be thankful

January 15, 2007

10 ways to make Friends

Filed under: Friends
  1. Figure out who you want to be friends with and why you like these people.

  2. Get involved with after school activities such as sports, religious groups, or other things that interest you.
  3. Introduce yourself and remember names.
  4. Work on good conversation skills so that you get better at both listening and talking.
  5. Be sensitive to other people.
  6. Take compliments politely without seeming full of yourself. Give compliments to others in a sincere way.
  7. Take your time making friends.
  8. Be willing to risk rejections. It’s possible that someone may not be open to making new friends. It’s still important to take the chance.
  9. Be positive and upbeat.
  10. Give parties to spend time with both new and old friends.

Marketing in Christ, today, Tomorrow and Beyond

Filed under: Christian Life

I have a marketing plan, do you? I rank it right up there with creating a business plan. In your business plan, you have your projections and goals for the future. But, how do you go about meeting those projections and goals? You *must* have a marketing plan for that!

Many people confuse marketing with advertising. They are two different beasts, although advertising is part of marketing:

"Marketing" is defined as: to expose for sale in a market.

"Advertising" is: to make something known to: NOTIFY

a: to make publicly and generally known advertising their readiness to make concessions
b: to announce publicly especially by a printed notice or a broadcast
c: to call public attention to especially by emphasizing desirable qualities so as to arouse a desire to buy or patronize: PROMOTE.

Most large businesses have a marketing and an advertising department, although the advertising departments are sometimes part of the marketing departments. What you need to be aware of is that you need to be marketing constantly, but advertising is usually construed as expending consideration (usually in the form of money) to buy space to promote your product and/or service.

A good example of marketing is your signature on a letter or email. You should always have a little blurb after your name that includes contact info (read: email address, mailing address, phone number, etc.) as well as your title. Then, take a moment to create a single line that will draw attention to the client and/or business you are working with. My signature always has "Marketing and Creativity for Small Businesses" attached to it. This leaves some suspense in my business and, in turn, can lead to an open communication line about what exactly I do.

Another marketing example is a press release. You have created one and send it out to the local media. They decide to contact you and write a story about you - that is marketing. But, if you were to purchase space about your business in that same newspaper, you would be purchasing advertising.

There are many things that you can do, to ensure that you are marketing for today, tomorrow and beyond. Business cards is a good example of that. There are also little creative marketing ideas that will give you the power to stay on someone’s mind. One of my virtual pals sells kitchen wares. We took her contact information and ironed it onto potholders, that she can hand out to others. It is a great way to keep her name in front of her target audience!

Take some time to make sure you have a marketing plan, which may or may not include advertising. Come up with some creative and ingenious ways to market so that people remember you! Market for today, tomorrow and beyond!

get through our daily

Filed under: Life

This article is about something that I think we all need to do every day to cope and get through our daily lives.
That is - to have a positive attitude.
I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I don’t tell someone to think positive and everything will be okay.
I try to tell my subconscious mind to do the same.
I think a positive attitude has a lot to do with whether we are healthy or sick, rich or poor, happy or sad, loved or unloved.
There are a lot of people in this world who go around thinking negative thoughts. It seems they always look at a glass as half empty rather than half full.
When that is the case, they seldom find much to be happy about in their lives. If they would just look at the half full side of things, their attitude would change for the better and they could see a happier side to life.
When I used to do readings, one on one, some of my clients would be so unbelieving, skeptical, negative, and dismayed. Since I always tried to be a positive person and reader, I would say one of my favorite sayings to them -
" Negative Thoughts brings Negative Things and Positive Thoughts brings Positive Things."
I would tell them to always keep that in mind when they felt like things weren’t working out. I can’t count the time I preached those words. Some people came back later and told me that remembering my saying had helped them a lot with situations in their lives.
There are times when most people go through a hard time and it is hard to keep a positive attitude. It is our choice whether to think negative and give up, or try harder to think positive and have a better outcome.
I have learned that Positive Thinking makes me feel better about any situation.
I hope you will apply it in your life and see what a difference it can make.

Here is a song/poem that I wrote that was inspired by some of the obstacles I have gone through.
Hope the words inspire you.

I CAN

I can do whatever I try,
all I have to do
is reach for the sky.
Some people say,
how do you do it?
All I can say
is by putting
my mind to it.

I can do whatever I try
because I have a reason
and that is why
With help from above
I will spread a lot of love.

I know I can reach
all of my goals
With the help of God,
who knows how far I can go.
I have a reason for being here,
to sing and shine
as I make the way clear
for other people who live in fear.
My purpose here is very clear,
it’s to help people think positive
and to hold themselves dear.

I must show them they can do it,
if they really try.
All they have to do
is reach for the sky.

I can do whatever I try
because I have a reason
and that is why.
With help from above,
I will spread a lot of love.

 

..me@2006

Growth Strategy Evaluation and Selection

Filed under: Real Marketing

Following the identification and profiling of potential growth strategies and an objective analysis of the client’s core competencies, the next phase in the growth strategy development process is the evaluation and selection of the growth strategies. The evaluation of growth strategies is usually based upon two sets of metrics: (1) a fundamental attractiveness of the specific target market segment, and (2) its “fit” with the client’s business. Taken together, these two sets of metrics answer the questions How attractive is the market in each area? and How well does this growth platform fit with our company? By evaluating growth strategies against a common set of metrics, inherent biases are reduced and objectivity is maintained.

Once the criteria have been identified, weight factors must be applied. Here, a combination of external perspective (often provided by the consultant) and internal perspective (provided by the company’s business leaders) is critical to developing a balanced view on the relative importance of each criteria.

At the end of the day, however, the selection of a growth strategy is not a mechanical exercise of choosing the strategy with the highest combined market attractiveness and company fit score. Typically the chosen strategy assumes a portfolio approach to growth which results in the adoption of several strategies that synergistically complement each other.

 

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Core Capabilities Assessment (CCA)

Filed under: Real Marketing

A Core Capabilities Assessment (CCA) is critical to the development of a robust strategy. Its impact on growth strategy selection cannot be underestimated; successful growth strategies effectively leverage a company’s core capabilities. Capabilities can be defined as any potential source of competitive advantage and, for example, may include competencies (skills and processes), assets and special relationships.

At the end of the assessment, you should be able to precisely answer questions such as “what are the company’s most differentiated and strategic capabilities?” and “what are your most critical product and service offerings?” For the CCA to be realistic and credible, it is important to get different perspectives on the business. To this end, the assessment should involve customer assessment, self-assessment, competitor case studies and secondary research.

 

to be continued >> Growth Strategy Evaluation and Selection

Growth Identification and Profiling

Filed under: Real Marketing

A rigorous growth strategy identification and profiling process is a prerequisite to ensuring the optimal strategy design. This first phase usually begins with an industry overview and trend analysis which identifies the critical drivers within a particular industry, which provides focus to strategy development sessions.

It is not uncommon to have a group of 10-15 individuals generate over 200 growth ideas during the course of a productive scenario planning session. Once the ideas have been generated, an affinity mapping technique is applied to eliminate redundant and similar growth strategies. The iterative nature of the technique encourages a broader characterization of markets and results in a set of emerging and distinct growth strategies. Each growth strategy candidates then should be profiled in detail, including the potential financial impact and execution options.

 

to be continued >> Core Capabilities Assessment (CCA)

growth is an imperative, not an option

Filed under: Real Marketing

For businesses to survive, growth is an imperative, not an option . Often, the most straightforward way to increase shareholder value is top-line revenue growth, which is also usually less painful than alternative methods of value creation (such as cost reduction or changes in ownership structure). However, for all its positive implications, achieving growth is a complex and difficult task. Only a small minority of companies succeed in their attempts at sustained growth.

For companies selling into mature, or even worse, declining markets, profitable growth can be a particularly tall order. Finding creative ways to increase the size of the pie, rather than new ways to cut up the old one, is the challenge facing many of today’s senior managers who want to avoid a zero-sum game with competitors.

We see two emerging school of thoughts in formulating growth strategies. The first one is very much market-based, whereby a company would identify the available opportunities in the markets that are related to the business and then think through about the development and/or acquisition of capabilities that are required to capture those opportunities. We call this the Opportunistic Approach . The second one is what we call the Growing from the Core Approach , whereby a company would first identify what they are good at and then try to leverage these competitive advantages to capture “adjacent business opportunities” that a company can pursue to strengthen its core and grow its revenues. This second approach focuses on locating and expanding the strongest assets of a company’s core businesses, which is often suited for companies whose core businesses don’t operate at their full potential .  

The question is then, which one is better? Our view is that neither one is better than the other. In fact, our experience in helping several companies reveal that growth strategies should adopt a hybrid-approach. That is, we hold the view that although a company should always be ready to capture the “next waves of opportunities”, it should never go too far away from what they are really good at. Stretching your competencies too much will break apart any organization, no matter how strong and solid it is. What we know for sure is that growth strategy formulation must be based on a fact-based and rigorous process, although management wisdoms of the senior management team play a lot of role in making the final growth strategy decision.

That being said, the development of growth strategies usually involves three generic phases, which can be tailored into different company situations: (1) growth strategy identification and profiling, (2) core capabilities assessment, and (3) growth strategy evaluation and selection.

 

to be continued.. >> Growth Identification and Profiling

get Ur success

Filed under: Christian Life

I’ve always been fascinated with gadgets. And I’m always intrigued with finding a better, or easier way to get something done. I can’t count the times I’ve been browsing through my favorite home improvement store to find some gadget that seemed to be exactly what I had thought of months before.

Now someone else had actually developed that idea, and was selling it. They’ve developed and marketed this item, and are now obviously getting wealthy from the sales. And I’m left thinking, "I thought of that! It was my idea, and now this person is making all the money. Why can’t I be that lucky, just once! Then, I’d be financially successful, and my worries would be over."

I know young people who read those Hollywood magazines that show off that famous movie star, that actor, or actress with the knock-out body, who seems to get paid huge money just for waking up and smiling every day! If you looked like that, you’d be rich too, wouldn’t you! And a whole lot happier too!

How about that neighbor? You know, the one who inherited most of his money. If you’d had an inheritance like that you’d have sure been wiser than he with it. Still he has pretty much everything he wants. If someone had helped you get started like that, so you had something to invest, you’d have made a bundle on the stock market too, wouldn’t you? But here you are with your 40 hour-a-week J.O.B. Of course you’re not as happy as he! How could you be, under your circumstances! It’s quite obvious that money really does buy happiness.

Why is success so elusive to the Christian? Does God hate people with lots of money? Is money really the root of all evil? How can a Christian be successful in today’s world, and is it even something to be desired?

Tell those who are rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. I Timothy 6:17-19 (The Message)

Here we see Paul instructing Timothy to tell those in Ephesus who have wealth not to flaunt it. By flaunting it, he knew they would be inclined to think more of it than they should. They could easily reach a point where the wealth game became more important to them than God.

Because he understood human nature, Paul recognized that an arrogant person with money had great potential for creating jealousy and disharmony among their fellow believers, and diverting their attention from God, to the challenge of accumulating wealth. Instead of harmonious love and cooperation in the church, there would be a jealous contest to outdo one another.

God provides everything for our enjoyment. If you are placing your hope in something temporary and fleeting, you will be disappointed when it’s gone. But if we merely accept wealth as a momentary measure of enjoyment from God, when it’s gone, we won’t be disconcerted by it’s absence.

It’ll be like a pleasant walk in the park. We’ll enjoy it while we’re doing it, remember it when it’s over, and make plans to do it again when the time is right, and conditions are pleasant. But we don’t go home weeping and lamenting the fact that the walk is over, or become depressed about going home or moving on to other things.

This is how we are to view wealth. It’s a moment of pleasure that God has provided, a mere respite from other aspects of life. But it is not something to hold onto as though our very life depended on it.

Then Paul gives instructions about what to do with our money. We’re first of all to be good, and to do good deeds. But what’s that got to do with wealth? The instruction to be generous and willing to share follows that statement. Obviously, if we’re not treating others in a good way, being a friend, helping where needed, building a trust relationship, how will we ever be generous?

Can you cheerfully give to someone you don’t like, or who doesn’t like you? Not likely! And would it even be accepted? Who will you be generous to, who will you share with, if you’re not being good, doing good deeds!

True happiness and true success for the Christian is found by following the commandment to put our hope in God. If we wake up every morning of our life with our hopes and dreams for today built around our God, instead of setting out to become successful by the world’s standards, and we set out to build a relationship with God the father, this is true success. This is the only true success that exists in the Christian’s world.

Wealth is fleeting. Here today, gone tomorrow. Recent events surrounding the World Trade Center and Wall street have demonstrated the fallacy of trusting in your stock portfolio to guarantee your life and your happiness.

How do we experience success as a Christian?

Act Justly

Love Mercy

Walk humbly with YOUR GOD.

This is true success!

Honesty..

Filed under: Christian Life

Honesty in business is talked about in many businesses and at all levels of business, from the mom-and-pop neighborhood store to large corporations. It sounds good: "We conduct an honest and ethical business."

It’s a great PR statement and one that we hear constantly from all types of businesses. What many of them are really saying is that we should do business with them because they are honest and we can trust what they are telling us in their sales materials and advertising. All too often, this statement of honesty is merely part of the business’ marketing strategy used in an attempt to create credibility with the largest number of potential customers.

At the root of the problem is the fact that civil and legislative authorities, which govern the conduct of business in our society, establish the codes, regulations and laws. These rules of law are based on practical economic and legal ethical standards and have nothing to do with the application of Christian or moral standards. You can operate completely within the law and still cheat, mislead and otherwise perform dishonest acts. But what does this really mean? For example a Christian views honesty and ethical behavior as a foundation of the Christian life. In other words, Christians try to live the example through observing and applying God’s Commandments. This means complete truth in all things. It also incorporates the idea of treating others as you want them to treat you.

For Christian business people, these truths are not just some nice sounding words, but are to be lived out in our daily behavior and actions. Do all Christians set this example in their business life? Sadly, many do not. They become lost in the lure of achieving success in their business while losing sight of the true meaning of honesty in business dealings. Honesty is more than something we talk about on Sunday when we are in church but is a reality that must be lived out in our daily life regardless of where we are.

Most have good intentions; they do not set out to cheat or lie in order to gain an economic advantage. As long as they stay within the bounds of the legal limits, many feel they are being honest. It is okay to exaggerate or mislead if you do not actually lie. It is ok to hide consumer information in fine print that no one reads.

But this is the standard set by the world and our society. Honesty in business dealings means exactly that. When a person reads sales materials, the expectation should be that the claims are truthful, not exaggerated and that the business will provide the promised product or service just as described. A Christian businessperson aspires to higher standards. He knows that he has a responsibility to his customers to treat them fairly and as he himself would expect to be treated. Anything less is dishonesty by Christ’s standards.

A Christian’s word is his bond. As a Christian businessperson, your word is your bond. Sales materials and all advertising claims are a direct and concrete form of your word. As an honest businessperson, you cannot ignore true honest behavior in any aspect of your daily and business life. There is no substitute for the truth, and there is never a justification for bending the truth or for "little white lies." Remember that hiding the truth through omission is the same as a direct lie. Little white lies do not stay "little" very long and can lead to disaster in your personal or business life.

Honest dealings in business include many things such as offering a good product or service at a fair price. You must strive to offer value to the customer for their hard earned money. You have an obligation beyond what the law requires to care for and pay your employees in a fair manner. You must always put the customer first.

Is this always easy, or the least expensive way to conduct business? No, but as a Christian, this is the "only" way to do business.

As Paul wrote in his letter to the churches in Galatia:

Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. So what is the honest way to conduct business? It is really quite simple:

* Apply sound and proven Christian principles in your relationships with customers and your employees.
* Give value for money spent
* Meet all promised warranties and guarantees
* Be truthful in advertising and promotions
* Always tell the truth
* Treat others as you would like to be treated

Will this assure business success and earning a fortune? No, not by themselves. But being a Christian and living as a Christian is the true path to success in life or business, As a true Christian, this is your only option.

what “Blessings for Life” means to us…

Filed under: Christian Life

#1 - All that is good comes from our Father in Heaven!

#2 - He blesses us daily. Whether we recognize those blessings or not, they are there!

#3 - He also blesses us through other people, with skin on!

Which means…


You are a BLESSING to someone!!!


Think about that for just a moment, say it to yourself…


I AM A BLESSING - Jesus loves ME - and God has a plan for MY LIFE!!


The experiences that you have been through in your life so far (both the good and the bad), can be a BLESSING to someone else!  



"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.  Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  To Him be the power for ever and ever.  Amen." 


1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)


 

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