The Paradoxical Commandments

                                        LOVE THESE!

The Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

EDA and the International Economic Development Council Create User-Friendly Tool

EDA and the International Economic Development Council Create User-Friendly Tool to Help Communities Recover Their Economy after Disasters

Submitted on July 30, 2014 - 2:30pm

Categories: 

• International Economic Development Council [1]
 
• Economic Development Administration [2]

 [3]

Everyone sees the destruction caused by a natural disaster – the loss of life and property make headlines for weeks. But natural disasters can have lasting effects that don’t garner as much media attention. Beyond property and infrastructure costs, disasters impact the health of the business community. According to the Small Business Administration, as much as 25 percent of small businesses do not reopen after major disasters. Communities need to be prepared for all of the effects of a natural disaster, and there is a new tool available to help them be more resilient.
The International Economic Development Council [4] (IEDC) recently launched "Leadership in Times of Crisis: A Toolkit for Economic Recovery and Resiliency" [5] – a guide to help communities recover their economy after a disaster. The toolkit was funded in part by an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant and is available for free download at www.RestoreYourEconomy.org [6]. It includes practical resources, proven how-to's, real world case examples, checklists and best practices to implement recovery programs following any type of disaster and to make preparations in order to be more resilient after potential future events.
"Leadership in Times of Crisis" provides strategies and tactics for community leaders to focus on for economic recovery and preserving jobs, incorporating useful information for convening private and public stakeholders to identify key economic recovery strategies, tips on how to navigate federal resources for response and recovery, and implementation of recovery initiatives.
A wide range of public and private sector officials that provide support to businesses and industries in the economic recovery process can benefit from using the toolkit, including economic development organizations (EDOs), chambers of commerce, business leaders, small business development centers (SBDC), community colleges and business schools, and community development financing institutions (CDFIs), among other organizations.

The Toolkit's 11 chapters cover:

• Disaster preparation for organizations, businesses and communities;
• Small business assistance;
• Business retention and expansion;
• Strategic planning for economic recovery;
• Economic impact studies;
• Economic diversification; and neighborhood redevelopment.
• Case examples, including Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Sandy, tornadoes in Joplin, MO and Greensburg, KS, Cedar Rapids flooding, and the Northridge Earthquake;
• Checklists, forms, sample plans, and resource contacts.
Floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes happen – sometimes without warning. We cannot stop disasters from happening, but we can work to be more prepared when they do. EDA and IEDC hope that this toolkit can be to businesses what bottled water, a first aid kit, flashlights and batteries are to citizens: a vital tool for survival when disaster strikes.

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Source URL (retrieved on 07/30/2014 - 8:56pm): http://www.commerce.gov/blog/2014/07/30/eda-and-international-economic-development-council-create-user-friendly-tool-help-co

Page Links:
[1] http://www.commerce.gov/category/tags/international-economic-development-council
[2] http://www.commerce.gov/category/bureaus-and-offices/economic-development-administration
[3] http://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/images/2014/july/drtoolkit_revised5.9-03-233x300.jpg
[4] http://www.iedconline.org/
[5] http://restoreyoureconomy.org/disaster-recovery-toolkit/
[6] http://www.restoreyoureconomy.org/

U.S.-Africa Business Success Stories: How a Supplier of Powerboats to the U.S. Military Started Doing Business in Nigeria

U.S.-Africa Business Success Stories: How a Supplier of Powerboats to the U.S. Military Started Doing Business in Nigeria



From: http://www.commerce.gov/blog/2014/07/30/us-africa-business-success-stories-how-supplier-powerboats-us-military-started-doing

Submitted on July 30, 2014 - 5:30pm

Categories: 

• Exports [1]
 
• U.S. Africa Business Forum [2]
 
• U.S.-Africa Business Forum [3]
 
• International Trade Administration [4]
 
• Office of the Secretary [5]

Note: This post is part of the U.S.-Africa Business Success Stories series highlighting the work of the Department of Commerce to strengthen the economic relationship between U.S. and African businesses. This series will lead up to the U.S. Africa Business Forum on August 5^th, the first of its kind event, which will convene African heads of state and government, U.S. government officials and business leaders to discuss trade and investment opportunities on the continent.

Hann Powerboats’ customers include the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers – and now, because of assistance that the company received from the Department of Commerce, they can add another name to their impressive list: the Nigerian oil and gas company, MOP Marine.

U.S. businesses like Hann Powerboats are increasingly seeing tremendous economic opportunity in Africa, and the reason why is simple: Africa is thriving. From 1995 to 2013, Africa experienced an average annual GDP growth rate of 4.5 percent. In 2012, eight of the twenty fastest growing economies in the world were in sub-Saharan Africa, and, according to the IMF, in 2013, total U.S. two-way goods with the region were $63 billion. Africa’s potential to be the world’s next major economic story is why businesses in the United States, like Hann Powerboats, want to offer their products, services, and expertise to help unlock even more of Africa’s potential – that is why the Obama Administration and the Department of Commerce remain committed to assisting American businesses in finding opportunity in this economically expanding region. 

Hann Powerboats became interested in expanding its business to Africa when it was approached by a potential client in Nigeria to secure MOP Marine’s need for patrol boats. Hann Powerboats asked for assistance from the Tampa Bay U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) and the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) team in Lagos to help with vetting this potential partner, and CS Lagos was able to facilitate meetings between Hann Powerboats and MOP Marine. The Tampa Bay USEAC then helped put Hann Powerboats in touch with the Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C. to help with them acquire proper documentation. The result of this assistance allowed Hann Powerboats to make sales to MOP Marine for over $4 million.

The U.S. Commercial Service is the face of the Department of Commerce around the world, and each day they help U.S. businesses like Hann Powerboats start exporting or increase sales to new global markets. That is why the Department of Commerce is dedicating more human resources to Africa by expanding its commercial service teams in Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Libya. For the first time ever, the Commerce Department is also opening offices in Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. With a greater footprint in Africa, the Obama Administration and the Department of Commerce aim to make Hann Powerboats’s and MOP Marine’s story just another common example of the United States and Africa doing business. 

Businesses interested in learning more about the benefits of exporting should contact their local U.S. Export Assistance Center [6]

Please check back regularly for more success stories about companies doing business in Africa [2].

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Source URL (retrieved on 07/30/2014 - 8:51pm): http://www.commerce.gov/blog/2014/07/30/us-africa-business-success-stories-how-supplier-powerboats-us-military-started-doing

Page Links:
[1] http://www.commerce.gov/category/tags/exports
[2] http://www.commerce.gov/category/tags/us-africa-business-forum-0
[3] http://www.commerce.gov/category/tags/us-africa-business-forum
[4] http://www.commerce.gov/category/bureaus-and-offices/international-trade-administration
[5] http://www.commerce.gov/category/bureaus-and-offices/office-secretary

[6] http://export.gov/eac/

NICE LETTER TO SEND A CLIENT

THIS IS A VERY NICE LETTER TO SEND A CLIENT

On behalf of both Orpical Energy, I am pleased to announce that Duke Energy has issued a refund in the form of a credit on your bill for a total of $10,974.

The refund pertains to an adjustment made for a special rate we were able to get you qualified for.

The great news is that you are now saving about $300/month indefinitely, going forward.

We have several audit services that we can speak with you about including audits for telecommunications, waste removal and invoice processing - all areas where we can assist in lowering your monthly spend.

Like to see if we can do this for you?  CLICK HERE

Loyalty is a Choice

Whenever I think of the attributes I most admire in a family member, friend, employee, or business colleague, the word Loyalty is always the first that comes to mind.  Though its definition immediately aligns itself with other fine qualities like integrity, allegiance, truth and dedication, like many other words, it remains subject to justification and for that reason, the word loyalty becomes obscure and nebulous.  

Because loyalty, in its most pristine sense, is a characteristic I genuinely value, and because the state of being loyal is one to which I constantly aspire, I am often troubled by those philosophical ideologies predisposed to loyalty to oneself as first and foremost.  Yet, it is this very principle that continues to destroy personal and professional relationships, that brings-down companies, governments even entire countries. 

When or why has it become so problematic …so challenging to practice loyalty?

A few years back, as we all witnessed the demise of Enron, the fall of some of the oldest and most prestigious financial institutions in our nation’s history and the madness associated with the Madoff scandal, the underlying culprit was perceived to be greed.   But when all is said and done, greed is nothing more than the absence of loyalty….the inability to maintain allegiance to the people and the causes with which you have been entrusted.  I would venture to suggest that as each honorable code was being violated during these and other corrupt and unprincipled business decisions the perpetrators rationalized their actions as the pursuit of loyalty…loyalty to an entitlement sought for them.     

As CEOs, in today’s corporate world, we deal with the duplicitous all the time.   Actually, ruthlessness is often an attribute admired in many of the world’s most successful corporate and political leaders.  Sadly, anyone with a conscience supported by unwavering loyalty is perceived as weak, representing a ripe-for-the-picking opportunity for the unscrupulous poacher to pounce.  If this week in history has taught us anything, it’s that it takes strength to be loyal; it takes tolerance to be brave; it takes a moral compass to navigate life honorably. 

Loyal behavior is not the “fast way to profits” but in the long run it is the only sustainable way. The truth always comes out. Sometimes it is immediate. Other times it takes years. Greed and an unhealthy ego are very expensive character traits.

Choose wisely. Choose your friends, employees and business colleagues wisely. First earn their respect and then insist on their loyalty.

You can’t fake loyalty. Fakers are greedy SOB’s who think they can trick karma. If you have any business experience you can probably identify with a “faker” who, through the fate of karma, “got theirs.” When you “get yours” make sure you are getting earned acknowledgement and financial gain based on loyal and honorable behavior.

Choose wisely.

Entice…….Capture…….Convert…...Retain

Converting individuals into clients remains the primary goal of any inbound marketer.  Though these marketers utilize various marketing resources across all social media platforms most would agree that it all comes down to four words. 

Entice…….Capture…….Convert…...Retain

The Outstanding Landing

A captivating Landing Page can substantially influence visitors. Titles and copy should be dynamic, vibrant, succinct but informative. Distinctly identify all the advantages of doing business with your company. The best advice I could share is the philosophy I practice as a public speaker…..you’ve got a very small window of time in which to grab them and make them want to know more.  Don’t waste it!  

 

Calling Your Faction to Action

If asked to identify the quintessential component of any inbound marketing campaign, it would be the Call to Action (CTA).    CTAs are the lifeblood of every promotion.  They resurface over and over again, from blogs to websites; from e-mails to a power point presentations.  When preparing a CTA, I recommend treating the assignment as though you were purchasing an elite automobile.  You’d perform your due diligence.  After your research, you’d begin checking-out your top choices.  You wouldn’t look at just one.  You’d examine several, studying each one closely ~ exterior, interior, under the hood.  You’d try-out all the bells and whistles, look at the colors and take each out for a test drive.  Only then could you or should you make an informed choice. The test drive will prove to be the most important component in selecting your CTA Action.  Once every detail is meticulously reviewed and approved, you can finalize your Call to Action

Blogs vs Blahs:

If content is king, then the blog is its castle.  Words are powerful and if used wisely they are capable of accomplishing anything. A well written blog should do three things: enlighten, entertain and inspire.  Know your target audience.  Understand their pain and/or frustration, and use your blog as a healing salve.  Educate them on how and why your services can assist or protect them.  Write content that is compelling yet clever.  You can be detailed but don’t be boring.  Compose each sentence as an invitation to read the next.  Use words that will reach your reader on a personal level, as though you are engaging in a private and personal conversation.  A well-constructed blog is like casting a huge net.  How many fish will you catch?

E-mails: Beneficial or Bothersome

The jury are out when it comes to e-mails.  The latest data indicates an average click through rate of about 20%.  Similar studies claim that each year e-mail lists lose about 25% of their followers.  Let’s face it, everyone is inundated with e-mails. Often, messages that important can be erroneously classified as spam and vice versa. No matter how you look at it, a flooded in-box is a turn-off.  That’s why it remains imperative for marketers to create a tempting subject line.  Once opened, the viewer should find crisp, concise, informative copy that will instantly facilitate further interest.     

Weaving a Wondrous Web

Your website is part autobiography and part passageway.  Here is the place where the consumer will board your ship. Like a captain, you should chart a course that will easily transport each visitor from port to port, ensuring that every stop is a positive experience and that the trip as a whole is memorable.  Your goal should be to capture their loyalty and ensure their return  

Remember Your Manners

Clients want to know that they matter.  Your client data-base should include reminders pertaining to thank-you notes, occasional nurturing notes and a yearly How Are We Doing? Survey.  Research has shown that these seemingly small personal touches matter to even the largest businesses.  In addition, a more intimate interaction with clients will substantially contributes to retention

Advertise through Advocates

Once you have successfully converted a consumer into a client, there’s a good chance that client will recommend your services to others. Word-of-Mouth can prove the most powerful marketing tool of all

These few tips serve as the substructure of a successful Conversion Rate Formula:  Entice…….Capture…….Convert…...Retain.  Learn them, practice them then go forward and CONVERT! 

To learn more - click here

Edward DuCoin 856 304 2800

NULLIUS IN VERBA

Latin: NULLIUS IN VERBA

English: ON THE WORD OF NO MAN

Nullius in verba (Latin for "on the word of no one" or "Take nobody's word for it") is the motto of the Royal Society. The current Royal Society website explains the motto thus:

It is an expression of the determination of Fellows to withstand the domination of authority and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment.