Making business adjustments to fit the times

The recent past has been a very prosperous time for most business people. The economy has been robust, fueled by a housing boom and by strong consumer spending. At the same time, investors in the stock market saw huge gains land in their portfolio accounts. Since the bursting of the housing bubble, a reportedly slow holiday shopping season, and a stock market trading more sideways than up, some doubt has appeared in the minds of those same business people.

While the economy may rebound after a slow period of readjustment, other analysts predict a recession. In either case, or in any other economic circumstances, an alert business owner or manager is always prepared for change. The current economic climate is never permanent. Good times and bad times are interspersed with mediocre times. This has always been the case. It is nothing new, and insightful business people have always had alternative plans in place for the inevitable changes in the economy.



The question arises frequently about how to make the necessary adjustments in a business to not be caught moving in the wrong direction. The first step is to examine the economic climate with eyes wide open. Look at the data realistically, and don't shy away from possible bad news. Just because a person doesn't want recessions, doesn't mean they won't happen anyway. The best solution is to consider how your company can prosper and even grow during more challenging economic times. Keep in mind that many fortunes and careers were made during the Great Depression of the 1930s, in the most difficult time for business, in the Twentieth Century.

There are always business opportunities in any economy. The kicker is they might not be the same ones that led to your company's success during an economic boom. The new opportunities are not wrong, they are just different in their focus. Many times, an organization's core business will be transformed easily to the new economic situation. The products and services offered will not be far removed from the previous successful offering. They may just need a slight twist to make them work in a different economy.



Don't neglect marketing and promotions during an economic downturn, these functions will be needed more than ever. In fact, marketing should be part of every area of your business from idea conception to the marketplace.

There is no better time to streamline the process than during a recession. Changes that were needed to improve the company are much easier to swallow if they involve entirely new products and services. Whole organization involvement empowers everyone in the company, resulting in greater commitment on everyone's part. Creative and flexible organizations win in recessionary times.

Times change all of the time. Change is the one constant in all economies. Don't cling stubbornly to what had been working when the writing is already on the wall. Embrace change and move your company forward.

If you make adjustments to meet new circumstances, any bad economic news won't hurt your company at all.

Tags: economy, recession, business adjustments, creative companies.

How To Get Out Of Debt by Harrine Freeman - Book review

How to Get Out of Debt

Get an "A" Credit Rating for Free

By: Harrine Freeman

Published: Dec 15, 2006
ISBN: 9781933949437
Format: Paperback, 240pp
Publisher: Adept Publishers



Personal debt is like a dark cloud hanging over your head stopping you from enjoying your life, writes Harrine Freeman in her timely book How to Get Out of Debt: Get an "A" Credit Rating for Free. Packed with practical advice, from someone who has been deeply in consumer debt herself, the book is a hands on guide to getting out of debt and repairing your personal credit rating.

Credit repair expert Harrine Freeman pulls no punches as she describes her own battle with personal debt. Taking lessons learned from that experience to heart, the author describes how to avoid entering the personal debt minefield in the first place. For readers who are experiencing financial problems, associated with heavy personal debt loads, the book is a reliable road map to escape the burden. Using her own experiences as a touchstone, Harrine Freeman demonstrates how to join the ranks of the debt free.



While many personal debt books end with the achievement of debt free status, Harrine Freeman (photo left) moves to the next important level. She shows her readers how to repair their credit status for the future, as well as for becoming debt free today. She understands that a strong credit rating is required in many aspects of modern life, even if a person has no intention of ever using a credit card again.

Employers, landlords, and insurers check credit reports, and credit ratings, as part of the application process. A weak credit score can result in being turned down for a job or an apartment by being perceived as an unreliable person. Achieving a positive credit score is essential in those cases. A necessity for many families like obtaining reasonably priced health insurance may be very difficult for people with low credit scores as well. The book shows how to repair your credit after falling behind in payments, repossessions, or personal bankruptcy.

For me, the power of the book is the no nonsense step by step guidelines for getting out of debt, repairing a credit rating, and staying out of personal debt. An important aspect of the book is the section on contacting and working with creditors to maintain a payment plan. This often overlooked strategy is crucial to establishing and sticking to a payment schedule that is within your financial means. Another important section of the book is the listing of countless financial resources, financial terms, and important legal requirements for each state.

I highly recommend How to Get Out of Debt: Get an "A" Credit Rating for Free by Harrine Freeman for getting out of debt and reestablishing your credit rating.

Read How to Get Out of Debt: Get an "A" Credit Rating for Free by Harrine Freeman and begin your new life free from the burden of personal debt.

Tags: How to Get Out of Debt, Harrine Freeman, personal finance, business book reviews.

Ami Kassar & Marci Schankweiler: Generosity As Good Business - Blog Business Success Radio

Ami Kassar, Chief Innovation Officer at Ideablob and entrepreneur Marci Schankweiler of Crossing the Finishing Line (CFL) discuss how generosity and sharing with others pays off in many ways making it good business, as well as giving something back to the community, to boost your business success.

Ami Kassar and Marci Schankweiler are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 27, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Ami Kassar, Chief Innovation Officer at Ideablob and entrepreneur Marci Schankweiler of Crossing the Finishing Line (CFL) discuss how generosity and sharing with others pays off in many ways making it good business. You will learn:

* How giving back to the community doesn't cost money, but rewards the giver as well as the recipient

* How Ideablob's contest concept for small business and non-profit organizations can be applied to your business

* How to start a program for giving back to the community and why it's important

* How to help assisted recipients put the benefits to work in their organization



Marci Schankweiler (on the right in photo left) is President and founder of Crossing the Finishing Line (CFL), a Blue Bell, PA-based non-profit organization that provides excursions for young adult cancer patients and their families. Marci Schankweiler founded CFL after her first husband passed away from cancer at the age of 30. She plans to use the prize money to help fund a home for cancer patients near Orlando, Florida.

Marci Schankweiler is the first Advanta Business Cards customer to win the monthly ideablob contest, which is open to small business owners and entrepreneurs. As a result, she is eligible to receive 1,000,000 rewards points on her AdvantaBusinessCard in addition to the $10,000 monthly contest prize.

Ami Kassar (on the left in photo above left) is the Chief Innovation Officer at Ideablob, where entrepreneurs and small business owners can share and grow their business ideas, and have a chance to win $10,000.00 towards fulfilling them.

Thanks to Allison Clark of Ink Tank PR for setting up this interview and for arranging for a number of other winners and entrants to appear as special guest callers as well.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Ami Kassar, Chief Innovation Officer at Ideablob and entrepreneur Marci Schankweiler of Crossing the Finishing Line (CFL) as they discuss how generosity and sharing with others pays off in many ways making it good business to boost your business success, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Ami Kassar, Marci Schankweiler, Ideablob, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Carnival of the Capitalists at The Journal Blog

This week sees a micro enterprise business approach to the traveling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists and arrives at Dawn Rivers Baker's entrepreneurial, independent and small business blog known as The Journal Blog.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today, as well as some of the best and most popular entries ever to the Carnival.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, stock market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national economy, and personal finance.

As you would expect from Carnival of the Capitalists, there are many discussions of economics, entrepreneurship, marketing, business management, and small business.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality business and economics blogs, out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones; as well as some long time contributors.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Improving morale: Open management is key" where I discuss how fear is not a good motivator over the long term. While many managers will point to a time when a good scare moved a lackluster employee into action, the effect was usually short lived. If fear becomes the over riding emotion in the company's culture, morale will fall to very low levels. Instead of innovation and creativity, employees will turn their attention to holding onto their jobs. In times of layoffs, fear of further cutbacks, and rumours of department and plant closures, leads to lower productivity.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

thecotc -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous business blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be hosted at Gabriel Goldenberg's SEO blog known as SEO ROI.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the The Journal Blog hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then visit Carnival of the Capitalists and get into business for yourself.

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.

Wayne Gorman: Elliott Wave Principle Basics For Profit - Blog Business Success Radio

Market analyst and Elliott Wave Principle expert Wayne Gorman, of Elliott Wave International explains how the Wave Principle works, the mathematics of Waves, and how social mood and not the latest financial news, drives the markets to boost your financial success, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 20, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.






Wayne Gorman discusses the social causes of asset bubbles including the stock market and the housing market. You will learn:

* How markets move in recognizable waves based on social mood

* How to understand and count the waves in the Wave Principle

* The Fibonacci mathematical basis for anticipating market turns

* How to profit from using the Elliot Wave Principle to spot market trends early

* How the definitive Wave Principle textbook Elliott Wave Principle: Key To Market Behavior provides the guidelines for using the Wave Principle in your investment plans



Wayne Gorman (photo left) has more than 25 years of experience in trading, forecasting and portfolio management. He began his career at Citibank where he managed money market and derivative portfolios in New York and traded foreign exchange in London. He was then selected for various treasury management roles. Wayne was later recruited as treasurer for Westpac Banking Corporation in New York.

Wayne’s interest and knowledge in the field of market forecasting led him to Elliott Wave International, where he’s been working for the past five years doing research in socionomics and performing Elliott wave analysis. Most recently, in his role as Senior Tutorial Instructor, Wayne teaches Elliott Wave International's trading and investing on-line courses. Wayne has been using the Wave Principle since 1986.

My book review of Elliott Wave Principle: Key To Market Behavior by Robert R. Prechter and A. J. Frost

My book review of Conquer the Crash: You Can Survive and Prosper in a Deflationary Depression by Robert Prechter Jr.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Wayne Gorman, of Elliott Wave International as he explains how the Wave Principle works, the mathematics of Waves, and how social mood and not the latest financial news, drives the markets to boost your financial success,, and boost your financial success, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Wayne Gorman, Elliott Wave Principle, understanding markets, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Elliott Wave Principle by Robert Prechter & A. J. Frost - Book review

Elliott Wave Principle

Key To Market Behavior

By: Robert Prechter & A. J. Frost

ISBN: 9780471987307
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: John Wiley & Son Ltd









The Wave Principle demonstrates that the market is governed by humanity's social nature. Human nature is repetitive and has form, giving crowd activity predictive value write co-authors Robert R. Prechter and A. J. Frost in their essential and definitive textbook on the subject, the Elliott Wave Principle: Key To Market Behavior. The book provides the basics of wave analysis, as well as the more mathematical framework for understanding wave movements and degrees.



Robert Prechter: Co-author (photo left)

The authors provide the basic tenets of using and understanding waves, and how to identify all thirteen waves that appear in the various markets. They also demonstrate how to identify and count waves so they can be properly applied to the reader's understanding of the market movements. More information on the mathematical basis of the wave principle as it appears in mathematics, art, and science. There is also a helpful historical context for understanding waves over the longer course of human history. The book is a powerful textbook for anyone wanting to understand waves more clearly.



Ralph Nelson Elliott (photo left)

Wave Principle discoverer R. N. Elliott wrote that the fractal nature of the charts, recording the same basic patterns, reflected those found in nature. Just as a seashore forms the same outlines whether viewed from the ground, the air, or even outer space, so too do the fractal waves of the stock market. Whether examining the market on a yearly, weekly, or hourly basis, the waves on a stock market chart resemble one another.

Elliott's most powerful insight was that markets move as a result of human thoughts and actions. He found that economic busts follow great boom times, and always in very predictable patterns, based on human emotions. Instead of the supposedly rational markets described in textbooks, R. N. Elliott discovered that the market moved in the direction of the prevailing social mood. Emotion and the herd mentality of the crowd moves the market, and not the much discussed market fundamentals.

For me, the power of the book is its in depth approach to the wave principle. The structure of the book helps a novice, or experienced wave principle user, to better understand the underlying principles behind the actions of the market. The emphasis on comprehending the human emotional influence of the market is crucial to the thesis of the book. At the same time, the book goes well beyond the theoretical boundaries. It delves deeply into the mathematical values involved in the market changes governing the wave activity. The section on the Fibonacci mathematical basis of wave movement limits is very intriguing; as are chapters describing the established rules for developing a correct wave count.

I highly recommend the must read book Elliott Wave Principle: Key To Market Behavior by Robert R. Prechter and A. J. Frost if you are serious about understanding the real underlying principles that influence market movement. Once you develop a competence at counting waves, and taking human emotions into account, you will have a more firm grasp of the markets than ever before.

Read the landmark book Elliott Wave Principle: Key To Market Behavior by Robert R. Prechter and A. J. Frost and start applying the power of the Wave Principle to your investment plans today. This book is, without a doubt, the definitive textbook on the subject of the Wave Principle and is a must read for any serious investor.

Tags: Robert Prechter & A.J. Frost, Elliott Wave Principle, Market Behavior, business book reviews.

Improving morale: Open management is key

You have probably heard the old office threat, "The beatings will continue until morale improves". Many people smile a bit when they hear it. At the same time, there is an urge to cringe, as all too often, that destructive management practice is a bit too familiar for comfort. Is this archaic threat part of your company's management style?

Fear is not a good motivator over the long term. While many managers will point to a time when a good scare moved a lackluster employee into action, the effect was usually short lived. If fear becomes the over riding emotion in the company's culture, morale will fall to very low levels. Instead of innovation and creativity, employees will turn their attention to holding onto their jobs. In times of layoffs, fear of further cutbacks, and rumours of department and plant closures, leads to lower productivity. This staff response should be expected and not arrive with a shock to management.



The problem for a manager faced with the need to let go a number of employees is how to carry it out without irreparable morale damage. The key is to initiate and nurture a culture of open and honest management. An ethical company will not hide behind platitudes and vague denials that layoffs may be taking place. The secret will get out through that informal communications channel known as the office grapevine. The problem with the grapevine is the information may be entirely inaccurate. Staffers will expect the worst, causing a steep decline in productivity and mood. Open discussion is a better course of action.

If there are impending layoffs, make all of the cuts at once. Don't do it in steps or phases. Even if the latest round of layoffs is the final one, employees will still fear that more employees will be let go sooner or later. The possibility that it may be them tends to create fear that lowers production dramatically. A worker keeping their head down isn't doing much useful work. Bite the bullet and get the pain taken care of all at once.



When the layoffs are completed, call all of the staff together and tell them the truth. Explain why people were let go and what the plans are for the future. Be sure to spell out that the remaining workers are part of the permanent team. Leave no room for doubt. Let no new possible downsizing rumours enter the informal chat around the water cooler or lunch room. Once you give your word as an ethical business person, stick to it. If the layoffs are not over, complete the job, and then call the company wide informational meeting.

No one likes layoffs, but they are better done quickly. Demonstrate to the remaining staffers that you are an open and honest company. They will reward you with higher productivity and new ideas for products and services.

The need for any morale building beatings will never be required in an open and ethical organization.

Tags: personnel managment, layoffs, employee morale, ethical companies.

Matt Toll: The Impact of Social Media Networking - Blog Business Success Radio

Matt Toll, Director of Field Marketing, Americas, for Dow Jones Enterprise Media Group’s Content Technology Solutions Division, discusses a ground breaking research paper on social media networking, and social media's impact on internet based businesses and bloggers. Matt Toll is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 13, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Matt Toll discusses a ground breaking research paper on social media networking, and social media's impact on internet based businesses and bloggers. You will learn:

* Why should companies care about social media, including blogs, and social media sites

* How the corporate world is using social media now and benefiting from it.

* The possibility to measure and quantify the influence of social media

* The potential to develop services, software or analytical tools to measure the impact of social media



Matt Toll (photo left) is the Director of Field Marketing, Americas, for Dow Jones Enterprise Media Group’s Content Technology Solutions division. Mr. Toll has been with Dow Jones since 1995 and currently oversees integrated marketing campaigns in North America from the company’s offices in Princeton, N.J.

Prior to this, Matt worked for Factiva, a joint venture of Dow Jones and Reuters, prior to its acquisition by Dow Jones in 2007, serving in multiple roles in marketing, sales, and product management. He helped to initiate Factiva’s award-winning Enterprise Consulting group before spending three years as a sales executive working with some of Factiva’s largest customers in the telecommunications, energy and healthcare industries. He then spent three years in product management, developing new product offerings for Factiva’s innovative XML platform before moving to the marketing group.

Prior to Factiva’s creation, Matt Toll spent two years as a business news editor at Dow Jones, contributing to some of its first Web-based news offerings, including the Dow Jones Business Center on America Online.

Before joining Dow Jones, Matt Toll spent seven years as a sportswriter for the Boston Herald and Philadelphia Inquirer, and as a freelance contributor to Sports Illustrated and other publications.

Matt Toll holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Princeton University and an MBA from Rutgers.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Matt Toll as he discusses a ground breaking research paper on social media networking, and social media's impact on internet based businesses and bloggers. to boost your business success, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Matt Toll, Dow Jones, social media research, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Carnival of the Capitalists subs at Dispatches From Bloglivion

This week sees a substitute approach to the traveling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists and arrives at Jay Solo's eclectic business and family life blog known as Dispatches From Bloglivion.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today, as well as some of the best and most popular entries ever to the Carnival.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, stock market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national economy, and personal finance.

As you would expect from Carnival of the Capitalists, there are many discussions of economics, entrepreneurship, marketing, business management, and small business.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality business and economics blogs, out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones; as well as some long time contributors.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Avoiding decision paralysis: Taking positive action" where I discuss how a terrifying feeling. It can strike any business person at any time. That moment of panic, when it seems almost impossible to make a crucial decision, can render helpless even the most confident manager. When that instant of decision paralysis strikes, it's time to take a positive course of action.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

thecotc -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous business blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be hosted as the host's birthday edition at Rob Sama's eclectic economics and humour blog known as Sama Blog.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the Dispatches From Bloglivion hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then visit Carnival of the Capitalists and get into business for yourself.

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.

Avoiding decision paralysis: Taking positive action

It's a terrifying feeling. It can strike any business person at any time. That moment of panic, when it seems almost impossible to make a crucial decision, can render helpless even the most confident manager. When that instant of decision paralysis strikes, it's time to take a positive course of action.

Decision paralysis results from having a prior course of action turn out badly. The manager becomes afraid of making another mistake. For an executive on the fast track, the fear of having a disastrous action on the record, can act like a stone wall to the decision making process. Rather than risk a career damaging mistake, the executive errs on the side of safety. The problem for the company is that choosing inaction is a really making the decision to do nothing. This lack of action can be even more disastrous for the organization.



Decision paralysis is not natural to a successful business person. The condition is a direct descendant of a corporate culture that punishes mistakes. Instead, the company culture rewards those individuals who keep their heads down, and don't make any waves.

This cover your back thinking is precisely the wrong approach to developing an innovative and dynamic company. A hallmark of great corporations is their ability to develop new products and services and introduce them successfully to the marketplace. These productive and profitable activities are not the result of organizations run by yes people.



Great companies know that numerous concepts will strike out and not be successful. By employing modern market research and making their entire organizations a holistic, innovative idea factory, they can take an insurmountable lead on the competition. If new ideas are stifled by fear of mistakes, and from decision paralysis, the company will fall behind their competitors. That lagging gap may never be closed again.

Profitable companies reward innovation. Instead of punishing mistakes, they encourage new ideas. Creative teams are their success keystone. Yes people, and the indecisive managers who they foster, are made available to competing companies.

Don't let decision paralysis strike your company. Action beats inaction, and creative companies are the industry leaders of today, and of tomorrow.

Tags: decision making, innovative management, mistakes, company culture.

Alan Levy: Internet Radio Promotional Power - Blog Business Success Radio

Alan Levy, CEO of citizen broadcasting network BlogTalkRadio, and host of his own Alan Levy Show, discusses the unlimited potential of internet radio as a marketing, public relations, and promotional tool for business and professional people. Alan Levy is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, December 6, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Alan Levy, CEO of citizen broadcasting network BlogTalkRadio, discusses the unlimited potential of internet radio as a marketing, public relations, and promotional tool for business and professional people. You will learn:

* About the explosive growth of internet radio as a business medium

* How targeted listening audiences can benefit advertisers

* How hosting or guesting on a show is a powerful marketing tool

* About the future of internet radio as a revenue creation stream



Founded in August 2006 by Alan Levy (photo left) and Bob Charish, BlogTalkRadio is the leading social radio network. We know full well you've got something to say-so we're providing you with the megaphone and the tools to do so. Create your own live talk show which can be heard around the world without the need for fancy equipment or downloads. Freedom of speech meets social networking in the form of citizen broadcasting.

Originally, the concept for BlogTalkRadio was the dream and vision of co-founder Alan Levy as he mourned his father's passing. Alan maintained a blog for his ill father so his family and friends could remain updated on his father's health - and later as a memorial to his life. Alan Levy wanted more from his blog. The seeds of live, interactive social broadcasting took root.

Within months of the site's official launch, BlogTalkRadio housed thousands of hosts and hundreds of thousands of listeners. Users flocked from every corner of the globe and shows covered every imaginable topic, quickly drawing notable guests and hosts including electoral candidates, best selling authors, and owners of the leading companies and websites in the world.

Receiving attention and acclaim from leading media outlets like USA Today, CNN, CNET.com, TechCrunch, FoxNews, and dozens more, BlogTalkRadio is revolutionizing both social media networking and radio broadcasting. For the first time in history, anyone from anywhere in the world - as long as they have access to a phone and internet connection - can broadcast their voices internationally.

Alan Levy is also the host of his own internet radio show called the Alan Levy Show on BlogTalkRadio.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Alan Levy, CEO of citizen broadcasting network BlogTalkRadio, as he discusses the unlimited potential of internet radio as a marketing, public relations, and promotional tool for business and professional people to boost your business success, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Alan Levy, internet radio, citizen broadcasting, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Carnival of the Capitalists at One Man Band

This week sees an independent business approach to the traveling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists and arrives at the independent business and entrepreneurial blog known as One Man Band.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists highlights some of the best bloggers writing on the internet today, as well as some of the best and most popular entries ever to the Carnival.

Blogging topics presented include entrepreneurship, management, stock market trading, internet commerce, marketing, the national economy, and personal finance.

As you would expect from Carnival of the Capitalists, there are many discussions of economics, entrepreneurship, marketing, business management, and small business.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality business and economics blogs, out there in the blogosphere.

We don't always get to them all, and this edition of Carnival of the Capitalists has introduced many of us to some brand new ones; as well as some long time contributors.



I have an entry in this week's Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

My post is titled "Office Christmas parties: Keeping respect around the tree" where I discuss how office Christmas and holiday season parties will soon be in full swing...in more ways than one. While the event may require your attendance, regardless of your company status, your behaviour could affect your business or career. While others are wearing lampshades and partying like it's 1999, it's imperative that you maintain your decorum. Respect lost at the party may never be recovered again.

If you wish to submit an entry to next week's, or any Carnival of the Capitalists edition, e-mail your entries to the new address:

thecotc -at- gmail -dot- com

You can always use the handy entry form at Gongol.com where all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Talk about making it easy to be included!



If you are searching for new and exciting ways to expand your blog's readership, you should seriously consider sending an entry to Carnival of the Capitalists.

Merely being included in the company, of the first rate regular Carnival of the Capitalists contributors, will enhance the reputation of your blog.

The extra visitors sent to your blog won't hurt either!

The growth and staying power, of Carnival of the Capitalists, is beginning to catch the attention of people outside the blogging community. Each hosting, brings a fresh assortment of new readers, to the various blogs involved.

The visitors aren't only bloggers anymore.

Readership is expanding to include the mainstream media, various government and private organizations, many businesses, and other interested people from beyond the blogging community.

Many people are introduced to some tremendous business blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be hosted at Rob Sama's eclectic economics and humour blog known as Sama Blog.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the One Man Band hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists.

If the great posted entries don't convince you to click, or the possibility of finding some brand new blogs to read doesn't do it, then visit Carnival of the Capitalists and get into business for yourself.

Tags: carnivals, capitalism, business, marketing.

Office Christmas parties: Keeping respect around the tree

Office Christmas and holiday season parties will soon be in full swing...in more ways than one. While the event may require your attendance, regardless of your company status, your behaviour could affect your business or career.

While others are wearing lampshades and partying like it's 1999, it's imperative that you maintain your decorum. Respect lost at the party may never be recovered again.

For managers and line staffers, the opportunity to mingle socially with top management or the owner, can be critical to their career path. All too often, the road to the top is littered with potholes and many promising careers end up in the ditch. Instead of understanding that the office Christmas party is part of the job, all too many employees treat it like a holiday. That vacation can easily become a permanent one for those who are not careful.



Treat the party as a day at the office. Senior management, and their spouses, will be watching the aspirants to the corner offices. Not only you are on display, but so is your significant other. It is best to arrive about an hour or two after the party starts. With that timing policy, you are almost certain to meet everyone of significance. You also avoid the later hours excesses, when lampshades and photocopied anatomy rule the night, and end careers.

A few too many drinks for either of you can derail a career before it even gets underway. A good rule of thumb for anyone is to only take only one drink, or at most two, with the second glass left unfinished. No one wants to be remembered as a sloppy drunk, a would be prize fighter, or an amateur exotic dancer. After you finish your drinks, say your goodbyes and leave.



Staying about an hour. or two at the most, to say a few words to everyone in the company sends a positive message. It also creates a strong impression of being sociable, yet very responsible. Your significant other can also be a positive force by talking to spouses and senior management, adding an extra dimension to your reputation as a solid citizen, worthy of advancement. They can also make sure you leave at the predetermined hour assuring your graceful exit.

If your desire is to party the night away, that is also possible. You and your partner can go elsewhere to relax enjoy yourselves. After all, you just got off work, disguised as a Christmas or holiday party.

Don't let the Christmas party turn your career into a lump of coal. A little common sense could find the festive party season presenting you the gift of a lasting career.

Tags: office career parties, careers, personal development, respect.