Dan Robles nails it again. 4 Square,commercial inflatable slides for sale redefining currency, revaluing knowledge. What’s your personal economy jumping castle for sale going to look like in 10 years?

http://www.relationship-economy.com/?p=9557

strategic planning: innovation: management:success

SOME DO’S AND DONT’S OF THE PROCESS

You’re finally going to do it. You are a born again believer in the benefits of business and strategic planning. To prepare you for the plunge here’s some rules of the road to guide you through the process.

The planning process can be exhilarating, frustrating, enlightening, demanding and a host of other descriptive adjectives. Hopefully you’ll find a nugget or two in these do’s and don’ts that will keep the emphasis on the positives of your unique organizational growth experience. Carpe Diem!

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.“-Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Consciousness: true selfishness

By Bob Martin

DON’T MAKE THEM LOOK FOR YOU!

About a year ago, I saw a great pizza shop ad on the back of a newspaper tab. It was full color, full page and it looked great. The ad actually made me hungry for pizza, so I decided to order. There was this great effective ad, but no phone number or address. I had no idea where the shop was. My resolve was to order from a competitor.

THIS AD WAS A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY.

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network marketing: global trends

NETWORK MARKETING AS WELFARE

We have reached the number 10 pet peeve I believe most people have with network marketing. I began this rant more than 10 weeks ago with my first post, People Don’t Dislike Network Marketing, They Dislike Network Marketers.

In that post I outlined 10 behaviours I believe need to be changed for network marketing to undergo the revolution I know will occur when we discover the potential this economic model has to lead business into the future. For the ten weeks following that initial post, I have expanded on each of those 10 behaviors. (click for a complete listing to all posts on this subject).

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A BUSINESS THAT PAYS YOU FOR NOT DOING ANY WORK?

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network marketing: global trends

IF IT DOES…YOU HAD BETTER RUN

Ah, greed. How quickly it can seep into our brains and cloud our, otherwise, clear thinking. I have spoken to people about legitimate network marketing companies, only to have them reply,“I just don’t do that type of thing”.

Then, astoundingly, later, I have had some of them call me to propose a blatantly illegal pyramid structure they would like me to participate in. In response to my confusion as to why they would turn down a legal business opportunity, to be taken in by this obvious scam, they reply, “But all kinds of doctors, lawyers, accountants are doing it!’

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE …IT IS…

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corporate mindshift: management

CHANGING ONES OWN MINDSET CAN BE CHALLENGING – BUT CAN YOU SHIFT AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION?

If you have ever tried to make a lifestyle change, perhaps to exercise more, eat healthier, spend more time with loved ones and less time at the office, you know what a challenge it can be just to make a small change in behaviourial patterns.

If you think it is challenging to change behaviours, consider how much more challenging it is to make significant mental or consciousness shifts, for oneself, and particularly, for an entire organization.

So, how on earth do you begin to shift?

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network marketing: global trends

“YOU LOOK LIKE A SHARP GUY (GAL)”…

This most be the oldest “Pick Up” line in the network marketing book. It is the subject today of our 7th post in a 10 part series on network marketing No-No’s. This list of behaviours that I wish network marketers would immediately stop using, grew out of a post I wrote titled, People Don’t Dislike Network Marketing, They Dislike Network Marketers.”

WHAT IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY?

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enlightened orgs: inspiration

ALBERTA’S WINDIEST CITY

That seemingly constant, gusting wind I cursed when I lived in Grande Prairie, Alberta, had a different look and feel for Drennen and Jamie Hallett. It was the whiff of opportunity.

The Hallett’s, owners of Golden Sheep Power, officially opened their doors for business in Grande Prairie on February 1, 2009. They will be the first company in Alberta to offer home-owners a chance to get off the grid by using home-based wind turbines and solar panels.

A NEW WIND IS BLOWING

Their timing could not be better. The provincial government just passed regulations to allow for micro-generation in Alberta. And the City of Grande Prairie, a city that has seen explosive growth in the past 5 years due to oil and gas exploration, has shown its openness to explore other sources of energy by allowing the Halletts to set up a pilot project to demonstrate and test the home-based units.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PILOT IS SUCCESSFUL?

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network marketing: global trends

THE COMP PLAN IS SO GOOD – I CAN’T LEAVE IT WITH YOU!

Today I want to talk about network marketing pay plans, what works, what does not, what is legal, what is not; and how you can save yourself a lot of grief by telling the difference.

This is the 6th post in a series of articles on behaviours in network marketing I think need to stop immediately for the industry to attain the level of professionalism it deserves. This series of articles began with a post titled “People Don’t Dislike Network Marketing, They Dislike Network Marketers.”

SHARING THE PLAN – OPENLY AND HONESTLY

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enlightened orgs: inspiration

A NEW BLACK GOLD

In the debt-free province of Alberta, where the black gold that first gushed from the ground in the 1950’s, has resulted in a Heritage Trust fund worth of billions of dollars being set aside for a “rainy day” – getting anyone to think about alternative energy sources is not an easy sell. But two framers from the tiny farming community of Vegreville have risen to the challenge.

Their innovation to create Biogas from cattle manure seems a perfect fit for a province that has ranching as it second largest industry. It is also timely for a province aware of the implications of the depleting sources of non-renewable oil and gas, and the challenges of a reliance on an industry with a Boom/Bust economic cycle.

“Inventing a new technology is a pure Alberta story… a great example that building a knowledge economy can happen on the farm, not just in ivory towers” – Evan Chapko, CEO, Highmark Renewables (Edmonton Journal, 02/08/09)

FROM POOP TO PROFIT…Alberta’s new Black Gold…

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enlightened orgs: inspiration

ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS WILL BE FOUND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

Michael Kalmanovich, owner of a unique, organic food supermarket in Edmonton, Alberta, does not lack for inspired, innovative ideas to fulfill his passion to sell locally grown organic food, socially conscious products, and a free dose of education in the process. He took his first step of faith in 1991 by opening a store with $20,000 invested, $167.00 in his bank account and a huge abundance of dreams.

Earth’s General Store was opened in a small location on the fringe of the university in the capital city of the province. It is also smack dab in the heart of a ranching and oil-based economy. It was in this province that KD Lang, a home-town celebrity, riled local extremist ranchers who defaced community signs outside her home town of Consort, Alberta, after her public service announcement in which she spoke out in favor of vegetarianism.

If opening an organic food store in a business culture like that sounds like it takes guts and a leap of faith, that pales by comparison when you hear Michael’s latest dream!

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business opportunities: careers: job boards

by David VanAmburg

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Are you looking for a job, rather than building your own business? Or are you looking to solve your hiring problems for your business? There are some wonderful resources available.

I invest some of my time as a member of the Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board. Last year I donated $100,000 in billable time in creation of a strategic plan draft that was ultimately not used. There is a lot of useful information in that document. If you are interested in reading a copy, email me for access to it.

As a part of its development I looked at how people find jobs in the current marketplace, and how employers advertise and recruit. One of the common tools is the plethora of job posting sites.

JOB POSTING SITES FOR YOU

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enlightened orgs: inspiration

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PASSION

I discovered our Enlightened Corporation for this week while watching a segment of the Oprah show in which she interviewed young, self-made millionaires.

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, was one of the guests. He is a great inspiration, a model CEO of a model corporation, for our Enlightened Orgs directory.

His business achievements are certainly significant for such a young man. While still in his twenties, Hsieh (SHAY), a computer undergraduate from Harvard, co-founded an internet advertising agency called LinkExchange, which was sold to Microsoft for $265 million in 1998. But it was actually his business philosophy or mindset, that really caught my attention.

“I AM NOT NECESSARILY PASSIONATE ABOUT SHOES…WHAT I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT IS…

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enlightened orgs: inspiration

SLOW AND STEADY

Will we sleep better knowing we have made a few million dollars on a “paper” or “security” that is not tied to something tangible and could collapse at any minute? … or will we leave this world pleased we have restored the planet to the beauty and abundance it once held for all?

We had the Slow Food industry, as a backlash to unhealthy eating, now Woody Tasch has initiated his Slow Money movement to offset the lust for speedy profits, at any cost. Tasch is our honored CEO of Enlightened Orgs for the work he is doing to bring sensibility to a world made giddy by financial greed.

THE MOST POWERFUL SOLUTIONS ARE OFTEN THE SIMPLEST…

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global trends: industry upheavals

CANARIES GALORE

We all know the story of the coal miners who would take a canary in a cage with them as they entered mine shafts. If the canary died, it indicated oxygen depletion and acted as a warning to the miners to move quickly to avoid their own deaths.

The livelihoods of real people and their families are at stake with every loss of a job, but if watch the big picture, we see interesting changes.

The adult sex industry has been the bulwark of Internet revenue and growth since nearly the beginning. Now CNN reports that the porn industry is asking for a handout.

“Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis said Wednesday they will request that Congress allocate $5 billion for a bailout of the adult entertainment industry.”

FORGET YOUR RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL PERSUASIONS FOR A MOMENT…

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A Balanced Mind
click to enlarge

corporate mindshift: management:global trends

THINGS DON’T CHANGE: PEOPLE CHANGE THINGS

I like the quote from Andy Warhol, “They say time changes things but you actually have to change them yourself.” One of my best life lessons was coming to the realization that when I changed the way I looked at a situation – the situation itself seemed to change - when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change!

EASIER TO SAY, THAN TO DO…

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network marketing: trends

IT’S TIME FOR AN INDUSTRY-WIDE REVOLUTION

It has happened again, not once, not twice, but three times, in just the past two days. I cringe at these current reminders of why people hate network marketers. It makes me want to scream out for all of you ethical, relationship-oriented network marketers out there, to stand up and demand professional standards, no different than any other industry or professional organization. That is an important step in professionalizing any emerging industry. When a code of conduct is laid out, and association standards agreed upon, the industry finally gains the credibility it deserves.

10 NETWORK MARKETING BEHAVIORS THAT HAVE TO GO…

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Economy: Micropayments

WILL MICROPAYMENTS TAKE OFF?

For years, developers and investors have tried to create a system to collect micropayments [Wikipedia] for online goods or services. Web businesses have been stuck between free/subsidized, and about $1-$5, since the charges for credit card processing don’t usually justify payment processing for items less than $5.

This has led to advertising as being the only viable web model for businesses that might rely on micropayments. Following a 15% growth in $11 billion in the first half of 2008, Web advertising is taking a hit from its exponential web growth with the economic downturn, as reflected in the PubMatic Ad Price Index.

A NEW REVENUE OPTION FOR WEB BUSINESSES

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Energy: Market-changing Products

IS NIKOLA TESLA ROLLING OVER YET?

“Think replacing batteries in electric cars, all the way down to no more lithium batteries in your computer, phone, and every other gizmo.”

Nick Gogerty has a brief discussion of such a product in his Designing Better Futures blog post, Ultracapacitors: is the energy revolution about to arrive?

We keep watching the market, as do so many folks in the energy industry for the game changer. One may have finally arrived!

A GAME-CHANGING PRODUCT

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enlightened organizations: global trends: inspiration: best practices

ACTING ON EPIPHANY

Denise Cerreta’s business model at One World Everyone Eats is more about giving of herself and her business -than taking. She says when she told her first customer, “Just pay me what you think the meal is worth… it was like my heart expanded and I realized my true purpose in life.” (epiphany – wikipedia)

Five years ago, Denise awoke with a new awareness that the patients she had been treating in her acupuncture clinic…“were not sick, they were lonely.” That revelation prompted her to open a daring and innovative restaurant in Salt Lake City.

NO MENU – NO PRICES – NO SET PORTIONS

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