July 2010
Content
ISAAC HAMM
VISIONARY IN MOTION
7 TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
FIVE STEPS TO ENSURE A HEALTH CRISIS DOESN'T MEAN FINANCIAL RUIN
KEEPING FAMILY TRAVEL FUN AFFORDABLE AND STRESS-FREE
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Join
Along with EnVogue, Lyfe Jennings, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, and many more...at
Saturday, July 17, 2010 12pm to 8pm Penn’s Landing Great Plaza ENTER for VIP Meet & Greet Tickets www.globalfusionfestival.com
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Table of Contents
Edit or ’s Message
What Are You Willing to Do?
Somet imes w e find ourse lve s in a p lace of ut ter d issat isfaction and unhapp ine ss, w ith w here we are in life. It’s he lpful t o know t hat there are t hing s t hat we CAN change, if and w hen we are w illing to t ake the nece ssary steps. —
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Special Features
Exceed Pr ofile
Visionary in Motion: A One Hamm Founder of IM3 Media
on
One
with
Isaac
We had the p leasure of sitt ing w ith “Ike ” to talk ab out his vision, his goals and his p lans. T his life long stud ent of the music industry is an e ntre preneur, a teacher and a lead er, mak ing his mark in t he community and moving to d o great things. —Page 8
Corporate Corner
Creating Team Synergy - 3 Cooperation by Building Trust
T ips
For
Boosting
Doe s y our t eam r un like a we ll oiled machine? W ithout trust, te ams will be d amag ed. Tr ust, like oil for an e ng ine, prov ide s the v ital lubr ication and v iscosity be tween team member s t o creat e sy nergy and increase prod uct iv ity. —
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Community Care s
July is Month
Hemochromatosis
Screening
Awarenes s
Hemo chromato si s (HH) i s a di sease that resul ts fro m excessi ve amounts of i ron i n the body (i ron overl oad) . Learn more about ri sks, symptoms and treatmen t. — Page 24
iEx ceed Reg ister
Online Learning Anytime, Anywhere.
Led by ex pert instructors - I nter act ive d iscussion areas New cour se s beg in monthly - 6 week s, 12 lessons - 24/7 learning - Ope n t o any one !— Page 26
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Departments
Home & Family
Keeping Family Travel Fun , Affordable and St ressFree
A few p ie ce s of adv ice t o can make y our next v acation relax ing a nd af fo rdab le - a nd a b last for your wh o le f am ily.
— Page 12
Educat ion & Care er
So, Do You Know Your Worth?
You would be shock ed if y ou k new the actual d ollar v alue your e mp loy er p laces on your job and more imp ort antly... YOU! —Page 14
Business & Finance
7 Time Management T ips For Small Business Owners
Busy busine ss ow ner s ev erywhe re find t hemse lves working longer and longe r hour s to manage their companies and ke ep the ir busine sses afloat in a shaky economy. T hese 7 t ip s, if follow ed consiste nt ly, w ill he lp you accomplish all of y our task s and maybe eve n leave y ou w it h a litt le t ime le ft f or your se lf at t he end of the week. — Page 1 6
Mind & Body
Five Steps to Ensure a H ealth Crisis Doesn't Mean Financial Ruin
A ser ious long-t erm illne ss or d isability can hav e a d evastating, often irr eversible, affect on a family 's financial we ll -being. But there a few things you can do to prevent this from ruining your financial w ell-be ing. — Page 18
Spir it & Soul
Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow
A c los er, in-dept h look at t hese w is e w or ds fr om E in ste in, and practical insig ht on how to app ly them today. —Page 20
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Editor’s Message
What Are You Willing to Do?
Do you look back on the past few years and wonder, "how did I get here?" Do you wonder why success or money or relationships seem so easy for some people...but not for you? Do you suspect that you're not living your dreams? Do you sometimes feel adrift? Or like you're spinning your wheels? You're not alone! And, you don’t have struggle alone. We all lead such busy, demanding lives. It's too easy to put ourselves and our own needs (and even our own lives) last, and silently drift into dissatisfaction. So my question for you is, what are you willing to do about it? I encourage you to sit back evaluate where you are RIGHT NOW, and then visualize where you would like to be this time, next year . How will you get there? Do you need to save more money? Take a class? Do you need to forgive someone who has hurt you in the past? Do you need to exercise more? The truth is: Something is holding you back and it’s up to YOU to determine what it is, and work through it. But are you WILLING? In order for change to take place, you have to be agreeable, ready to take the next step. I recently had my granddaughter over for a weekend. She was just learning how to walk, and just like any other toddler, she was eager to get on the floor and do it. So I obliged her. We were upstairs so I took her by the hand and began walking in the hallway with her. We came to the top of the stairs and she got so excited, she took a step down. No hesitation, no fear, no thoughts about falling and no questions about her ability to do it. Just the determination to get to the next step. She wanted to go. So we did it, together. We ended up downstairs, and then back upstairs about two or three times before she decided to move on. When it comes to reaching our goals in life, we have to have that SAME sense of determination, BUT we also have to be WILLING to take the steps to get there! Baby steps if necessary. And sometimes, we even have to solicit the assistance of someone who is able to help guide you. Maybe someone who has already been where you are today, and can provide the support you need to get you to your next level of achievement. You know what you want. So, I challenge you this month to reach out to someone who will partner with you to take those steps to get it. Whether it be a financial coach, an exercise buddy or a spiritual mentor...decide today what change you want to see in your life, and make the call. The next step is right there. Are you willing to take it?
Katrena Patterson Founder & Editor Exceed Magazine www.exceedmagonline.com
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JULY 2010
PUBLISHER
Dennis Smith Communications, LLC PO Box 42455 Philadelphia, PA 19101
PRESIDENT/FOUNDER/EDITOR
Katrena Patterson Blackson
VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING
Michael A. Blackson, Sr.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Robert Prodigy Photography Hunt 4 Photos Special Thanks to Fotolia
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jason Dick Barry R Parker Mike Weaver Elliot Zovighian Special Thanks to ARA Content
EXCEED MAGAZINE
is published monthly by Dennis Smith Communications, LLC PO Box 42455 Philadelphia, PA 19101
Contents © 2010. All rights reserved. No part of the magazine may reprinted in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher.
Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher.
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Exceed Profile
Visionary in Motion
A One on One with
ISAAC HAMM
Founder of IM3 Media
By Katrena Patterson Blackson
You can see the passion and excitement in Isaac Hamm’s eyes, as he paints a vivid picture of his vision for you. As a lifelong student of the music industry, with more than a decade of experience under his belt, this young man has a great deal of insight to share, a heart to serve and the determination to make his vision come to pass. I had the pleasure of sitting with “Ike” to talk about his vision, his goals and his plans. After seeing him in action, there’s NO doubt in my mind—he’s making his mark and MOVING FORWARD. Get ready. Isaac Hamm is a name that you WILL hear and respect for years to come.
EM: How long have you been interested in the music industry? IH: I have had always had a general interest in the entertainment industry, particularly television. I had planned to become a producer. However it wasn’t until I attended college that I became fascinated with the music business. I knew I had found my niche. EM: How did you get started in the business of artist management and promotion? IH: While attending college I secured an internship with radio station 103.9, now known as 100.3 The Beat. The experience I gained was invaluable. The classroom was no match for what I learned on the job. One of the things I noticed the most was that many artists did not have formal representation and that they lacked knowledge. I quickly learned that while an artists’ talent may be undeniable without proper packaging and a solid, sensible marketing plan they may as well be performing in their bedrooms. I saw a lot of artists, new and established, who struggled and it bothered me. As a result, New Artist Spotlight was founded in 2001. My first client was “Young Sir”, host of the now -defunct BET television show, The Center. EM: What kinds of challenges have you had with building your business?
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IH: My initial challenge was credibility. I was so much younger than most of my peers and I needed a start so I sought to be mentored by more experienced promoters who I respected. However, that was an exercise in frustration but that’s not necessarily a negative. Philly will let you know quick that you must show and prove before anybody takes you seriously. I have been putting in work consistently over the past nine years, building relationships and establishing trust among my peers. As a young promoter and budding businessman I had to find my own way. I did not want to become known as just another party promoter; I wanted to create events and experiences with the spotlight on the artists – not me. That is what New Artist Spotlight is all about. The challenge is to remain credible and to distinguish my events in interesting ways that keeps audiences engaged. Growth comes with experience but for me longevity and relevance is the ultimate challenge. I have so much more to learn and so far to go in this business. EM: How has your business evolved since you first began? IH: I began by managing artists and moved on to host a bi-weekly R&B showcase, Hidden Soul Wednesdays. Today I’m confident enough to step out and host my first annual Black Music Month special event, “The Comeback”. It’s all about progression. EM: Who were your strongest influences growing up? IH: My sister, Cherron. She’s there for me and I trust her because she keeps it real with me. She’s smart, she understands me and she has always supported me through all the ups and downs and the outright craziness this business brings. I’m proud of her. EM: Where do you see IM3 Media and New Artist Spotlight in the future? IH: Empowerment via community activism and creative education will become key missions. I am in the preliminary stages of partnering with local non-profit organizations. There will be more to come. EM: What's your vision and ultimate goal? IH: Philanthropy and making sure that Philadelphia music lives on.
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EM: Do you see yourself expanding globally, or would you like to keep it here in the city of Philadelphia? IH: As I said earlier, it’s all about progression. The world is becoming a smaller place, and with the power of the Internet going global is technically just one click away. We are living in unprecedented times. EM: What advice do you have for people who want to enter into the music industry? IH: Stay focused; know your craft; have something to offer; do your research; and most important get your education because you’re going to need it. The complexities and highly fluid nature of the new music business model considers demographical changes and tastes to technological advances. And that’s a simplistic view but when you think about what that all entails it becomes clear that knowledge is power. I’m not 100% sold on the phrase of “It’s not what you know, but who you know” because nowadays it’s what you know that gets you to who you know”
EM: If you could do ONE thing differently, what would it be? IH: There are many things I would change but at the same time I'm glad I went through them. Those things have got me to where I am now in my career. Who knows where or what I would be doing today. I’m still learning and ready for that next challenge life is going to throw at me. EM: We wish you MUCH success, and thank you for sharing with us! to connect with Isaac today just visit his site at www.im3media.com
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Corporate Corner
CREATING TEAM SYNERGY
3 TIPS FOR BOOSTING COOPERATION BY BUILDING TRUST
By Mike Weaver
Does your team run like a well oiled machine? When the oil pressure in your car is low, a warning light flashes and a buzzer sounds, which warns you stop the engine immediately-or risk severely damaging your engine. Just as oil keeps an engine running, trust between team members is critical to create synergy, improve collaboration, and increase productivity.
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3 vitals characteristics to foster trust and create synergy
Dependability - This morning after arriving at a local restaurant for a meeting, I sat down on a chair. I trusted inherently that the chair would hold me up when I sat down. There was never a question in my mind that the chair would do its job. Why? My past experience told me that these chairs and others chairs like it are dependable. They hadn't ever let me down. When I concluded that the chair was dependable, my trust in it, to fulfill its role, increased. Can the same be said of us? Can others depend on us consistently to follow through on what we promise? Do we show up on time? Trust between people is built when we back up our words with consistent action.
Transparency - What you see is what you get, there are no hidden agendas or secrets. There are people who may be professionally competent, but personally suspect. Secrets overshadow their life. They cloud their ability to bond completely with other team members. If we always have something to hide, we can never be fully present with team members around us. Combine professional competence and transparency, you get a trusted team member that cares for others on the team.
Likeablilty - Let's be honest, when we like the people with whom we work, we are more productive. A few weeks ago, we interviewed potential candidates for a job opening in my workplace. The decision came down to two people, both with similar work experience and skill levels. In the end, we simply liked one of the candidates more than the other. Likeability was a factor in adding her to our team. Her skill level gave us the confidence that we could entrust the work to her, but her likeability indicated to us that can actually work with her as a team member. In his book, The Likeability Factor, Tim Sanders writes, "Likeable people inspire others to give more," and "engage more deeply in conversations around projects and tasks, and people pay more attention to them...eliminating misunderstandings. Misunderstandings can be the heart of unproductive activity at work." Taking time to have lunch regularly as a team and spending time together outside the workplace increases the likeabilty factor and thereby trust between team members.
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Home & Family
SIMPLE RULES TO KEEP FAMILY TRAVEL FUN, AFFORDABLE AND STRESS-FREE
(ARA) - If you've watched any of the "Vacation" movies, you've seen what can go wrong on a family vacation. While hilarity is the end result of the mishaps in the movies, certain blunders aren't as funny in real life. Therefore, it's important to ensure that you and your children will remember your trip for the right reasons. traveling with children to go over your plan ahead of time and make them aware of it, so they know what to expect. It's also a chance to get them excited about your vacation. By sitting down and finding out the things each family member would like to do during your trip, you'll ensure everyone comes home happy. Many of your destinations may offer free travel guides that can aid in planning, which can also be found at Offers.com/travel.
By following a few pieces of advice, you can make your next vacation relaxing and affordable - and a blast for your whole family. Try these tips courtesy of website Offers.com, which specializes in aggregating the best money-saving offers for consumers and has a section dedicated specifically to travel coupons and discounts.
Travel light. Instead of cramming a stroller into your car, consider renting a stroller at the attractions you plan on visiting. When booking a hotel room, check to see if they have cribs available for your younger children. By eliminating extra items from your load, you'll keep your sanity.
Score free meals. When you're feeding a whole family, costs add up quickly. Look for hotels that offer a free breakfast so you can save on one meal each day. Many hotels now offer oatmeal, waffles, eggs and other, more kid-friendly selections, in addition to the traditional coffee and pastries. To save on other meals, it might be wise to find a hotel room with a refrigerator so you can stock up on sandwich meat and snacks.
Find kid-friendly travel. Search for travel discounts where kids fly free or for a reduced rate. In addition, especially if you have younger children who aren't used to flying, you might want to look for airlines that offer in-flight entertainment options like childfriendly movies. If you're driving, consider renting a vehicle with built-in child seats or entertainment options like a DVD player.
Choose a resort with more. Many all-inclusive resorts are especially tailored to families with children of all ages, so if your children are farther apart in age, this may be a good option. Many family-friendly resorts cater to children, tweens and teens alike with ageappropriate activities such as story time, sports and game rooms. Some also offer kids' camps so mom and dad can enjoy a little alone time.
Take advantage of coupons and deals. Since many destinations are competing for your dollar, there are plenty of deals and travel coupons to be had. When looking at booking flights or accommodations, or even restaurants once you are on the road, check for money -saving offers online before purchasing. Same goes for theme parks or other attractions you plan to visit. The easiest and fastest way to find offers is to visit a website like Offers.com, whose staff does the work for you by compiling easy-to-navigate, easy-to-search and verified and updated travel specials for you to peruse. You never know, you might even find a deal that allows you to explore an opportunity you hadn't yet thought of.
Have a plan. It's especially important when you are
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Education & Career
SO, DO YOU KNOW YOUR WORTH?
By Elliot Zovighian
Do you know what your worth is? Sure the first thing you're going to say is that you're priceless. I'm sure your mother agrees. But human resource departments have spent millions figuring out this very question. Your job has a worth. It has its threshold and its bottom. You fit somewhere in between pending your education, experience, and skill set. You would be shocked if you knew the actual dollar value your employer places on your job and more importantly... YOU! A few years ago I was on the company baseball team. I didn't have a car at the time, so I got a ride when I could with the head of our HR department. We would chat about this and that but I always brought it back as to what exactly he did and how he came to the conclusions he did concerning our company and employees. You see I had never worked in a 'corporate' environment before. I never had a 9 to 5 job. So I was intrigued about the valuation process. He said he started by comparing the position to the pay scale other companies were offering the same job. Then there was the education of the employee. Then there came the experience and tenure of the employee. Then can what other skills the employer brought to the job. An employee never really knows where he sits in the grand scheme of things. But you can do you part to make sure you're not only valuable to the company, but valuable monetarily to your bank account. Get training. Get as much training as you possibly can. Most companies offer upgrading and courses for a host if things. Take advantage of it, Most of them will be geared toward your jobs needs. Cross train if you can. You are certainly more valuable if you can do multiple things rather than one. Join committees. Join the health and safety committee or a social committee. Taking an active interest in your company's welfare will do wonders. If you want to apply for an in house job, take one that offers a promotion into a job of responsibility. Remember you don't go to work to be everyone's best friend, and knowledge doesn't pay nearly as much as responsibility. If you really want to make the big bucks at work, be a boss. Bosses may seem like they do less work but their ass in on the line if things go awry. You job will only pay so much. You have to decide if you're worth what they're willing to pay you or if you're worth more. If so, you have some tough decisions to make. If you're unsatisfied or cannot pay the bills, you may need a career change. There world is open to you if you train for it. Or you could get the ultimate pay cheque by working for yourself.
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“...Are you serious about your career?
If so, you need to get started creating a well conceived and detailed career plan.” ~ Peggy McKee, PHC Consulting
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Business & Finance
7 TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
The old adage; "Time is money", is still true today, especially in the world of the business owner. Busy business owners everywhere find themselves working longer and longer hours to manage their companies and keep their businesses afloat in a shaky economy. These 7 tips, if followed consistently, will help you accomplish all of your tasks and maybe even leave you with a little time left for yourself at the end of the week:
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1. Take advantage of the 80/20 Rule. The 80/20 rule states that 80% of your profit is derived from 20% of your products or services. Invest some time to research which of your products and services fit into the 20%, then focus most your time and effort into those. Cut back the time and resources used on the less productive 80%.
emails, even though that may be one of their lower priority items of the day. Revisit your priorities often. By prioritizing regularly, you will ensure that you are getting your most important work done, which will ease your mind and make you more productive throughout the week.
2. Learn when to say "no". Every time someone asks you to do something, consider whether or not it is a good use of your time. If it does not meet your goals, or is something that can be delegated, just say "no". Respecting your own time and setting boundaries early on will set the tone with your employees, and they will quickly learn what to ask for help with and what to handle on their own, saving you even more time later.
6. Periodic downtime and mental breaks. Schedule yourself frequent short breaks throughout the day, so you do not get bogged down. Toiling at it straight for hours at a time will cause you to tire easily, make errors, and actually slow down your overall productivity. By giving your brain space, and allowing it small breaks (maybe a brief walk outside, or a short chat with an employee) you will find yourself accomplishing more at the end of the day because you will be more refreshed during the majority of the time you are working.
3. Try not to multi-task. The legendary multi-tasking employee is still being sought after in job advertisements, and it remains a prized skill in America's corporate culture. However, numerous recent studies have shown that multi-tasking is not as efficient as moving sequentially from one task to the next and maintaining your focus. Multi-tasking will actually drain your energy level, and is more likely to cause errors in your work, which only increase the time it takes to complete tasks.
7. Consider outsourcing. Chances are there are several tasks you perform throughout your day that are not the core focus of your business. Some of these tasks may slow you down, frustrate you and eat up your time because they are not your particular areas of expertise. Outsourcing certain functions to a managed services company will free you up to do what you do best, while providing expertise and experience in those areas where you are not an expert.
4. Set time limits for tasks. One example would be sending and receiving email messages. Many business owners received hundreds of emails a day. If you limit yourself to say, one hour a day of handling email messages, and prioritizing them based on importance; you will have more time to manage your business. Also, if a lot of communication is needed, consider talking on the phone or meeting briefly in person. This could save you a lot of time versus crafting a lengthy email, then waiting for a response, etc...
There is nothing like the independence, challenge and freedom associated with owning your own business. However, if you are not careful, it can end up consuming all of your time and leaving you feeling exhausted. Try following these 7 tips for increased peace of mind, more energy, and extra time.
About the Author Jason Dick is a certified technical specialist with an internet marketing background. He currently writes original content containing tips for business owners on both general and technical topics. Northwest Computer Support is a one-stop IT services provider helping businesses in the Northwest manage their IT needs since 1977. They are truly a comprehensive IT solutions provider with services ranging from Green IT and SharePoint to management consulting, help desk, and network management. Visit http://www.nwcsupport.com for an overview of their entire menu of IT services.
5. Prioritize Everything. Rank your activities on a daily basis as to their importance, and tackle the most important activities during the times of the day you are at your most productive. For instance, many executives find the morning the most productive time of the day. Yet, some spend much of their morning catching up on
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Mind & Body
FIVE STEPS TO ENSURE A HEALTH CRISIS DOESN'T MEAN FINANCIAL RUIN
(ARA) - A serious long-term illness or disability can have a devastating, often irreversible, affect on a family's financial well-being. In fact, health care expenses are among the most common cause of bankruptcies, according to findings published in the "American Journal of Medicine" last year.
Most people are not financially prepared to have their employment interrupted, even briefly. For example, studies find more than 60 percent of workers live paycheck to paycheck. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the personal savings rate in March was just 2.7 percent of after-tax income. According to Gada, seeking help is essential. "Many people are afraid and overwhelmed. Asking for help is a sign of strength and being your own best advocate can help you feel more in control."
Among the first steps people with serious health conditions or their caregivers should take quickly are:
* Create a financial plan. The plan should focus on establishing a budget and making certain you are spending down your assets in the least harmful way. Generally, this means using your savings or other resources before withdrawing from retirement accounts that could trigger a penalty or using high interest-rate credit, which could have you paying off interest for years.
So, what can you do to ease the financial risks if you are one of the millions who must stop working each year because of a serious health condition?
"First, have hope, because there are things you can do to take control," says Paul Gada, personal finance director for the Allsup Disability Life Planning Center. Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation and Medicare plan selection services.
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Unfortunately, approximately 15 percent of people awaiting SSDI report raiding their retirement savings. Additionally, 17 percent are relying on their credit cards and 7 percent on home equity lines of credit to meet financial needs until they receive their SSDI benefits, according to the Allsup Disability Finance online poll. The poll was conducted online this spring with 138 respondents.
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* Contact your mortgage company or landlord. As part of this, identify housing assistance programs. For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has programs to assist with mortgage modifications, as well as rental assistance that can lower housing costs drastically. However, there are waiting lists, so it's important to sign up as soon as possible.
"People are often reluctant to reach out to their mortgage company or their landlord, they start missing payments, and the foreclosure or eviction process starts before they finally explain the situation," says Gada. "By that time, it may be too late."
* Seek assistance with utilities, food and other necessities. Conserve your resources by finding assistance to help you cope. Hundreds of federal, local and private resources are available in most communities. These can range from neighborhood food pantries to federally funded programs, such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Local phone companies provide reduced-rate support for home phone service. Associations such as the American Cancer Society and the National Family Caregiver Association also offer guidance.
Many more people indicate they are considering assistance than are actually securing this assistance, according to an Allsup poll. They may not understand how to apply or they may not meet the income thresholds initially, but could later on as they spend down their assets.
"It can be overwhelming and people too often give up," explains Gada, adding that Allsup offers links to many of these resources from its website.
* Secure health care coverage. Continuing medical treatment is vital. Among the options are COBRA through your former employer, a spouse's plan or other private coverage, such as through the health insurance exchanges being established as part of the health care legislation enacted earlier this year. Compare plans closely to make sure you are getting the coverage needed and that you understand the costs. Additionally, if you must take expensive prescription drugs, check if the pharmaceutical company offers a prescription-drug assistance program.
* Pursue income sources, including SSDI. If you have paid into the Social Security Disability Insurance program, you may be eligible for benefits. If you are eligible, it's essential to apply quickly as it can take up to two years or more to be approved. Gada advises seeking help with your SSDI application to speed the process. For example, people with disabilities represented by Allsup are significantly more likely to receive SSDI benefits at the initial level.
"It's heartbreaking to hear of people with serious illnesses and disabilities unable to work and struggling month after month to pay for food or medical costs until they're financially wiped out," says Gada. "It shouldn't be that way. There are steps people can take, but they need to ask for help and know how to get it."
More information on financial assistance is available at www.Allsup.com or (800) 279-4357.
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Spirit & Soul
Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow
By Barry R Parker
The above title is a quote by Einstein, and it is, indeed, excellent advice. Einstein was, of course, one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, if not the greatest. Much of modern physics is based on his discoveries. In later life, however, he also became a philosopher of considerable importance, and he gave us a lot of useful information about life. His quotes are seen everywhere. The above quote can be generalized to: Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, Hope for the Future. And if you do each of these, you will, indeed, be much happier.
What do we mean by each of the above statements? Let's look at them in turn.
Learn from Yesterday We should, indeed, learn from the past -- particularly from the mistakes we have made in the past. We certainly don't want to make the same mistakes again. But we also don't want to spend a lot of time thinking about these mistakes; they're over and done, and there's nothing we can do about them except learn form them. So don't continue to rehash them, and don't become obsessed with them. If you do, they could become a source of frustration, and they could make you fearful of failure in the future. In short, they could make you very insecure, and this is, of course, something you don't want. So learn from them, and forget them.
It is, of course, okay to think about the past occasionally, savoring some of the joys you have experienced, but you should return to the present as quickly as possible. Don't develop a nostalgia for the past. This is a common fault with many people; they daydream about how happy their past life was, and how dull and humdrum their present life is. Maybe your past life was better in some respects, but too many people magnify the happiness of their past life and forget about the struggles and sorrows they experienced. If your present life appears to be dull compared to your past life, it's up to you to make it better.
Don't keep longing for the past, Today is much more important. It's the present -- what's happening now -and you should make the most of it.
Live for Today Enjoy the day you're living in. Wake up in the morning with confidence, and a feeling that the day is going to be the best you have ever experienced. One of the best ways to do this is to relax and live each day as if it were your last.
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Pure joy, pure calm & pure bliss all come from paying attention to the simple moments.
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Take control of your life. Increase your income. Impact the world!
SIGN UP FOR A FREE WEBINAR
http://mycompass.eventbrite.com
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Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow
(Continued from page 20)
Dale Carnegie encourages everyone to live in "Day-tight compartments." And it's the best advice anyone could give you. As he says, " Half the beds in our hospitals are reserved for patients with nervous and mental troubles, patients who have collapsed under the crushing burden of accumulated yesterdays and fearful tomorrows. Yet a vast majority of these people would be walking the streets today, leading happy, useful lives, if they had heeded the words... "Live in day-tight compartments."
In other words: Shut off the past. Shut off the future. Live for today! This doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare for the future; it means you should not have any anxiety about the future. If you fret and worry about the future continuously, you could end up in the nuthouse.
So live one day at a time. Think of each new day as a new adventure -- a new life. Tell yourself that it's going to be the best day of your life. One of the major tragedies of many peoples life is that they keep putting things off. In particular, they put life itself off. They're always telling themselves that life will be better -- after they marry, when they retire, and so on. And as they wait, life passes, and suddenly they discover that it has left them behind. They have forgotten, or perhaps never learned, how to enjoy life, or maybe they've been too busy and haven't had enough time. Life is in the living, and it's important to learn this. "Today is our most important possession. Don't throw it away. Cherish it. Live it. Enjoy it!"
Our happiness and peace of mind are determined, to a large degree, in how efficiently we shut out yesterday and tomorrow. Most of your thinking should therefore be directed at what you will be doing between now and when you go to bed.
Happy people don't allow past failures and problems, or worries about the future, to plague them day after day. If you do, you will likely end up depressed, anxious and frustrated, and that's no way to live. Remember that today is the most important day of your life. So when you begin drifting into the past or future, bring yourself back to the present as quickly as possible.
Hope for Tomorrow It's not that the future is unimportant. It is, and you should prepare for it. Prepare for it, but don't be anxious about it, and don't worry needlessly about it. Life is full of problems related to the future: financial problems, worries over your health, worries about getting old. Some of these will come to pass (such as growing old), but many of them will remain nothing more than worries.
So force yourself to remain optimistic about the future, and the best way to do this is to foster hope. Never lose hope; hope encourages you to set goals and strive to accomplish them. It makes you optimistic and gives you faith in the future; it's the thing that spurs you on. It makes you dream of better things, and it makes you feel good.
Anxiety, on the other hand, depresses and frustrates you. And it can easily get out of control. Anxiety feeds on anxiety -- it's a vicious circle. So get rid of it as quickly as possible, and the way to do this is to fight against all negative feelings and negative thoughts related to the future. Don't be fearful of the future -- look forward to it.
About the Author Barry Parker, Ph. D., is a professor emeritus (physics) at Idaho State University. He is the author of 25 books on science, health, writing, and music. His website is http://BarryParkerbooks.com and he has several blogs, one of them is at http://Barrysbuzz123.blogspot.com. He has done research in biophysics (mutations in the DNA molecule) and in relativity theory (Einstein's field theory), has a strong interest in health and fitness, self-improvement, and in music (particularly piano). He taught a writing class at ISU for several years. One of his recent books is "Feel Great Feel Alive."
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Community Cares
July is Hemochromatosis Screening Awareness Month
What is hemochromatosis? Hemochromatosis occurs when the body absorbs too much iron from foods (and other sources such as vitamins containing iron). This disease causes extra iron to gradually build up in the body’s tissues and organs, a term called iron overload. If this iron buildup is untreated, it can, over many years, damage the body’s organs.
What are the causes? Although hemochromatosis can have other causes, in the United States the disease is usually caused by a genetic disorder. A person who inherits the defective gene from both parents may develop hemochromatosis. The genetic defect of hemochromatosis is present at birth, but symptoms rarely appear before adulthood. Because one inherits genes from his or her parents, this type of the disease is also called hereditary hemochromatosis.
What are the symptoms? Early indications of hemochromatosis include the following symptoms: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Fatigue (feeling very tired) Weakness Weight loss Abdominal pain Joint pain
Because these symptoms also occur with other diseases, hemochromatosis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages.
How is it detected? The iron overload associated with hemochromatosis can be detected through two blood tests. The tests measure how much iron is in the body. You can have these tests done in your doctor’s office.
If hemochromatosis is detected early, treatment can slow its progress and prevent serious problems. However, if the disease is not detected and treated early, it can cause more serious problems. These problems include arthritis, heart problems, and liver problems (such as cirrhosis and liver cancer).
What is the treatment? Treatment consists of periodically taking blood from the arm, much like giving blood. The treatment is safe and effective. Patients can expect a normal life span if they start treatment before organ damage has begun.
To get more information about hemochromatosis and its treatment visit the Hemochromatosis Information Center at http://www.hemochromatosis.org
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EM: How long have you been interested in the music industry? IH: I have had always had a general interest in the entertainment industry, particularly television. I had planned to become a producer. However it wasn’t until I attended college that I became fascinated with the music business. I knew I had found my niche. EM: How did you get started in the business of artist management and promotion? IH: While attending college I secured an internship with radio station 103.9, now known as 100.3 The Beat. The experience I gained was invaluable. The classroom was no match for what I learned on the job. One of the things I noticed the most was that many artists did not have formal representation and that they lacked knowledge. I quickly learned that while an artists’ talent may be undeniable without proper packaging and a solid, sensible marketing plan they may as well be performing in their bedrooms. I saw a lot of artists, new and established, who struggled and it bothered me. As a result, New Artist Spotlight was founded in 2001. My first client was “Young Sir”, host of the now-defunct BET television show, The Center.
Your water is vital to your home and your health.
You rely on it for cooking and cleaning, washing and bathing, drinking and nourishing.
When you think about all of the ways water touches our lives, you see why it’s so important that we make sure that water is as clean as it can be.
Find out how a Culligan water system will deliver better drinking EM: What kinds of challenges have you had with and working water throughout your home. building your business?
IH: My initial challenge was credibility. I was so much younger than most of my peers and I needed a start so I sought to be mentored by more experienced promoters who I respected. However, that was an exercise in frustration but that’s not necessarily a negative. Philly will let you know quick that you must show and prove before anybody takes you seriously. I have been putting in work consistently over the past nine years, building relationships and establishing trust among my peers. As a young promoter and budding businessman I had to find my own way. I did not want to become known as just another party promoter; I wanted to create events and experiences with the spotlight on the artists – not me. That is what New Artist Spotlight is all about. The challenge is to remain credible and to distinguish my events in interesting ways that keeps audiences engaged. Growth comes with experience but for me longevity and relevance is the ultimate challenge. I have so much more to learn and so far to go in this business.
July 2010
Call today at 1-888-708-8223.
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iExceed Register
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments."
-Jim Rohn
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VISIONARY IN MOTION
7 TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
FIVE STEPS TO ENSURE A HEALTH CRISIS DOESN'T MEAN FINANCIAL RUIN
KEEPING FAMILY TRAVEL FUN AFFORDABLE AND STRESS-FREE
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Join
Along with EnVogue, Lyfe Jennings, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, and many more...at
Saturday, July 17, 2010 12pm to 8pm Penn’s Landing Great Plaza ENTER for VIP Meet & Greet Tickets www.globalfusionfestival.com
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Table of Contents
Edit or ’s Message
What Are You Willing to Do?
Somet imes w e find ourse lve s in a p lace of ut ter d issat isfaction and unhapp ine ss, w ith w here we are in life. It’s he lpful t o know t hat there are t hing s t hat we CAN change, if and w hen we are w illing to t ake the nece ssary steps. —
Page 6
Special Features
Exceed Pr ofile
Visionary in Motion: A One Hamm Founder of IM3 Media
on
One
with
Isaac
We had the p leasure of sitt ing w ith “Ike ” to talk ab out his vision, his goals and his p lans. T his life long stud ent of the music industry is an e ntre preneur, a teacher and a lead er, mak ing his mark in t he community and moving to d o great things. —Page 8
Corporate Corner
Creating Team Synergy - 3 Cooperation by Building Trust
T ips
For
Boosting
Doe s y our t eam r un like a we ll oiled machine? W ithout trust, te ams will be d amag ed. Tr ust, like oil for an e ng ine, prov ide s the v ital lubr ication and v iscosity be tween team member s t o creat e sy nergy and increase prod uct iv ity. —
Page 10
Community Care s
July is Month
Hemochromatosis
Screening
Awarenes s
Hemo chromato si s (HH) i s a di sease that resul ts fro m excessi ve amounts of i ron i n the body (i ron overl oad) . Learn more about ri sks, symptoms and treatmen t. — Page 24
iEx ceed Reg ister
Online Learning Anytime, Anywhere.
Led by ex pert instructors - I nter act ive d iscussion areas New cour se s beg in monthly - 6 week s, 12 lessons - 24/7 learning - Ope n t o any one !— Page 26
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Exceed Magazine July 2010
Departments
Home & Family
Keeping Family Travel Fun , Affordable and St ressFree
A few p ie ce s of adv ice t o can make y our next v acation relax ing a nd af fo rdab le - a nd a b last for your wh o le f am ily.
— Page 12
Educat ion & Care er
So, Do You Know Your Worth?
You would be shock ed if y ou k new the actual d ollar v alue your e mp loy er p laces on your job and more imp ort antly... YOU! —Page 14
Business & Finance
7 Time Management T ips For Small Business Owners
Busy busine ss ow ner s ev erywhe re find t hemse lves working longer and longe r hour s to manage their companies and ke ep the ir busine sses afloat in a shaky economy. T hese 7 t ip s, if follow ed consiste nt ly, w ill he lp you accomplish all of y our task s and maybe eve n leave y ou w it h a litt le t ime le ft f or your se lf at t he end of the week. — Page 1 6
Mind & Body
Five Steps to Ensure a H ealth Crisis Doesn't Mean Financial Ruin
A ser ious long-t erm illne ss or d isability can hav e a d evastating, often irr eversible, affect on a family 's financial we ll -being. But there a few things you can do to prevent this from ruining your financial w ell-be ing. — Page 18
Spir it & Soul
Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow
A c los er, in-dept h look at t hese w is e w or ds fr om E in ste in, and practical insig ht on how to app ly them today. —Page 20
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Editor’s Message
What Are You Willing to Do?
Do you look back on the past few years and wonder, "how did I get here?" Do you wonder why success or money or relationships seem so easy for some people...but not for you? Do you suspect that you're not living your dreams? Do you sometimes feel adrift? Or like you're spinning your wheels? You're not alone! And, you don’t have struggle alone. We all lead such busy, demanding lives. It's too easy to put ourselves and our own needs (and even our own lives) last, and silently drift into dissatisfaction. So my question for you is, what are you willing to do about it? I encourage you to sit back evaluate where you are RIGHT NOW, and then visualize where you would like to be this time, next year . How will you get there? Do you need to save more money? Take a class? Do you need to forgive someone who has hurt you in the past? Do you need to exercise more? The truth is: Something is holding you back and it’s up to YOU to determine what it is, and work through it. But are you WILLING? In order for change to take place, you have to be agreeable, ready to take the next step. I recently had my granddaughter over for a weekend. She was just learning how to walk, and just like any other toddler, she was eager to get on the floor and do it. So I obliged her. We were upstairs so I took her by the hand and began walking in the hallway with her. We came to the top of the stairs and she got so excited, she took a step down. No hesitation, no fear, no thoughts about falling and no questions about her ability to do it. Just the determination to get to the next step. She wanted to go. So we did it, together. We ended up downstairs, and then back upstairs about two or three times before she decided to move on. When it comes to reaching our goals in life, we have to have that SAME sense of determination, BUT we also have to be WILLING to take the steps to get there! Baby steps if necessary. And sometimes, we even have to solicit the assistance of someone who is able to help guide you. Maybe someone who has already been where you are today, and can provide the support you need to get you to your next level of achievement. You know what you want. So, I challenge you this month to reach out to someone who will partner with you to take those steps to get it. Whether it be a financial coach, an exercise buddy or a spiritual mentor...decide today what change you want to see in your life, and make the call. The next step is right there. Are you willing to take it?
Katrena Patterson Founder & Editor Exceed Magazine www.exceedmagonline.com
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JULY 2010
PUBLISHER
Dennis Smith Communications, LLC PO Box 42455 Philadelphia, PA 19101
PRESIDENT/FOUNDER/EDITOR
Katrena Patterson Blackson
VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING
Michael A. Blackson, Sr.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Robert Prodigy Photography Hunt 4 Photos Special Thanks to Fotolia
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jason Dick Barry R Parker Mike Weaver Elliot Zovighian Special Thanks to ARA Content
EXCEED MAGAZINE
is published monthly by Dennis Smith Communications, LLC PO Box 42455 Philadelphia, PA 19101
Contents © 2010. All rights reserved. No part of the magazine may reprinted in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher.
Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher.
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Exceed Profile
Visionary in Motion
A One on One with
ISAAC HAMM
Founder of IM3 Media
By Katrena Patterson Blackson
You can see the passion and excitement in Isaac Hamm’s eyes, as he paints a vivid picture of his vision for you. As a lifelong student of the music industry, with more than a decade of experience under his belt, this young man has a great deal of insight to share, a heart to serve and the determination to make his vision come to pass. I had the pleasure of sitting with “Ike” to talk about his vision, his goals and his plans. After seeing him in action, there’s NO doubt in my mind—he’s making his mark and MOVING FORWARD. Get ready. Isaac Hamm is a name that you WILL hear and respect for years to come.
EM: How long have you been interested in the music industry? IH: I have had always had a general interest in the entertainment industry, particularly television. I had planned to become a producer. However it wasn’t until I attended college that I became fascinated with the music business. I knew I had found my niche. EM: How did you get started in the business of artist management and promotion? IH: While attending college I secured an internship with radio station 103.9, now known as 100.3 The Beat. The experience I gained was invaluable. The classroom was no match for what I learned on the job. One of the things I noticed the most was that many artists did not have formal representation and that they lacked knowledge. I quickly learned that while an artists’ talent may be undeniable without proper packaging and a solid, sensible marketing plan they may as well be performing in their bedrooms. I saw a lot of artists, new and established, who struggled and it bothered me. As a result, New Artist Spotlight was founded in 2001. My first client was “Young Sir”, host of the now -defunct BET television show, The Center. EM: What kinds of challenges have you had with building your business?
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IH: My initial challenge was credibility. I was so much younger than most of my peers and I needed a start so I sought to be mentored by more experienced promoters who I respected. However, that was an exercise in frustration but that’s not necessarily a negative. Philly will let you know quick that you must show and prove before anybody takes you seriously. I have been putting in work consistently over the past nine years, building relationships and establishing trust among my peers. As a young promoter and budding businessman I had to find my own way. I did not want to become known as just another party promoter; I wanted to create events and experiences with the spotlight on the artists – not me. That is what New Artist Spotlight is all about. The challenge is to remain credible and to distinguish my events in interesting ways that keeps audiences engaged. Growth comes with experience but for me longevity and relevance is the ultimate challenge. I have so much more to learn and so far to go in this business. EM: How has your business evolved since you first began? IH: I began by managing artists and moved on to host a bi-weekly R&B showcase, Hidden Soul Wednesdays. Today I’m confident enough to step out and host my first annual Black Music Month special event, “The Comeback”. It’s all about progression. EM: Who were your strongest influences growing up? IH: My sister, Cherron. She’s there for me and I trust her because she keeps it real with me. She’s smart, she understands me and she has always supported me through all the ups and downs and the outright craziness this business brings. I’m proud of her. EM: Where do you see IM3 Media and New Artist Spotlight in the future? IH: Empowerment via community activism and creative education will become key missions. I am in the preliminary stages of partnering with local non-profit organizations. There will be more to come. EM: What's your vision and ultimate goal? IH: Philanthropy and making sure that Philadelphia music lives on.
July 2010
EM: Do you see yourself expanding globally, or would you like to keep it here in the city of Philadelphia? IH: As I said earlier, it’s all about progression. The world is becoming a smaller place, and with the power of the Internet going global is technically just one click away. We are living in unprecedented times. EM: What advice do you have for people who want to enter into the music industry? IH: Stay focused; know your craft; have something to offer; do your research; and most important get your education because you’re going to need it. The complexities and highly fluid nature of the new music business model considers demographical changes and tastes to technological advances. And that’s a simplistic view but when you think about what that all entails it becomes clear that knowledge is power. I’m not 100% sold on the phrase of “It’s not what you know, but who you know” because nowadays it’s what you know that gets you to who you know”
EM: If you could do ONE thing differently, what would it be? IH: There are many things I would change but at the same time I'm glad I went through them. Those things have got me to where I am now in my career. Who knows where or what I would be doing today. I’m still learning and ready for that next challenge life is going to throw at me. EM: We wish you MUCH success, and thank you for sharing with us! to connect with Isaac today just visit his site at www.im3media.com
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Corporate Corner
CREATING TEAM SYNERGY
3 TIPS FOR BOOSTING COOPERATION BY BUILDING TRUST
By Mike Weaver
Does your team run like a well oiled machine? When the oil pressure in your car is low, a warning light flashes and a buzzer sounds, which warns you stop the engine immediately-or risk severely damaging your engine. Just as oil keeps an engine running, trust between team members is critical to create synergy, improve collaboration, and increase productivity.
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3 vitals characteristics to foster trust and create synergy
Dependability - This morning after arriving at a local restaurant for a meeting, I sat down on a chair. I trusted inherently that the chair would hold me up when I sat down. There was never a question in my mind that the chair would do its job. Why? My past experience told me that these chairs and others chairs like it are dependable. They hadn't ever let me down. When I concluded that the chair was dependable, my trust in it, to fulfill its role, increased. Can the same be said of us? Can others depend on us consistently to follow through on what we promise? Do we show up on time? Trust between people is built when we back up our words with consistent action.
Transparency - What you see is what you get, there are no hidden agendas or secrets. There are people who may be professionally competent, but personally suspect. Secrets overshadow their life. They cloud their ability to bond completely with other team members. If we always have something to hide, we can never be fully present with team members around us. Combine professional competence and transparency, you get a trusted team member that cares for others on the team.
Likeablilty - Let's be honest, when we like the people with whom we work, we are more productive. A few weeks ago, we interviewed potential candidates for a job opening in my workplace. The decision came down to two people, both with similar work experience and skill levels. In the end, we simply liked one of the candidates more than the other. Likeability was a factor in adding her to our team. Her skill level gave us the confidence that we could entrust the work to her, but her likeability indicated to us that can actually work with her as a team member. In his book, The Likeability Factor, Tim Sanders writes, "Likeable people inspire others to give more," and "engage more deeply in conversations around projects and tasks, and people pay more attention to them...eliminating misunderstandings. Misunderstandings can be the heart of unproductive activity at work." Taking time to have lunch regularly as a team and spending time together outside the workplace increases the likeabilty factor and thereby trust between team members.
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Home & Family
SIMPLE RULES TO KEEP FAMILY TRAVEL FUN, AFFORDABLE AND STRESS-FREE
(ARA) - If you've watched any of the "Vacation" movies, you've seen what can go wrong on a family vacation. While hilarity is the end result of the mishaps in the movies, certain blunders aren't as funny in real life. Therefore, it's important to ensure that you and your children will remember your trip for the right reasons. traveling with children to go over your plan ahead of time and make them aware of it, so they know what to expect. It's also a chance to get them excited about your vacation. By sitting down and finding out the things each family member would like to do during your trip, you'll ensure everyone comes home happy. Many of your destinations may offer free travel guides that can aid in planning, which can also be found at Offers.com/travel.
By following a few pieces of advice, you can make your next vacation relaxing and affordable - and a blast for your whole family. Try these tips courtesy of website Offers.com, which specializes in aggregating the best money-saving offers for consumers and has a section dedicated specifically to travel coupons and discounts.
Travel light. Instead of cramming a stroller into your car, consider renting a stroller at the attractions you plan on visiting. When booking a hotel room, check to see if they have cribs available for your younger children. By eliminating extra items from your load, you'll keep your sanity.
Score free meals. When you're feeding a whole family, costs add up quickly. Look for hotels that offer a free breakfast so you can save on one meal each day. Many hotels now offer oatmeal, waffles, eggs and other, more kid-friendly selections, in addition to the traditional coffee and pastries. To save on other meals, it might be wise to find a hotel room with a refrigerator so you can stock up on sandwich meat and snacks.
Find kid-friendly travel. Search for travel discounts where kids fly free or for a reduced rate. In addition, especially if you have younger children who aren't used to flying, you might want to look for airlines that offer in-flight entertainment options like childfriendly movies. If you're driving, consider renting a vehicle with built-in child seats or entertainment options like a DVD player.
Choose a resort with more. Many all-inclusive resorts are especially tailored to families with children of all ages, so if your children are farther apart in age, this may be a good option. Many family-friendly resorts cater to children, tweens and teens alike with ageappropriate activities such as story time, sports and game rooms. Some also offer kids' camps so mom and dad can enjoy a little alone time.
Take advantage of coupons and deals. Since many destinations are competing for your dollar, there are plenty of deals and travel coupons to be had. When looking at booking flights or accommodations, or even restaurants once you are on the road, check for money -saving offers online before purchasing. Same goes for theme parks or other attractions you plan to visit. The easiest and fastest way to find offers is to visit a website like Offers.com, whose staff does the work for you by compiling easy-to-navigate, easy-to-search and verified and updated travel specials for you to peruse. You never know, you might even find a deal that allows you to explore an opportunity you hadn't yet thought of.
Have a plan. It's especially important when you are
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Education & Career
SO, DO YOU KNOW YOUR WORTH?
By Elliot Zovighian
Do you know what your worth is? Sure the first thing you're going to say is that you're priceless. I'm sure your mother agrees. But human resource departments have spent millions figuring out this very question. Your job has a worth. It has its threshold and its bottom. You fit somewhere in between pending your education, experience, and skill set. You would be shocked if you knew the actual dollar value your employer places on your job and more importantly... YOU! A few years ago I was on the company baseball team. I didn't have a car at the time, so I got a ride when I could with the head of our HR department. We would chat about this and that but I always brought it back as to what exactly he did and how he came to the conclusions he did concerning our company and employees. You see I had never worked in a 'corporate' environment before. I never had a 9 to 5 job. So I was intrigued about the valuation process. He said he started by comparing the position to the pay scale other companies were offering the same job. Then there was the education of the employee. Then there came the experience and tenure of the employee. Then can what other skills the employer brought to the job. An employee never really knows where he sits in the grand scheme of things. But you can do you part to make sure you're not only valuable to the company, but valuable monetarily to your bank account. Get training. Get as much training as you possibly can. Most companies offer upgrading and courses for a host if things. Take advantage of it, Most of them will be geared toward your jobs needs. Cross train if you can. You are certainly more valuable if you can do multiple things rather than one. Join committees. Join the health and safety committee or a social committee. Taking an active interest in your company's welfare will do wonders. If you want to apply for an in house job, take one that offers a promotion into a job of responsibility. Remember you don't go to work to be everyone's best friend, and knowledge doesn't pay nearly as much as responsibility. If you really want to make the big bucks at work, be a boss. Bosses may seem like they do less work but their ass in on the line if things go awry. You job will only pay so much. You have to decide if you're worth what they're willing to pay you or if you're worth more. If so, you have some tough decisions to make. If you're unsatisfied or cannot pay the bills, you may need a career change. There world is open to you if you train for it. Or you could get the ultimate pay cheque by working for yourself.
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“...Are you serious about your career?
If so, you need to get started creating a well conceived and detailed career plan.” ~ Peggy McKee, PHC Consulting
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Business & Finance
7 TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
The old adage; "Time is money", is still true today, especially in the world of the business owner. Busy business owners everywhere find themselves working longer and longer hours to manage their companies and keep their businesses afloat in a shaky economy. These 7 tips, if followed consistently, will help you accomplish all of your tasks and maybe even leave you with a little time left for yourself at the end of the week:
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1. Take advantage of the 80/20 Rule. The 80/20 rule states that 80% of your profit is derived from 20% of your products or services. Invest some time to research which of your products and services fit into the 20%, then focus most your time and effort into those. Cut back the time and resources used on the less productive 80%.
emails, even though that may be one of their lower priority items of the day. Revisit your priorities often. By prioritizing regularly, you will ensure that you are getting your most important work done, which will ease your mind and make you more productive throughout the week.
2. Learn when to say "no". Every time someone asks you to do something, consider whether or not it is a good use of your time. If it does not meet your goals, or is something that can be delegated, just say "no". Respecting your own time and setting boundaries early on will set the tone with your employees, and they will quickly learn what to ask for help with and what to handle on their own, saving you even more time later.
6. Periodic downtime and mental breaks. Schedule yourself frequent short breaks throughout the day, so you do not get bogged down. Toiling at it straight for hours at a time will cause you to tire easily, make errors, and actually slow down your overall productivity. By giving your brain space, and allowing it small breaks (maybe a brief walk outside, or a short chat with an employee) you will find yourself accomplishing more at the end of the day because you will be more refreshed during the majority of the time you are working.
3. Try not to multi-task. The legendary multi-tasking employee is still being sought after in job advertisements, and it remains a prized skill in America's corporate culture. However, numerous recent studies have shown that multi-tasking is not as efficient as moving sequentially from one task to the next and maintaining your focus. Multi-tasking will actually drain your energy level, and is more likely to cause errors in your work, which only increase the time it takes to complete tasks.
7. Consider outsourcing. Chances are there are several tasks you perform throughout your day that are not the core focus of your business. Some of these tasks may slow you down, frustrate you and eat up your time because they are not your particular areas of expertise. Outsourcing certain functions to a managed services company will free you up to do what you do best, while providing expertise and experience in those areas where you are not an expert.
4. Set time limits for tasks. One example would be sending and receiving email messages. Many business owners received hundreds of emails a day. If you limit yourself to say, one hour a day of handling email messages, and prioritizing them based on importance; you will have more time to manage your business. Also, if a lot of communication is needed, consider talking on the phone or meeting briefly in person. This could save you a lot of time versus crafting a lengthy email, then waiting for a response, etc...
There is nothing like the independence, challenge and freedom associated with owning your own business. However, if you are not careful, it can end up consuming all of your time and leaving you feeling exhausted. Try following these 7 tips for increased peace of mind, more energy, and extra time.
About the Author Jason Dick is a certified technical specialist with an internet marketing background. He currently writes original content containing tips for business owners on both general and technical topics. Northwest Computer Support is a one-stop IT services provider helping businesses in the Northwest manage their IT needs since 1977. They are truly a comprehensive IT solutions provider with services ranging from Green IT and SharePoint to management consulting, help desk, and network management. Visit http://www.nwcsupport.com for an overview of their entire menu of IT services.
5. Prioritize Everything. Rank your activities on a daily basis as to their importance, and tackle the most important activities during the times of the day you are at your most productive. For instance, many executives find the morning the most productive time of the day. Yet, some spend much of their morning catching up on
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Mind & Body
FIVE STEPS TO ENSURE A HEALTH CRISIS DOESN'T MEAN FINANCIAL RUIN
(ARA) - A serious long-term illness or disability can have a devastating, often irreversible, affect on a family's financial well-being. In fact, health care expenses are among the most common cause of bankruptcies, according to findings published in the "American Journal of Medicine" last year.
Most people are not financially prepared to have their employment interrupted, even briefly. For example, studies find more than 60 percent of workers live paycheck to paycheck. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the personal savings rate in March was just 2.7 percent of after-tax income. According to Gada, seeking help is essential. "Many people are afraid and overwhelmed. Asking for help is a sign of strength and being your own best advocate can help you feel more in control."
Among the first steps people with serious health conditions or their caregivers should take quickly are:
* Create a financial plan. The plan should focus on establishing a budget and making certain you are spending down your assets in the least harmful way. Generally, this means using your savings or other resources before withdrawing from retirement accounts that could trigger a penalty or using high interest-rate credit, which could have you paying off interest for years.
So, what can you do to ease the financial risks if you are one of the millions who must stop working each year because of a serious health condition?
"First, have hope, because there are things you can do to take control," says Paul Gada, personal finance director for the Allsup Disability Life Planning Center. Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation and Medicare plan selection services.
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Unfortunately, approximately 15 percent of people awaiting SSDI report raiding their retirement savings. Additionally, 17 percent are relying on their credit cards and 7 percent on home equity lines of credit to meet financial needs until they receive their SSDI benefits, according to the Allsup Disability Finance online poll. The poll was conducted online this spring with 138 respondents.
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* Contact your mortgage company or landlord. As part of this, identify housing assistance programs. For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has programs to assist with mortgage modifications, as well as rental assistance that can lower housing costs drastically. However, there are waiting lists, so it's important to sign up as soon as possible.
"People are often reluctant to reach out to their mortgage company or their landlord, they start missing payments, and the foreclosure or eviction process starts before they finally explain the situation," says Gada. "By that time, it may be too late."
* Seek assistance with utilities, food and other necessities. Conserve your resources by finding assistance to help you cope. Hundreds of federal, local and private resources are available in most communities. These can range from neighborhood food pantries to federally funded programs, such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Local phone companies provide reduced-rate support for home phone service. Associations such as the American Cancer Society and the National Family Caregiver Association also offer guidance.
Many more people indicate they are considering assistance than are actually securing this assistance, according to an Allsup poll. They may not understand how to apply or they may not meet the income thresholds initially, but could later on as they spend down their assets.
"It can be overwhelming and people too often give up," explains Gada, adding that Allsup offers links to many of these resources from its website.
* Secure health care coverage. Continuing medical treatment is vital. Among the options are COBRA through your former employer, a spouse's plan or other private coverage, such as through the health insurance exchanges being established as part of the health care legislation enacted earlier this year. Compare plans closely to make sure you are getting the coverage needed and that you understand the costs. Additionally, if you must take expensive prescription drugs, check if the pharmaceutical company offers a prescription-drug assistance program.
* Pursue income sources, including SSDI. If you have paid into the Social Security Disability Insurance program, you may be eligible for benefits. If you are eligible, it's essential to apply quickly as it can take up to two years or more to be approved. Gada advises seeking help with your SSDI application to speed the process. For example, people with disabilities represented by Allsup are significantly more likely to receive SSDI benefits at the initial level.
"It's heartbreaking to hear of people with serious illnesses and disabilities unable to work and struggling month after month to pay for food or medical costs until they're financially wiped out," says Gada. "It shouldn't be that way. There are steps people can take, but they need to ask for help and know how to get it."
More information on financial assistance is available at www.Allsup.com or (800) 279-4357.
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Spirit & Soul
Learn From Yesterday, Live For Today, Hope For Tomorrow
By Barry R Parker
The above title is a quote by Einstein, and it is, indeed, excellent advice. Einstein was, of course, one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, if not the greatest. Much of modern physics is based on his discoveries. In later life, however, he also became a philosopher of considerable importance, and he gave us a lot of useful information about life. His quotes are seen everywhere. The above quote can be generalized to: Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, Hope for the Future. And if you do each of these, you will, indeed, be much happier.
What do we mean by each of the above statements? Let's look at them in turn.
Learn from Yesterday We should, indeed, learn from the past -- particularly from the mistakes we have made in the past. We certainly don't want to make the same mistakes again. But we also don't want to spend a lot of time thinking about these mistakes; they're over and done, and there's nothing we can do about them except learn form them. So don't continue to rehash them, and don't become obsessed with them. If you do, they could become a source of frustration, and they could make you fearful of failure in the future. In short, they could make you very insecure, and this is, of course, something you don't want. So learn from them, and forget them.
It is, of course, okay to think about the past occasionally, savoring some of the joys you have experienced, but you should return to the present as quickly as possible. Don't develop a nostalgia for the past. This is a common fault with many people; they daydream about how happy their past life was, and how dull and humdrum their present life is. Maybe your past life was better in some respects, but too many people magnify the happiness of their past life and forget about the struggles and sorrows they experienced. If your present life appears to be dull compared to your past life, it's up to you to make it better.
Don't keep longing for the past, Today is much more important. It's the present -- what's happening now -and you should make the most of it.
Live for Today Enjoy the day you're living in. Wake up in the morning with confidence, and a feeling that the day is going to be the best you have ever experienced. One of the best ways to do this is to relax and live each day as if it were your last.
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Pure joy, pure calm & pure bliss all come from paying attention to the simple moments.
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July 2010
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Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow
(Continued from page 20)
Dale Carnegie encourages everyone to live in "Day-tight compartments." And it's the best advice anyone could give you. As he says, " Half the beds in our hospitals are reserved for patients with nervous and mental troubles, patients who have collapsed under the crushing burden of accumulated yesterdays and fearful tomorrows. Yet a vast majority of these people would be walking the streets today, leading happy, useful lives, if they had heeded the words... "Live in day-tight compartments."
In other words: Shut off the past. Shut off the future. Live for today! This doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare for the future; it means you should not have any anxiety about the future. If you fret and worry about the future continuously, you could end up in the nuthouse.
So live one day at a time. Think of each new day as a new adventure -- a new life. Tell yourself that it's going to be the best day of your life. One of the major tragedies of many peoples life is that they keep putting things off. In particular, they put life itself off. They're always telling themselves that life will be better -- after they marry, when they retire, and so on. And as they wait, life passes, and suddenly they discover that it has left them behind. They have forgotten, or perhaps never learned, how to enjoy life, or maybe they've been too busy and haven't had enough time. Life is in the living, and it's important to learn this. "Today is our most important possession. Don't throw it away. Cherish it. Live it. Enjoy it!"
Our happiness and peace of mind are determined, to a large degree, in how efficiently we shut out yesterday and tomorrow. Most of your thinking should therefore be directed at what you will be doing between now and when you go to bed.
Happy people don't allow past failures and problems, or worries about the future, to plague them day after day. If you do, you will likely end up depressed, anxious and frustrated, and that's no way to live. Remember that today is the most important day of your life. So when you begin drifting into the past or future, bring yourself back to the present as quickly as possible.
Hope for Tomorrow It's not that the future is unimportant. It is, and you should prepare for it. Prepare for it, but don't be anxious about it, and don't worry needlessly about it. Life is full of problems related to the future: financial problems, worries over your health, worries about getting old. Some of these will come to pass (such as growing old), but many of them will remain nothing more than worries.
So force yourself to remain optimistic about the future, and the best way to do this is to foster hope. Never lose hope; hope encourages you to set goals and strive to accomplish them. It makes you optimistic and gives you faith in the future; it's the thing that spurs you on. It makes you dream of better things, and it makes you feel good.
Anxiety, on the other hand, depresses and frustrates you. And it can easily get out of control. Anxiety feeds on anxiety -- it's a vicious circle. So get rid of it as quickly as possible, and the way to do this is to fight against all negative feelings and negative thoughts related to the future. Don't be fearful of the future -- look forward to it.
About the Author Barry Parker, Ph. D., is a professor emeritus (physics) at Idaho State University. He is the author of 25 books on science, health, writing, and music. His website is http://BarryParkerbooks.com and he has several blogs, one of them is at http://Barrysbuzz123.blogspot.com. He has done research in biophysics (mutations in the DNA molecule) and in relativity theory (Einstein's field theory), has a strong interest in health and fitness, self-improvement, and in music (particularly piano). He taught a writing class at ISU for several years. One of his recent books is "Feel Great Feel Alive."
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Community Cares
July is Hemochromatosis Screening Awareness Month
What is hemochromatosis? Hemochromatosis occurs when the body absorbs too much iron from foods (and other sources such as vitamins containing iron). This disease causes extra iron to gradually build up in the body’s tissues and organs, a term called iron overload. If this iron buildup is untreated, it can, over many years, damage the body’s organs.
What are the causes? Although hemochromatosis can have other causes, in the United States the disease is usually caused by a genetic disorder. A person who inherits the defective gene from both parents may develop hemochromatosis. The genetic defect of hemochromatosis is present at birth, but symptoms rarely appear before adulthood. Because one inherits genes from his or her parents, this type of the disease is also called hereditary hemochromatosis.
What are the symptoms? Early indications of hemochromatosis include the following symptoms: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Fatigue (feeling very tired) Weakness Weight loss Abdominal pain Joint pain
Because these symptoms also occur with other diseases, hemochromatosis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages.
How is it detected? The iron overload associated with hemochromatosis can be detected through two blood tests. The tests measure how much iron is in the body. You can have these tests done in your doctor’s office.
If hemochromatosis is detected early, treatment can slow its progress and prevent serious problems. However, if the disease is not detected and treated early, it can cause more serious problems. These problems include arthritis, heart problems, and liver problems (such as cirrhosis and liver cancer).
What is the treatment? Treatment consists of periodically taking blood from the arm, much like giving blood. The treatment is safe and effective. Patients can expect a normal life span if they start treatment before organ damage has begun.
To get more information about hemochromatosis and its treatment visit the Hemochromatosis Information Center at http://www.hemochromatosis.org
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EM: How long have you been interested in the music industry? IH: I have had always had a general interest in the entertainment industry, particularly television. I had planned to become a producer. However it wasn’t until I attended college that I became fascinated with the music business. I knew I had found my niche. EM: How did you get started in the business of artist management and promotion? IH: While attending college I secured an internship with radio station 103.9, now known as 100.3 The Beat. The experience I gained was invaluable. The classroom was no match for what I learned on the job. One of the things I noticed the most was that many artists did not have formal representation and that they lacked knowledge. I quickly learned that while an artists’ talent may be undeniable without proper packaging and a solid, sensible marketing plan they may as well be performing in their bedrooms. I saw a lot of artists, new and established, who struggled and it bothered me. As a result, New Artist Spotlight was founded in 2001. My first client was “Young Sir”, host of the now-defunct BET television show, The Center.
Your water is vital to your home and your health.
You rely on it for cooking and cleaning, washing and bathing, drinking and nourishing.
When you think about all of the ways water touches our lives, you see why it’s so important that we make sure that water is as clean as it can be.
Find out how a Culligan water system will deliver better drinking EM: What kinds of challenges have you had with and working water throughout your home. building your business?
IH: My initial challenge was credibility. I was so much younger than most of my peers and I needed a start so I sought to be mentored by more experienced promoters who I respected. However, that was an exercise in frustration but that’s not necessarily a negative. Philly will let you know quick that you must show and prove before anybody takes you seriously. I have been putting in work consistently over the past nine years, building relationships and establishing trust among my peers. As a young promoter and budding businessman I had to find my own way. I did not want to become known as just another party promoter; I wanted to create events and experiences with the spotlight on the artists – not me. That is what New Artist Spotlight is all about. The challenge is to remain credible and to distinguish my events in interesting ways that keeps audiences engaged. Growth comes with experience but for me longevity and relevance is the ultimate challenge. I have so much more to learn and so far to go in this business.
July 2010
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iExceed Register
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments."
-Jim Rohn
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