Sunday, August 31, 2008

Pre-inspection urged before sale

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080831/LIFE08/808310423/


August 31, 2008
Pre-inspection urged before sale
By Ellen S. WilkoweGannett News Service

Two cracked rafters, the central air conditioning that "worked fine last summer" and the hot water heater approaching its golden years.

Home sellers beware. Come closing, these are just some items that can make or break a deal, especially if found during the buyer's inspection, a little too little, a little too late.

As home sales have declined, this may be a good time for sellers to invest in a pre-inspection.

So what exactly constitutes a pre-inspection?

Consider it the prequel to the buyer inspection, a preparatory move on the seller's side to find out the true value of the home before listing it. This also may buy the seller time to fix any problems that surface.

One homeowner's comfort may register as a potential buyer's complaint.

"When you're living in a home you get used to things," says Sergio Angione of Towaco, N.J., a home inspector with the HouseMaster home inspection franchise. "For example, a buyer might say, 'Why should we have to press the garage door opener twice to open it?' "

Inspections often reveal something seemingly as trivial as a garage door opener quirk to more pressing issues often undetected by homeowners - such as cracked rafters in the attic or termite damage.

Depending on the size of the structure, a standard inspection can take from 1½ to 3 hours and cost $300 to $500, Angione says.

The inspector conducts a visual evaluation and provides written documentation on the following:

Heating system.

Central air conditioning system (temperature permitting).

Interior plumbing and electrical systems.

Roof, attic and visible insulation.

Walls, ceilings, floors windows and door.

Foundation, basement and visible structure.

Built-in major appliances.

The inspector may recommend and arrange for additional services such as septic and well evaluations, pool or lawn sprinkler inspections, and radon testing.

With the buyer in the driver's seat, the concept of pre-inspections is earning endorsements from real estate agents.

In parts of New Jersey saturated with septic tanks and private wells, seller-initiated inspections garnered the support of Linda McCullough, a broker with Re/Max Classic Group in West Milford.

Pre-inspections also instill confidence in the seller, McCullough says. "It's really a marketing tool."

HouseMaster can affix a pre-inspected logo to the online listing and post a sign on the lawn and tent cards throughout the home alerting buyers and agents that a pre-inspection report is available.

When it comes down to the wire, the seller can use the pre-inspection report as a bargaining tool much as the buyer does when hiring a home inspector.

"It's better to work out the deficiencies and address the issues than turn off a buyer," says Bret Kaufmann, treasurer of the Garden State Chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors. "Some of these issues homeowners are unaware of and would likely address anyway."

Heating and air conditioning exhaust, mold-causing plumbing problems, and roof leaks are common problems that often surface as a result of an inspection, says Kaufmann.

Larry Shideler
Customer Loyalty Manager
Lshide37@aol.com
513-405-4773 Cell
Inspection Plus, LTD.
5381 Autumnwood Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
513-793-3552 Office Phone
www.inspectionplus.us

Friday, August 29, 2008

Never, Ever, Ever...Give UP!





View Greg Fowler's profile on LinkedIn

Hi to all TBN members! First, I would like to say that I have been accused of getting my ideas from others, i.e. like Winston Churchill, and I have to admit that I do. One of my favorites is Winston Churchill. I truly love to read about the man and how he was able to overcome the Germans during WWII. It truly inspires me and my business. I have a quote on my wall that I read every single day of my life "Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasism." Hmm...Clay Maybe I need to learn from the experts, but just to let you know I did it on purpose...the misspelling that it is..Here is why: Entrepenuers are not worried about the details, but getting business period! This is my great and positive plug for Clay...the greatest people in the world were never ever great at what they did, but were able to capitalize on the OPPORTUNITY! We all rag on each other about misspellings and the such, but to put together a wonderful organization, such as TBN, couldn't have happen without Clayton Hicks! My Kudos goes to him and all the members!


Now to what I would like to say....which I should have said today at the meeting...but I didn't want to take Clayton's....Spotlight? Back to Winston...I always like to quote one of my favorites, ole' Winston Churchill....I have learned a lot from reading about the man. (I have read many books.) As you may know, he was a great man, one that had childhood problems, made fun of, a lot of difficulties in life with people. However, I love to remind people that he gave a wonderful speech to a group of college graduates after WWII. While sitting at the speech that he was invited to, he sat very quite and listened intensively to the group of people, and didn't say a word, but just sat in his chair to listen. If you know anything about the man he listened intensively to those around him (probably one of the reasons he was a winner in the end), but to get to the point he had his turn to give his speech...and when it was his turn to come he didn't go to the podium, but sat up and said 'Never, ever, ever, ever, GIVE UP!' and sat back down and listened....and being Winston he watched the reaction to the people around him. My point being while working in business, ALL of us, (We) are the Winston Churchill's, we are the odd characters of the world, we are the stand out's that yell....what makes me different than my competitor?...but not all want to listen or take HEED!

Clay, My Kudos goes to you and the TBN Board and Members....

Whoever stands will succeed!

Call me if you have the gumption! I will make your business grow!

Greg Fowler

Executive Strategist

AmCorp Management, Inc.

859-653-3638

Never ever, ever give up!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Keepin' it REAL Estate Title Issues / closing becomes a challenge

Keepin' it REAL Estate Title Issues - closing becomes a challenge

I know I’ve written on this topic a couple of times, but lately everything seems to have a title issue. I cannot stress enough the importance of getting an owners title policy when you close. I’ve seen way too many bad title issues. My most recent adventure is in the form of mistakes on an original deed, which reeks havoc on an up coming closing.

Here is a short synopsis:
2 plots of land divided and deeded out to one owner. Owner goes to sell these two parcels. One parcel sells and the title company notices that the addresses are flip flopped on the deed (wrong address for each parcel). We get it fixed, no problems and we close. Next parcel sells and tries to close. New title company notices that the first parcel to sell actually got recorded as the 2nd property! Yikes. Upon further investigation, it doesn’t look so simple. Looks like the new deed to get recorded is correct (description, etc). Just so happens that an engineer who verified the deed was going off the old original deed and not on the most recent corrected changes!

Phone calls have been made and issue will hopefully get resolved. Mean while I’ve got a buyer who’s rate expires and has a moving truck and no home to call his own….

You can bet I’ve done all but forced him to purchase an owners policy. Its still not corrected, but it should be. We shall see.

Imagine if these things never were noticed. When ever these new owners of these houses would go to sell, the problem could be uncovered and then they’d be paying lawyers expenses to try and rectify it for themselves. Lots of billed hours at high prices. Don’t you wish you had an owners policy?

Larry Shideler
Customer Loyalty Manager
Lshide37@aol.com
513-405-4773 Cell
Inspection Plus, LTD.
5381 Autumnwood Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
513-793-3552 Office Phone
www.inspectionplus.us

Monday, August 25, 2008

Awesome Job Nick, Card by Design







View Greg Fowler's profile on LinkedIn
I want to personally thank Nick for a job well done. You have to see my before and after. Thanks, Nick!

Now if there is anyone out there that would like some money back into their pocket or increase their operating capital please let me know. You may be able to pay off a credit card, go out to dinner for the year, or if you are real lucky, you might get yourself a new car? The greatest part about my business if we can't help you, it will not cost you a penny!

Greg Fowler
Executive Strategist
AmCorp Management, Inc.
859-653-3638

Membership

We realize there are many networking groups in the Greater Cincinnati area to choose from. One being ours. We have heard that we are just another social networking group, WE ARE, to a point. We do allow 5 minte commercials to members and 1 presenter for the last week of the month for general information.

We email to well over 3,000 people once per week. Last Tuesday when I sent the usual email out, we had an unusual 20% open rate within 12 hours. That is pretty impressive for a group that has only been around since April 8.

Now, I realize that not everyone understands how to blog on here, it took me a couple of tries before I got the hang of it. Just follow what it says to do is all I can really tell you, it isn't that difficult. Blogging is the new way of marketing yourself on the internet!

Rules for blogging:
1. Become a TBN Member, once I have your application with check in hand, I will send you and email to confirm you want to become an author.
2. Follow the steps it gives you to create an account
3. Start blogging, I would not suggest more than twice per week.

Happy Blogging and see you at the meetings
Clayton R. Hicks
937-671-6238

Thursday, August 21, 2008

100 Percent Performance Based Business




View Greg Fowler's profile on LinkedIn



Have you always thought that you may have been overcharged? But you didn’t know how much?
Did you know that over 300 billion dollars is lost annually through companies being unknowingly overcharged?
94% of all service bills contain errors
92% of all tax payments contain errors
85% of all AmCorp Qualified Clients Receive Significant Financial Gains through Refunds, Credits, and Savings.
Who is overcharging you?
Telecom? Income Taxes? Gas Company? Corporate Taxes? Worker’s Compensation? Office Lease? Electric Company? ??????
AmCorp Management knows your company is being overcharged, but by who? And how much are they overcharging you? You will never know unless we look.
If you found out that you were being overcharged 10, 20, even $50,000 a year would you like to know?
And if we found you $20,000, $50,000, or even $100,000, would you want your money back?
If we found your company $200,000, $300,000 or even $1,000,000 would you want that money back as well?

The next part is the greatest part about our business!
AmCorp Management and their Team of Examiners and Auditors will review your records at our expense.
If we are unable to Identify, Recover, and/or Save you money, our service is FREE!
NO FINANCIAL GAIN, NO FEE, NO EXCEPTION
That is the greatest part about our business!
If we do produce financial gains, our fees range from 35% to 50% of the financial benefit you receive.
100 % PERFORMANCE BASE SERVICES
There is not a fairer offer in business!
Greg Fowler
AmCorp Executive Strategist
859-653-3638 Cell
Go To: www.amcorpmanagement.com/gfowler to see your company’s potential financial benefit.
All you have to lose is money!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Social Network as a Career Safety Net

From the NY Times 8/14/08
By Sarah Jane Tribble, NY Times
Posted By Barbie Doran, Relevant Works

IF you have avoided social-networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook with the excuse that they are the domain of desperate job hunters or attention-seeking teenagers, it’s time to reconsider.
In a world of economic instability and corporate upheaval, savvy professionals like the technology consultant Josh So epitomize the benefits of brushing up your online image and keeping it polished.
When Mr. So, a 32-year-old from Dublin, Calif., learned he had 45 days to find a new job before his company eliminated his division, he turned to friends online.
Within hours of updating his job status on the social-networking site LinkedIn, Mr. So won four job interviews through his contacts there. Within a week, two of the interviews resulted in offers. And within less than a month, his employer counteroffered with a position in another division and a $25,000 bump in his annual salary.
The old business adage that it’s not what you know but who you know takes a twist in the Internet era: it’s what you know about social-networking sites that can get you ahead.
“Build your own inner circle of people you know are good — people you know will get you places,” Mr. So said.
While it lacks the glamour of more popular sites like MySpace and Facebook, LinkedIn “is the place to be,” said the JupiterResearch media analyst Barry Parr, if you want to make professional contacts online. LinkedIn is a “Chamber of Commerce mixer,” he said.
LinkedIn has more than 25 million members, and it is adding new ones at the rate of 1.2 million a month — or about one new networker every two seconds.
With that kind of mass demographic, LinkedIn is hard to ignore. But with that kind of scale, can it be useful? It can be if you use it judiciously.
LinkedIn is intended to appeal to its average user: the 41-year-old white-collar professional with an income of $109,000 a year. User pages are spare: a brief professional summary, a photo and a résumé.
As you create your network, the site shows you people you may know through past jobs or educational institutions. (Facebook also suggests contacts, but it starts with lists from your e-mail or instant messaging accounts.)
And there is a search function so you can find people you don’t know but would like to — for instance, at a company where you want a job.
You might be shy about calling or e-mailing people you have neglected, but the social-networking sites let you avoid that. You are simply renewing the connection when you add a contact.
Bernard Lunn, a Web technology entrepreneur in New York, describes LinkedIn as the ultimate Rolodex.
“I’m no spring chicken,” said Mr. Lunn, 53. “I’ve been in business for almost 30 years. I had lost touch with a lot of people and had spent time in different industries.”
The Web site did the work of finding people for him, providing a list of likely connections by searching its own database of people who had overlapped with him at past jobs. All Mr. Lunn had to do was review the list and select contacts he wanted to add to his network.
“Some of them are now doing very useful jobs,” he said.
That’s the point. You don’t have to fear you’ll be perceived as using them; they are on the site for the same reason. They might well intend to use you.
Even so, don’t go crazy trying to connect with everyone you brushed past in the hallway 20 years ago, or friends of friends. Too many people can weaken your network.
“We try to discourage promiscuous linking,” said Kay Luo, a spokeswoman for LinkedIn.
But don’t be afraid to network strategically. You want to connect to people who can get you jobs. “People usually invite up — people above them in hierarchy,” said Ms. Luo. “When you’re talking about a professional network, quality is so important.”
So if the No. 1 tactic is to connect with people who are useful and successful, how do you make sure you’re one of their worthy connections? There are a few helpful approaches.
Ask for recommendations. Mr. So, who so quickly parlayed his connections into job offers, said that having updated recommendations with his résumé on LinkedIn was crucial to being noticed.
“The only way to get recommendations is to go out and ask for it,” Mr. So said. “It’s kind of a weird system. I typically go to my bosses and peers and say, ‘Do you mind?’ ”
The flipside of that system is that it behooves you to be generous. Jeremiah K. Owyang, senior analyst at Forrester Research, has watched the growth of online social media since 2005 and advises social-networking users to follow an 80-20 rule. “Give information and answer questions 80 percent of the time, and 20 percent of the time ask for help,” he said.
When a contact asks for a recommendation, write it graciously and promptly. If you think that person isn’t worth a recommendation, think again about being connected to that person.
And remember the other social-networking sites. If LinkedIn is the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, then Facebook is the after-hours party (and MySpace is the all-night rave, which may make trolling for business connections there a bit trying). “Facebook seems a more natural way of communicating,” said Debra Aho Williamson, senior analyst for eMarketer in Seattle. “LinkedIn seems more formal.”
Facebook, which began in 2004 as a way for college students to communicate, has more than 80 million active users. The fastest-growing segment is now those 25 years old and older, according to the company.
The site makes it easy to carry on a casual conversation or ask group questions. The easiest way to use it professionally is to join your employer’s network. And it helps to post interesting links that are relevant to your job.
The site features classified ads in the Facebook Marketplace, and there are job-hunting applications on the site, like Jobster. There are also tools for building a professional profile or online business cards. And you can use one of a handful of applications, liked LinkedIn Contacts, to connect your Facebook profile to LinkedIn.
But the social ease of Facebook makes it easy to look frivolous, all of the experts warned. If you tend to overshare, people in your network will quickly learn about the breakup of your marriage or your love of Jell-O shots. (Facebook now offers fine-tuned privacy settings, on the upper right side of the home page.)
So perhaps the best tip of all for online social networking would be: Keep the social separate from the networking. END


The TRISTATE BUSINESS NETWORK is listed as a group on Linked In.
Click on a members profilE to join the TRISTATE BUSINESS NETWORK and get connected in the Greater Cincinnati, Middletown and Dayton Area! Get to a meeting or get online!

Contact me if you have any questions:
Barbie Doran
Business Development Director
Relevant Works
22 Whitney Drive * Milford OH 45150Office
513.248.7610 ext 104
www.RelevantWorks.com
Linked In Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/a4/192

Monday, August 18, 2008

I, personally, have seen many members growing through the meetings and this blog. We have a new item out there and it is our group on Yahoo over on the right-hand side of this blog. Have you been there, yet?

Well, I am going to give you a background of why we are where we are today.

I first want to thank all board members for supporting me through forming the group through development and keeping it a well oiled machine.

THANK YOU! The board members are the right-hand side of the blog, you should thank them also for all there hard work and support.

This group was just a figment of my imagination in March. It all started at Kona Bistro in Oakley. Trey Nieman had a little group running there that was all based around MLM. (my intentions are harmless, Trey) To me, I thought the city needed something new coming from the Team United days (again, my intentions were just for example) That group was fantastic, the founders worked really hard in a "unbecoming" dismal, real estate market. I took notice last year, when I couldn't even stand up in front of people. I have always been a "people watcher" that is where I do my most creative "thinking". Yes, I have talked about myself just a little.

Well, because they had such a great group of people I wanted to do the same thing for the city. I saw the opportunity to do something "great" and I have now succeeded at doing so. I am not the greatest writer in the world you will hav to excuse me for any errors, please.

My success was not built on nothing else but desire, execution, and perserverance. Do any of you have these criteria? If you do, then you will understand what I am talking about. When we first met at the Bistro, there were 6 of us. Yeah, I know that is a small number, but there were some big hearts in the room.

At first, we talked about building a website, maybe charging 200 dollars per year with a referral system involved. Well, that moved on a long to starting up the email blast to all the contacts that I had and all the contacts Larry had. To speed this along:

We now have 2900 contacts on the blast.

I changed from building a normal directory to blogging, isn't is great?

But, I wanted to bring somthing to this city it hadn't seen before - a networking group that was run by the members and moderated by the Founder(to keep the junk out).

It is what it is now: We have the ability to advertise our companies to the group (through our Yahoo group), which the emails have to come from you the member. We have the ability to put our thoughts out to the members through blogging(that is what I am doing now) We can go to 8 groups per week to get the face time with everyone. And last but not least, we are growing by 5 paying members per week. Oh yeah, the cost: $100 per year.

I hope everyone is having a great time going to the meetings, building relationships out there. And I hope that every one's businesses are growing.

If you want to be apart of something great, be apart of this!

Thanks,

President and Founder
Clayton R. Hicks

The "Art" of Business


Have you ever seen the raw materials used by an artist? They don't look like much until the work has begun. Just like the artist, when you begin to create your own business model it figuratively resembles the globs of paint, undefined slab of clay or untouched block of stone. All the proper materials may be assembled and ready for you to create your 'masterpiece', but unless you are willing to "roll up your sleeves", your artistic vision will be forever locked within those raw components. Only when you truly begin to commit effort to the project will your creation begin to take shape.

During the course of developing your work of art, the project is certain to take on a different appearance than originally thought. That is quite natural and is to be expected. Whether by accident (a slip of the chisel) or by intent (a different vision of the final product), it has happened to virtually all of the masters.

The bottom line is that, a painting does not apply the strokes to the canvas, a statue does not carve its own shape and the clay cannot mold itself. As with art and in business, your finished work will be determined in a large part to the effort applied to it by you. Your masterpiece is yet to be defined by the skillful hands that guide it. What it will represent to the world is an exciting challenge that faces every artist.

To the unveiling of your success.
Greg Fowler
AmCorp Executive Strategist
859-653-3638

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Would you work for 2000 dollars an hour?


Dear Taxpayer, (Kendra)

For the diligent, the IRS allows amended returns for three years. This gives people and businesses the opportunity to take advantage of those qualified and/or missed deductions and exclusions, as well as, establishing new tax patterns for the future.
AmCorp Management, Inc. is the nation’s leading tax recovery specialist. We have helped our clients recover over $700,000,000 and have been in the business for over 19 years. Our tax examiners are simply the best at what they do, they each have one specialty and that is where they focus their attention.
AmCorp Management, Inc. has created a strategic alliance with Universal Business Services and Steven Rosh, CPA to help you receive an unbiased second opinion of the last three open years of your tax returns at NO COST to you. The only time you would be required to pay a fee is if our team of specialists can find money due to you.
If we are unable to find funds then our service is free. Over seventy (70) percent of the time AmCorp Management does find money for the taxpayer. Kendra, could you use an extra 2000 dollars..? I know that I could!
We have found as a company, because of the complexity of the tax code, a second unbiased review is beneficial to the current or potential client that is why Universal Business Services and Steven Rosh, CPA would like for you to have second opinion.
The IRS states that there is over $6,000,000,000 left on the table every year by missed and excluded available deductions and exclusions. If you fall into any one or more of these situations there is a great probability that we can help you recover money.
We do have qualifying standards for a tax analysis.
Minimum $30,000 Adjusted Gross Income for 2 out of the last three years
Not currently being audited by the IRS
If you would like to find out more about this service please call Greg Fowler at 859-653-3638 or Steven Rosh, CPA at 859-586-7227.
The question is..? How much money would you get back? On average we recover 2000 to over 15,000 dollars for a personal tax recovery. Could you use that money? I know that I could.
Thanks for reading my blog and most important, for those that are an active part of TBN, you ALL have done a wonderful job! Thanks for the support!


All the best to everyone and their success!!!

Greg Fowler
Executive Strategist
AmCorp Management, Inc.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Wealth Building

I've become associated with a great company that I want everyone to know about!

United First Financial is an innovative company that helps Americans reach their goal of becoming totally debt-free, including paying off their mortgage in record time.

It's true and it works!! I own the program personally, and so does my daughter. We are each on our way to being debt-free and want everyone else to be able to do the same.

The United First Financial Sales Opportunity has become so successful that the founders earned the highly coveted and distinguished Ernst & Young 2008 "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award in the Utah Region for business excellence in the financial industry joining the company of such notable past winners as Michael Dell of Dell Inc., Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, and Jim McCann of 1-800-Flowers.com.

The word is spreading, so the demand is building. The company continues to attract the smartest and most talented independent sales agents in the country that is helping American families reach their dreams of becoming debt-free. Are you one of those?

What is it? It's the Money Merge AccountTM Program -- a one-of-a-kind, powerful tool that is literally revolutionizing the way homeowners pay off their mortgages, freeing people from debt, and saving money for the future. Qualified homeowners can potentially pay their mortgage off in as little as 1/3 to 1/2 the time -- without re-financing or change in their monthly mortgage payments, and with little to no change in their day-to-day spending habits.

The program was developed by a team of financial experts, with years of experience in the mortgage industry. The Money Merge AccountTM Program has recently been featured on NBC news and in such respectable magazines such as Mortgage Planner, Personal Real Estate Investor, Broker Banker, True Wealth, etc. It has the endorsements of notable personalities such as Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, Douglas Andrew, one of the nation's most highly respected financial planners and publisher of four best sellers, and Glenn Beck, host of a syndicated radio show, airing on 260 radio stations and a host of CNN's Headline News.

This is not a bi-weekly payment or debt roll-down system. It's an entirely new approach that gives homeowners flexibility with their mortgage.

Want to know more? Soon you'll hear it and see it everywhere. I've known about it for the last year and a half and I'm sold!

The company is getting ready to launch a massive and aggressive national advertising and public relations campaign. We will be airing on over 300 radio stations, 135 Cable TV channels in 50 big city markets and in numerous print media publications. All this, with the purpose of branding the Money Merge AccountTM Program with American consumers and making it a household name.

But until then

We are looking for AGGRESSIVE sales people to help market our software to help millions get on the fast track to financial freedom by becoming totally debt-free, including paying off mortgages in 1/3 to 1/2 the time.

If you have the want and ability to be associated with an idea that is taking America by storm whereby every 12 minutes someone becomes a new Money Merge AccountTM Program user and a company that offers great sales and sales management opportunities, then we would like to speak to you.

I do have a website you can look at. Or ask me questions here. I'd love to know what you're thinking.

For more information, go to 2b-mortgagefree.com.

Monday, August 11, 2008

ELEMENTS TO A SUCCESSFUL DIRECT MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Did you know 50% of a Direct Mail Marketing campaign's success comes directly from its list?

Even with an enticing great offer and greatest creative, if you don't have a winning list or database, your promotion won't generate the ROI anywhere near what it should.

Avoid the biggest mistakes in mailings. A campaign is not a singular action; it's a sustained effort over time. The biggest peril in mailings is not mailing the well-qualified buyer who has expressed an interest after your first send-out. If the sale isn't made in the first follow-up phone call, don't assume your campaign has failed. Drop mail to them a second time with harder-hitting additional marketing materials or sales letters.

Track and sustain every lead. Work with an service provider who can help you every step of the way with your marketing efforts.

Call me if you would like mre information at the number below. Relevant Works is a ONE STOP source for all your Print, Direct Mail and Marketing needs!

Barbie Doran - Business Development Director
Relevant Works
22 Whitney Drive - Milford OH 45150
513.236.0918
Linked In Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/a4/192

Referral Opportunity

Attention existing and future Members, here is the opportunity:

We need to build the blog and membership as quickly as possible, so that we may continue to rise on google and as a group. We are now offering a $25 referral fee those that help sign up new members. Yes, that is correct, $25 back to THOSE that help sign up new members.

I am not sure how long this will last but our goal is to have 35 new members by the end of the month.

I have never personally, been one to go small, so let's all go BIG! Just so you understand, we will give you a $25 referral fee back, when you help sign up a new member. This is open to everyone. Now, if you are not a member already, you must become one, before your fee can be PAID!

Networking in Cincinnati, hasn't seen anything like this before. I challenge everyone to join in the fun so that you may blog and NETWORK face to face. If you think about in NOW terms, that could pay for some much needed gas this week.

See one of our board members for applications, if you need them. There is already so much value ADD in this membership, I am afraid to see what these results will be.

Thanks,
Clayton R. Hicks
937-671-6238

Saturday, August 9, 2008

"Lead, follow, or get out of the way." ~Thomas Paine


Those are the three choices that all of us must make. There are times when one or the other may apply more appropriately, but the role we assume is important not only to ourselves, but also those around us.

Lead

Most of us have certain leadership abilities within us. It is the varying degrees that make the difference. Some of us are meant to command large to small groups, while others simply take the lead in influencing family and friends. None the less, many people assume a guidance position at some point in their life without really noticing. Whether it's a social, family, peer or a business situation, there are those who look to us for direction, motivation or as the example of "how it is done".

Follow

Even great leaders know that sometimes the most prudent option is to follow. When someone is instructing us in an area in which we are not fully comfortable or competent, we need to take a supporting role. This is not to diminish our part in the process, but to understand what position we must take to be the most productive. Virtually all leaders were followers at some point. They followed closely, learned quickly and worked diligently toward their goals. When they were ready, they assumed a leadership position supported by others because of their experience, knowledge and effort.

Get Out Of The Way

So, that leaves us with the third and final option. When you'd rather argue, complain, procrastinate or refuse to fully participate; it's time to "get out of the way". If you are not adding to the progress of an action or activity, you are hindering the ability of others to get it done. This is the only choice that never results in success. Negativity will kill and ruin a business!

The two positive paths (leading & following) are the ones that the business owner, sales rep, consultant, (whomever) can use to bring success to themselves and the business community. You lead by offering your clients the best professional advice and services possible. You follow the proven results that YOU know that work!
Here is one of my favorite quotes for the gentleman that also said "the hardest thing in the world to understand is the U.S. tax code and laws."
"Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means."
~Albert Einstein
If you need anything please let me know.
Greg
859-653-3638

Friday, August 8, 2008

How to Leverage Your Social Network

Hello TBN Members!
Clay-Thank you again for organizing this group! What a great idea!

Do you want to extend your network? Hear all the buzz words for social networking: Linkedin, Plaxo, Facebook, etc. but not sure how to use the tools?

Sales Konnect teaches people how to leverage their social networks! Those who are looking to expand their business or looking for a career change, social networking is a MUST.

See www.saleskonnect.com for dates and times of our public classes! Each class is only $30 per person! Register today-space is limited!

Sincerely,
Kendra Ramirez
www.saleskonnect.com
kendra@saleskonnect.com

Jewels by Park Lane

Jewels by Park Lane:
High quality and fine jewelry, hand crafted with meticulous attention to detail and superb workmanship, all backup by unconditional guarantee. Exclusive designs include casual timeless classics, designer inspired red carpet worthy masterpieces. Park Lane has it all!
Please call me at (513) 777-3770 or email me at phemm75396@aol.com

Thursday, August 7, 2008

What Messages are You Sending?

We all spend countless hours debating the finer points of our logos, agonizing over the tag line for our latest direct mail piece, finding the perfect tie or piece of jewelry (or shoes) to complement the outfit we will wear to meet our next million dollar client.

Yet when was the last time you considered the impression your office makes on current or potential clients? When did you last paint the walls? Is the only art from your 6 year old? Or from one of your suppliers? Does your lobby and your office project an air of prosperity or of tightfisted desperation?

Does your office send a signal that you are keeping up with the times? Or is your furniture left over from a garage sale in the 1970s?

People want to work with successful businesses--if you're not sure your place of business reflects the image you work so hard to maintain in the rest of your professional life, call Designs Of The Interior. Mention this blog and we'll give you a free one-hour consultation for your business location or home office!

Judi at Designs Of The Interior
513.770.0776 Mason@DOTI.com

"The attitude of the leader will determine the attitude of the pack."

My attitude is very obvious to most - "Focus on What I Give, Not on What I Get" What is your attitude?

Can you identify your attitude? Are you building relationships or are you trying to GET the first time you come to a meeting? If your focus is, give me! give me! YOU are in the wrong place. Have you been blogging? Maybe, Maybe Not, that is ok. Have you been looking at it? Maybe, Maybe Not, you should. We need you help by feeding it to your computer, so you can keep up. We are rising up on google, but we need more keywords in the blogging namely-
NETWORKING, GROUPS, CINCINNATI. We are not asking for much, it will come back ten-fold to you and the rest of the group.

Remember the new location Tazza Mia Friday mornings!

See you at the meetings!

Developing a Business and Guiding your Buyers


Hello Everyone? Or should I say to those that read the blog? Or take the time to find it...or know where it is? I suppose that since I am blogging, my first discussion is going to be on the subject of blogging. So what is it? Well since I do not want any of us to be confused I have decided to give you Webster's definition of a blog....
"Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. The word blog has taken on an even looser meaning — that of any bit of media wherein the subject expresses his opinion or simply talks about something."

I think the last sentence would leave some disturb because it make you think of the media or even less of the media? Which some know to be half truths..isn't that right?
I would like to ask everyone a question...if a blog can be informative and inspirational would it make a difference? Is it a easy way to advertise and inform your readers, (or listeners) to lead and guide them in a direction that you may want them to go? Here is the deal, if you have the opportunity to blog and educate the community, and you don't, then you are out of your mind. Here is why. You have all the material to create a blog, to make a blog...and the way to make a need in about fifteen minutes. I was speaking with a gentleman about cold calling. We all know that you can't get everyone on the first call, but how about leading them through a series of eight phone calls? Blogging is the same way.

We are all in business to help each other through networking, right? What is more inspirational than that? Especially in our economic times? Folks, now is the time to capitalize on the wonderful opportunity that exists today with blogging. Why? Because you can educate them, which goes back to blogs, calls, networking, and establishing relationships. That is what blogs are for if you use them in the right way to entice the reader to have the desire to learn more in the coming week...or whenever you post your next blog.
All the best to everyone and their success!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Keep Up the Networking

I will be in Atlanta for three weeks starting on August 9. I will miss seeing all of you but I am sure the networking will continue without me :-). I will be attending the Rising Roll Franchisee Conference and then staying for Phase I of my franchise training. See you the week of Sept 2. I hope there are lots of new faces at TBN when I return. Keep inviting new people.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

new meeting location for Friday morning's meeting in West Chester

We have now found a new meeting location for Friday morning's meeting in West Chester. We will be meeting at Tazza Mia right in front of Urban Active and across from BP. Stay on Union Centre, go past Star Bucks and First Watch. Please thank the manager when you arrive at the meeting.

FRIDAYS
8:30 am- 10:00 am
Tazza Mia Coffee Shop
9216 Allen Road
West Chester, Ohio 45069

Larry Shideler
Customer Loyalty Manager
Lshide37@aol.com
513-405-4773 Cell
Inspection Plus, LTD.
5381 Autumnwood Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
513-793-3552 Office Phone
www.inspectionplus.us

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Be Prepared

The Boy Scout Motto, 'Be Prepared', has been used in various languages by millions of Scouts since 1907. This tried and true slogan has never failed those who believe in its simple core message.

Those of us who live in areas of possible harsh winter conditions should always have warm clothes, water, food and other essentials in our vehicles in case we get stranded during a blizzard. Families in earthquake, tornado and hurricane areas have their own idea of survival kits to assist them in times of need. All of these necessary items together with the basic survival education have always been assembled under the premise of 'Be Prepared'.

The concept of preparedness is the cornerstone of every business in America. That doesn't mean that from a business standpoint we have to 'Be Prepared' for disaster. What it does mean is that we have to prepare ourselves to take advantage of opportunities as they unvail themselves. Savvy retailers already know to take advantage of holidays, seasonal buying patterns, peak travel times and market trends. They do this by having ample quantities of needed products and being able to provide them in a timely manner.

Anyone in business should be no different than those businesses that prepare themselves for an opportunity to promote themselves and their business model. Be Prepared...to discuss your business whenever the situation allows. Be Prepared...by always having a business card on hand. Be Prepared...with brochures ready whenever the opportunity arises. Be Prepared...with your calendar handy to schedule an appointment. Be Prepared...to overcome objections. And finally, the most important of ALL, Be Prepared to close anytime; anywhere!

"Chance favors the prepared mind." ~Louis Pasteur

Be prepared for your success.

All the best to you and your success!