I continue to hear people speak about how partnering with other entrepreneurs is not an option.

Okay, I just don’t get it. We are in an age where NOT partnering is NOT an option. Hello! Look at the banks, restaurants, large corporations, etc. They are all… Yap. Partnering! If someone offers a widget that compliments your widget…Partner!  If someone offers great graphic design and your strength is website design (but your graphics suck)…Partner! It’s really that simple. Make sure it’s a good marriage and work together. Partnering does not necessarily mean merging. It can just mean combining services to reach a wider audience to offer more or better services.

So, who’s ready to Partner?

Hello world! Here I am again!

Mabuhay! I like to share with you nuggets about traits of a successful  entrepreneurs. Ideas for you to ponder. Be inspired! Read…

HONESTY especially intellectual

ENTERPRISE willingness to tackle tough job

PERSUASION ability to sell

OUTSPOKENNESS friendly

ADAPTABILITY capable of change

COMMUNICATION articulate

VERSATILITY broad interests and skills

IMAGINATION seeking new ideas

KNOWLEDGE and a thirst of it

HUMOR ability to laugh

I found this from the book entitled “LISTS TO LIVE BY” compiled by Alice Gray et. al. There are twenty five traits listed  in the book but I choose only ten in which for me are very USEFUL.

]]> http://swingoutthailand.com/2009/11/28/thai-tourism-entrepreneurs-to-join-world-travel-market-2009/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:55:25 +0000 Tom http://swingoutthailand.com/2009/11/28/thai-tourism-entrepreneurs-to-join-world-travel-market-2009/ http://swingoutthailand.com/2009/11/28/new-fertile-coral-reef-found-off-andaman-coast/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:51:33 +0000 Tom http://swingoutthailand.com/2009/11/28/new-fertile-coral-reef-found-off-andaman-coast/ http://swingoutthailand.com/2009/11/28/better-online-marketing-skills-for-ko-chang/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:48:36 +0000 Tom http://swingoutthailand.com/2009/11/28/better-online-marketing-skills-for-ko-chang/ http://centerforsocialconnectionssingles.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/connections-for-business-growth-and-personal-growth/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:40:16 +0000 centerforsocialconnections1 http://centerforsocialconnectionssingles.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/connections-for-business-growth-and-personal-growth/

December/January

Events/Programs

• Radio Shows on Tuesdays 11:30 EST : Dr Avila, Maria Forbes, Farah Mihoubi
• “Social Networking for Professionals who Happen to be Single” December 2
• Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs starting January 8th
• Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs who Happen to be Single starting January 14th

Hosting “Understand and Apply the Power of Compatibility to Grow Your Business & Your Personal Life” by Dr. Alexander Avila. Tuesday, December 1st 11:30 AM EST http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-power-connection

 New economy, new rules…no leeway for ineffectiveness. To effectively compete and grow, incorporate the impending discussion and applications as part of your 2010 strategy:

 * Increase understanding and development of others * Identify and enhance the motivation of others * Develop effective teams to make sure all relevant capabilities are represented * Ensure tasks & project responsibilities are understood and implemented * Apply these actions as it relates to peers, team members, and clients

 Less time, Increased pressure…no leeway for an ineffective or non-existent support team. To have increased fulfillment and success, enhance or attract your positive personal support team. Your personal relationships help support your business success & life fulfillment.

 To enhance personal relationships: * Create a division of labor that works for both of you * Communicate with one another in an effective way based on individual differences

 To attract personal relationships: * Drill down to your authentic * Use a guided approach to locate: best candidates for long term relationships & where these candidates can be found

 Dr. Avila is an author of two best selling books, a nationally syndicated columnist, TV and radio personality, and acclaimed personal speaker and coach. Additionally, he is a respected educator and prize-winning researcher and holds 4 graduate degrees including one in law and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He has been featured and interviewed on CNN, ABC, and CBS news; People, Latina, the Los Angeles Times, and many others.

 “Social Networking Celebration for Business Professionals who Happen to be Single” Wednesday, December 2nd 6:30-8:30 pm

Complimentary celebration of you & what’s to come, the holiday season & my one year anniversary as a solopreneur! Abundant complimentary appetizer buffet, synergistic people and live piano bar entertainment. Investment: Canned goods for The Food Bank. Brookwood Grill Restaurant 880 Holcomb Bridge Road Roswell 30076 Limited spots. Please RSVP ASAP!

“Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs for All”

New Sessions start January 8th and run thru March 19th

Mastermind is one of the most powerful things you can do to realize your vision, your goals and your dreams. The Mastermind Principle is & has been practiced by the most successful people: Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates & thousands of others!

Ours is a cutting edge program that is all about being PROACTIVE in the marketplace as well as in your life. Team and further synergy are developed through brainstorming, sharing connections, encouragement, resources, strategy, goal accountability, enhancing core capabilities, achieving break through experiences and much, much more.

Surround yourself by people who want you to succeed, who will provide constructive feedback for you, who will provide you with resources to help you grow in POWER & give you the edge not only to achieve your goals, but to far surpass them. Prior and current groups have said it’s the best group they ever joined and has exceeded their expectations.

 Meeting format particulars include: regular two hour meetings: 1st & 3rd week of each month, conference calls 2nd & 4th week of each month, new topic discussions each meeting, fantastic expert facilitators, a group limit of 12, participant synergy application process & 18 hours+ of group coaching!

Various days & times available: Fridays early/mid morning, 1-3 pm, Tuesdays 1-3 pm, possibly 6:30-8:30 pm, Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30 pm

Locations available including satellites ATL/Vinings – Copeland’s Cumberland 3131 Cobb Parkway SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, 30339, Sandy Springs TBD, John’s Creek TBD, Copeland’s Buckhead 3365 Piedmont Rd NE, Suite 1350 Atlanta 30305, Perimeter TBD

Investment: $297 includes plated meal at each meeting. Options: $267 Early bird rate by 12/15/09 or paid in full rate $267; Two payments of $141- First payment 12/29. Second payment 1/22

For further information, Marie Pijanowski marie@centerforsocialconnections.com 678.689.7859

“Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs who Happen to be Single”

 New Sessions start January 8th and run thru March 19th

Mastermind is one of the most powerful things you can do to realize your vision, your goals and your dreams. The Mastermind Principle is & has been practiced by the most successful people: Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates & thousands of others!

 Ours is a cutting edge program that is all about being PROACTIVE in the marketplace as well as in your life. Team and further synergy are developed through brainstorming, sharing connections, encouragement, resources, strategy, goal accountability, enhancing core capabilities, achieving break through experiences and much, much more. Surround yourself by people who want you to succeed, who will provide constructive feedback for you, who will provide you with resources to help you grow in POWER & give you the edge not only to achieve your goals, but to far surpass them. Prior and current groups have said it’s the best group they ever joined and has exceeded their expectations.

Meeting format particulars include: regular two hour meetings: 1st & 3rd week of each month, conference calls 2nd & 4th week of each month, new topic discussions each meeting, fantastic expert facilitators, a group limit of 12, participant synergy application process & 18 hours+ of group coaching! Various days & times available: Fridays early/mid morning, 1-3 pm, Tuesdays 1-3 pm, possibly 6:30-8:30 pm, Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30 pm

Locations available including satellites: ATL/Vinings – Copeland’s Cumberland 3131 Cobb Parkway SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30339, Sandy Springs TBD, John’s Creek TBD, Copeland’s Buckhead 3365 Piedmont Rd NE, Suite 1350 Atlanta 30305, Perimeter TBD

Investment: $297 includes plated meal at each meeting. Options: $267 Early bird rate by 12/15/09 or paid in full rate $267; Two payments of $141- First payment 12/29. Second payment 1/22

For further information, Marie Pijanowski marie@centerforsocialconnections.com 678.689.7859

December/January

Events/Programs

• Radio Shows on Tuesdays 11:30 EST : Dr Avila, Maria Forbes, Farah Mihoubi
• “Social Networking for Professionals who Happen to be Single” December 2
• Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs starting January 8th
• Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs who Happen to be Single starting January 14th

Hosting “Understand and Apply the Power of Compatibility to Grow Your Business & Your Personal Life” by Dr. Alexander Avila. Tuesday, December 1st 11:30 AM EST http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-power-connection

 New economy, new rules…no leeway for ineffectiveness. To effectively compete and grow, incorporate the impending discussion and applications as part of your 2010 strategy:

 * Increase understanding and development of others * Identify and enhance the motivation of others * Develop effective teams to make sure all relevant capabilities are represented * Ensure tasks & project responsibilities are understood and implemented * Apply these actions as it relates to peers, team members, and clients

 Less time, Increased pressure…no leeway for an ineffective or non-existent support team. To have increased fulfillment and success, enhance or attract your positive personal support team. Your personal relationships help support your business success & life fulfillment.

 To enhance personal relationships: * Create a division of labor that works for both of you * Communicate with one another in an effective way based on individual differences

 To attract personal relationships: * Drill down to your authentic * Use a guided approach to locate: best candidates for long term relationships & where these candidates can be found

 Dr. Avila is an author of two best selling books, a nationally syndicated columnist, TV and radio personality, and acclaimed personal speaker and coach. Additionally, he is a respected educator and prize-winning researcher and holds 4 graduate degrees including one in law and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He has been featured and interviewed on CNN, ABC, and CBS news; People, Latina, the Los Angeles Times, and many others.

 “Social Networking Celebration for Business Professionals who Happen to be Single” Wednesday, December 2nd 6:30-8:30 pm

Complimentary celebration of you & what’s to come, the holiday season & my one year anniversary as a solopreneur! Abundant complimentary appetizer buffet, synergistic people and live piano bar entertainment. Investment: Canned goods for The Food Bank. Brookwood Grill Restaurant 880 Holcomb Bridge Road Roswell 30076 Limited spots. Please RSVP ASAP!

“Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs for All”

New Sessions start January 8th and run thru March 19th

Mastermind is one of the most powerful things you can do to realize your vision, your goals and your dreams. The Mastermind Principle is & has been practiced by the most successful people: Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates & thousands of others!

Ours is a cutting edge program that is all about being PROACTIVE in the marketplace as well as in your life. Team and further synergy are developed through brainstorming, sharing connections, encouragement, resources, strategy, goal accountability, enhancing core capabilities, achieving break through experiences and much, much more.

Surround yourself by people who want you to succeed, who will provide constructive feedback for you, who will provide you with resources to help you grow in POWER & give you the edge not only to achieve your goals, but to far surpass them. Prior and current groups have said it’s the best group they ever joined and has exceeded their expectations.

 Meeting format particulars include: regular two hour meetings: 1st & 3rd week of each month, conference calls 2nd & 4th week of each month, new topic discussions each meeting, fantastic expert facilitators, a group limit of 12, participant synergy application process & 18 hours+ of group coaching!

Various days & times available: Fridays early/mid morning, 1-3 pm, Tuesdays 1-3 pm, possibly 6:30-8:30 pm, Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30 pm

Locations available including satellites ATL/Vinings – Copeland’s Cumberland 3131 Cobb Parkway SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, 30339, Sandy Springs TBD, John’s Creek TBD, Copeland’s Buckhead 3365 Piedmont Rd NE, Suite 1350 Atlanta 30305, Perimeter TBD

Investment: $297 includes plated meal at each meeting. Options: $267 Early bird rate by 12/15/09 or paid in full rate $267; Two payments of $141- First payment 12/29. Second payment 1/22

For further information, Marie Pijanowski marie@centerforsocialconnections.com 678.689.7859

“Mastermind Power Connection for Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs who Happen to be Single”

 New Sessions start January 8th and run thru March 19th

Mastermind is one of the most powerful things you can do to realize your vision, your goals and your dreams. The Mastermind Principle is & has been practiced by the most successful people: Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates & thousands of others!

 Ours is a cutting edge program that is all about being PROACTIVE in the marketplace as well as in your life. Team and further synergy are developed through brainstorming, sharing connections, encouragement, resources, strategy, goal accountability, enhancing core capabilities, achieving break through experiences and much, much more. Surround yourself by people who want you to succeed, who will provide constructive feedback for you, who will provide you with resources to help you grow in POWER & give you the edge not only to achieve your goals, but to far surpass them. Prior and current groups have said it’s the best group they ever joined and has exceeded their expectations.

Meeting format particulars include: regular two hour meetings: 1st & 3rd week of each month, conference calls 2nd & 4th week of each month, new topic discussions each meeting, fantastic expert facilitators, a group limit of 12, participant synergy application process & 18 hours+ of group coaching! Various days & times available: Fridays early/mid morning, 1-3 pm, Tuesdays 1-3 pm, possibly 6:30-8:30 pm, Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30 pm

Locations available including satellites: ATL/Vinings – Copeland’s Cumberland 3131 Cobb Parkway SE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30339, Sandy Springs TBD, John’s Creek TBD, Copeland’s Buckhead 3365 Piedmont Rd NE, Suite 1350 Atlanta 30305, Perimeter TBD

Investment: $297 includes plated meal at each meeting. Options: $267 Early bird rate by 12/15/09 or paid in full rate $267; Two payments of $141- First payment 12/29. Second payment 1/22

For further information, Marie Pijanowski marie@centerforsocialconnections.com 678.689.7859

Since, it’s year end of 2009, we are offering you a very important workshop

you don’t want to miss this year!

Workshop on “Increase Your Daily Productivity By 500%”

We are telling you, this will give you Instant Gratification from you Daily Chaotic Tasks!

What will you expect for 3-Hour Workshop ?

1. Looking Back – Your accomplishments this year

2. 5 Years Goal Setting – Goal Setting Technique

3. Freedom! License to Brag about what you want in life

4. Instant Gratification to learn how to Increase Your Daily Productivity for 500%

Free 21-Day Simply Effective Planner

DO NOT MISS THIS DAY!

November 18, 2009 ; 9am-12nn at Maryland Heights Centre

2344 Mckelvey Rd., Maryland Heights 63044

This workshop is valued at $489 ; Special Promo Rate of $259.99

And an additional 20% OFF from $259.99,

So it becomes $207.99!!!

BUT WAIT!

We are giving away 7 FREE ADMISSION TO THIS WORKSHOP.

All you have to do is : Prove You Have Too Much On Your Plate

To Win a FREE TICKET to Our Productivity Workshop!

By Blogging at www.erforme.wordpress.com and

Tell us why: “I win the prize for having

too much on my plate because…”

November 18, 2009 ; 9am-12nn at Maryland Heights Centre

2344 Mckelvey Rd., Maryland Heights 63044

Based on your comments, we will select 7 of the

busiest people to win FREE TICKETS to our Workshop

Just click Reply and Blog it here!

Fun Facts – Our definition of GURU is as follows

G – Great
U – Understanding
R – Relatively
U – Useless

Iloubnan.info

Par Nada Akl

Joi Ito, PDG de Creative Commons

Lors du forum 4site qui a eu lieu la semaine dernière, les investisseurs, les innovateurs et les entrepreneurs de la région se sont réunis pour discuter des nouvelles technologies et de l’innovation dans l’entrepreneuriat. Parmi les questions majeures qui se sont posées lors de ce rendez-vous : Une Silicon Wadi serait-elle possible dans la région? Question clé pour le Liban. Est-il possible que notre environnement puisse favoriser la création de la prochaine plate-forme technologique régionale? Mais d’ailleurs, quelle est l’importance de l’environnement dans ce domaine-là?

Quelle est l’importance réelle de l’environnement pour promouvoir l’esprit d’entreprise on line? La question était sur la table lors du forum 4site organisé à Beit el Tabib à Beyrouth les 17 et 18 Novembre en collaboration avec Global Entrepreneur Week. Est-ce qu’une Silicon Wadi Possible? Comment et Quand? A quels autres modèles devrions-nous penser pour la région WANA (Asie de l’Ouest / Afrique du Nord)? Hervé Cuviliez de de Kuv capital, et l’entrepreneur et investisseur en capital-risque japonais Joi Ito ont discuté de la question. Cuviliez insiste sur l’importance d’un environnement sain avec tout un écosystème d’incubateurs, de financeurs spécialisés dans le capital-risque et d’universités pour favoriser un lancement réussi. Il s’avère que Kuv capital réfléchit déjà à l’idée d’une Beirut Media City. Ne divulguant que peu d’informations sur le projet, Cuviliez explique que les investisseurs sont sur le point de conclure l’affaire de l’achat d’une localisation au nord de Beyrouth, destinée à devenir le nouveau pôle technologique de la région. Beirut Media City, en partenariat avec d’autres plates-formes technologiques en Europe ou dans le Golfe, permettrait aux professionnels d’un pays d’avoir également accès aux services et aux facilités des pays étrangers.

De son côté, Joi Ito, PDG de Creative Commons, souligne les avantages du Liban: représenter une économie sur une si petite surface géographique ne peut qu’inciter le pays à répondre aux besoins d’un public international. Selon lui, moins le gouvernement s’en mêle, mieux c’est. Prenant cela en considération, le fait que le secteur privé libanais ait montré qu’il pouvait rester opérationnel même sans gouvernement est un grand avantage. Il minimise l’importance de l’environnement puisque l’écosystème est de plus en plus virtuel. Toutefois, il avoue que les capitalistes à risque qui ne sont pas encore en harmonie avec les possibilités du web sont ceux qui se concentrent davantage sur l’environnement des entreprises. Donc la question d’attirer des capitaux au Liban demeure effectivement un problème. Pour illustrer la façon dont selon lui les choses doivent être envisagées, Joi Ito se souvient des jours où il était DJ : il raconte qu’une petite foule de gens décontractés attiraient un public toujours plus nombreux.

En bref, les conseils de Joi Ito pour les entrepreneurs ambitieux:

“Toujours participer aux communautés où vous êtes entrain de construire des systèmes, assister à des conférences, participer à des forums …”.

“Continuer aussi longtemps que possible sans argent à investir et attendre au moins 200.000 utilisateurs avant d’opter pour un commanditaire” (car selon lui le capitaliste à risque peut imposer une certaine direction à suivre qui peut entraver voire inhiber le cours d’un bon commencement).

Enfin, quant à savoir si le Liban peut favoriser un environnement idéal pour le financement ou non, pour lui, ça n’a même pas d’importance : “les légendes de commencement réussis sont toujours en rapport avec une ‘étincelle’, et pas avec des plans d’affaires alléchants ni le financement de l’incubateur”.

Finalement, on réfléchit à une amélioration globale et virtuelle de l’environnement, mais commencer par améliorer les principales infrastructures seraient sûrement profitables au développement des talents prometteurs du Liban : elles contribueraient peut-être à mettre un frein à la fuite des cerveaux et à attirer les investisseurs qui savent justement que le Liban a les cerveaux pour alimenter une plate-forme technologique en plein essor, comparable à la Silicon Valley aux États-Unis ou à Dubai Media City dans le Golfe. Et puis un petit coup de pouce à l’échelle locale pour des « success-stories » de renommée mondiale… voilà qui pourrait être une solution pour le pays.

It is the creator of a groundbreaking technology enabling Internet-based companies to secure, control and monitor the online distribution of their digital content/services via API as well as to manage billing and payments for such services.

The unique plug and play nature of the 3scale platform, as well as its flexibility and scalability, makes it a first-choice solution for companies willing to benefit from a professional API management tool and to at the same time minimize not only their costs but also their time-to-market.

Its on-demand SaaS solution offers to Web services/API providers the following features:
- API Access control and management
- API Usage Monitoring and Analytics
- Developer portal
- Billing and Payments management

For more information you can visit 3scale website (http://www.3scale.net) or send your questions and enquiries to info@3scale.net

Owner of D-light Studios Agata Stoinska was featured recently on the cover of the Irsh Times Magazine.

The article, ‘Bust to Boom can be read by clicking here.

While in Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry this week with my family, we dove into the “You! The Experience” exhibit, which was phenomenal. As we strolled through the laugh garden, we learned more about the science of happiness, and the term “psychological net worth” jumped off the walls at me. Many of those in my business and wealth-building network, including myself, have a strong awareness of our monetary net worth – you know … assets minus liabilities. Well, part of the vitality section of the museum exhibit included statistics about happiness and one’s level of psychological wealth. “Psychological wealth includes life satisfaction, the feeling that life is full of meaning, a sense of engagement in interesting activities, the pursuit of important goals, the experience of positive emotional feelings, and a sense of spirituality that connects people to things larger than themselves,” according to Psychologist Ed Diener in his 2008 book Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth http://bit.ly/6lBiIV Of course, material sufficiency to meet our needs underlies these things. Our quality of life will suffer if we do not develop each aspect of true wealth. And, an interesting fact on the Museum’s walls states that studies show those with higher incomes do score higher on happiness assessments. Maybe money can buy a bit of happiness? Or, more turkey. But, we must not lose sight of all the other components of our psychological net worth.

Photo: Daniel Wildman | Stock.xchng

When the dragons start their interrogation of entrepreneurs, one of the most essential questions they ask is “How do you make a profit?” In other words: How is it a business? How do you make your money in this setup? What is your business model?

The past seven seasons have, of course, brought a variety of entrepreneurs into the den, so we’ve had the privilege to see many business models falling under the scrutiny of the investors. Franchises, exclusive clubs, licensing, retail, and pyramid (!) schemes are just some of the many models presented before our fierce five. Very often, after a thorough dissection of them, the dragons are simply unconvinced that they could work, i.e., that they could make money.

It’s really very important to determine what the business model is from the outset. Just today, I was reviewing another DD episode, when I came upon a father-and-son team hoping to sell their ladder box invention. When Theo Paphitis asked them what their plan was (to make money, of course), the son answered, “We’ll sell lots of them”. Nice quick answer but very ambiguous. After all, every business IS supposed to sell something (product or service), but the how-to of it must be nailed down pat to leave no room for doubt as to its viability. That’s what a business model answers.

Again, flashback to my early days as an entrepreneur. It’s now cringe-worthy that in those times, I used to talk at length about the quality of CAN-DO! but very little about how it could be profitable. And, of course, these days, with publishing establishments falling by the wayside almost every week, I can’t just simply rely on selling the usual advert space, even if advertising is the recognised bloodline of magazine publishing. So one of the primary questions I’ve now learned to ask myself: What is my business model here? How do I intend to make money from this?

Very soon, a new thing will start with CAN-DO! (Teaser!) And even as I’m excited about its possibilities, I’m making sure that my entrepreneurial neck is steadily holding up my head. I have to focus on the fact that the new thing is not just an opportunity to be more creative. The bottom line question is “Is there a solid business model behind this new thing?”

I’ll end this point of reflection by sharing a link my assistant gave me today. It’s a short article in a Kenyan newspaper, detailing a “futuristic” business model, appropriate for e-commerce entities like CAN-DO! It’s something I’m currently marinating on as I figure out the new business model for our new thing in CAN-DO!

http://www.nation.co.ke/blogs/-/445642/687968/-/view/asBlogPost/-/wqumpp/-/index.html

I first met Matt Hiles while he was director of business development with Looking Glass Networks in Los Angeles. As a customer looking for telecom services, navigating the providers, technologies, and deal structures can be confusing. Matt took the time to explain all aspects of the business, cost structures, and how he would get us a great deal – while still making money for his company. Matt stood out alone from a world of “wheeling and dealing” telecom sales people, unique in providing the customer a level of confidence they were getting the best product, for the best price, with the best service.

Pacific-Tier: Today we have Matt Hiles, managing partner with Mosaic Networx. Hello Matt! So tell us a little about yourself, how did you get into this business?

Matt Hiles: I started in telecommunications right out of college, and I’ve been in the business, in one form or another, since – which is about 20 years. I’ve been in a variety of telecommunications, voice, and service providers. I’ve also spent a period of time in the data center side of the industry as well.

Pacific-Tier: now you are with Mosaic Networx. Can you give a little background on Mosaic. What are you, what do you do, and what type of business problems do you solve?

Matt Hiles: Mosaic Networx is a carrier neutral, data services provider. We provide a supply chain management service primarily for enterprise companies, but secondarily to wholesale providers and telecommunications providers. From a supply chain management perspective we provide a value add in three functional areas which are pricing, procurement, and provisioning.

What we’ve found is that, in the enterprise space, there is a lack, or need in one of those areas. Typically all of those areas. Where enterprise decision-makers and IT managers don’t have the depth and breadth of knowledge of the telecommunications providers and options that are available.

So we price them, then procure them, provision them, and then manage them ongoing on the back end.

Pacific-Tier: Well, that’s pretty cool. So who is your market, who would be your customer?

Matt Hiles: Our customers are small, medium, and we even have several Fortune 500 companies. We have a strong vertical in the financial services market. Specifically we work with the low-latency, high frequency trading guys. We’ve also worked with public wholesale companies who may not have the buying power we have, so we add some pricing value for those types.

Pacific-Tier: I’ve noticed you are based in Long Beach, California. Other people in your company are scattered around the United States, with diverse locations for your primary management team – does that provide you any challenges?

Matt Hiles: I imagine it provides some challenge, although It would be hard to quantify them. We haven’t really seen them. I think where we’ve done an outstanding job in is finding the right people.

We have 18 personnel in the functional areas in the company, whether its finance or operations, or on the sales side as well. So the distributed environment that we have seems to work out just fine.

Would we have a little bit more camaraderie in a common office? Probably.

Pacific-Tier: So it’s rather tough economic time right now. We’ve had kind of a sketchy run over the last year. What motivated you to start up a company in the last year or so and how do you feel about being an entrepreneur in a tough economic environment?

Matt Hiles: So, I suppose that timings everything, right? We didn’t know we would start a company in a tough economic period. But, the economy notwithstanding , I think there is always business. And for innovative entrepreneurs who can go out and create value for customers, provide them an outstanding customer experience, then good or bad times I think you can be successful.

Pacific-Tier: So what advice do you have for other entrepreneurs, graduates who are looking at a tough economy, what advice do you have for other budding visionaries and entrepreneurs?

Matt Hiles: I think you have to have an expertise. It doesn’t make a lot of sense in my mind to venture into an area as an entrepreneur where you don’t have years of background and can consider yourself a subject-matter expert. I think that is (not being a subject-matter expert) a recipe for disappointment.

But somebody who has spent their time in a corporate environment, learning an area, and then able to translate that into, you know, a startup environment, then I’d encourage them to be entrepreneurs, and entrepreneur owners.

Pacific-Tier: That’s great advice. Give a little pitch for you company. Where do we find you?

Matt Hiles: You can find our company at Mosaic Networx, and the domain is mosaicnetworx.com . if you would like to reach us we’d be happy to hear from you.

Pacific-Tier: Thank you very much for the time!

Since, it’s year end of 2009, we are offering you a very important workshop

you don’t want to miss this year!

Workshop on “Increase Your Daily Productivity By 500%”

We are telling you, this will give you Instant Gratification from you Daily Chaotic Tasks!

What will you expect for 3-Hour Workshop ?

1. Looking Back – Your accomplishments this year

2. 5 Years Goal Setting – Goal Setting Technique

3. Freedom! License to Brag about what you want in life

4. Instant Gratification to learn how to Increase Your Daily Productivity for 500%

Free 21-Day Simply Effective Planner

DO NOT MISS THIS DAY!

November 18, 2009 ; 9am-12nn at Maryland Heights Centre

2344 Mckelvey Rd., Maryland Heights 63044

This workshop is valued at $489 ; Special Promo Rate of $259.99

And an additional 20% OFF from $259.99,

So it becomes $207.99!!!

BUT WAIT!

We are giving away 7 FREE ADMISSION TO THIS WORKSHOP.

All you have to do is : Prove You Have Too Much On Your Plate

to Win a FREE TICKET to Our Productivity Workshop!

By Blogging at www.erforme.wordpress.com and

Tell us why: “I win the prize for having

too much on my plate because…”

November 18, 2009 ; 9am-12nn at Maryland Heights Centre

2344 Mckelvey Rd., Maryland Heights 63044

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NOTE: Pacific-Tier Communications invites guest bloggers to provide articles that would be of interest, and benefit to our readers. This week we are happy to introduce Mr. Andy Slater, CMO, Presence Networks.

‘‘The ‘Command and Control’ management style enjoyed by many CEOs in the past has gone. Today teamwork and collaboration are the norm. Leadership the accepted management style, people orientated collaboration the culture, people centric technology the facilitator.’’

We stand at a transition point in business. As the global economy starts to work its way out of recession CEO’s and management teams around the world are beginning to plan for growth. But they won’t do that by simply taking back into their businesses the bottom line costs they just spent 18 painful months getting rid of. The enlightened are looking for a new ways of working, how to unlock the people power in their organization in a secure and focused manner, to accelerate speed of decision making, reduce costs, and drive productivity.

Technology has been at the centre of social and industrial change since the printing press. Through history there have been transition points. The invention of the flying shuttle by John Kay heralded the start of the industrial revolution. The spread of democracy around the world can be traced to the invention of the telephone by Graham Bell and its adoption around the world. Suddenly totalitarian states could no longer constrain the flow of people’s ideas, information, and aspirations.

More recently mobile devices and the internet has accelerated the flow of information with images and video, so now international public opinion can be formed and galvanized by what were once isolated events. The video of student Neda Agha-Soltan’s shooting in Iran caught on a mobile phone started an outcry around the world which is still vocal today.

Social networking has become the norm for many who ‘tweet’ their way through the day sharing thoughts on everything, from the mildly interesting to the creative. The need to communicate is infectious and has a profound effect on the way we live – and work. Given a common cause, people power is unstoppable.

The ability of these new people networks has been recognized by business where the more enlightened maintain Online Brand protection programmes, write blogs, tweet, and endeavour to instigate viral campaigns to manipulate networks to their own advantage.

But is this relevant to business ?

A ‘company’ is called that simply because it is made up of people. How many companies say that their most valuable asset is their people? How true it is. Try running a railway without drivers or signal men, or running software development without programmers. People matter and leading managers recognize what’s happening in social networking can be harnessed to drive their businesses – people power, or business collaboration. Indeed, some would say it can’t be stopped – adapt or die.

The nature and culture of management in business has changed already. The ‘Command and Control’ management style enjoyed by many CEOs in the past has gone. Today teamwork and collaboration are the norm. Leadership the accepted management style, people orientated collaboration the culture, people centric technology the facilitator.

IT has to step up to this challenge to enable these new strategies – only if it can deliver business solutions, not just fancy names for the same technology, will it meet the true business need. Collaboration in the business environment is recognised as being one of the key tools CEO’s are looking at to drive productivity for the next decade – particularly if it can be delivered without complexity or capital investment.

To make the successful transition their vision has to be converted into a strategy. A strategy that addresses the three pillars of change – Culture, Technology and Process.

You can’t identify at the start of a shift in business culture all the business aspects that will be impacted, but you can describe the vision; a culture where information travels to the right people, any time, in any place, on any device. Where virtual teams form rapidly to solve business problems then dissolve just as quickly, without management intervention. No more ‘I sent an e-mail’ excuses but effective communication between empowered people.

The process of creating this culture needs to be led by a management that believes and demonstrates it through the way they act and how they communicate. The benefits are business processes that will be changed, new ones invented, and many scrapped. This is long term business development, a journey, not a light-switch change – but a revolution when looked back on from the future.

The technology to achieve this has to be invisible. People centric technology is intuitive, adopted because it engages its users, inspires and opens up new horizons. You know its right when your people can’t function without it.

Cloud Computing, Software-as-a-Service, and Unified Communications are all technical developments which alone do not deliver cultural change (except maybe in the IT department). These will be part of the solution, but are not the ‘end game’.

The application that runs in the world of the users, that gives them a real-time window on their business world, enables them to interact with people based on their availability, skills, interests and knowledge in a secure way, will be the deliverer of cultural change. This will be the application that grows productivity for businesses, for the next decade.

Andy Slater

You can contact Andy at andy.slater@pnglobal.net or visit Presence Network’s website at http://www.presence-networks.net

Does your Website give the best 1st Impression?

Your website can be crucial to the image of your business! In many cases, this is can be your first impression or a crucial follow-up. If done correctly, a website tells people what you do, shows people how you do it, builds confidence and credibility in you and your business, and encourages potential clients to contact you.

Tips to help you build/design a professional (virtual) first impression;

1. Be crystal clear – make sure potential customers do not have to go far to find out what you do and what your business is about. Put your description on your home page, and make sure it’s clear and concise.
2. Claim attention early – make your home page attractive to your audience, but not distracting. Use colors, images, fonts, and text that compliment each other. Remember, many visitors may not even scroll to the end of the page, never mind visit any additional pages.
3. Look the part – you don’t have to be a web designer or HTML expert to make your website look good. There are many tools available to assist in basic creative designing. However, if you want something elaborate then it may be worth your money to outsource the task.
4. Use testimonials – word of mouth works wonders. When asked, many customers will be glad to provide you with a short statement of satisfaction and praise. In turn, you mention them on your website with a link back to their site. This is a great way to help build credibility.
5. Be easy to contact – offer a way to contact you on every page. Don’t make visitors have to search for your contact information.
6. Be easy to navigate – don’t use more pages than you need, but don’t try to cram everything on one page.
7. Don’t drive people away – be sure any external links open in a new window, so that visitors do not leave your website.
8. Be honest – don’t go overboard, but do include Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. Let people know that you care about their privacy and what to expect when using your website or contacting you.

And if you don’t have a website at all, consider these factors…

1. Some people will not do business with companies that do not have a website.
2. A website is a great way for you to advertise your business and allow potential customers to ‘browse’.
3. Cost should not be a deterrent. There are many web hosting sites that offer free and low cost basic accounts.

If you have questions or suggestions about establishing a website, I would love to hear them!

Not every company independently of whether she is big or small can and he is able to lead one’s own bookkeeping. For first not all are employing people, which appropriately to take the bookkeeping up, or aren’t simply able to create of such workstations. Then a chosen arithmetic bureau is dealing with the bookkeeping. The office usually gives to tax activity in the scope conducted advice. So among others a verification and keeping tax books, keeping personnel documentation are in his management. For entrepreneurs beginning only their activity he is advising in choice of taxing the most beneficial form, he is helping make loan applications out whether even he/she is registering it with the Office Tax and in ZUS -ie. Commissioning the lead and the register of personnel matters results in it that the bookkeeping bureau will be dealing with the lead of personal records, connected with preparing documents with establishing and solving labour relations, keeping the register of the time and of the schedule of the work or also a register of the management of clothes and the working footwear. Moreover making works out by lists and making declarations of income out for them will also belong to his duties, not only for employed permanently, but also for of the ones making the agreement instructions or a specific-task contract. Such a bookkeeping bureau is also dealing with the record-keeping ZUS, it means with making out the declaration ZUS (preparing RMUA reports in monthly periods) and with keeping benefit documentation (, family, motherly sickness benefits). Commissioning these duties to the appropriate arithmetic bureau is for employers great lightening, because personnel matters are filling up the plenty of enough complicated documents.