We are so excited to congratulate and welcome our newest Chamber members:

IBIS Wealth Management, Thomas Balcom

Ed Gagliardi

David Somberg & Ed Gagliardi                                   Steven Bleier & Tom Balcom

The testimonials are flooding in and the entire chamber team is psyched!!!  From attending "From How to Wow" to the awesome networking events throughout the month, members are making great connections, doing business with each other and excited about the great things going on.  Together we are changing 100 businesses in 60 days and we are so excited that our members are participating. 

“I have met more local business owners through the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce than through any other avenue. As a Financial Advisor who specializes in working with successful professionals, the Chamber has been an important part of my marketing program.” - Jason Wojciechowski,
AXA Advisors South Florida

 "On July 16, after 2 weeks of membership in the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, I attended How to Wow.  It lived up to its name.  For me, the "Wow" was learning new ways to network, learning how to provide value in a networking situation and how to identify potential referral sources. 
Kate Volman, the V.P., Business Development at the Chamber, and Greta Schulz of Schulz Training & Consulting, together provided strategies for getting value from Chamber membership and events, networking and dealing with business development challenges." - Marc Goldberg, J.D., CBM, SPHR, SuMa Partners, Ltd. www.sumapartners.com

Let's keep going!!!!!  Changing 100 Business in 60 Days!!!

Continuing to change 100 Businesses...every day!  We had a fabulous Successful Women in Business luncheon this afternoon.  Over 90 women were networking, building relationships and sharing their success stories!  Lisa Orr with Minuteman Press enjoyed the lunch today.  Check out what she has to say about being involved!!!

"At Minuteman Press we assist our clients promote their business and increase their sales.  Since joining the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, we've seen our client list increase with chamber members and with businesses the members have referred to us.  The networking continues even after the networking event!

I am now an Ambassador for the BRCC and I am proud to be part of such a wonderful organization.  Everyone involved with the chamber is committed to helping members build their business.  I encourage others to get involved in the BRCC and to support local businesses in our amazing city."

Lise Orr
Minuteman Press

100 Businesses Changed...Every Day.  Congratulations to our newest members who joined today!!  Check out how YOU can get involved - click here!

Beighley, Myrick & Udell, PA, Adam Beighley (TRUSTEE MEMBER)

The Ticktin Law Group, P.A., Michael Vater

As we continue our mission to change 100 businesses in 60 days, today we had an awesome New Member Orientation!! Some great connections have already been made in the chamber boardroom today and we look forward to their involvement.  

Isn't it awesome what we can do together?  Thank YOU for your involvement with the chamber and being part of this amazing community!  Together changing businesses every day!     

Special congratulations to our newest member who joined today!: 

 One Source Screening, Melissa Altman-Weldy   

It's true...we are changing 100 Businesses in 60 Days and it is all because of YOU, our amazing members!!  A great big THANK YOU to all of you who spread the word about how much you love being involved with the Boca Chamber.  We love hearing about how the chamber has helped so many of you both professionally and personally and it is up to us to help every business get the same kinds of results!! 

Special thanks to the following individuals who shared their experience with a friend and referred them to the chamber:

Bonnie Kaye, Wegman Associates, Inc.

Carole Kriete, Choice Mortgage Bank

John Mulhall, Rutherford Mulhall, PA

Charles Shane, Bryason Realty Corporation

100 Business Changed in 60 Days...WILL YOU BE NEXT?

Want a FREE Six Month Membership?

Thanks to our amazing members, we are more excited than ever to change 100 businesses in 60 days by getting them involved in the GBRCC!!  We love hearing about our member's success stories and we are committed to creating more and more!  Together let's change 100 businesses in 60 day!  Tell your friends what you have gotten out of the chamber and get them excited about being involved in our community. 

You are so passionate about building your business and creating your dreams....and we are thankful that you are part of our community.  Click here to discover how YOU can help change 100 businesses in 60 days!  

100 Business Changed in 60 Days...willl YOU be next?!

Amendment 4 is bad for you, your business and your kids' future.

WRITTEN BY: Lisa Browne Banic, Lisa B - PR Consulting, member of Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

[Boca Raton, Fla. - June 14, 2010] Palm Beach County Executive Committee met today at Palm Beach College, Lake Worth, Fla. to discuss the priorities and action items pertaining to Florida State Amendment 4 (A4) a.k.a. "Hometown Democracy,"which will be on the November 2010 ballot.
Opponents of A4 are reminding others not to be fooled by the "Hometown Democracy" label. They say A4 - a statewide "Vote on Everything" initiative - is a grave threat to Florida's future. This proposed re-write of the Florida Constitution will imperil Florida's economy and unique quality-of-life by subverting a well-established and democratic planning process while threatening Florida's prospects for economic recovery. With the "Vote on Everything" amendment, citizens - not the representatives they elected - are forced to regularly decide hundreds of technical land-use planning issues at the ballot box.
Organizations in Palm Beach County and chambers like the Greater Boca Chamber of Commerce encourage and support "Vote NO on 4" due to the direct and indirect effects on the economy, on area businesses, and on citizens.
"We need to get the message out to everyone that Amendment 4 is going to hit us like a natural disaster, only it will stick around longer," said David J. Levy, Mayor of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and local co-chairman of Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy. "Property values will go down, people won't be able to get jobs, and your grandkids won't visit Florida," he explained.
Experts say passing A4 will raise taxes, hurt our sluggish economy, and make it more expensive to live in Florida.
Karl Nurse, Pinellas County co-chairman of Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy had stated in aSt. Petersburg Times article February 5, 2010 that projects requiring comprehensive and land-use changes will require a separate vote for each change, stalling (and possibly eliminating) the progress of projects and the jobs related to them.
"Amendment 4 will make comprehensive plan changes so expensive and time-consuming that well-planned development will become extremely difficult," he had stated.
Currently there is a 61% passing rate of registered voters willing to vote Yes on A4.
Bill Graham, Palm Beach County School Board member and associate professor at Palm Beach College said, "We just need 41% to kill it, so get out there and vote before your kids leave the state because they can't find work."
The "Vote on Everything" amendment has already been a disaster in St. Pete Beach, Fla. - the small Pinellas County town that adopted a local version of this proposal in 2006. Since then, residents have suffered through endless litigation, which has caused costs to spiral out of control and turned St. Pete Beach into a battleground for out-of-town lawyers and special interest groups.
A4 will appear on the November 2010 ballot statewide. Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy leads opposition to this measure. To date, more than 200 organizations and 17 editorial boards throughout Florida have opposed A4, including organizations in Palm Beach County and the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. More join the fight each day.

For more information on Florida's Amendment 4 go to http://www.florida2010.org .

AUTHOR INFORMATION: Scott Applebee, VP of Marketing, Travelpro International, Inc., SApplebee@Travelpro.com / www.travelpro.com

With airline baggage fees rising, the carry-on bag has become a favorite travel companion worldwide. The largest carry-on that can be taken on board in a U.S. domestic flight is 22 inches; some international flights allow only 20-inch bags. Always check with your airline for carry-on size restrictions. Whatever the size limits, packing smart can be a real challenge. Here are some tips.

Start with your suitcase choice

No one wants to lug around a heavy carry-on, so consider newer, lightweight luggage. Half the weight of older bags, the better carry-ons will lighten your load and provide telescoping handles and wheels without sacrificing durability. Lighter luggage is especially important to help avoid back strain when you lift the carry-on into airplane overhead bins.

Take the right two bags

Airlines allow one carry-on bag and a personal bag. Don't waste that extra bag on a purse or computer case. Take an expandable briefcase, tote or backpack, and then pack your laptop, purse, reading materials, snacks or light jacket into the smaller bag.

Pack early

Lay out all of the clothing you think you might need a few days early. Then spend a couple days removing items that are too heavy or don't match your travel wardrobe. Take out things that aren't absolutely necessary.

Pack efficiently

Make the most of your limited space by choosing clothing you can re-wear. Think twice about packing large sweaters and jackets. Instead, consider thinner, insulating layers of clothes that fill less space in your bag. Also, pack from the bottom up, starting between the handle struts with bulky items like shoes and travel accessories. Heavier items, like toiletry kits, should be positioned in the bottom of the bag. This will minimize shifting when the suitcase is turned upright to roll it through the airport. Use side pockets for ties, scarves-anything you don't want to get caught in the crush of the main compartment.

Color coordinate

You can bring a lot less clothes if you color coordinate. The key: Commit to a color scheme for the duration of your trip. Outfits with neutral colors are easier to match.

Pack to avoid wrinkling

Make full utilization of the various features within the luggage interior to avoid wrinkling. Use the lid and side pockets to separate specific items from the contents in the main compartment. The inner lid pocket is excellent for reducing wrinkles when storing shirts and blouses, while the side pockets can handle a wide variety of smaller items. Use the tie-down straps in the main compartment to hold your items in place during movement. A great tip: If you have carry-on luggage with a built-in garment system (sometimes called a suiter), always pack the lapel face down to avoid wrinkling the front of your suit.

Pack gels in outer pockets

To comply with TSA rules, your liquid and gel toiletries need to be packed in containers that are 3.4 ounces or smaller in size. Place them in a 1-quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag and store in an outer pocket for easy access at security checkpoints. Each traveler is allowed 1-quart-size bag. In addition, use the outer pockets for boarding passes, magazines, books, jackets and other items that you need to easily access before, during and immediately after the flight.

WRITTEN BY: Rod Cortizo, owner, RODSQUAD Women's Fitness & Makeovers, 306 S. Federal Highway, Suite 93, Boca Raton, FL 33432 (www.rodsquad.com)

To this day I still see people running in the midday sun; sometimes even with jackets on to optimize the sweat. They think they will be able to burn more fat and calories that way. Indeed, their bodies are working harder, and the heart beats faster, but that doesn't mean more calories are being burned. You tire more quickly because there is less blood being sent to the working muscles. The blood instead is being shunted to the skin in an attempt to cool itself down. That is why our skin turns red and flushed when it is hot. By bringing the blood to the surface of the skin, heat is dissipated and sweat glands are stimulated to increase evaporation on the surface of the skin. You feel you are straining and laboring during your workout, because the body's ability to dissipate heat is gradually being compromised because it can't keep up with the increased exertion and the high temperatures.

If you do find yourself exercising in the heat, fluid replacement is an important concern. This is because the more sweat the body produces the lower the blood volume. You can think of this as like your car working without sufficient water in your radiator.

The best way to find out how much water you need to replenish during and after a workout is to weigh yourself before and after your routine. For example, if you lose two pounds during your workout, you should drink at least 16 ounces of water to replace that weight. It is better to drink more than you think you need and don't worry too much about sports drinks - you will get most of your electrolytes from a well balanced diet. In addition, pick a cooler time of the day to be more efficient during your workout and pick light, loose clothing that facilitates sweat evaporation.

WRITTEN BY: Steve Rose

This question faces every businessman at about 6:00am. If you have only one suit this decision is very easy. But if you are like the average executive who has between five and fifteen suits in his wardrobe, this can be a difficult, but yet important decision to start the day.
There are five categories in which your business attire will fall into. By exploring each one briefly, this will give your significant other a few more minutes of sleep instead of helping you decide on your wardrobe for the day.

Navy Suits

Navy is appropriate for important meetings and presentations. While an attorney may wear a navy suit for an opening trial statement, a business executive may wear a navy suit for a board of directors meeting. A savvy sales person may also choose to wear a navy suit for those new business presentations, or maybe to accept his award for "Salesman of the Year".

Charcoal Suits

If you are an attorney meeting with your opponent's legal representation to try and settle out of court, a charcoal suit will compliment that sense of security. Or maybe you are an executive or sales associate meeting with your boss for that big promotion; nothing says confidence like a suit that places you a notch above the competition. Charcoal colored suits are also appropriate when making important financial decisions and acquiring new business.

Blue/Gray Suits

Are you traveling light? Maybe you are visiting a client out of town. Or maybe you can not remember what I recommended you to wear. A blue/gray suit is perfect for these occasions, and they also provide variety to your wardrobe. This is also a great alternative to darker colors without losing a professional edge.

Black & White Suits

Are you in for a detail day in the office? Looking for a change of pace to your blues and grays? The Birdseye is a very current and sophisticated look. This is also known as a transitional suit as it also looks great with a black shirt and no tie.

Earth Tone Suits

An earth tone suit portrays a person who is down-to-earth and understanding. These are your best rapport-building colors. An attorney meeting with an associate or team may choose to wear this suit. Executives may trend this look appropriately when meeting with small business owners, staff, unhappy customers, or to close out a week at the office.

Author Information:
Steve Rose
400 Fairway Dr. Ste 106
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
(954) 608-0239 Cell
(954) 418-6337 ext. 201 Office
www.TomJames.com

WRITTEN BY: Lisa Browne Banic, Publicity Consultant 703-485-5656 lisa@lisabremote.com

You've been there before.

You freeze when someone asks, "What do you do?"

And your head starts spinning because there's so much you want to say. But you don't know where to start.

Everyone needs their "elevator speech" ready to roll, anytime for anyone.

Remember you never know who you can help (with your product or service), so take advantage of giving your 30-second speech anywhere!

Some tips:

- Don't wing it! Focus on what makes you the most money. You may have a myriad of products or service but it would not be appropriate to list them all at this time. The kind listener would be overwhelmed plus there isn't enough time in 30 seconds to do it justice. So, if necessary, do a quick situational awareness, needs assessment, etc. Pick one or two features of your business that would most attract your listener. (The point is you want to increase their attention not turn them off.)

- Start with, "I am Lisa" rather than "My name is...." It makes all the difference; it says "Listen to me, you need to hear what I have to say."

- Have a strong opening. Grab their attention. Let them know without a doubt, "I am here to fix your problem" by identifying a problem and providing your solution. Think about what you're saying and practice it on your friends and family. Look at how you communicate holistically. Is it obvious what your product or service is in the first 3-5 seconds by looking at your business card? ...on your website? ...or in your elevator speech? If not, you need to continue reading this.

- After your strong opening, mention one thing that makes your product or service appealing to them: "I specialize in..." (make it unique) "...to help you do x, y, z." For example, "Sounds like you need to connect with your current customers through social media, which I can help you with."

- In the final piece of your 30-second elevator speech, clearly state a call to action in your closing. "I'm a Strategic Communications Analyst at XYZ firm and if you'd like I can schedule a free consultation next week. What day works for you?"

All in all, remember who is responsible for communication? The speaker, not the listener.

WRITTEN BY: Mayor Susan Whelchel, City of Boca Raton

Are we achieving true academic excellence in our Boca Raton public schools?

In the City of Boca Raton, as in all of Palm Beach County, we have very high standards and expectations in regard to our quality of life.
Everyone knows that each individual school, city, or district has unique characteristics, needs, and concerns in educating their students.

In terms of educational excellence, our local public schools should address all the basic educational and physical needs of all students and create a learning environment that will allow them to excel beyond the standard structure of education.

One very important concern recently raised in our community is whether our public school students are receiving the absolute best available education even though our public schools are rated very highly by customary Florida educational standards.

In Boca Raton, many teachers, students, parents, and citizens have expressed interest in existing schools being converted to charter schools to help enhance the quality of education and academic resources being delivered to our children. The Boca Raton High School Advisory Committee is now exploring whether a conversion of the school to a Conversion Charter School, operating within the School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC), would provide the flexibility to educate each child to their fullest potential.

What is a Charter School? A Charter School is an independent public school that is fiscally and academically accountable to local sponsoring school district, but exempt from many district and state statutes.

Under Florida law, a charter school can be created to enhance educational choices for parents and students, to promote innovation, to improve achievement, and to create and enhance professional opportunities for teachers, including the ownership of the learning program at the school site. The SDPBC is the sponsor of 33 charter schools as of July 2009 (http://www.palmbeachschools.org/charter/).

The purpose of changing Boca Raton High School into a Charter School would be to allow local Boca Raton school administrators and teachers to boost an already excellent program for all students at the high school and to allow the school to pay teachers more than they presently receive from the SDPBC.

In simple words, advocates of a Boca Raton High Charter School argue that if the change took place, it would breed a higher standard of excellence of education at Boca Raton High while promoting more flexibility and better use of fiscal and educational resources to deliver first-rate education curriculum to all students.
Under this plan, the school would remain a public school under the auspices of the SDPBC, but would be controlled by a voluntary board of trustees. Here is an example of how the board of trustees may be composed:

Seven voting, volunteer, adult Trustees, with 4-year staggered terms:

• One member elected by the current teachers. 
• One member elected by current staff members. 
• One member elected by the current parents. 
• One member elected by registered City of Boca Raton voters. 
• One member appointed by SAC to represent legal interests. 
•  One member appointed by SAC to represent financial management interests. 
• One member appointed by SAC to represent fundraising interests.

Four non-voting members:

• PTSA-Appointed Representative 
•  Student Government-Appointed Representative 
• School Chief Financial Officer
• School Principal

This means that school would be kept intact with the same boundary lines, but local Boca Raton High School administrators would be given more flexibility in terms of paying teachers a better salary and participating in better educational programs.
The change would increase the allocation of monies back into the Boca High School by the SDPBC. The SDPBC currently receives funds for Boca High School students for school and afterschool programs from the state and Federal government. However the SDPBC keeps a substantial part of these funds for "administration." The change would not involve an increase in taxes.

There are several reasons being given to promote Boca High into a Conversion Charter School:
Administrative costs would go down because built in costs for the entire school district that are allocated to Boca students would be eliminated, which could give the School a minimum of $1 million in the first year alone, and ultimately $3.4 to $4 million more per year. These monies, instead of going to the SDPBC, would be specifically spent within Boca High School;

• There would be much more flexibility in curriculum, which would allow the school to increase the quality of education and better address needs of local students;
• Teachers would get paid more in salary and benefits than the other Palm Beach County and Florida teachers, which would allow Boca Raton High to attract and retain the finest teachers in Florida. The goal would be to have best compensated teachers in Palm Beach County and State of Florida, while matching the job security that they have now;
• Budgets are utilized differently in charter schools so that money from one fiscal year could carry over year to year. Presently, if the money is not spent in a fiscal year, it reverts back to the School District-as a result, the Charter monies would be spent more efficiently;
• More money retained in the school would increase offerings for students. Summer, after hour, sports and vacation programs would increase exposure to arts and extracurricular programs and would increase teacher and student employment.

The next step in the review of the Charter School alternative is for the Boca High School Advisory Board to decide to allow parents and teachers to vote on whether the school should be converted to a charter school.

What do you think? Email me at susan@blogmayorsusan.com.  

WRITTEN BY: Lisa Browne Banic, Senior Communications Analyst, Vox|Optima - full service PR/Marketing

I met with a colleague today who was so frazzled about "dumping" his direct mail campaign and replacing it with social media.

I asked him if he met his goal by using direct mail (given his target audience). He said, "Yes, but I've got to start using social media because everyone is."

Don't fix what ain't broke - just enhance it.

If done correctly as pieces of your overall communications plan, a direct mail campaign can be supplemented with a social media campaign. By mailing to the same target audience (snail mail and email) and posting links via Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn and other sites where your target audiences hang out, for example - you can capture their attention both on and off-line!

Why continue to use "old-fashioned" direct mail? Because, if captivating and correctly targeted, people will read it and respond. Let's take a postcard marketing piece, for example.

They are simple
A postcard has to get some one's attention while they're going through the mail. And a disorganized mass of information just isn't going to do it. Simple headlines like "Summer fashions are in," "Come meet the famous dancer Carmen," or "50 Percent Off Specialty Marked Lawn Furniture" work best. And don't write a book. Make believe that every word is costing you $1,000. Once you get the attention of someone looking at the mail with "Come meet the famous dancer Carmen," just explain where and when, and maybe a few things she'll be doing.

They are timely
When asked what was the most effective mailer ever created, a highly regarded copy writer pulled out a postcard. On that postcard, in big bold type, it said, "Your insurance expires April 30." Do you have a timely message for your customers? Use it.

They are printed on both sides
What are you supposed to do now that your warranty is expiring April 30? The answer to that question is on the other side of the postcard. Your postcard has two sides - use them. But that doesn't mean fill every inch. You may want to use one side like a poster and the other for a few details. Or put an ad on one side and a personal message on the other. Just remember to keep it simple.

They are attractive
In some ways, the design of a postcard has to work harder than the design of any other media. There are no envelopes to open or gimmicks to play with. Your postcard doesn't necessarily have to be a work of art, but it helps to make it attractive. For instance, you can enhance an invitation to your booth at the Annual Miami Boat Show with a nice picture of your wares. That way, it might hang on the customer's cork board or refrigerator as a pleasant reminder to visit you.

They are measurable
A postcard can also be a coupon, a gift certificate, or a ticket to an event. Ask people to present the coupon to take advantage of an offer or promotion. Counting coupons help you measure the effectiveness of your promotions. That way you can better understand what worked and what didn't.

It doesn't take a lot of time, money or effort to create, print and mail a postcard. But when done right, a postcard can be enormously effective. The most effective postcards have these five traits.

For more ideas, call Lisa Browne Banic, Vox|Optima 703-298-3243 lisa.browne.banic@voxoptima.com www.voxoptima.com

WRITTEN BY: Tedd Simmons, Ph.D. CEO & Managing Principal of The Curtiss Group International ... a CPI global partner. www.thecurtissgroup.com

Millennials are quickly entering the workforce. Are you ready?

In a recent segment on CBS's 60 Minute entitled "The Millennials are Coming" Morley Safer captures a true concern that every company will face and many are already struggling with: The arrival of the next generation.

Who are these young workers and why are they so different? They are the new generation of the workforce, those in their late teens and twenties. We have all heard the characteristics of the Millennials, otherwise known as Generation Y, Echo Boomers and the Digital Generation to name a few. Are they better or worse, or in fact, maybe just different? Many people have their own opinion. Either way, they are entering the workforce and are the future of your company.
The Key...Don't Attempt to Understand a Generation, Understand the Individual
As the Millennials enter the workforce, employers are scrambling to figure them out. What do they like and dislike? What are their goals? What motivates them? But when you attempt to answer these questions, generalization isn't effective. Each person is unique and it is the understanding of what makes them an individual that will make or break your talent management.

For many, this new workforce may be hard to communicate with and understand. The differences between the Millennials, the Baby Boomers and everyone in between create struggle for many co-workers. This situation solidifies the increasing need for effective communication in order to ensure positive relationships that will benefit the company. It often takes time to really get to know an employee and discover their true character, yet you may not have much time before they walk down the street. It doesn't have to be that hard or take that long to understand and appreciate your employees.

So how can you make them fit your company? You can't. The question is how can your company invite them in and keep them there? In order to survive, companies need specific recruiting, development and retention techniques that meet the demands of the Millennials. The void left by the Baby Boomers upon retirement will be too large for the Millennials to fill, creating a talent shortage that leads to an open market for job seekers. Companies seeking the superior performers of tomorrow will have to act quick, using effective recruitment and selection techniques. Once on board, this new generation will require a different kind of management, one that is encouraging, motivating, gentle and personalized. The Millennials want a coach that not only guides their efforts, but provides a role model as they reach for career goals. They are focused on their achievements and growth, and won't settle for a lack of appreciation and stagnant positions. This generation knows they have options and are in search of that dream job, expecting to come close.

Are your talent management processes ready for this generation? Do you have what it takes to recruit, hire and retain the superior performers? Time-tested, research-based solutions ensure your company will embrace the arrival of the next generation.  

WRITTEN BY: Mark Kane, Credit Wise Advisors
20423 State Road 7 F6-350 Boca Raton, FL 33498, Ph: 888.456.9223 X103, Web: www.creditwiseadvisor.com

Good question. For most people, business credit is a mystery. Credit profiles are created by 3 business credit bureaus on every business using the business name, address and federal tax identification number (FIN) or the employer identification number (EIN) that you get from the IRS. Other creditors rely on your business credit profile to determine if they want to grant you credit and how much credit they'll give.
The Big 3 among the major business credit bureaus are:
1. Dun & Bradstreet
2. Experian Business
3. Equifax Business

The information provided to the bureaus is completely voluntary. No business is required to send it in so the bureaus may never receive all or even any information about your business credit transactions. You could go for years racking up business credit without any of it being reported to the bureaus - unless you know how the system works!

Business credit scores range from 0 to 100 with 75 or more considered an excellent rating. Personal credit scores, on the other hand, range from 300 to 850 with a score of 680 or higher considered excellent. But in reality, most creditors want to see a 720 score!
Your score is based on more than just whether you pay your bills on time. It can also be affected by the amount of available credit, the length of time you've had a credit profile, the number of inquiries made on your credit profile and more. And the big mistake I see business owners make is that they use their personal information to apply for credit, leases and loans they're going to use in their business. This drives down their personal credit score!

Let me explain. The average consumer gets just one inquiry per year and has 11 credit obligations (7 credit cards and 4 installment loans). Business owners are not your average consumer. They carry both business and personal credit. This usually doubles the number of inquiries, which reduces their score. They also carry higher balances, which reduces their available credit - and their score even more. Meanwhile, they never build their business score that could help them access much needed business credit in the future.

The first place to begin is with your personal credit. Many lenders look not only at the business' ability to repay a business loan, they will look at the individual business owner's credit profile applying for the loan. In fact, a recent CNN report showed that 95% of all credit reports have errors and at least one-third of those errors are detrimental enough to be denied additional credit. We see it all the time! Most credit profiles are inaccurate. And many consumers and business owners are denied credit through no fault of their own.
Rest assured, with a little hard work and understanding what steps you need to take, you can separate your business credit get access to funds without using your personal credit and guarantees.

WRITTEN BY: Greta Schulz, President and CEO of Schulz Training in West Palm Beach, Fl. To recieve her free e-newsletter "SELLutions" please email her at greta@schulztraining.com

In traveling around the country, I'm hearing lots of the same comments. People are worried about the economy and don't know where it is headed.
Guess what? We never know what is going to happen. How many people knew on Sept. 10, 2001, that we would witness the horrible events of the next day?
I recently had a conversation with a friend, Ellen. She's a successful business executive and, like me, doesn't typically hold back on spending money.
But, this time, we talked about how we are spending money differently now. Neither of us has stopped spending, but we're reassessing our expenses and analyzing what we are spending money on.

For example, Ellen said her husband had asked if they should stop sending their laundry to the dry cleaner. She told him: "No, we need to stop shopping, and keep the clothes we have looking great."

Interesting choice, I thought.

In business, most of us are hearing clients say they can't afford us right now. They need to cut out our product or service "just for a while."

Some customers are telling us they "need to stop all unnecessary spending."

Unnecessary? Who decides that?

The first time I heard a salesperson repeat that response from a client, I said, "OK, so did you e-mail the client, but the message bounced back because the customer no longer has a computer? Did the client call you from a land line because his company no longer has any cell phones?"

Those were rhetorical questions, of course. Many of us remember life without e-mail and cell phones. Business still got done in those days.
But, e-mail and cell phones have now become "must-haves."

It is all about choice. It's a choice to work without an Internet connection or a cell phone. But, we Americans have decided those tools are necessary for us to function. That is our choice.
In today's economic climate, we have to make choices about what is necessary and prioritize our spending.

So do our clients. Do your clients view you as necessary in running their business?

Note: There is a difference between nice and necessary.

Nice is what customers spend money on when their cash flow is healthy. Necessary is what they spend money on for a "must-have," even when money is tight.

For Ellen, that's the dry cleaning.

What is necessary for you? More importantly, what is necessary for your clients? Are you necessary to their success?

Remember: It's all about choice - the choice to spend money, even when there's little to go around.

Do your clients view your product or service as nice or necessary? The choice is theirs.

WRITTEN BY: Angie Horn at The Curtiss Group International at 954/850-0352 or ahorn@thecurtissgroup.com

In today's tough economic times, it is more important than ever that hiring managers choose the right new employees. But how do you know how to make that critical choice?

To avoid unnecessary people costs, the business owner or manager must be sure every time a hiring decision is made, that it is with a view that the individual hired will not only have the hard skills but the personality and motivation to be successful at their new job.

So how do you find that ideal candidate? By incorporating assessment tools into the hiring process. While many hiring managers will argue that they don't have assessments in their budget, can they really afford not to?

Research published by the Harvard Business Review indicates that by doing the "traditional" interview and background check of a candidate, the employer only has
about a 26% chance they've selected the right person for the job. By incorporating assessment tools that measure the candidate's behaviors, mental abilities, interests, motivators, and job matching, the probability of choosing the right candidate increases to 75%!

By: Angie Horn, Director, Client Relations, THE CURTISS GROUP INTERNATIONAL

Benjamin Franklin stated that when you're finished changing, you're finished! What a bold, yet relevant statement. Today, businesses are in the throws of unprecedented change. Unfortunately, many business leaders are reacting to the change imposed rather than proactively guiding through the change. Leaders play a critical role when it comes to change. Whether your team is facing large organizational transitions or smaller procedural adjustments, you need to help everyone cope with and successfully implement different ways of doing things. As you consider your leadership during times of change consider the following:

Don't simply push change initiatives; involve others in responding to the change. Involve others in the planning and cultivating of change initiatives. People respond more positively to change when they understand the need, so supply information outlining the good business reasons for the change.

Don't overload your people, prioritize for change. You will not have enough time to take care of everything that comes along during transitional periods. Therefore, make sure you help team members prioritize and take care of the things that matter most. Start a priority list and arrange it in High, Medium, and Low order. Complete the High priorities before progressing to the Medium ... and then the Low.

Don't assume everything is OK; monitor your team's temperature. Schedule frequent informal times with the members of your team to discover how they are responding to the change. Listen to what they say and how they say it. Heighten your awareness to how team members behave and interact with one another. If you sense that things aren't right, investigate each potential problem and take whatever action is appropriate to "nip it in the bud."

Change is inevitable. Strong leadership is the ability to assist others through the change. People respond differently based on their behavioral tendencies. At The Curtiss Group, we specialize in helping teams understand their individual and team approaches to change. For more information on how to lead effectively during times of change call 954-389-1900 or email us at info@thecurtissgroup.com.

Written By: Greta Schulz

Since it is the first of the year and our goals are in place, we can now begin to work on them... Boy it's great starting out with a clear and concise plan, right? What...you don't have a plan? You mean all of the goals you set for last year had been met purely by chance? You say you didn't meet all of your goals for last year? Say it isn't so!

Why is it that we start out with the best of intentions on January 1st, and by February 1st we are back to our old routine? The routine of procrastination, excuse-making, and just accepting mediocrity.

There are several reasons.

1. We're lazy. Yep. It often is as simple as that. It is just easier to justify all of the reasons why we can't do it instead of finding reasons why we can! Some people are happy living with mediocrity. It's okay, you can admit it.

2. Here's one of my very favorites: "I'm too busy!" And who isn't? Typically when we hear I'm "too busy" you can replace that with, "I have no real idea how to prioritize." We fill our schedule with things that are not activities directly related to identifying business but the other "stuff" that is often easier to do. (There's a reason why they call it busy work).

3. We set goals monetarily instead of through our activities and behaviors. When we set a goal by a dollar amount to be achieved, and not daily, weekly, and monthly activities, we set ourselves up for failure. Why? Because we can't control who buys, but we can control what activities we are involved in.

I'd like to address number 3. Often people get caught up in the misinterpretation of dollars (or sales) being goals and they are purely the RESULT of your goal. When we set dollar volume goals only, we often don't reach them and give up quickly. How can you set a goal of something you cannot control? You can't. That's called a wish. Wishes are wonderful for your children on Christmas but are no way to run a business.

Now am I saying you should ignore dollar amounts for yourself and your sales people? No. But these are not goals, they are merely the result you expect from the goals.
But this is a good place to begin.

Let's say that you would like the results to be $120,000 for each representative for 2010. (By the way, past earnings and beliefs of your sales organization have an awful lot to do with being able to accomplish this. We can talk about that in a later article.)

First of all, you will need to identify what this means monthly. In this case, about $10,000.00.

Second, what is an average sale for you? If it is $2500.00 then you would need four sales per month.

Third, how many prospects do you need to meet with to close one deal? This will take some review of your past closing ratio. *Remember, a prospect is someone with whom you have identified a need, that there is a budget and you have identified the process for decision-making. Let's say it's three. Then to meet your goal you will need to meet with 12 prospects per month.

Fourth, and this will take some estimating, how many suspects do you need to meet with to get to one qualified prospect? * A suspect is someone you could be meeting with for a variety of reasons; exchanging referrals, a past client, a strategic partner, someone who has expressed interest in your business etc. Let's say it's five. Then your monthly goal is to meet with 60 suspects. Now you have set a goal for yourself of approximately 15 per week.

The most important thing here is to track these numbers for a total of 30-60-90 days. This will not only tell you if these numbers are correct but where are most of your referrals of business coming from.

Too complicated? Then go back to the old theory, "if you get in front of enough people eventually some will close." This is exactly how you fall into the, "I am too busy" category... And how's that workin' for ya?

Permission is required to reprint any of the above article. Please email info@proactivetraining.biz with questions or comments.

Written By: Anthony Cutaia, Monk Consulting Group, LLC

When building a website you want to use plenty of pictures. 2 to 3 per page is recommended and don't forget about your header, but where do you get these great pictures? Hire a photographer? You can, but a more cost effective way is through stock media companies.

How stock media companies work

Stock media websites allow people to sign-up and submit royalty free work that they then get paid a percentage on when you purchase it. You can purchase more than just images; there are flash videos and even audio files as well. We will keep it simple with images for this blog post.

How to find stock images

To find the images you want simply type what you are looking for into the search bar and you will be presented with pages and pages of stock images. Some images are new; some have been used so much you may even recognize them from other websites. That is the only real drawback with using stock images. You can use them, but so can everyone else. New images come out every day and for the most part this is rarely ever a problem.

Using stock images to mock up your website design

The images are low resolution and protected by a watermark to avoid being "lifted' off the site before being purchased, but you can send the link to the sample image to your designer and they can crop it out and use it on your project for mock up purposes. This is a great way to see how the images interact with your websites look, feel, and colors without having to spend any money on images. Once you find the images you like purchase the real versions and swap them out to complete your website design.

My favorite stock image site is http://istockphoto.com but a simple search should bring up many others.

Main Street U.S.A. continues to be plagued by this recession, while Wall Street, albeit a smaller street, has regained its footing. The bottom line is that Main Street needs job creation. The broader markets are in solid performance territory with the S&P 500 up nearly 23% for the year, NASDAQ advancing almost 38% and bucking the trend are the bank indices from the SNL Bank and Thrift, down about 1% to the NASDAQ Bank, which is off 21%. From the March lows, the SNL Bank and Thrift soared 136%, and the NASDAQ Bank is higher by 34%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose 62% and NASDAQ increased 68% from the low, earlier this year.

This week's front page of NYT Sunday edition, "Food Stamp Use Soars Across U.S. and Stigma Fades". I grew up in a small town on Long Island, New York and my grammar school was on "austerity" for a year or more. While I had no idea what that really meant at the time, what I experienced was the lack of new text books for some time. I also recall seeing food stamps being used in grocery stores, now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To me, soaring food stamp use should light a fire that more must be done to fuel sustainable economic growth in the U.S.!

Corporations continue to be diligent on expenses which means inventories are light and staff is lean. Cutting costs is great for short-term profits but companies cannot cut their way to revenue growth! States', counties' and towns' budgets are not balanced which has meant rising property taxes despite falling property values as a host of other increases were needed to stop-gap budgets. Household balance sheets remain squeezed as either lay-offs have hit families or there is general uncertainty about the future, so purchases are limited. Plus, overall confidence as measured by the consumer confidence index is at its lowest level in 26 years primarily because of the double-digit unemployment. This food stamp article in the New York Times states that 20,000 people per day are added to this welfare program. Furthermore, this program helps one in eight adults and one in four children. These are not a good signs!

Small Business is often mentioned as the growth engine for the economy, representing nearly half of the jobs across this nation. So why is this economic lever not being primed? Small businesses should be an integral part of the stimulus, not thought of in a trickle-down measure. This group of business entrepreneurs should be a focal point of stimuli as they represent significant power to hire quickly and to ignite this recovery. A few items that come to mind include long-term incentives to hire, permanent tax inducements to invest in plant and equipment, and to implement and build health and savings plans for employees. The absence of a permanent structure, for small businesses, can in many instances eliminate its use as it is seen as temporary and useless for long term planning.

Loan modifications in the U.S. are not working because the basic economics are not favorable for financial institutions to modify loans. Under the Government plan, essentially companies that agree to lower payments receive $1,000 and another $1,000 each year for the next 3 years. There is a series of intense loan documentation, income verification, a trial period, and a permanent modification that takes place. Almost everyone knows someone with a horror story about trying to modify their mortgage. Dropped phone calls, lost documentation, and of course several different answers from the same financial institution-none of which is helping to resolve their mortgage loan crisis. Recent statistics illustrate that almost 15 million Americans' mortgages are inverted, that is, they owe more than their house is worth. But, mortgage servicing companies make a lot of money the longer a loan remains delinquent.

In addition to revamping the loan modification business model, real estate tax incentives for buyers beyond the modest ones that are already in place are needed to help absorb the inventory (real and shadow) in the national real estate market. I believe the economy requires investors, as well as the first-time and repeat buyer to assist in relieving the excess real estate supply. All of these people and companies are needed to help absorb inventory, take risk, and provide rentals and opportunities to the growing population of ex-homeowners as well as the twenty-something's (born 1975 through 1990) who number over 60 million. Some have called those born in the years 1982-1995, the "echo" referring to the children of the boomers and those numbers count near 80 million strong. Regardless of the acronym or the specific years, this group is large, diverse, and powerful and need places to live.

Whether it's Dubai not being able to make good on its debt payments or Joe Smith on Main St. USA, it is the same core issue: deleveraging. The Dubai debt crises brings to the forefront for global investors both emerging market and commercial real estate risks. For now, the developing markets are trading as if this is an isolated event. Just for the record, I am a believer in the cock-roach theory. MSCI Emerging Market Index soared 87% over the last year, and some market pundits are taking money off the table, given this recent Dubai development. Also, the cost to insure bonds rose substantially when Dubai asked for more time to pay its debt which is no surprise. Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury prices increased as investors fled to save havens which lowered the 10-year yield to 3.21% and now stands at 3.23%. I believe deleveraging must and will continue on a global scale. Supply continues to outpace demand and the reserves of both individuals and corporations are being exhausted.

I was surprised to read in Barron's this past weekend (M6) that the U.S. malls are nearly 20% vacant. And that some market pundits explain that even with 250-300 million less retail square footage, which equates to 4,774 football fields that would cut vacancy rates to only 12%. That's a lot of space and excess capacity! Perhaps they can "go green" and plant a tree for every 1 million of square footage that is bull-dozed.

Very early on in my Wall Street career, I was told that people do what you pay them to do! So, until the incentives to "do the right thing" outweigh the existing compensation structure, loan modification success is unlikely, in my view. And much more is needed to absorb the residential and commercial real estate space, than the existing tax credits. And why, why is the small business, the entrepreneur and a core economic engine not being primed? These are shovel ready projects! Despite all of these challenges, I do believe a recovery is sustainable if, we get people back to work and get them back soon!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jackie Reeves, Managing Director
Bell Rock Capital, LLC
Jackie@BellRockCapital.com
www.BellRockCapital.com
561.483.6314 (office)
561.289.5308 (cell)

WRITTEN BY: John Schneyer, president of Boca Consultants

When you started your company, it was probably clear that you, the founder, were in charge.

As time went on and your company grew and became more successful, you probably found you had to spend more time managing people, setting up policies and procedures, and less time doing what you got into business for in the first place.

Having a good set of policies and procedures in place and educating your workers about what they mean and how to conform to them while remaining productive is a key part of any business' success.

Who's in charge of your business? Let's see.

Consider a family owned plumbing company, for example. The owners have worked hard growing the business for the past 10 years. They now have 5 vans and have built a good reputation for customer service. It's getting close to the time to send the kids off to college and the company is making that possible. They have not written company policies.

One day, Joe, one of your plumbers, is driving from one appointment to another, runs a red light while talking on his cell phone, wrecks the van, and kills someone.

What's going to happen now?

• Joe goes to the hospital and then collects workmen's compensation. (your costs go up)
• You lose 20% of your business because 1 of your 5 vans is wrecked and you lost a plumber (can you afford to lose that business?)
• You get sued (legal costs and a potential expensive jury award)
• Instead of working on your business, you are working to save your business
• You find out your insurance won't cover nearly as much as you thought it would and need it too
• Your insurance carrier will probably drop you. Even if they don't, your rates will go through the roof
• Your worker's compensation insurance rates go up
• Your competitors step in to take the business you can no longer service
• Your hard earned reputation takes a hit

Why did this happen? You put Joe in charge of your company's future by letting him drive while using a cell phone and he made a big mistake.

The cell phone issue is just one example of risks business owners take every day without thinking about it.

How do you take charge?
1) Do a risk assessment for your business including cell phone exposure
2) Write company policies (basically, the laws you will run your business by) to appropriately cover you
3) Develop the work practices that will ensure your company can comply with the policies while remaining productive
4) Provide the training to your employees and contractors
5) Put in the support to keep you on track
Doing this accomplishes 2 very important things:
1) You have reduced the probability you will have an accident.
2) Assuming you have an accident anyway, you have taken actions to reduce the impact on you and your company.
Be the one in charge of your business. Take proactive steps to ensure you have considered where problems could pop up and what to do to avoid them.

For more information visit http://www.BocaConsultants.com or call 561.206.4814

FOCUS ON FINANCES

Written By: Jackie Reeves, Bell Rock Capital, LLC

Banks are lending less, as is evident in the most recent FDIC earnings report, and this is the 5th consecutive quarterly decline in lending. Businesses and individuals cannot meet the more rigid credit criteria and financials remain in capital preservation mode for a number of reasons. The pipeline for potential losses remains strong as delinquent loans continued to rise and is at the highest level in more than a quarter of a century. I am concerned about the slowing pace of the reserve coverage build. So, how is it that this economy is recovering? But against this persistent challenging backdrop there are enormous opportunities.

Offsetting the negative credit factors were higher revenues and lower expenses in the third quarter of 2009. Behind the fee income expansion were gains on asset sales as well as higher servicing fees which were driven by an increase in deposits. Top line, net interest income rose due to improvement in the industry's margin to 3.51%, up 2 bps which is less than the 9 basis points linked quarter improvement in 2Q09. The industry's securities losses were $4.1B which improved by 48% from a year earlier. Expenses declined by almost 2% over the last 12-months driven primarily by lower costs for goodwill impairment and other intangible assets plus, a decline in premises and fixed assets. Top line revenue growth, while up linked quarter, continued to be stymied by balance sheet shrinkage.

Capital preservation remains a key driver, in my opinion. Access to capital has not returned to the pre-crises atmosphere. Capital rose by 2.9% during the quarter to $40.2B which boosted Tier I capital ratio to 11.49% from 11.05% in 2Q09 and from 9.79% in 3Q08. The lion's share of the capital growth was related to increase valuations of securities. We believe marketplace is still very unpredictable and company specific and capital access is not taken for granted.

As an industry, the third quarter 2009 positives are ...

• Profits are back
• The yield curve is favorable
• Cost control remains front and center

However, a peek beneath the sheets reveals that balance sheets shrunk again on a linked quarter basis by almost 3%, which followed a nearly 2% decline in 2Q09. The current quarter loan decline is unprecedented! Deposits increased by 0.9% in 3Q09, which followed a 0.7% rise in 2Q09, with deposits in foreign offices rising the most during both quarters.

The industry boosted its provision by 22% over the last 12 months to $62.5B, but this was a decline of 7% on a sequential quarter basis. Also, the 22% year-over-year rise was the lowest percentage increase in two years. The FDIC noted that credit quality continued to decline but at a slower pace. So, is the linked quarter decrease in loan loss provisions a good thing?

The net charge-offs ratio was 2.71% in 3Q09 with net charge-offs at $51B, up from 2.55% in 2Q09, and 1.32% in 2Q08. Remember when the net charge-off ratio stood at 0.49% in 2Q07! Commercial and industrial loans led the rise in net charge-offs, although all categories had noticeable increases. Delinquencies continued to rise, up 10.5% in 3Q09 to 4.94% of loans compared to 4.35% in 2Q09 and 2.31% in 3Q08. The pipeline for potential losses remains strong as delinquent loans continued to rise and is at the highest level in more than a quarter of a century! In my view, commercial real estate delinquencies, nonperforming assets and net charge-offs remain a significant hurdle to future earnings growth, as an industry, over the next several quarters.

To assist with the continuing climb of credit quality woes, the industry's reserve coverage rose to 2.97%, up from 2.77% in 2Q09 and up from 2.51% in first quarter 2009. This was the smallest increase in 2 years. I am concerned about the slowing pace of the reserve coverage build. Will it be enough to keep pace with the increase in nonperforming assets and net charge-offs?

The industry failures continue to withdraw funds from the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) at a rapid pace. The DIF had a negative balance of $8.2B, which included a reserve of $39B to cover losses over the next year. The FDIC recently approved the 3-year prepayment of deposit insurance premiums to help rebuild the DIF. For year-end 2009, the DIF is expected to be boosted by $45B.

Recall, the DIF ratio was north of 1.30% at the beginning of this decade. There were two insurance funds: a bank insurance fund (BIF) and a saving insurance fund (SAIF) and SAIF was even north of 1.40%. The two funds merged on March 31, 2006.

Will the DIF of $45B be enough to cover the growing list of problem institutions? The list continued to grow in the most recent quarter, moving up 33% to 552 with assets of $346B! This represents a 15% growth in the asset base on a linked quarter basis. In my view, there is likely to be more problems and failed institutions before this storm has passed. I feel almost an eerie sense of foreboding as I look outside at the blue skies with a smattering of puffy white clouds and off in the distance, a few storms exist. Are we in the eye of the storm?

Industry deleveraging and deteriorating credit quality measures were key weights on earnings, during the most recent quarter. I believe that there are very good management teams throughout this marketplace fighting every single day to make it through the quarter. Many of these teams will build fortress institutions, buying distressed institutions as well as solid core assets. This challenging environment is presenting enormous economic opportunities, especially in financial services.

Written By: Jeffrey I. Shavitz, Executive Vice President, Charge Card Systems

Merchant account chargebacks are an increasingly expensive problem not only because of the fees charged by the processor, but also because of the time and energy that a merchant must invest to try to win a dispute. A thorough chargeback prevention plan can help limit the number of chargebacks that your business receives. Below are some tips and best practices for preventing 3 common types of chargebacks:

Preventing customer-related chargeback issues:

Use a recognizable DBA name - if the DBA is not easily recognizable to a cardholder on their statement, they may not recognize the charge and may issue a chargeback.

Include a phone number on cardholder statements - this ensures that cardholders can easily contact you with any questions regarding a charge.

Clearly post policies - make sure that policies such as returns and damaged merchandise are clearly visible and easy to understand.

Work with customers to resolve issues - it sounds simple but if you don't communicate with customers to resolve issues, you're forcing them to resort to a chargeback to solve their problem.

Proactively communicate with customers - keep customers informed on the status of their orders. Many customers won't bother to contact you if an order doesn't arrive on time, instead they may issue a chargeback.

Preventing chargebacks from processing errors:

Use address verification service (AVS) for card-not-present transactions - never process a card-not present transaction without an AVS match.

Swipe all card-present transactions or get a fully legible manual imprint.

Don't re-run a decline transaction - if a credit card is declined, don't run it again. Instead, ask the customer for another card or form of payment.

Never split transactions - always authorize a credit card once for the total amount of the transaction. If you accidentally undercharge, cancel the transaction and run another transaction for the entire payment.

Clear credit card batches daily - posting transactions to your customers' accounts quickly while the purchase is still fresh in memory lowers the chance that they won't recognize the charge and issue a chargeback.

Preventing fraudulent chargebacks (for card-present transactions):

Obtain and compare signatures - if a customer's signature on the receipt is significantly different than the one on the back of the card (or if the card is not signed at all) the transaction may be fraudulent.

Verify the number on the credit card machine matches the card - after obtaining an authorization, make sure that the number displayed on the machine matches the number on the card.