré than just “not being able to work for someone”. It takes more. The entrepreneurial spirit is nurtured through our life experiences. Being a successful entrepreneur takes disciplined thought, people, and action. Doing good business comes from practice. Repeating the things that lead to success while avoiding the mistakes that plague unsuccessful businesses. Don’t get discouraged. Understand that owning a company is comparable to raising a child and it will take time for it to grow. Find your market niche and fill it better than anyone else. Take the time and be disciplined to use all your contacts to market your idea. Be ready for the challenges and follow through.
Take initiative
25.Aug.08, 22:00 EDT
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Doing great in business requires that you are willing to meet the challenges that face your organization.Â Often times that means we must face the brutal facts about how we operate.Â

However, if you are willing to go through that process then you can take the next step of trying to resolve the challenge.

That is where the initiative comes in.Â Acknowledging the challenge is not enough.Â Â Gathering facts to assess the best solution is how great organizations stay in business.Â Â Learning from the things that they didn't do very well

For example, if you have a challenge of communicating with your target market - start a newsletter.Â Whether print or internet, it is a great wayÂ to speak to your market.Â That is just one idea, if you need more, contact me - I would be happy to help

Then you can build on this.Â Take the positive results and capitalize on the progress.
Barack Biden and Business
23.Aug.08, 13:18 EDT
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While many are critiquing Barackâ€™s selection of Biden as his running mate, suggesting he is admitting his weakness.Â I see a leader that is looking for balance to govern the country.Â For balance there must be contrast.Â Â Despite, the fact that they have disagreed inÂ the past he should get credit for being a leader that recognizes the value Biden's credentialsÂ bring to his organization.Â Â That should be a lesson to us.Â Not to take some stuff personal.Â It is about sticking to the plan of building a winning team.Â Getting the right people on the bus!

Something tells me that if Obama had picked someoneÂ that mirrored his political strengths he would have been slammed for that also.Â Â Plus, his selection is consistent with his brand of change.Â We all know what it is like when a president comes in and surrounds himself with his homies.Â Been there doing that.

A little good reading.... Below is article from the Will Street Journal, an good take on some of their past diffencexe and how their election could impact business.Â

rticle/SB121950541258566467.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Welcome!!!!!
21.Aug.08, 14:57 EDT
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Welcome.Â Glad to have you as members of FYi.Â

May I say this has happened faster than I imagined.Â A few months ago our e-blast community was asking for more and now we have created this community.Â Â Wow!Â Â

Already, we have heard from businesses and non-profits that want to take advantage of the possibilities of bringing together professionals and non-profits from all over the world to share and learn.

Stay tuned, as there will be more promotions, giveaways, auctions, and online features from established professionals in their respective fields.Â This will be fun.

For now lets stay focused on growing our numbers - so please encourage your network to join FYi.Â

Here areÂ some websites I would like to share

drmikeweaver.com - Mike Weaver, is a public health practitioner, researcher, academician and professional speaker.Â Dr. Mike has an earned doctorate combined with over fifteen years as an administrator and practitioner.Â Dr. Mike has many articles and videos available on their site.Â Also he makes his training sessions and presentations available to download.Â

http://www.drmikeweaver.com

williamandcrew.com - Creator/Author: James Martin II - Has an incredible book for children William The Garbage Truck and Crew.Â Encouraging better treatment of the planet, the book educates adults and children about how to make our planet safer and cleaner.Â

http://www.williamandcrew.com

Have a GREAT Day!
What is FYI?
14.Aug.08, 01:14 EDT
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Over time, we have heard from our e-community members that they wanted more.Â Â Â

The last few months, we have taken a step back from our e-promotions, so that we can be more strategic and effective in our approach.Â

Now we are taking your advice and gone to the NEXT LEVEL!Â Â We intropduce FYI!!! <span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: ; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'" face=""Lucida Grande"" color="#333333">What is FYI? Itâ€™s a place where you can promote and connect with members of the FYI community.Â A community dedicated toÂ developing new business relationships and potential supporters.Â Â <span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: ; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'" face=""Lucida Grande"" color="#333333">A community dedicated to sharing their expertise, useful information, and their successful ventures.Â Â Share FYI with your family, friends, and colleagues.
Who is Alvin Glymph?
11.Aug.08, 16:48 EDT
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Who am I?Â I am a person that believes two keys to doing good business are (1) staying informed and (2) making connections with other people seeking to do good business.Â Â Â I started Glymph and Associates wanting to help other businesses through offering technical assistance services.Â Through research, data collection, and fundraising we worked with various non-profits and small businesses.Â In 2003, we produced the Metro Atlanta After School Program Guide for the Partnership for After School Education thanks to financial resources from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.Â Distributing 30,000 copies, the guide listed program and contact information for over 450 metro programs and was a resource for thousands of parents in the Atlanta area. Â Working with both sectors I noticed that each sought ways to engage each other.Â Our first attempt to convene the twp sectors was a networking fundraiser we hosted for Communities In Schools of Atlanta in 2005 at the Compound in Atlanta.Â What a success!Â Not only did we raise funds but also we raised the awareness in our local community on behalf of a very worthy organization.Â Â That first event was also the beginning of our e-promotions, as we gathered emails addresses before the event and on site at the event.Â Â Â
 Since 2002, we have sought tp raise the awareness of our e-community through the sharing of information from our clients and partners.Â Our distribution included festivals, opportunities to cupport charities, website launches, and businuess opportuinities.
What is the Better Business Blog all about?
11.Aug.08, 16:47 EDT
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FYIâ„¢ is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about business.Â The Better Business Blog is my way to communicate to the entire community and get feedback and generate discussion.Â

Pulling resources together and making them available is my plan.Â Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site.Â

We encourage lively, open debate on the issues, and ask that you refrain from personal comments and remarks that are off point. Â

In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of FYIâ„¢.Â Your username will show along with the comments you post.Â

Stay tuned.....Â
How do I choose a tagline or slogan?
11.Aug.08, 16:46 EDT
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Alvin offers tips on the best way to choose a tagline or slogan.

Have responses or questions? Please leave it as a comment below.
Business coaches â€“ do they really help?
11.Aug.08, 16:45 EDT
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Alvin offers his ideas on business coaches and fi they really help. Have responses or questions? Please leave them as a comment below.
Where should I go to network?
11.Aug.08, 16:43 EDT
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Networking is one thing that is required in business, but is often overlooked. Growing up in NYC and living in the Atlanta area has exposed me to numerous types of industries. I have kerned that the best networking occurs amongst diverse professionals, offering their expertise and ideas toward creating and enjoying better business. While, designated networking events are great to attend - I try not to limit my networking opportunities. Conferences, festivals, symposiums, speeches, business meetings, workshops, even my son's athletic events are free game for me to talk business. There is no such thing as too much networking. Be prepared with your 1-minute verbal blurb about your interests because you might get only one opportunity to share your ideas with someone When it comes to networking, I always recommend going often, be organized, and follow-up. That means donâ€™t be afraid to go out and meet people. Capture their contact information - emails or phone numbers. And always contact them within 48 hours. A simple note via email will suffice to establish a connection. Virtual introductions are great also. All it takes is you having two peopleâ€™s emails that might have mutual interests. Send them both an email introducing them to each other and see where the synergy takes you. The last thing to remember, respect everyone you meet by listening to them. The only way for you to ascertain if there is a possibility for a win-win relationship is to listen to what they say. Plus, it gives you a good excuse to go meet a new person. Enjoy it.

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Blog: Better Business Blog

2008

Keep your eye on the ball

Starting a non-profit?

Better E-Business

The simple things

Explore all your options

Take initiative

Barack Biden and Business

Welcome!!!!!

What is FYI?

Who is Alvin Glymph?

What is the Better Business Blog all about?

How do I choose a tagline or slogan?

Business coaches â€“ do they really help?

Where should I go to network?