Wednesday, January 31, 2007

A Conversation on Social Media Tools on Blog Talk Radio successful

blog radio

Blog Talk Radio hosted a two hour special roundtable discussion on Monday, January 29 with leading members in the blogosphere, on Social Media Tools. Roundtable panelists included Kami Huyse from Communication Overtones, Jim Kukral from ReveNews, Shawn Collins from Affiliate Summit, Scott Baradell from Media Orchard and Mandie Crawford from Roaring Women.

This special Social Media Tools roundtable was co-hosted by Mike Sansone from ConverStations and yours truly, Wayne Hurlbert from right here at Blog Business World. I performed the hosting duties in the first hour, and Mike Sansone made a seamless transition to take over as host in the second hour of the show.

Discussion revolved around how many of the new social media tools work and how they can be used by business people for networking, marketing, and public relations. Along with the positives were some of the potential shortcomings of some social media tools. Members agreed that like all tools, not every one of them is suited to every business situation. Along with the current state of social media, the panel also talked about the future of the many tools available, as well as some already on the horizon.

Blog Talk Radio CEO Alan Levy was on hand and called the show, "a great one, loaded with valuable information for business people using social media tools, and showed the power of citizen broadcasting in reaching a wide audience." Alan Levy also thanked the participants and listeners for taking the time to share in this unique learning opportunity.

Network Program Manager Amy Domestico, who was the key person in setting up the panel of mostly Blog Talk Radio hosts, was equally enthusiastic about the first show in the series. She called the show a "great first step in developing a series of informational roundtable discussions in the future, to be carried live over Blog Talk Radio."

Technical Manager Bob Charish ensured the show had no technical glitches, and was recorded seamlessly into the podcast format. As result of the combined efforts of Bob Charish and Amy Domestico, the show can be downloaded from the following links. The top link opens the player in a new window:

Listen Now

Listen Live

The Nut's and BlogBolts show for February will be on Business and Name Branding and the line up includes, Derrick Daye from Branding Strategy Insider, John Moore from Brand Autopsy, Mike Wagner from The White Rabbit Group, Drew McLellan from The Marketing Minute, and Valeria Maltoni from Conversation Agent. Of course your hosts once again are Mike Sansone and Wayne Hurlbert.

These roundtable panel discussions, featuring leading members of the business community, will be monthly feature presentations of Blog Talk Radio.

blog radio

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Reldan Nadler: Leadership & Emotional Intelligence - Blog Business Success Radio

blog radio




Reldan Nadler, President of True North Leadership, Inc. and author of Leaders' Playbook: How to Apply Emotional Intelligence - Keys to Great Leadership, shares ideas about Emotional Intellingence (EI) and putting its principles to work, to enhance your own business performance and that of your business team, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success.

The show airs live on Thursday, February 1, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Reldan Nadler discusses how Emotional Intelligence can be learned and the principles of leadership can strengthen any organization and its people. You will learn:

* What is Emotional Intelligence (EI) and how it differs from the popular IQ

* Learn five of the most important component of Emotional Intelligence (EI)

* How leaders can use EI to improve their business leadership abilities

* How EI can prevent business derailment by understanding yourself

* How to build the EI levels in your employees and management team



Dr. Relly Nadler (photo left) is a leading psychologist and Executive Coach focusing on developing and providing cutting edge Emotional Intelligence tools and strategies for CEO’s, Executives, leaders, managers and their organizations and teams.

His book, the Leaders' Playbook, gives hands-on solutions to become a Star Performer. After working with over 15,000 leaders over 30 years, he has distilled some of his best advice and tips. In addition to his Coach’s Corner sections, he has interviewed exceptional leaders and gleaned their practices into Star Secrets.

Dr. Nadler has coached CEOs, presidents and their staffs, developed and delivered innovative leadership programs for such organizations as Anheuser-Busch, BMW, EDS, MCI and Danone Water Products, and created and facilitated team trainings for DreamWorks Animation, Comerica Bank, America Honda and General Motors Defense. He is recognized around the world for his expertise in linking experiential learning and Emotional Intelligence to business objectives.

Dr. Nadler has worked for and consulted to Outward Bound Schools in North Carolina, Canada, Colorado and Japan. He is the co-author of Processing the Experience, a “classic” in the field of Experiential Education. His concept of “Edgework” explains the power and steps of pushing past your comfort zone to new achievements, a core aspect of Outward Bound programs and being a successful leader and person.

Dr. Nadler received his B.A. from the University of Hartford and his M.A. in Confluent Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He received his Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Nadler is on the faculty of The College of Executive Coaching, a post-graduate institute, training professionals in personal and executive coaching.

Listen Live, Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time, by clicking the media player.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for 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.

Let's talk with Relly Nadler, and discover how Emotional Intelligence can be learned, and how its principles of leadership can boost your business to the next level, on Blog Business Success Radio.



ConverStation Workshops

For even more business and blogging information from another Blog Talk Radio host, be sure to check out my good friend Mike Sansone's (photo left) business blog seminar show every ConverStation Workshops at 7:30 am Eastern Time.

ConverStation Workshops this week: Developing a Voice for Business Blogging. Can your customers “hear” your voice in your blog posts? Find out why this is so important and how to “hear” authenticity on other blogs.


Listen Live

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Monday, January 29, 2007

Carnival of the Capitalists at Long or Short Capital



This week sees a highly edited and controversial approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists arrives at the investment and markets blog known as Long or Short Capital.

This week's edition of Carnival of the Capitalists included only 15 entries out of the 56 offered for publication. As a result, an alternative version appears at the main Carnival of the Capitalists blog. The alternative version requests your opinions on the posts that weren't included in the hosted edition.

Here are the scheduled host's reasons for the abbreviated number of posts:

This week, we exploit the position as host of the Carnival of the Capitalists to give you the 15 best submissions (of 56 non-spam entries) related to capitalism. These are the best and in a competition with all the other articles, these are the winners. That is not to say the people whose articles did not get posted are losers, but in this case, they did in fact lose and are in fact losers. These are facts. We looked it up.




I have an entry included in the alternative version of the Carnival.

My post is titled "Facing disappointment: When plans go astray" where I discuss how facing disappointment is one of the most difficult emotions for many business people to understand in their working or personal lives. While disappointing events are commonplace in personal and home life matters, they are less well understood in business situations. Often, disappointing events lead otherwise astute entrepreneurs and managers to make some serious errors in judgement. Let's examine business disappointment and it's ramifications for your company.

Note: This post is not included in the scheduled host version of the Carnival.

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:

cotcmail -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 blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be at the personal finance and consumer economics blog known as Mighty Bargain Hunter.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the Long or Short Capital hosting of Carnival of the Capitalists and to the alternative version of the Carnival.

If the great controversial 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 to the alternative version of the Carnival and make your opinion heard.

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Traditional values: From the general store to the internet




Relationship marketing and relationship building with blogs has long been considered a major reason for starting and maintaining a business blog. Not all business people, and indeed not all bloggers, agree on the value of blogs for creating and developing those important customer relationships. It's the values of the tradtional country store in action, but placed in a high tech milieu.

You've often heard the term relationship marketing used, but were never really certain what it meant. It does sound kind of touchy feely, doesn't it? Really all it means, however, is building good long term customer relations. Those lasting relationships are built on developing a sense of trust; and of becoming known to your customers, present and future, as a real person.

To turn your present marketing system into relationship marketing, you have to change your outlook somewhat. Traditionally, marketers have located their target market segments, made their offer, and made the sales. It's always been a single step process.

A multiple step marketing program is far more valuable. That's where relationship marketing enters the picture. Instead of trying to sell the potential customer a product or sefvice immediately, it's a much better idea to let the person get to know and trust you first.

People buy from other people they know and trust. That fact is well known in sales and marketing circles, but it's a lesson that is not always put into practice. The perceived turnaround time is often considered to be too long for many businesses. Quarterly reports demand immediate payoffs that very often never live up to expectations.




Relationship marketing looks at customers and clients over a longer term. It takes into account the lifetime value of a customer. Many experts think it costs anywhere from six to ten times as much, to find a new customer, than to sell to an existing one. With those financial realities in mind, the approach makes some sense, and some real dollars.

Relationship marketing is based on the idea, that people prefer to do business with people, they know and like. After all, it's easier to buy from a friend, than from someone you've never heard of before. The focus is on a multi-step marketing system that works for the lifetime of the customer. It's the time proven principle of the small town general store in action. Everyone knew the storekeeper and his family and he knew the family details of the store's entire customer base. Friendships and business relationships were one and the same. The lines were so blurred that they didn't exist any longer.



It's been said that people need to hear an offer about seven times before they buy. That concept certainly works against the single step marketing method. In fact, it screams for a multiple step marketing program based on developing good long term customer relationships. The old time store keeper maintained the relationship through the years, creating the familiarity, and reinforcing it with calendars, personal visits, and special credit assistance when required by a family in need. The entire business was based on an exchange of information and of mutual trust.

That is where a business blog can be really helpful for many business people.

As you write your daily blog entries, your readers get to know you, and your business, on a more personal level. No longer seen as the proverbial faceless corporation, your company is viewed as consisting of good and trustworthy people, whose names and faces are known. Your business blog begins that all important relationship with your prospects and current customers. As they read about your daily business activities, your problem solving ideas, your business advice, and your various products, they begin to think of themselves as a part of the company.

They are!

The prospects for your products and services begin to turn into customers over time. Since they already know about you and your organization, it naturally follows that they will buy from you.



Your existing customers will remain loyal to your business, through the regular personal contact of your blog. Should a problem arise with a product or service, the iussue can be addressed immediately on the business blog. The openess and honesty displayed is a breath of fresh air, resulting in even greater customer loyalty, and a more cemented business relationship.

Openess and transparency builds customer relationship, contrary to the older management style of hiding problems. The old sweep problems under the rug style of management also had high customer attrition rates. You don't want that situation, and neither do your clients. Your customers will not only stay loyal, but they will often bring tons of valuable referral business to your company. Happy customers are your best marketing friends.

By creating a business blog, you can develop strong bonds with your existing and future customers. Instead of treating them as numbers, you have formed a long term relationship with them. Their purchases, of your products and services, are a natural response to your blog entries. It is certainly not a one step sales system!

Creating a relationship with your customers and clients doesn't just pay off financially for your company. It is also rewarding personally for you; and for your cusotmers. Everyone benefits in the end.

Start your blog and build those long term relationships.

You'll be glad you decided on a business blog for your relationship marketing!

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Sunday, January 28, 2007

Leaders' Playbook: Reldan S. Nadler - Book review



Leaders' Playbook

How to Apply Emotional Intelligence - Keys to Great Leadership


By Reldan S. Nadler, Psy.D.

ISBN: 978-0-9759477-4-6
352 pages
Publisher: Psyccess Press






How people work with and inspire others to greatness is more important than techical skill at achieving success in any business or career writes Reldan Nadler in his book Leaders' Playbook: How to Apply Emotional Intelligence - Keys to Great Leadership. The frequently discussed IQ as an indicator of success is considered less important than Emotional Intelligence by the author. In a practical hands on coaching style, Reldan Nadler provides the tools for developing star performers in any size of organization.



Reldan Nadler (photo left) outlines five of the most important component of Emotional Intelligence (EI). These traits include self confidence, teamwork and collaboration, developing skills in others, communication, and empathy. The author considers these abilities to be the most powerful guides to success. The good news from the book is that all of these skills can be learned and applied to your business and your life. The book provides a step by step course in developing and enhancing Emotional Intelligence skills in yourself and in others around you.

The author's purpose is to teach the skills necessary to develop star performers in every walk of life. The book provides concrete examples of successful individuals ranging from former US President Bill Clinton, to Google co-founder Sergei Brin, to USC football coach Pete Carroll. Instead of using the many high profile success stories as ideals, Reldan Nadler shows how their strengths and weaknesses have shaped their careers and those around them. Overcoming weaknesses that can derail success is essential if you want to climb the ladder from the ordinary to becoming a star.

The book is designed to be a playbook to meet the many challenges in business and in life. As with a football game, different plays are rquired for offence and for defence. At the same time, entirely different sets of ideas are necessary for passing plays and for a running game. Defending against both possibilities is also essential to success. As Emotional Intelligence abilities are learned, the star performer can apply their skills to any situtation. As with the plays in football, the playbook can be learned, studied, and put into practice.



For me, the real power of Leaders' Playbook: How to Apply Emotional Intelligence - Keys to Great Leadership is its design as a practical and easy to follow, step by step course. The book provides a series of vital lessons to be learned, after completion of an honest self examination, of your own current level of Emotional Intelligence. The strength of EI is that it can be learned and developed continually over a person's entire lifetime, and applied in all aspects of business and in life. Following the coaching outline of the book will almost certainly reward the reader with greater awareness of the essential people skills that lead to success.

I highly recommend Leaders' Playbook: How to Apply Emotional Intelligence - Keys to Great Leadership by Reldan S. Nadler as a must read guide to developing the star performer in yourself and in those in your organization. Anyone reading the book, and learning its lessons, will find a profound improvement in their skills as a leader in any field.

Learn the essential skills taught in Leaders' Playbook: How to Apply Emotional Intelligence - Keys to Great Leadership and achieve more than you had ever imagined possible in your business and your life.

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Saturday, January 27, 2007

Nut's and BlogBolts ‘A Conversation on Social Media Tools’

blog radio

Nut's and BlogBolts

January 29: at 8:00 pm Eastern; 5:00 pm Pacific

Blog Talk Radio hosts a 2 hour special roundtable discussion, with leading members in the blogosphere, on Social Media Tools. Kami Huyse from Communication Overtones, Jim Kukral from ReveNews, Shawn Collins from Affiliate Summit, Scott Baradell from Media Orchard and Mandie Crawford from Roaring Women.

This special Social Media Tools roundtable is hosted by Mike Sansone from ConverStations and yours truly, Wayne Hurlbert from right here at Blog Business World

The Nut's and BlogBolts show for February will be on Business and Name Branding and the line up includes, Derrick Daye from Branding Strategy Insider, John Moore from Brand Autopsy, Mike Wagner from The White Rabbit Group, Drew McLellan from The Marketing Minute, and Valeria Maltoni from Conversation Agent. Of course your hosts once again are Mike Sansone and Wayne Hurlbert.

If you miss this very informative special show presentation, it will be available for download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other special rountable events, go to the Nut's and BlogBolts 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.

Listen Live

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Thursday, January 25, 2007

Carnival of Entrepreneurs 7 at Startup Spark



The Carnival of Entrepreneurs is open for business at Benjamin Yoskovitz's business startup blog known as Startup Spark. The Carnival is in its seventh edition with the latest entry into the blog carnival cavalcade.

The entries include posts from leading business bloggers on topics relating to entrepreneurship and operating your own independent business.



I have an entry in this edition of Carnival of Entrepreneurs as well.

My post is titled "Creative thinking: Forget the lesser of two evils" where I discuss how business people are often faced with what they believe to be two terrible choices. On the one hand, they might face bankruptcy, and on the other side lurks massive downsizing and selloffs. Both choices would spell doom for the company, and many business owners and managers only see those two terrible options. While not all dual bad choices are that grim, they often do considerable harm to the organization.




The preferred participation option is to simply enter your best entrepreneurship post at Blog Carnival.

As always, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership.

Next week's edition of Carnival of Entrepreneurs will also be hosted by Startup Spark.

In the meantime, head on over to the Startup Spark hosting of Carnival of Entrepreneurs and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting entrepreneurial blogs.

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Carnival of the Vanities 227 at Silflay Hraka



The 227th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities continues at Kehaar's Silflay Hraka.

The carnival, and indeed the entire blog carnival idea, was born four years ago at Bigwig's Silflay Hraka blog. It is now back home to Silflay Hraka, as Bigwig's brother Kehaar has assumed the reins with great results.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, religion, humour, and business.



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

My post is titled "Creative thinking: Forget the lesser of two evils" where I discuss how instead of seeing only two options, a business person would be wise to seek other more creative solutions. Having only two selections available on the table creates a false dichotomy that pushes other more viable solutions onto the floor. Instead of solving the problem, the lesser of two very bad outcomes usually makes the situation much worse. It's time to reconsider the idea of choosing the alleged lesser of two evils dilemma and seek a different outcome.





The host says the preferred participation option is to simply enter at Blog Carnival.

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

When you send an entry to Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the many internet blog Carnivals, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership.

Show the Carnival some linky love.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears once again at Kehaar's Silflay Hraka.

In the meantime, head on over to the Silflay Hraka hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan: Sports Marketing and Promotion - Blog Business Success Radio

blog radio



Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan, Texas Rollergirls roller derby star and author of Rollergirl:Totally True Tales From The Track, shares secrets of operating and marketing sports teams, and branding special events, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success.

The show airs live on Thursday, January 25, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan discusses how all female roller derby leagues share ownership among the skaters in a cooperative business model. She also provides ideas on marketing, promoting, and branding special events. You will learn:

* How a cooperative ownership model works and how it can be successful

* How to market special events for sold out successes

* How to brand a special event to widen its appeal

* How to multiply and continue the success of one event over and over again



A founding member of the Texas Rollergirls, Melissa Joulwan (photo left courtesy: Celeste Danger) gets (and gives) bruises as Melicious, number 11 on the Hotrod Honeys. In 2005, she was voted Fan Favorite and in 2003, she won the Miss Texas Rollergirl title at the annual Whammy Awards.

Her most recent journalistic gig was as the sole writer for You Decide, a syndicated monthly feature that appears on KQED.org, Salon.com, and other public broadcasting station sites. Her work won the Grand Prize at the 2004 Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism, as well as the 2004 Golden Dot Award for Best Non-Commercial Online Journalism from George Washington University.

Melissa has published articles on fitness and nutrition, music, culture, and the rise of Roller Derby for mainstream magazines, alternative publications, and web-zines, including Paste, Carbon 14, the Austin-American Statesman, Chemical X, ACE Fitness Matters, and others.



As spokesperson for the Texas Rollergirls, Melissa (photo left courtesy: Rebecca Davis) appeared on Good Morning America in August 2004, where she schooled Diane Sawyer on becoming a Rollergirl. She's also been interviewed for other broadcast media, including the Today show, The Early Show, and National Public Radio. Her interviews with print media include The Associated Press, The New York Times, SPIN, Inside SPORT, and Drill.

In 1996, Melissa launched Go, girl!, an online zine dedicated to getting women involved in sports; it had a monthly readership of 17,000. From 1998 until relocating to Austin in 2001, she worked as a copywriter and Creative Director for Organic, Inc., in San Francisco, leading creative teams to extend well-known brands online. Her clients included Sony Playstation, Macys, Nike, Blockbuster, Hard Rock Cafe, and Home Depot. She also led brand development projects for Internet start-ups, and taught all-day seminars in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles on Writing for the Web and User-centric Web Design.

My review of Rollergirl:Totally True Tales From The Track

Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan's blog: Blog*Jam

Listen Live, Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time, by clicking the media player.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for 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.

Let's talk with Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan and learn about special event marketing, promotions, and branding, and how they can boost your business to the next level, on Blog Business Success Radio.

blog radio

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Monday, January 22, 2007

Carnival of the Capitalists at David Maister



This week sees an organized approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists arrives at David Maister's author, speaker, and consulting blog known as David Maister.

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, 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, marketing, business, and personal finance.

It's always great to read and discover the many high quality 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.




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:

cotcmail -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 blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will be at the investment and markets blog known as Long or Short Capital.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the David Maister 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 your business in order.

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Sunday, January 21, 2007

Rollergirl: Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan - Book review



Rollergirl

Totally True Tales From The Track


By: Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan

Paperback
288 pages
30 black and white photographs
ISBN: 978-0-7432-9715-6
Publisher: Touchstone Paperback/Simon & Schuster

The new wave of edgy women roller derby skaters, and their uncanny knack for business organization and promotion, are served up in punk rock defiance by skater turned author Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan in
Rollergirl: Totally True Tales From The Track. In a volume packed with action, photos, and real life thrills and spills, all female roller derby for the new millenium is captured in all of its pain and rolling glory.



All female flat track roller derby is not what tradtionalists in any sport had envisioned for athletic competition. Combining provocative outfits, alternate name personae, and a flair for the dramatic, the women owned roller derby leagues have turned the concept of league ownership and management upside down.

Skating as "Melicious" in the top ranked Texas Rollergirls league, Melissa Joulwan (photo left courtesy: Celeste Danger) is a major part of that women's sport revolution.

The traditional sports ownership model usually involves an owner, an ownership group, or the team owned by a major corporation. Roller derby had a similar history, with the difference that one man owned the entire league, including all of the member teams. When that single ownership ended, the entire sport disappeared along with it. Using a skater owned cooperative business model, the leagues are operated by the skaters for the skaters. With over one hundred similar leagues in business, the loss of one doesn't endanger the entire sport. As Melissa Joulwan makes very clear, the women are now doing it for themselves.



Combining business and marketing savvy advice, and anecdotes about life on and off the flat roller derby track, Melissa captures the essence of being a rollergirl named "Melicious" (action photo left courtesy: Michael Osborne). These athletic and smart women provide the league marketing and public relations, as well as being the talent that attracts legions of adoring fans.

In an industry where the talent is clearly the product, the women of modern roller derby understand that each bout (as they call their games) is a special event. As a result, the book oozes with ideas for special event marketing and promotions.

For me, the importance of the book is the powerful blend of edge of the seat sports action with leading edge business ideas. The cooperative business model is one that is worth consideration for startup businesses; and for employee takeovers of their employers' companies. The multiple ownership spreads risk, provides more financial possibilities, and stronger committment to success. As Melissa demonstrates so clearly, the pool of creative ideas for promotion and marketing are multiplied exponentially.

For a cutting edge blend of women's sports and business know how, I recommend you take a roll around the track with roller derby skater turned author Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan in
Rollergirl: Totally True Tales From The Track. You will find the bumps and bruises stylish and great for your business.

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Facing disappointment: When plans go astray



Facing disappointment is one of the most difficult emotions for many business people to understand in their working or personal lives. While disappointing events are commonplace in personal and home life matters, they are less well understood in business situations. Often, disappointing events lead otherwise astute entrepreneurs and managers to make some serious errors in judgement. Let's examine business disappointment and it's ramifications for your company.

An entrepreneur will meet many disappointments on the road to business success. The first major disappointment is often hearing rejection and criticism of a good business plan from family and friends. Very often, without even examining the details, the budding business person will hear of probable and inevitable failure and bankruptcy. Instead of being disappointed, this caution should be accepted as legitimate concern for your future. Take the opportunity to practice your 30 second elevator speech, and describe your business proposal succinctly to a sympathetic audience. If you can convince the doubting family members, the bankers and other financiers of your company will hear a much better presentation.



Of course, there are many disappointments in financing a business. Bankers often say no to startup ventures, and other lenders may be even less accomodating. Instead of sitting back feeling sorry about the sad state of your finances, seize the opportunity to be creative in gaining the needed cash and supplies. Very often, the resulting debt levels and overhead will be lower than with traditional financing. Instead of a bad outcome, the creative solution might be a far better one for the business.

Plans often go astray. A well thought out marketing plan can fail even if everything is done correctly. Sometimes, things just don't work out as they seem on the drawing board. Economic conditions can change, the right people are not always in place, and the timing can be wrong for an idea. Instead of breaking the furniture, take advantage of the situation as a learning experience. Treat it as a pilot project and and get your entire staff involved in creative solutions and ideas for the future. The chance for everyone in the organization to think of possible plans and to share in the company's direction can lead to unimagined future success.



People are often the source of the most painful disappointments. Staff problems can range from personality conflicts, to the person not being suited to the job, to unethical and illegal employment activity. Very often, the disappointment in a staff member is paralyzing to a superior. Instead of taking action, the situation is avoided. Treat this situation as an opportunity to help a troubled employee or to find someone more suited to the position. Adding a new staff member may be the best breath of fresh air for the organization.

Like all business problems, disappointments can be used as stepping stones to even greater future success for your business.

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Saturday, January 20, 2007

Reading the sound: Setting the tone



I was reading a forum post the other day, and I was struck by a phenomenon that I had noticed many times in the past, in forums and on blogs. As I read the poster's words, I could almost hear the writer's tone in the sentences. The tone, as I picked it up, seemed to be a whine.

The writer did not like the topic of discussion. That is natural and a person's choice. Not everyone agrees on everything. What was interesting was the word selection. Instead of discussing the facts, or even expressing an opinion, the wording created the sense of a whining individual. I could read the tone.

I have read posts that seemed to take on a condescending tone of superiority, and postings that seemed full of anger. Many posts read like a smile and even ring with laughter and joy. It's all in the tone. I am not the only person to have noticed this interesting aspect of forum and of blog writing. Your tone of voice appears in your written words.

For blog writers, the tone sound in posts is of utmost importance. If you are writing about your topic, and people can read anger or a whine, your opinion will carry much less weight. In fact, many readers will simply click to another blog or traditional website, rather than be subjected to an unpleasant tone of voice. When choosing your words, be assertive and factual. The resulting tone is one of a pleasant read, and is more informative. It may also sway a few readers to share your point of view.



For business bloggers, it's important to develop a personal blogging voice that is pleasant, friendly, and informative. A writer who hates the company, and everyone connected with the organization, may find that hostility echoed the resulting blog postings. Even if the blogger is a whistleblower, documenting alleged misdeeds or illegal activities, the tone must appear authoritative and factual. Anyone seen as a whiner or malcontent may finde the charges discredited by many readers.

It's all in the tone. Some writers read their posts aloud to discover nuances of tone and voice. It's something that you might try should you fear a tone problem in your writing.

After all of that discussion of tone of voice, I am expecting my readers to find a whine, scream, or general ranting voice in the post. I am hoping it reads more of tongue in cheek, and less as a chainsaw massacre.

In any case, consider your blog tone of voice, and your readership will respond in positive ways to your words.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007

Carnival of Entrepreneurs 6 at Startup Spark



The Carnival of Entrepreneurs is open for business at Benjamin Yoskovitz's business startup blog known as Startup Spark. The Carnival is in its sixth edition with the latest entry into the blog carnival cavalcade.

The entries include posts from leading business bloggers on topics relating to entrepreneurship and operating your own independent business.

I have an entry in this edition of Carnival of Entrepreneurs as well.

My post is titled "Making mistakes: Admit your errors" where I discuss how making mistakes is part of operating a business. All companies, and all owners, managers, and other staff members make errors. There are different types of mistakes, and some are more damaging than others. There are even good mistakes. In any case, it's important that every business owner, manager, or staffer admit their errors and use the result as a learning tool.



The preferred participation option is to simply enter your best entrepreneurship post at Blog Carnival.

As always, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership.

Next week's edition of Carnival of Entrepreneurs will also be hosted by Startup Spark.

In the meantime, head on over to the Startup Spark hosting of Carnival of Entrepreneurs and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting entrepreneurial blogs.

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Carnival of the Vanities 226 at Silflay Hraka



The 226th edition of the longest running internet blog carnival, the well known Carnival of the Vanities continues at Kehaar's Silflay Hraka.

The carnival, and indeed the entire blog carnival idea, was born four years ago at Bigwig's Silflay Hraka blog. It is now back home to Silflay Hraka, as Bigwig's brother Kehaar has assumed the reins with great results.

Carnival of the Vanities is the original collection of blog postings, assembling some of the best and wide ranging bloggers on the internet.

This week's Carnival of the Vanities entries include politics, literature, religion, humour, and business.



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

My post is titled "Lifelong learning: Read for success" where I discuss lifelong learning is a journey that never ends. As each milestone is passed on the road to knowledge, another goal appears on the horizon. As your learning grows, so too does your success in business and in life. While there are many ways to acquire knowledge, one of the most important techniques is by reading books.





The host says the preferred participation option is to simply enter at Blog Carnival.

As I suggest elsewhere, hosting and contributing to the various internet blog carnivals is a great promotional idea for your blog.

When you send an entry to Carnival of the Vanities, or any of the many internet blog Carnivals, don't forget to link to the hosted edition. It's not only common courtesy, but helps to increase visitor traffic for all entrants. It also shows your appreciation of the hard work done by the host in preparing the post. Everyone shares in the benefits of the expanded Carnival readership.

Show the Carnival some linky love.

Next week's edition of Carnival of the Vanities appears once again at Kehaar's Silflay Hraka.

In the meantime, head on over to the Silflay Hraka hosting of Carnival of the Vanities and enjoy the posts on offer.

You will almost certainly be introduced to some great new and interesting blogs.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Ray Silverstein: Best Secrets of Great Small Businesses - Blog Business Success Radio

blog radio



Ray Silverstein, President of President's Resource Organization (PRO) and author of The Best Secrets of Great Small Businesses, shares secrets of business success not taught in business schools, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success.

The show airs live on Thursday, January 18, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Ray Silverstein discusses the secrets of business success and entrepreneurship that are often ignored or unknown by many business people. You will learn:

* Real life experiences of successful business people

* Learn low cost ideas that can save thousands of dollars

* Discover techniques for increasing revenue at low cost

* Find out time saving methods that can expand your working day painlessly



Ray Silverstein (photo left) has become the guru of hundreds of small business owners - people faced with the same challenges you encounter every day - through his President's Resource Organization (PRO), a network of entrepreneurs who meet regularly to serve as one another's advisory board. Ray founded PRO in 1993 after selling his multi-million dollar tool and hardware manufacturing business.
Ray, a recognized authority on peer advisory groups, has been quoted in INC., Entrepreneur, and the Wall Street Journal and writes a small business column, "Advice from the Pros," for The Business Ledger in Chicago.

To date, he has facilitated more than 1,000 peer advisory group meetings, his primary source for the ideas presented in his book. He is delighted to share these secrets, not only in print, but through workshops, seminars, and other speaking engagements. As an accomplished speaker, Ray has presented to groups nationwide, including bank-sponsored seminars, Chambers of Commerce, and college-level small business workshops.

Listen Live, Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time, by clicking the media player.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for 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.

Let's talk with Ray Silverstein and secrets of business success not taught in business schools, and how they can boost your business to the next level, on Blog Business Success Radio.



ConverStation Workshops

For even more business and blogging information from another Blog Talk Radio host, be sure to check out my good friend Mike Sansone's (photo left) business blog seminar show ConverStation Workshops at 7:30 am Eastern Time on Thursday, January 4.

ConverStation Workshops this week: Developing a Voice for Business Blogging. Can your customers “hear” your voice in your blog posts? Find out why this is so important and how to “hear” authenticity on other blogs.


blog radio

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