Growing Your Biz in 2013 - Get Squeezed

Did you know that some folks say you should wrap bacon around your neck when you have a sore throat?   You can rub bear fat on your knees for arthritis or maybe you might eat carrots to improve your eye sight.  I even remember hearing that sugar and whiskey would stop a cough in its tracks.  Don’t know if these “Old Wives Tales’ work but I do know that if you want a healthy business, your health is a top priority.

So, forget the bacon, the bear fat, the whiskey and the sugar and let’s look at what really works.  First of all, eat as many carrots as you like, even if they don’t improve your eyesight.

I read recently that we should start our day with the juice of 1/2 of a lemon in room temperature water 30 minutes before you eat anything.  The lemon juice...

1.    Improves your digestion - it stimulates bile production which aids in preventing heartburn and indigestion
2.    Boosts your energy level for the day- it has a detoxifying affect on your  body
3.     Helps you to loose fat - it aids in removal of toxins which will increase your energy

According to Mike Geary, Certified Norton Specialist....

"The health promoting benefits of lemons are powerful. For centuries, it has been known that lemons contain powerful antibacterial, antiviral and immune boosting components. We know that lemons are a great digestive aid and liver cleanser.  Lemons contain citric acid, magnesium, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, pectin, calcium and limonene, which supercharge our immunity so that the body can fight infection”.
The winter months are just around the corner, you may want to try some mellow yellow just to keep your immune system in check.  So fill your frig with lots of lemons, forget the “Old Wives Tales” and intentionally get yourself healthy, build that immune system and conscientiously decide to get healthy before all those nasty bugs start invading our bodies.  This could work for you employees too,  Grow UR Biz with a healthy you and a healthy staff.

Carol S. Ritter, Motivational Speaker
Results Only Business Coach & Featured Writer
CarolTalks.com
610-442-4545

youtube.com/caroltalks
facebook.com/pages/CarolCoaches
facebook.com/Caroltalkscom

Watch for my new website launch coming soon.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Is the Minimum Wage a Living Wage? Tonight on Business Matters

Tune-in tonight with Business Matters host Tony Iannelli as he explores this very hot topic with four passionate panelists on the pros and cons of raising minimum wage.

Would raising minimum wage hurt or harm our economy?
Is minimizing the pay equality gap how we get our economy back on track?
Will an increase in the minimum wage hinder the creation of new jobs? How will a raise in the minimum wage affect businesses, both large and small?

Guests include: 
Senator Vincent Hughes (D-7)
Frank Snyder (AFL-CIO)
Gene Barr (PA State Chamber)
Suzanne Collins (NFIB)
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Lafayette Ambassador Bank Announces Appointments and Promotions

Contact: Wendy Evans Totani
Phone: 610–332-7400
Fax: 610-758-7398

(September 24, 2013) – -  Rocco A. Del Vecchio, President and COO, is pleased to announce the following promotion and appointments at Lafayette Ambassador Bank.

Amanda E. Bates has been promoted to Branch Manager for the bank’s 19th Street Office in Allentown.  Bates joined the bank in 2003 as a Teller in the bank’s Downtown Bethlehem Office and has progressed through the bank’s retail group including positions of Senior Teller, Head Teller and most recently as Assistant Manager at the bank’s Tilghman Street Office.  Eager to help her community, Bates has served on the bank’s United Way Committee for the last two years.

Sharon J. Fontana has joined Lafayette Ambassador Bank as an Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager for the bank’s Downtown Bethlehem Office.  Fontana attained her Associates of Science Management from Thomas Edison State College.  She brings over 30 years of experience in financial services, most recently as an Assistant Vice President/Business Banker for PNC.  A past Board Member of the Stroudsburg YMCA, United Way of Monroe County and the VNA/Hospice in Monroe County, Fontana looks forward to getting involved in Bethlehem area organizations.

Four new additions have been appointed to the Board of Directors of Lafayette Ambassador Bank. In this position, they will be responsible for ensuring that the management and performance of the bank is conducted in a way that represents the interests of Fulton Financial Corporation. The Board of Directors also appoints senior management and ensures that the bank operates, using safe and sound business practices.

John Crampsie is principal owner of NAI Summit, a full service Commercial Real Estate firm. Crampsie is a former executive of the March Development Company, and lent his expertise to develop over 3 million square feet of office warehouse space in the Lehigh Valley and Delaware.   Crampsie was also affiliated with the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, where he established international status for the airport.  Crampsie attained his B.A. in Communications from Kutztown University and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Lehigh University.  He is a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.  Crampsie also has taught English as Second Language in Medellin, Columbia.

Active in his community, he serves on the Board of Directors for Via of the Lehigh Valley and as Chair of their Marathon.  A founding member of Turning Point of Lehigh Valley’s Board of Directors, Crampsie volunteers his time in both the St. Luke’s Emergency Room and with the Good Shepherd Pediatric Rehabilitation.

Thomas A. Daub is a partner in four Brown Daub automobile dealerships, started by William J. Daub and Thomas Brown in 1936.  His primary focus is the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat dealership on Hecktown Rd., and the Volvo store on Jandy Boulevard in Nazareth.  Daub attained his B.A. in Economics from St. Lawrence University in New York.  Mr. Daub currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Home of Easton, Community Services for Children, Equilibrium, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Easton Council.  He also actively advocates for the United Way.

Robert E. Gadomski is the Founder and Managing Director of Napowan Associates L.L.C. which provides consulting services and guidance on business development and best practice implementation.  Gadomski is the former CEO of Taylor Wharton International L.L.C and former Executive Vice President for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.   Gadomski attained his B.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. in Industrial Administration from Purdue University and also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Gadomski presently serves on the Board of Directors for both Reeb Millwork and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network.  Active in his community, Gadomski has lent his time and expertise to local organizations including: United Way, Boy Scouts, Allentown Art Museum and Valley Youth House.  He’s received an Honorary Ph.D. in Engineering and the Krannert School of Business Leadership Award from Purdue, as well as serving as a Halsey Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Virginia.

Delores A. Laputka is an attorney with the firm Norris McLaughlin and Marcus, P.A. (formerly Tallman, Hudders and Sorrentino, P.C.)  She serves as Chair of the Business Law Group, and Vice Chair of the Estate/Tax Law Group.  Laputka, a graduate of Boston College (Magna cum laude), received her J.D. from the Law School of Duquesne University.  Laputka has been admitted to the Bar of Pennsylvania Supreme Court, United States Tax Court, United States District Court, Eastern District.  She is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Laputka has been involved in many organizations in the community serving as General Counsel and past Chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley,
Chairman of Board of Directors of the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley,
Board of Directors of the Lehigh Valley Estate Planning Council, past President and
past Board Member of the Allentown Rotary Club, and past Board Member of the Lehigh County Community College Foundation.  Awards of distinction include: 1999 Good Shepherd Home Raker Memorial Award, 2006 Great Valley Girl Scouts Council Lehigh Valley Woman of Distinction Award, 2007 Women’s Leadership Initiative of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Philanthropist of the Year, and the 2007 National Arthritis Foundation Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

Fulton Financial Corporation is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based financial holding company which has 3,800 employees and operates more than 292 banking offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia through the following affiliates: Fulton Bank, N.A., Lancaster, PA; Swineford National Bank, Middleburg, PA; Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Easton, PA; FNB Bank, N.A., Danville, PA; Fulton Bank of New Jersey, Mt. Laurel, NJ; and The Columbia Bank, Columbia, MD.
 
The Corporation’s investment management and trust services are offered at all banks through Fulton Financial Advisors, a division of Fulton Bank, N.A. Residential mortgage lending is offered by all banks through Fulton Mortgage Company.

2013

###

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TONIGHT on Business Matters - "Is Right to Work Anti-Middle Class?"

BUSINESS MATTERS

Is “Right to Work” Anti-Middle Class?

GUESTS:

SIDE 1--

•             Wendell Young, UFCW Local 1776

•             Tom Tosti , AFSCME District Council 88

•             Gregg Potter, Lehigh Valley Labor Council

SIDE 2---

•             Katrina Anderson, PA Commonwealth Foundation

•             Simon Campbell, Pennsylvanians for Union Reform

Tune-in tonight with Business Matters host Tony Iannelli to hear from both sides of the this hotly contested topic on “Right to Work” legislation. 

Do unions hurt or help our state’s economy? Would right-to-legislation make PA more competitive for businesses and jobs? Tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 69-WFMZ-TV hear from our panelists.

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Growing Your Biz in 2013 - Jelly Fish, Sharks, and Wind oh MY!

“Find a Way,” said Diana Nyad all year long when her team would tell her reasons why she couldn't swim from Cuba to Florida.  That 64 year old woman is now the first woman to swim in shark and jellyfish infested waters for over 50 hours.  She battled the elements, the sharks, the jelly fish and swallowing all that salt water, but she did it.  This was her 5th attempt. Prior to this accomplishment, the other trips included excruciating stings, an asthma attack, sun, wind and waves.  She not only did it, she did it without a shark cage.  She repeated to herself that she was pushing Cuba away and pushing towards Florida, she sang her favorite nursery rhymes and lullabies to relax her. 

The real question is WHY?  Why does someone want to break a swimming record and, even more, what is inside of her at 64 years old that makes her still want to realize her dream?

What are the qualities she posesses that are simalar to a successful business? 

          Risk Taker - Visionary - Dreamer - Tenacity - Commitment and Talent

Many of us would say she’s crazy.  But hasn’t someone in your life said you were crazy when you decided to turn your dream into a reality.  Risk taking is the hardest for most to take on, the fear of failure is powerful and the fear of lost revenue is even more powerful.  If you have a great idea, do your homework,  build your “TRIBE” and wake up every morning working towards your goal, you will do it.  The sharks and jellyfish will swarm around you, the wind will knock you over, the salt water won’t taste good and the waves may come crushing down on you but after your 4th try, the 5th one will be the charm.

Diana, the first woman to swim around Manhattan and winning many marathons is now the first woman to swim 49 hours from Cuba to Florida.  As she recovers from the swim she wants the world to know, “you can dream at any age” and so can you and no matter what obstacles you face FIND A WAY to GROW UR BIZ!

Carol S. Ritter, Motivational Speaker 

Results Only Business Coach & Featured Writer

www.caroltalks.com

610-442-4545 

www.youtube.com/caroltalks

https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarolCoaches/194664211990

https://www.facebook.com/Caroltalkscom

 

Watch for my new website launch coming soon.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Biz in 2013 - Deadheads

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

I’ve always wondered where the greatest ideas come from.  What makes an idea work and why do some people have great ideas but somehow they just never leave the ‘great idea’ gate?  

I like to look back on the minimal success of some and the over the top success of others.  It’s always the same, the greatest ideas in the world cannot be great without the TRIBE.  I have worked for some brillant people over the years, watched them manuver through their goals, have plans that are wildly focused but yet sometimes two things were missing;

1. They have no idea how to gather a TRIBE, in some cases they didn’t even want to
2. And, they don’t focus on surrounding themselves with and taking care of great people

If you look up the many definitions of  the word TRIBE, you will find they have one thing in common, a TRIBE is a community, a social group with simular values, interests or common bond.  A good example of this are the Dead Heads who were commited to and followed The Grateful Dead’s music in the 70’s.  The Dead Heads were loyal, obsessed and completely committed to following, listening to and, most importantly, spending money on the Grateful Dead.  

All businesses need Dead Heads.  Loyal, obessed and willing to spend dollars on that obsession.  

So, how do you go from having an out of this world product or service with no 

Dead Heads to a business with an out of this world product or service and a TRIBE?  

Building the CLAN or gathering the TRIBE is not a science but takes complete focus and commitment.

Here we go:

Remember this...the founding members of your TRIBE are your employees! If they don’t have the Dead Head passion and loyalty, there will be no TRIBE

1. Listen to your customers, learn why they love what you do
2. Create situations where your customers feel valued - ask them for advice
3. Take care of people - give them something once and in a while, pay attention to               their needs
4. Just like your plan to improve your product, create a plan for growing your TRIBE
5. Take the focus off of you and your service and put it on them
6. Learn everything about what makes your customer tick so you can transfer that       loyalty to new TRIBE members
7. Don’t ever assume TRIBE members will stay forever, you must nuture them, create new services or products  (or new songs like the Greatful Dead)
8. Recognize creative people and surround yourself with them (creative people sometimes aren’t great rule followers, so you will have to cope)
9. Embrace a true entreprenurial spirit, if you are not passionate about what you do how would you expect the gather a TRIBE
10. Always prioritize, 

1. EXCELLENT PRODUCT OR SERVCE
2. OBSESSION WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE
3. COMMITMENT TO THE TRIBE

YOU JUST CAN’T BE OVER THE TOP SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT THOSE DEAD HEADS! 

Check out my new You Tube page at www.youtube.com/caroltalks

          Watch for Carol’s New Website Launch 

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.

Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Biz in 2013 - Honey Boo Boo

Guest Blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

I had the pleasure of attending an educational lecture this week, sponsored by King Spry Herman Freund Faul law firm and Lehigh University’s Center for Developing Urban Education.  Dr. Yong Zhao, internationally known scholar, author and speaker presented Valuing Customization and Creativity in Education in an Era of Standardization.  I thought I was going to an educational lecture, but, in fact, I was at a “Grow UR Biz” with the entrepreneurship spirit lecture.

Dr. Zhao began by sharing with the audience the focus of public education on test scores.  He cited that Asian countries have been outscoring the US in math and science for years.  Interestingly, the countries with the higher Program for International Student Assessment or PISA scores lacked the confidence and creativity to express their entrepreneurial capabilities.  “China wants to be like the US, producing entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and the US wants to be like China with high test scores.” said Dr. Zhao.

I wondered if the job market is out of touch with education or is education out of touch with today’s and tomorrow’s job market. Jobs in the US have changed from the standard farming and  manufacturing to creating services and consulting.

His research shows that a very high percentage of college graduates are not working today and are living in their parent’s basements.  Many because the jobs today don’t match the education they received.

He used the example of Kim Kardashian, what does she do?  What is her talent and how was she prepared for the workforce?  Or maybe Honey Boo Boo, what does she do?  What is her talent?  The thing they both have in common is that they have created value which leads to creating jobs.  Honey’s mom and Kim’s mom share Dr. Zhoa’s non-cognitive factors for entrepreneurial success.  They have confidence, they are risk takers, they have passion, they are creative, they are alert to opportunities, unique, and emphatic.  Do their test scores count? Have their scores brought them success and financial comfort?

Three Qualities the New Business owner must have...
1. Creativity
2. An Entrepreneurial Spirit
3. Globally Competency

Three Qualities not necessary for starting a business
1. High Test Scores
2. High Test Scores
3. High Test Scores

A sign hangs high in the human resources department of Apple.  “If you want to be managed, you’re not employable.”  Think about that.   You can learn more about Dr.  Zhao at www.zhaolearning.com

If you want to learn more about Honey Boo Boo, just don’t!

Check out my new You Tube page at www.youtube.com/caroltalks. Watch for my new website launch coming soon.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND BETTER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Kubuntu lancia il supporto Commerciale

La Community di Kubuntu ha annunciato il supporto professionale per Kubuntu. Il servizio è pensato per società, organizzazioni o singoli e offre assistenza telefonica in caso di problemi.

I prezzi sono molto competitivi e si può sia usufruire una tantum che acquistare un tot di ore al mese di supporto telefonico (ideale per le aziende).

Il servizio è in lingua inglese ed è fornito dalla sede inglese di WithSupport (che già offre supporto per Ubuntu, Red Hat e tante altre distribuzioni e servizi).

L'aiuto sarà fornito tramite telefono, e-mail, Skype, login remoto o qualsiasi altro metodo tutto a scelta dell'utente in modo da soddisfarlo nel migliore dei modi.

Il servizio di assistenza può essere comprato all'indirizzo http://kubuntu.emerge-open.com/buy dove trovate tutte le tipologie richieste.

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Touchstone Theatre - Corporate Creativity, Non-Profits, and Moving Toward the Future

Thoreau said that we are all artists--that, "we are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones.” Well, Henry David was a very smart guy, but there seems to be this great confusion, misunderstanding, that art is for …what?  …entertainment?  Has nothing to do with business?  They tell me if you look up the word “art” in the dictionary, and you go to its earliest roots, it basically means “making things”.  That makes sense to me.  We’re all in the business of “making things” in one way or another, so at the root of it, we must all be artists.

My name’s Bill George.  I’m a Founder and Ensemble Member at Touchstone Theatre over here on the South Side of Bethlehem, and for us folks in the art business, things are changing.  Fast.  And for us, creativity, which is at the heart of the process of making, is the most important tool in our tool box to deal with this constantly changing social, technological and economic landscape.  Even we so-called “artists” are lagging behind in understanding how to make work that can effectively express this ever more rapidly emerging reality--one that is at once increasingly diverse, often dangerously contentious, yet more and more inter-connected.

The Chamber has begun a major not-for-profit initiative here in the Valley, and as we move forward, there’s a lot we profit/non-profit folks can learn from each other to deal with this change.  If we can successfully move from competing in isolation towards working together, collaborating, supporting each other, we’ll all benefit in unexpected and extraordinary ways.  That’s a very safe bet in my book.

But there's (at least) one more thing. This creativity, working together thing, this art thing, isn't just a question of learning new skills or efficiencies to allow us to better survive.  I think we all, to one degree or another, recognize it as a sort of “maturation of consciousness” that is part of our human evolution.   It’s big, it’s important, and the promise of the future, if we can just hold on to it, is bright, beyond our wildest dreams—even mine.

In our own small way, to further this “evolution”, Touchstone is holding,  September 24th from 8 to 9:30 am, a Corporate Creativity Event called Four Secrets to Effective Collaboration.  We’ll be playing with Tina Fey’s “Rules for improv…and the workplace” -- Respect. Create. Contribute. Adapt. –with plenty of room for discussion and sharing among visiting business representatives. You’re sincerely invited.  It’s hosted by Chad Paul, President and CEO of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and David Shaffer, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Just Born, Inc.  There’s free food and goodie bags for all. Please join us.

To Register, click on the following link immediately below:  

https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=5916878c4843763fdf899a2aed119228

http://www.touchstone.org

bill@touchstone.org

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Grow Up

What did you want to be when you grew up?  Did you want to be a teacher, a chef, an astronaut, or maybe you wanted to be a movie star?  I wonder if you are what you dreamed of being when you grew up.  I’m not.  I never thought about being a motivational speaker or an executive coach.  I worked for a speaker and I remember being in the audience and thinking to myself,  “I could do that” and the rest is history. 

I follow Seth Godin, author of the Purple Cow and marketing expert.  He says, “No kid sets out to make Doritos commercials. No one grows up saying, ‘I want to go into marketing.’  More than ever, though, folks grow up saying, ‘I want to change the world.’ More than ever, that means telling stories, changing minds and building a tribe. You know, it’s marketing.”

Building your tribe is the most important piece of marketing your biz.  I tell my clients all the time, gathering a crowd will be the hardest piece of running a successful event or building your tribe of customers for your biz.  It’s easy to make a magnificent cake, it’s another thing to teach customers to love it, buy it and, most importantly, talk about it. 

This new generation of business owners just might be dreaming about changing the world but without the ability to tell your story and build a tribe nothing will change. 

Did you know....

Growing ur Tribe is key.  How do you do it?  I will give you ideas in my next article, THE TRIBE.

Reinvention is exponential - the time to reinvent is when you are growing.

“You’re either growin’ or your dyin’," CEO of Roto Rooter

Today’s version of cold calling is LinkedIn, bet you didn’t dream about that.

Remember the movie Peter Pan?  He sang the song, I Won’t Grow Up..... sing along, ‘I’ll never grow up, I’ll never grow up, I don’t wanna to be a man, I don’t wanna be a man,  I’ll never grow up, never grow up, not me.”  Sing louder!  This song is upbeat, fun and appealing to the masses, just like your biz should be, you may have grown up but there’s still time for dreamin.  DREAM BIG - DREAM OFTEN AND NEVER GROW UP.

Check out my new You Tube page at www.youtube.com/caroltalks.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Think Lucky

I’ve heard it all, the answers to the question - what makes an entrepreneur successful?  Strong people skills, belief in yourself, ability to motivate others around you, being money wise, self-confidence and the list goes on.  But, do you need luck or does luck play an important role in your business’s success?  Luck is described as success or failure brought on by chance rather than one’s own actions.  Can you be successful without any luck might be the better question?

I luckily got an email from ArtsQuest the other week and noticed that the Drifter’s, who sing one of my favorite songs, “Under the Boardwalk” were coming to the Levitt Pavilion.  I luckily had the evening free and decided to go.  It was a beautiful night, perfect seats and great friends.  There had to be 4000 people there dancing, singing and just having a good old time. At the start they announced that they would be giving away a free CD and autographed picture of the Drifter’s to anyone who completed their survey. I thought,  ‘smart move.’  I’m a big believer in surveying your customers.  The concert ended and I just about turned around to leave and I heard over the loud speaker, Carol Ritter, you won!  OMGoodness, I won, am I lucky or was it just a coincidence? YOU DECIDE!

According to Richard Wiseman, PHD, a professor at the University of Hertfordshire in England.  "Luck, it is a way of thinking and behaving." He insists that we have far more control over the element—and outcome—of chance in our lives than we realize. In fact, he argues that only 10 percent of life is truly random. The remaining 90 percent is "actually defined by the way you think."

Just maybe there is such a thing as a lucky person or maybe it’s just the fact that they grasp the wisdom of luck and they embrace it.  As a business owner and entrepreneur, are you thinking good luck today or bad luck?

Check out my new You Tube page at www.youtube.com/caroltalks

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

Carol S. Ritter
Motivational Speaker/Business Coach
www.caroltalks.com
610-442-4545



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OSM - Riassunto Settimanale #74

15 Luglio 2013 - 29 Luglio 2013

Un riassunto di tutto ciò che sta accadendo nel mondo OpenStreetMap.

• John Firebaugh, Saman Bemel-Benrud e Tom MacWright hanno aggiunto nuovi controlli per la mappa su to osm.org. John Firebaugh ha scritto anche un post sulle prospettive per il sito principale.
• Un nuovo server di rendering per le isole britanniche usa i fogli di stile del nuovo “openstreetmap-carto". Qui trovate l'annuncio di Grant sulla lista Talk-GB.
• E' stato pubblicato un nuovo servizio di routing scritto in JAVA. Offre routing per macchina, bicicletta e pedonale e puoi provarlo qui (Graphhopper.com).
• Un nuovo plugin per JOSM per modificare le note inserite sul sito.
• Tom MacWright ha pubblicato un editor per GeoJSON online. Puoi leggere un how-to qui.
• Uno script che esporta punti di interesse da nodi e segmenti OSM fatto da Aaron Lidman.
• Alex Barth ha scritto del motivo per il quale è importante fare le OSM #editathons.
• Un post di Eric Fischer sul migliorare i dati OSM negli Stati Uniti con l'ultimo dataset TIGER.
• Remiguel ha scritto uno script PHP che converte un file CSV in un file OSM (per aprirlo ad esempio con JOSM).
• Uno script dell'utente 51114u9 rimuove il menù a sinistra dalla homepage di osm.org.
• Come trovare i nomi di pub più popolari? Una soluzione con MongoDB e dati OSM di Ross Lawley.
• Un post su Gigaom.com dal titolo “Building a business on OpenStreetMap data?“.

 Solo perchè open source ed open data sono "gratis", non vuol dire che non possono usati per farci business.

Traduzione dal blog di OSM.

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On the Edge: What Your Facebook Page is Missing

Guest post from Kelly Joffe of Cliff Ross Design

The Facebook news feed is customized and constantly updated to show information that is most meaningful to the user. It includes likes, status updates, app activity, photos, videos, and links. The news feed is there to make the most out of the time we spend on Facebook. On average, 40% of the time people spend on Facebook is spent browsing their news feed.

Did you know that only about 10% of the people who like your page actually see your posts in their news feed? It’s true. In Facebook’s effort to improve the quality of user experience, they only show us stories in our news feed that we find meaningful. Facebook determines this based on their algorithm called “Edge Rank.” To market yourself successfully on Facebook, the goal is to improve your edge rank so that your posts show up more frequently in your fans’ news feed. Edge Rank is based on these three scores:

Affinity: this measures how strong your relationship is with a fan based on interaction. The people who are frequently commenting, liking, or sharing your posts are going to have a stronger affinity score – and they will be the people who are more likely to see your posts in their news feed.

Weight: this refers to the weight of the interaction your posts gets. For example, a share is the best type of interaction you can get on a post, the next is a comment, and the last is a like. So if your post is getting a lot of comments and/or shares it will be shown to more people in their news feeds.

Time Decay: the older a post gets, the less relevant it becomes, which means that it will appear less and less in the news feeds of fans over time. However, if you posted something yesterday and it is still getting a lot of comments and likes, it will stay fresh in the news feeds of your fans.

Producing quality posts is what it really comes down to. If you are sharing content that your fans care about, information that is relevant to them, and things they find interesting – they are more likely to engage by sharing, commenting, or liking. The more people who that interact with you, the more you show up in news feeds, and the more exposure you get! You really have to pay attention to who your audience is and what they care about. Remember, social brands just don’t share – they deliver value.

The problem that many business owners face is that they just don’t have the time to create this quality content that will boost their edge rank. What good is having 1,000 likes if only 100 people see your posts? Here at Cliff Ross, we specialize in social media marketing – especially for Facebook. We know exactly what it takes to produce quality posts with engaging content. If you are ready to take your Facebook page to the next level and increase your visibility, contact us for more information about how we can help.

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Donnie Downer

Guest blog post from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com.

I recently returned from the National Speakers Association Convention in Philadelphia.  It’s the place where speakers go to get rejuvenated, to spend time with our peers and to get filled up emotionally and intellectually.

Something happened to me that NEVER happened to me before.  An old friend invited me and a colleague to dinner.  We were catching up and a gentleman came up to our table, spotted an empty chair and said, “May I have this chair?”  I said sure we don’t need it.  He pulled the chair out and sat down!  I said, “I’m sorry but we are having dinner and he said, “So am I”.  We looked at each other amazed and just couldn’t believe a stranger would do this. We already ordered, he asked for a menu and started talking.  “Isn’t life tough?”  “You can’t make money as a speaker in this town.”  It was definitely Donnie Downer.  So we decided to proceed with our dinner and just be polite.  I called the waiter over to confirm that we didn’t know him and we needed separate checks.  The waiter asked if we wanted him removed but by then his food arrived.  He dug into his turkey club and fruit salad, listening to us and continuing with his negative babble.  I guess he was harmless, maybe even lonely, but he did lack something most successful speakers have--CHARISMA.

Did you ever work with someone who everyone wants to be around and many times people wish they could be like?  These people have charisma!  They have the ability to build long lasting relationships, they influence the folks around them in a good way.  The are really good at helping people feel better about themselves and they generally have tons of long lasting relationships.

Just because someone is remarkably charismatic doesn't mean they are successful, as a matter of fact, sometimes it means they are a great interview but a horrible performer.  If you want to “Grow UR Biz”, identifying charismatic people who can perform is a must.  Surround yourself with performers.  The best employees are loyal, charismatic performers.  The reason why?  If you love being around charisma, so will your customers.

Donnie Downer didn't have charisma. I’m not sure what he had but I would be interested in knowing what stranger he will be dining with for breakfast tomorrow.

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND BETTER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com. Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia. 

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Evil Eye

Guest Blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Just loving vacation time!  Someone told me once that if we worked as hard as we do the week before vacation we would be so much more productive.  I scrambled all week, cleaned up all my emails, returned every call, finished last minute responsibilities and left for vaca feeling like I’m ready to refresh and forget about everything except fun in the sun. 

Until we arrived!

The first day can be stressful, the heat was oppressive (just like the Lehigh Valley).  The place wasn’t cleaned, we were thirsty and hungry and patiently waiting and waiting and waiting.  It got to be 3:30pm and we decided to go to my favorite “green cafe”  Looking for a thirst quenching smoothie and a small salad, I was greeted by the “EVIL EYE.”  I walked in, stood there waiting.  Five servers were sitting at the tables folding napkins, one looked up and shot me the “EYE” again?  I stood, looked around and noticed a sign that they close at 4pm.  EVIL got up and said, “May I help you?”  I was sure I was completely inconveniencing her.  I asked to be seated and she said, “We stop table service at 3:30.” We can get you take out if you want.” All said with an attitude.” I decided to leave, thinking this shouldn’t happen on vacation! 

Next morning, my friends talked me into going back for a fresh “Green Juice.”  It’s vacation, I’ll forgive and forget and move on.  The waitress came outside to greet us, and she could not have been friendlier and the juice was fabulous. 

The real question is who is responsible for the flip flop service?  One day I get the “EVIL EYE” and the next day over the top service with a big smile.  It all begins with the top banana, the owner, the leader, and the decision maker.

Do you have anyone working for you who has the nerve, the audacity, the bad judgement to give someone who provides you with your livelihood the “EVIL EYE?” And, if you do, do you have a solution. 

1. Give them a reasonable chance to correct the situation.

2. Make them financially responsible for the customer complaints, when a customer complains about their treatment, give them a free meal and “Evil Eye” pays.

or, BYE BYE EVIL EYE!

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia

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NVS Hair Salon - Member of the Day

Guest blog post from NVS fx Salon in Hellertown, a new Chamber member.

With summer underway, we at NVS Salon would like to share some tips to help you care for and keep your hair looking its best this season.

Many of you will spend a large part of your summer at the pool.  Chlorine will strip the hair of its vibrancy and moisture.  One thing you can do before getting into the pool is wet your hair with tap/regular water.  Your hair follicles will absorb the water, leaving less room for the chlorinated pool water.  Any water absorbed while you’re in the pool will be diluted by the tap water already present in the follicle.  Once you’re finished swimming you should shampoo and condition your hair, or at the very least rinse the chlorinated water from it.  Without rinsing, the chlorine will make your hair brittle and can also cause discoloration – as any blonde that becomes green in the summer can tell you.

If you find that your locks have been dulled by the sun and heat, you can try a vinegar mask at home.  Apply ¼ cup of white vinegar to towel dried hair and rinse after 10 minutes.  Your locks will be shiny and full of body.

Just as you apply sunscreen to your skin prior to sun exposure, your hair also needs sun protection.  A small amount of conditioner applied to towel dried or completely dried hair before pulling it up into a loose bun is easy enough and goes a long way.  When applying sunscreen be mindful of the skin around your hairline, where your hair parts, the nape of your neck and your ears (the tops of your ears and the skin behind them).  This skin is fair and sensitive.  It will burn easily and is therefore at higher risk for sun cancer.  You can also wear a straw hat, as straw protects you from UV rays.  Do not assume that any fabric will protect you; read your labels and look for “protects against UV ray” materials when purchasing sun hats and other protective products.

Finally, there are of course many salon services and products that offer and claim to protect the hair and combat the #1 summer hair enemy: frizz.  With the heat comes the humidity; and whether you have curls or straight hair, you want frizz-free locks.  A keratin treatment is a great frizz fighting service.  Keratin will smooth the hair and repel the humidity to lock out frizz.  There are different levels of application strength, depending on your hair texture and desired end result.  Ask your stylist which would work best for you.

Moving on to products, we at NVS Salon are very happy with the results we have seen from the KMS® California TAMEFRIZZ® Hair Care System.  We recommend it to our clients and use it ourselves.  The line consists of a shampoo, conditioner, taming crème, de-frizz oil and smoothing lotion.  As per the KMS® press release for the product line, Tame Frizz “fights frizz on the inside and outside” using a fusion of ingredients (Pequi oil and Acacia) it “internally repairs hair structure” while “externally smoothing the cuticle and reducing the visible effects of frizz.”  Our styling team will be happy to guide you in choosing the products that will best suit your needs.  Any product from this line will be a great addition to your summer hair care regimen.

We hope these tips will serve you and your hair well this summer! Thanks for reading and feel free to come see us at NVS Salon, where you can schedule your keratin treatment and or purchase products from the KMS® California TAMEFRIZZ® Hair Care System.

You can find us on Facebook at NVSfx Salon, visit our website at www.nvsfxsalon.comor call us: (610) 838-2600.

Guest blog post from NVS fx Salon in Hellertown, a new Chamber member.

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#Hashtag - You're It!

Guest post from Kelly Joffe of Cliff Ross Design

Hashtags: we know that you have seen them all over the place, and maybe you use them yourself. They have played a significant role on Twitter and now they are starting to pop up all over Facebook. But what does it really mean to use a hashtag – what purpose does it serve? Far beyond #BeiberFever, hashtags are now playing an important role in online branding  for companies.

Hashtags originated as a conversation creator for specific topics on Twitter. Lets say someone was at the beach, enjoying the day with their family and posted a Tweet about it. If they used the hashtag #family or #BeachDay, it would start or join a conversation that has already been created about those topics. So when the hashtag is clicked on, you can view all the other “tweets” about that subject. Maybe other people in your area are enjoying a day at the beach with their families. Hashtags are just another way to connect people who are doing or talking about similar things. Now Facebook is utilizing hashtags as an additional way for people to connect and share information.

Recently we’ve been seeing how hashtags can play a key role in promoting a brand online. Similar to the way people use hashtags to connect with one another, hashtags can be used as a way to connect people to a brand. Lets use Red Lobster as an example. If someone is out to eat at Red Lobster and they post a status or Tweet about being there, they could use #RedLobster in their post. Now anytime #RedLobster is searched, everyone who has made a post about it will show up. This starts to create a buzz around a brand, and becomes a way for people to connect to the brand and help share the brand’s message.

Brands can also develop their own hashtags that are specific to their business. For example, McDonalds uses the hashtag #ImLovinIt – this is their brand slogan, which they have also developed into a hashtag. Now anytime that hasgtag is used, it’s associated with the McDonalds brand.

Social Media is a landscape that is constantly changing and evolving. If you are going to take part in this social environment – it’s important to stay current with the trends. Social Media will play a crucial role in business marketing in the future, just as it’s starting to do now. Hashtags aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but how we use them will certainly evolve over time.

Here at Cliff Ross, our job is to keep up with the changing landscape that is Social Media. We are happy to answer any questions and help guide your business through the world of social media marketing. Give us a call at 610-829-1333.

Guest post from Kelly Joffe of Cliff Ross Design

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Growing Your Business in 2013 - Beach Bum vs. Beach Beauty

Guest blog from Carol Ritter of CarolTalks.com

Oh, the sweet smell of the ocean and the calming of the beach is what everyone needs in the summertime.  I had to babysit one of my grands in Rehoboth Beach recently and, as you may already know, my customer service experiences range from Beach Beauty to Beach Bum. When I checked into the hotel the staff was overwhelmingly friendly, “we have complimentary breakfast, wine & cheese at 5pm and at 8pm chocolate chip cookies.”  Now I’m impressed, Beach Beauty!  Then she reminds me, “ We also have a free shuttle to the beach.”  You could take away all the other goodies, that shuttle to the beach is my cup of tea.  That’s where we met  Lew,  the most amazing, friendly guy.  He couldn’t wait to tell us about the city as he packed our stuff onto the shuttle and we drove by restaurants he gave us the history and then.....he told us this was something they are trying as a pilot program with bigger and better services to come, BEACH BEAUTY!  The group I was with said, “This is the best hotel I ever stayed in.”  Until the next day.........

Breakfast started at 7:30 a.m.  I arrived at 7:23 and began to get coffee and then decided to take a sticky bun up to my granddaughter’s room.  The woman in charge of the food service came storming into the room.  I said hello and got the obligatory hi, and she immediately ran into the kitchen (she was on a mission) to scold the staff for allowing the breakfast to open 7 minutes early.  It was inappropriate, unnecessary and completely over the top...all over 7 minutes.  But the real issue was me and the other early birds heard the whole thing.  She stormed out of the kitchen and pretty much ruined that glowing reputation for the hotel in about 10 minutes, BEACH BUM!  The guests began to chatter, “did she have to do that to her staff in front of us, what’s the big deal about 7 minutes, wonder if her boss knows how rude she was to us.”  “We love it here, I’m shocked by that behavior, I just might tell the owner.”  I left and came back later with my family.  When we arrived at 8 a.m., the eggs were gone, the french toast was empty and the staff pretty much was taking their good old time refilling the food.  BEACH BUM....

Here’s the scoop, for all the boss’s in the world, hire that flexible, go-with-the flow employee who might have encouraged the 5 early birds to take a muffin.

For all the employees in the world who have to listen to that rage, get a new job and don’t work for someone who is that mean

For all the guests in the world, report this stuff, don’t allow this to continue, she needs to work alone somewhere where she cannot continue to ruin people’s days

For all the business owners in the world, make sure your leadership team is trained and accountable.

Beach Beauties make the world go ‘round, Beach Bums do nothing but continue to spiral into bad customer service, bad reputation and bad performance. Who works in your business, the beauty or the bum?

Carol serves as a featured writer for the Home News and the Lehigh Valley Chamber Blog.
Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in innovative leadership, outrageous fundraising, million dollar marketing, and building organizational alliances throughout the country.  Carol’s creative  leadership with bullet proof ideas for recruiting MORE MEMBERS, MORE MONEY AND TER LEADERS. www.caroltalks.com 610-442-4545 tellkids@aol.com  Like Carol on  Facebook at Caroltalks and CarolCoaches!  Carol S. Ritter, Immediate Past President, National Speakers Association Philadelphia.

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Business News in the Lehigh Valley - June 24, 2013

Good morning Lehigh Valley! We hope you had a great weekend and started the summer off on the right foot. It's going to be a hot week in our corner of the world, with most day's high temp around 90 degrees.

The state unemployment rate dropped slightly in May for the fourth consecutive month, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. May’s 0.1% improvement to 7.5% puts Pennsylvania below the national average for the first time since July 2012. The national average is now just higher at 7.6%.

The Allentown Chamber of Commerce has named its new board president, Lehigh Valley Grand Prix partner Mike McCreary. McCreary, just 29, will be the youngest board chair of any of the Chambers in the Lehigh Valley's history. "The main goal this year is to strengthen the partnerships we have in the city, including the City of Allentown, Hamilton District Main Street Program, West End Alliance and the Seventh Street program," McCreary said.

The City of Allentown’s future arena complex is in receipt of a 2013 Commonwealth Award from 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, the state’s leading advocate for responsible land use. Mayor Ed Pawlowski accepted the award last night at a ceremony at the Crowne Plaza in Harrisburg.

Two different restaurateurs that have found success in downtown Bethlehem are soon to open new locations just a few blocks away on Linden Street. Billy Kounoupis, owner of Billy's Downtown Diner, is opening a his "Bethlehem Burger Bar" on the 600 block of Linden Street, at the current location of "Theo's Gyros & More."  Nino Basile, owner of Mama Nina’s Foccacheria, will be opening his new restaurant Pane E Pasta on the 700 block of Linden. The menu items will be similar to Mama Nina's, with pizza, subs & burgers for takeout. Who knows... maybe we'll see a new restaurant row on Linden Street soon? There are already two other great establishments close by, with Mach's Gute, Flama Tropical and Hometown Heroes right along the way.

That's all for now, follow us on twitter and facebook for more business news updates throughout the day!


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Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 6/17/13

Good morning and happy Monday, Lehigh Valley. Today is "Eat Your Vegetables Day," strategically placed in the middle of National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month.

In recent business news, supporters of Braden Airpark were given 120 days to arrange a deal to purchase the property from the Lehigh Northampton-Airport Authority. "The authority wants to sell Braden and other properties to help pay off an estimated $16 million legal judgment that ended a lawsuit in 2011." Roughly 40 planes remain at Braden Airport, the only general aviation airport in Northampton County.

Today begins the construction on the Route 22 toll bridge between Easton, PA and Phillipsburg, NJ. The highway will be slimmed down to just one lane over the bridge for the next year and a half, as part of a $30.6 million project to rehabilitate the 75 -year-old bridge. Motorists are urged to take alternate routes during the construction period to cut down on traffic congestion along the bridge.

Lehigh Valley and Warren County are beginning to see signs of a resurgence for new home construction, according to Forks Township zoning officer Tim Weis. Weis says he’s seeing signs of recovery over the last six months, issuing between seven to eight permits per month and expects a 25% increase in housing starts compared to the previous year.

Vacation travel is picking back up across the country, with leisure travelers' hotel bookings for the next 12 months up 4.6%.




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