Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Recession marketing: Winning market share



With all of the current mainstream media discussion of housing market bubbles, lower housing and stock market values, and possible recession in the economy, it's always a good idea to be prepared. Should there be an economic downturn, the prudent course of action is to see an opportunity where everyone else sees a crisis. One of those expansion opportunities is through increased market share.

While other business owners and managers enter into a contraction and retrenchment mode during a recession, the contrarian business person thinks in terms of expansion. When other businesses cut back on marketing and advertising, they are surrendering potential market share. There is no better opportunity to pick up new customers and increase your company's profile in the marketplace. When other organizations are cutting back, it's time to claim their abandoned market share.

The first place to consider expanding during an economic downturn is your marketing efforts. If your marketing plan is comprehensive, it should already have a scenario in place for marketing when the economy weakens. The plan should include spending more money on marketing, but there is room for expansion of low and no cost marketing as well. In fact, if money is tight for your own business, as a result of lower economic activity, the expansion of your marketing program may be predicated upon free techniques. You may have little choice in the matter, and free marketing may be the only available solution.



The danger of having lower revenues, for the moment, may be the urge to cut back could be overwhelming. Creditors require payment regardless of the economy and demands for shrinking funds may cloud your thinking. It is no wonder that most business people cut back when the economy slows down. It's important to keep your eye on the prize, even when others are urging you to back away from the goal. Because money is tight, you also have a number of advantages. Demands for funding of non-revenue producing projects can be placed on hold for the duration. That money can then be redirected to the marketing and advertising campaigns.

Paid advertising can often be purchased at a much lower price during a recession. Media are feeling the pinch as well. Very often, they will cut you a great deal on space. Opportunities will also open up for barter transactions. Someone short of cash will want to make a trade. You can conserve precious cash flow by sharing in the barter arrangement. Very often, you can get more premium placement advertising during an economic downturn than at any other time.



Free marketing efforts should be the hallmark of your expanded marketing program. A business blog is the obvious first step. If the the blog is already established, its readership is already partially established. The blog can be expanded easily to include more frequent posting to add even more readers and develop more conversations. The blog will inform current and potential customers and clients that not only are you staying in business, but you are also planning to serve them even better in the future.

Free publicity through press releases, special event marketing, and community involvement are powerful market expansion techniques. Be sure to network with potential clients at industry and non-industry events. If you are forced to remove your booth from a trade show, attend anyway. Your presence there can still add to your client base, through active lead generation. Make yourself available for media interviews and establish yourself as an expert in your field. After all, the competition in your industry has been reduced temporarily.

While I am not predicting an economic downturn, the prudent business owner should always be ready for such an event. When a recession strikes, an entrepreneur must be prepared to seize the opportunity for expanded market share.

When other businesses are pulling back, it's time for your company to move in and fill the void.

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Nut's and BlogBolts Branding special a success

blog radio





Nut's and BlogBolts

Blog Talk Radio hosted a 90 minute special roundtable discussion, with leading members in the blogosphere on Tuesday, February 27 at 8:30 pm Eastern time; 5:30 pm Pacific time.

The Nut's and BlogBolts show for February 27 was abour Business and Name Branding. The roundtable line up included Derrick Daye from Branding Strategy Insider, John Moore from Brand Autopsy, Mike Wagner from The White Rabbit Group, Drew McLellan from The Marketing Minute, David Koopmans of Mokum Marketing, and Valeria Maltoni from Conversation Agent.

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

Topics included:

* The importance of building a strong identifiable brand image

* What factors go into creating a powerful brand

* How to build your company brand strength online

* How to coordinate the online branding image with offline branding efforts

The conversation was lively, spontaneous, and very informative. The panel of experts are all well known in business circles for their expertise on branding. Their knowledge was on full display as they shared their thoughts and insights on brands and how companies can develop their brand promise even more successfully.

Among the callers to the show, with questions and comments on branding, was Blog Talk Radio CEO Alan Levy. Along with the questions, Alan Levy was very complimentary about the high quality of the panel discussion, and the expertise provided for the listeners.

If you missed this very informative special show presentation, it is 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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Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Robert Lamoreaux: Winning or Losing the Retirement Race - Blog Business Success Radio

blog radio




Estate planner Robert Lamoreaux, author of Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race shares ideas for meeting the challenges, and enjoying the rewards of a sound retirement strategy, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.


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



Robert Lamoreaux describes the tactics and rules for winning the retirement race, where you and everyone else are entrants. You will learn:

* The rules and tactics for successful retirement free of financial worry

* How to win the retirement race using techniques specific for your current age

* How to live well today, and still retire well tomorrow

* How to endure successful estate planning for the next generation



Robert Lamoreaux (photo left) is a successful attorney who has specialized in estate and financial planning throughout his career. He holds degrees from Brigham Young University and University of Utah College of Law as well as certificates from many other institutes of higher education around the country. He has lectured extensively from coast to coast and has traveled the world managing assets which have been gifted to an international charitable organization.

Robert has given legal counsel to numerous corporations, colleges and universities, prominent individuals and the IRS. He has vast knowledge which has come from planning numerous estates of all types and sizes.

Robert currently has a successful private practice and continues to be in demand for his work in estate law and financial planning.

He and his wife, Peggy, have been married for 44 years and are the parents of 14 children.

My review of Robert Lamoreaux's book Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race.

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 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 Robert Lamoreaux, and learn the rules and tactics for winningthe retirement race, that can boost your financial well being to the next level, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Listen Live

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Monday, February 26, 2007

Carnival of the Capitalists at Carnival of the Capitalists



This week sees a fresh relaunch approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists arrives at the new relaunched site of Carnival of the Capitalists.

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.




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

My post is titled "Work overload: Solving the time problem" where I discuss how work overload, and the accompanying stress of not having enough hours in the day, is a major problem for many business owners and managers. Not only is the issue of feeling snowed under by too much work an issue for entrepreneurs and exectives, it's getting worse. Some business people are left to dream of adding magical hours to their clocks as a last resort.

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 blogs that they might otherwise have missed.

Next week's Carnival of the Capitalists will once again be at the new relaunched site of Carnival of the Capitalists.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the Carnival of the Capitalists 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 carnival on.

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Nut's and BlogBolts A Conversation on Branding

blog radio

Nut's and BlogBolts


February 27: at 8:30 pm Eastern; 5:30 pm Pacific

Blog Talk Radio hosts a 90 minute special roundtable discussion, with leading members in the blogosphere.

The Nut's and BlogBolts show for February 27 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, David Koopmans of Mokum Marketing, and Valeria Maltoni from Conversation Agent.

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

Topics include:

* The importance of building a strong identifiable brand image

* What factors go into creating a powerful brand

* How to build your company brand strength online

* How to coordinate the online branding image with offline branding efforts

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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Friday, February 23, 2007

Work overload: Solving the time problem



Work overload, and the accompanying stress of not having enough hours in the day, is a major problem for many business owners and managers. Not only is the issue of feeling snowed under by too much work an issue for entrepreneurs and exectives, it's getting worse. Some business people are left to dream of adding magical hours to their clocks as a last resort.

As more and more jobs are reduced from downsizing, offshoring, and outsourcing, many managers are feeling the pressure to add responsibilities to their own heavy workloads. For business owners, a growing company brings additional work and responsibility. The need for improved time management has never been more crucial than it is for business people today. Finding solutions to the work overload problem is vital for both employees and management. The very survival of the business may depend upon it.

It's time for the busy person of business to take a crash course in time management. If there ever was a need to gain expertise in any area of business, effective use of time available is a great place to start. Many overwhelmed business people believe they know all there is to know about managing both their own time and that of their staff. Unfortunately, that assumption on their part is often not anywhere close to reality.



Effective time management has many sides, but two basics are setting priorities, and concentrating on completion of the task at hand. In effect, the goal is to make the most effective use of the time available, and that means taking care of the most important jobs. The most important tasks are often the big ones, and they need to be given first priority. While the small jobs might not seem difficult, taken together, they can use up the entire block of available time. Their role is to be left until the most important issues are addressed.

Focus upon and complete the highest value jobs first. Smaller jobs can be delegated to other people. Even subsidiary portions of the major items can be spread out to other staff members. An inability to properly delegate jobs and responsibility is a major cause of work overload and time management problems.




Have everyone given part of the workload also share in the planning and timing of the task. Develop times for completion of each role to allow for accountability. The parts to be completed by the entrepreneur or the manager should be those parts requiring special expertise. Routine work can and should be delegated to others.

When setting up your day, tackle that most important and high value job first. Concentrate on it until it's completed. Avoid distractions. If there is a deadline looming, have your calls held and avoid adding meetings to your agenda. The work needs completion, and the business often depends upon its success.

Once the high value jobs are completed, reward yourself and those around you for a job well done. After the first major project is completed successfully, other big jobs will seem less daunting. The work will no longer appear overwhelming and will be completed properly and on time.

Focus upon and complete those high value jobs first. Let time become your friend, and not be your foe.

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Thursday, February 22, 2007

Carnival of the Vanities 231at Silflay Hraka



The 231st 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 over 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 "blog themes: Missing the point" where I discuss what happens to all writers at one time or another. It may be an occupational hazard that occurs when fingers tap keyboards. A reader will misunderstand the point of your blog post. There may even be issue taken with a very obscure part of the article. Instead of debate taking place over the main theme of the column, some obscure section may find itself the topic of various interpretations.



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, February 21, 2007

Carnival of Entrepreneurs 11 at Startup Spark



The Carnival of Entrepreneurs is open for business back, where it all began, at Ben Yoskovitz's carnival home blog Startup Spark. The Carnival is in its eleventh edition with this latest entry into the business 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 "Entrepreneurship: Overcoming your fears" where I discuss how entrepreneurship and the dream of owning your own business is a powerful concept. As a business owner, you are in charge of the decision making process, the direction of the company's products and services, and benefit from your own hard work at building the organization. At the same time, the same factors that drive entrepreneurship can be equally frightening for many potential self employed people. To get your own business going and growing, it's necessary to overcome your fears.



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 be hosted at Emmanuel Oluwatosin's inpsirational business and entrepreneurial blog known as Emmanuel Oluwatosin: Inspiring Excellence, Realising Ambitions.

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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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Jory Des Jardins: Overcoming Solo Entrepreneurship Challenges

blog radio



Solo entrepreneur, and BlogHer co-founder Jory Des Jardins who blogs at Pause shares ideas and techniques for meeting the challenges, and enjoying the rewards of solo entrepreneurship, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, February 22, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Jory Des Jardins talks about the challenges and rewards of solo entrepreneurship. You will learn:

* The most important challenges and pitfalls for an entrepreneur to overcome

* Special entrepreneurial challenges for women in business

* How networking, blogging, and conference attendance can boost a solo business

* Tips for keeping a one person business growing by staying focussed



Jory Des Jardins (photo left) is co-founder of BlogHer, LLC, an organization that creates opportunities for women bloggers to pursue exposure, education, economic empowerment, and community. She writes on women’s business issues, marketing, blogging, and entrepreneurship for Fast Company Experts Blog, BlogHer, and her business and personal blog, Pause. She sits on the advisory boards for BlogBurst, Feedblitz, and a stealth social media company in the women’s health and wellness space.

Jory is a media consultant, working with businesses and media companies on communications strategy. She has written random stuff for such well known publications as The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Worthwhile, and The New York Times. Her book, Work and the Single Girl, and an essay on corporate authenticity in More Space: Nine Antidotes to Complacency in Business came from ideas that she developed on her very popular business blog.

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 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 Jory Des Jardins, and learn how to overcome your greatest entrepreneurial challenges, that can boost your business to the next level, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Listen Live

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Monday, February 19, 2007

Carnival of the Capitalists at Simplify This



This week sees an entrepreneurial approach to the travelling business show, recognized by one and all as Carnival of the Capitalists arrives at Sanjay Kumar's business and entrepreneurship blog known as Simplify This.

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.




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

My post is titled "Entrepreneurship: Overcoming your fears" where I discuss how entrepreneurship and the dream of owning your own business is a powerful concept. As a business owner, you are in charge of the decision making process, the direction of the company's products and services, and benefit from your own hard work at building the organization. At the same time, the same factors that drive entrepreneurship can be equally frightening for many potential self employed people. To get your own business going and growing, it's necessary to overcome your fears.


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 new relaunched site of Carnival of the Capitalists.

In the meantime, click your mouse over to the Simplify This 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 growing.

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Sunday, February 18, 2007

Blog carnivals: How to become a carnival pariah



So you want to become a carnival persona non grata?

No problem. Here's how.

Blog carnivals are a great way to get the word out to the blogging community about your blog. Carnival visitors click the link through to your entered post and very often stick around to read more of your postings. At the same time, you are contributing to the success of the chosen carnival.

Of course, that is all well and good for the dogooders of the blogosphere. You know who they are. They are the namby-pamby helpful types, who are probably broke, because they don't exploit a weakness when they see one. You are much smarter than that, of course. The carnivals are there for your benefit, and you don't intend to pass up a free lunch.



1. Write a purely sales oriented post. In fact, make it simply blatant over the top hucksterism. The carnival host won't notice. They never read the entries anyway, right? You might even sell a couple of your get rich quick scams, oops, I mean your powerful business opportunities in emerging markets. There's a sucker, oops, I mean there is a hard working entrepreneur, born every minute.

2. Enter every carnival you can find. Who cares what the theme of the carnival is alleged to support. Your dodgy product is as useful to a cat blogger as it is to a hobby or food blogger. You are smarter than the host, and definitely smarter than the readership. It's all about the links baby.



3. The same post is good for every single carnival. Economize your words, and send one post to a hundred carnivals. Even better, use the same post with a different title week after week. The hosts and readers will never know the difference, and you save a ton of work. You know your time is more valuable than other peoples' time.

4. Never ever link back to a carnival. One of the reasons for the entry in the first place is the Google juice. You want inbound links for SEO and you are not sucker enough to share. You know all about things like "leakage" and that's not happening to you. After all, your spam blog needs the SEO power to rank number one for get rich quick...umm...opportunities.



5. Brag about your carnival know how at every opportunity. Sell the idea as part of your program. After all, you don't want to waste any chance to mine a few bucks from someone else's work. They are all suckers anyway, with their carefully selected posts and links back to the carnival. Who needs that hassle? Just take the traffic, and the links, and run.

5. If any of the hosts catch on, and since most of them are not as smart as you are, they probably won't, simply start a new splog. Transfer the same spam posts to the new...ummm...informative business opportunity blog, and do the carnival routine again. You know you are always at least ten steps ahead of the rest of the great unwashed blogging types anyway. After all, how hard can it be to fool someone who works in their pajamas, right?

While there are more ways to use the blog carnival concept as part of your racket, you don't want to give all of your best ideas away. After all, you need to sell them to the visitors who innocently click through to your splog.

Get rich quick, the blog carnival way.

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Saturday, February 17, 2007

Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race by Robert Lamoreaux: Review



Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race

Author: Robert Lamoreaux

166 Pages

ISBN: 0-9787988-0-5

Publisher: Devere Publishing, Inc.






Everyone alive today is running in the retirement race of their lives, according to Robert Lamoreaux, author of Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race. As with any race, there are rules to be followed, and times are kept to determine the winners and the also rans. Robert Lmoreaux applies the analogy of running a competitive race to achieving a successful financial status for retirement. The book describes in detail how the reader can finish inside the winners circle upon retirement.

Estate planner Robert Lamoreaux brings thirty-five years of hands on estate planning experience to writing this step by step book of retirement race winning strategies. As with any race, the runner must set some goals, and plan tactics and strategies for reaching them successfully. Since everyone alive today, and is running in the race of a lifetime, we all need to prepare for crossing the finish line with our arms raised in triumph. The book sets out the rules and techniques for finishing the race ahead of the pack.



Robert Lamoreaux (photo left) points out in blunt fashion that everyone is included in the race to retirement simply by virtue of being alive. There is no choice in the matter. At the same time, everyone in the race is at different stages, as the race start has staggered entry times. The book considers the various stages of people's lives, and the different strategies to be employed to lap the field.

From the very young person, to mid and late career people, to those in retirement now and nearing the end of life, easy to follow instructions are described in detail. From goal setting to practical ideas for living life on a more solid financial foundation, the book provides the framework for victory.

As with any race, the runner must work within the rules, and follow the timing procedures set out by society for the determination of your successful progress. While deliberately avoiding the technical and legal intricacies, the author provides the background and advice for discussions with professional people, in the various fields from accounting to financial planning to law. The book provides the base for further investigation and study of the more specific technical details. By emphasising the important concepts that everyone on the road to retirement must know, the author creates a toolbox that can be applied to anyone at any stage of life, or current financial status.

For me, the power of Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race is its practical step by step approach to achieving financial independence upon retirement. Without sacrificing the good life, a healthy and prosperous retirement is a goal that can be reached without serious painful sacrifices. Solid advice for making good investment decisions, operating a sucessful business, and making wise purchases of the necessities of life are covered in detail.

The author also recognizes that the road won't be smooth, and the race will often have many hurdles to clear and obstacles to avoid. The book features chapters on health and medical expenses, marriage and family expenditures, as well as planning for funeral expenses and estate planning. By not avoiding potentially painful events of life, the book becomes a much more powerful planning tool for the average person.

I recommend Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race by Robert Lamoreaux as a powerful and honest retirement and estate planning guide. Whether you are twenty or eighty, or any age in between, there is advice suited to you and your personal race to retirement.

Read Winning or Losing the Financial & Retirement Race and be a winner in the retirement race for you and your family. Since you are already entered into the race, you may as well be in it to win it.

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Blog post themes: Missing the point



It happens to all writers at one time or another. It may be an occupational hazard that occurs when fingers tap keyboards. A reader will misunderstand the point of your blog post. There may even be issue taken with a very obscure part of the article. Instead of debate taking place over the main theme of the column, some obscure section may find itself the topic of various interpretations.

Different people find many alternative messages in all of your writings. While most blog posts are accepted at face value, many of your writings may find themselves under a microscope. Your intended point may be bypassed for a less than important aspect of the post. As surely as snow in winter, misinterpretation happens to all writers at some time or another. Instead of lamenting the event, it's more productive to consider how the misunderstanding took place.



We all view the world through different eyes. We may be seeing the same picture or reading the same words, but our perceptions are often different entirely from one another. We see everything through the prism of our lives and experiences, and create a reality based on the sum total of our backgrounds. Because of these widely different realities, we read words based on how we see ourselves. As a result, we often misinterpret what other people write; and often in very radical and unexpected ways.

When we read another person's writings, we superimpose our values, ideals, experiences onto their words. This is usually done on a subconscious level, and we often don't even know we are viewing through our own glasses of experience. This lens, created from our own values, reflects those values onto everything we do every day. Writing is no different. Very often, the way we see things gives someone else's writing meanings and shadings that were never intended by the writer.



All too often, words are misread and ideas read into the words, that are seen only through the eyes of the reader. Not only are the main themes of post often misinterpreted, but very often an innocent word or a random seeming sentence will be the cause of an unexpected controversial debate. To prevent these unfortunate and unexpected misreadings, it's important to consider the article or post from the author's point of view.

Decide upon the author's main theme for the post or article. Usually, the title and first paragraph or two will convey what the writer plans to tell the readership. If the argument put forth is consistent, accurate, and to the point then the writer has done the job properly. The reader may then agree or disagree with the main premise of the piece.



If you notice any words or sentences that seem to strike a raw nerve, take a deep breath before screaming and hurling coffee cups at your monitor. They may be simple badly worded sentences that missed the rewrite process. They may have no ulterior motives and messages attached to them at all.

Before you debate a writer for something other than the main thesis of the article, take a step back first. Place yourself in the author's shoes, and consider their point of view. You may still disagree with the overall message, but at least you will have a complete understanding of their thoughts and ideas.

Fewer misunderstandings lead to better reading understanding. They may also make you a new friend as you will now have a better grasp of the author's view of the world. It might help both writer and reader to understand each other's world view a bit better too.

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Friday, February 16, 2007

Carnival of the Vanities 230 at Silflay Hraka



The 230th 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 "Employment ethics: Responsibility works" where I discuss how an infrequently discussed area of business management is employment ethics. As with most personnel management concepts, employment ethics is a two way street. Both the employer and the employee have duties, privileges, and responsibilities as part of the employment agreement. Whether it's a formally written contract or simply a handshake deal, both sides must maintain and open and honest relationship for the benefit of everyone.




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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Thursday, February 15, 2007

Carnival of Entrepreneurs 10 at Pick The Brain



The Carnival of Entrepreneurs is open for business at John Wesley's inspirational business blog known as Pick The Brain. The Carnival is in its tenth edition with this latest entry into the business 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 "Public relations blogging: When disaster strikes" where I discuss how disaster can strike a business at any time. Despite an entrepreneur's careful plans to handle any possible emergency, life has a way of throwing the odd curveball. Sometimes those major issues feel like a hailstorm, and it's landing right on your head. Of course, that's only the beginning. The phone is ringing off the hook with members of the news media wanting answers as to what went wrong, and what is planned as a solution. Customers, creditors, and suppliers are suddenly into full panic mode about the solvency of your business. Even trusted staff members are quietly dusting off their resumes, and making calls around the city, about possible alternative employment.




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 be hosted back, where it all began, at Ben Yoskovitz's carnival home blog Startup Spark.

In the meantime, head on over to the Pick The Brain 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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Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Ed Oakley: Leadership Made Simple - Blog Business Success Radio

blog radio



Management consultant, motivational speaker, and best selling business book author Ed Oakley, who is the co-author of the new bestseller Leadership Made Simple, shares ideas and techniques for simplifying your greatest business management challenges, as my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success.

The show airs live on Thursday, February 15, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.




Ed Oakley discusses practical solutions to the many problems facting business owners and managers like you. From this interview, you will learn:

* The simple truth about leadership and how it differs from management

* How the answers to the challenges are already in the room

* Why asking the right questions is so important to finding solutions

* How and why the solutions can be made even more simple in their components



Ed Oakley (photo left) founded and is currently Chairman and CEO of Enlightened Leadership International, Inc. in 1987. It's a multi-million dollar education and training firm dedicated to "transforming organizations through people."

After a Master of Science degree from Stanford University and a stint on the technical staff at Bell Laboratories, Ed changed the direction of his career by joining Hewlett-Packard's computer sales organization. This put him into the people business, and twelve years later he had successfully climbed into HP's executive ranks.

When he was first promoted to manager in the mid '70s, he began a quest to understand what it takes to bring out the best in people - what leadership is all about. That continuing quest provides the material for his presentations and writing.

Ed has also trekked the base camp at Mount Everest in Asia, and has ascended to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. Ed Oakley aims high in all aspect of his business and personal life.

My book review of Leadership Made Simple

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 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 Ed Oakley, and learn practical solutions to your greatest management challenges, that can boost your business to the next level, on Blog Business Success Radio.

Listen Live

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