Get Organized in 2010 with Effective Planning

Are you where you want to be in your life professionally? Are you happy with your career path? Are you making what you thought you would be making? Are you happy with your current salary? Have you accomplished everything you wanted to date?

We all have dreams and goals of obtaining something, whether it is finding true love, starting our dream business or finding our dream job, or attaining financial freedom. However, when times get difficult and we get overwhelmed, we have a tendency to lose focus on what those dreams and goals are because they become somewhat elusive.

When things get difficult, we may feel overwhelmed or apathetic, the goal setting and goal achievement process may become mundane and in turn, we may get derailed, and feel hopeless. However, when planning with flexibility, the goal attaining process becomes easier and more realistic.

Learn how to stay on track in 2010:

Passion and desire for success - We need to have passion and desire to stay on track when goal planning. We have to commit to whatever we are trying to accomplish.

See success – We must see ourselves achieving the goal, even if we were not successful the first time. How many business people really become successful on their first venture? How many times have we found true love with the first person we dated? How many times does the average self-made millionaire fail before making it big -approximately three or more times? Keeping a positive attitude and optimistic outlook with realistic expectations will never lead to disappointment.

(more…)

Planning Your Marketing Strategy Quickly and Effectively

It doesn’t matter whether you work for a large Fortune 500 company or own a small Mom and Pop grocery store, devising a sound marketing strategy is going to help meet monthly and annual goals and objectives smoothly and effectively. It doesn’t have to cost a million dollars and you don’t have to have an MBA from Harvard Business School either.

The keys to developing a strong marketing strategy include proper market segmentation, competitive analysis, product/service definition, and various marketing efforts from advertising, social media, Internet marketing, public relations, events and tradeshows, direct mail and networking.
(more…)

Are You A Trailblazer?

www.nawbo.org

Do you know Marion Hook, founder of Adobe Rose Inn in Tucson, Ariz. - committed to sustainability and diversification? Do you know Virginia Madueño, who runs IMAGEN, LLC - a full-service public relations and marketing firm in Modesto, Calif., dedicated to diversity outreach and social issues? Or how about Lisa Johnson, president and CEO of Gourmet Kitchens Inc. in Chicago - who through leadership and innovative management has grown her company into one of the most successful in the perishable industry?

(more…)

How the Inauguration Will Impact My Industry

Amid all the festivities to be held in the nation’s capital on January 20, 2009, from the Swearing-In-Ceremony to the inaugural balls and galas honoring the new President of the United States, entrepreneurs and citizens alike will be focused on the inauguration’s theme: “Renewing America’s Promise.”

The promises made to “restore opportunity and possibility for all” appear to capture the public mind at a time when a struggling economy continues to pose a threat.
(more…)

Key Audiences Is Key To Public Relations Success

It’s not the media that will make a public relations difference to your business, that’s only one component – there are thousands of others you may not have thought of.

Unlike Bridget Jones, PR people don’t “just fanny around with the press releases”. At the Underdog Marketing Challenge, we know that PR can be mis-understood. So we are happy to share with you some simple things to remember.
(more…)

Forecasting 2009: What is your Plan B?

With the collapse on Wall Street of America’s financial services sector, the mounting economic crisis has caused small business owners and entrepreneurs to reflect on ways to survive creatively in 2009. Many will have their sights set on alternative plans to bring in income as they develop new services and products to launch into the marketplace.

But most entrepreneurs will forge ahead to realize their business plans, even in a weak economy.
(more…)

Women Entrepreneurs Offer Hope In Spite Of Economic Woes

As thousands of jobs continue to be cut each month, and downsized workers find themselves on the unemployment line, entrepreneurship would appear to be an impossible pursuit. But some business owners don’t believe the entrepreneurial mindset should be disposed of too quickly- even amid a bleak economy.

Ruth King, CEO of Ribbon (http://www.ontheribbon.com) knows “the days of consumption are over,” but she supports the idea of launching a new enterprise even in a slow economy. “In today’s economy, customers need value. For entrepreneurs thinking of starting a new business, the key is to offer value- laden products or services that people need, and then find creative ways to deliver, or fulfill orders,” she said.

In terms of the kinds of enterprises to explore, she said finding a product or service one feels passionate about can be helpful, and once it is identified, offering potential customers a free trial can boost sales in the beginning phase. “It’s the puppy dog technique and a creative way to sell and prove value, just like when a store let’s you take a puppy home for a few days,” she said.
(more…)

Atlantic Cape Community College Students Share Reactions to the Election of the 44th President

Originally published on 11/07/2008 - 7:30 p.m. GMT

Throughout his campaign, President Elect Obama met with college students around the country to discuss his plan for millions of young people to make a college education accessible for every American. During these talks, he also shared his personal story about how he had benefited from financial aid, and had actually not paid off his student loan until a few years ago.

Students at Atlantic Cape Community College at the Charles Worthington campus, shared their reactions to the historic ascension of President Elect Obama to the White House, and what this transition means to them in terms of their futures. For most of the students, it was their first experience in engaging in the political process as voters.
(more…)