This is the Law of Polarity (opposites) at work … no up without a down; no dark without light, etc.

This Law works all the time, every time, whether we are AWARE or not. It has nothing to do with us or what we know … that, or any other physical or spiritual Law. Gravity works on earth EVERY time. We know about that one of course.

What this means is that We each MIRROR one another’s Greatness …. or, the opposite.

If I see Greatness in you, it is no greater or less than what I believe and see in me.

If I see the depths of your shortcomings …. I am looking at the depth of my own.

I cannot see you greater than or less than how I see myself.

People get greater as we get greater!

We truly are one. Why is this important?

The next time you think poorly of another, THAT is what you think of yourself.

Focus on another’s greatness allows us to grow, where focus on their shortcomings causes more of our own. (another Law … Attraction).

Something to THINK about.

Leslie Flowers’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Next we need to calculate the cost of college for each child. That figure can range considerably depending on where they are going to college and whether or not you want them to be responsible for some of the payment.

What is the mortgage debt? Most people want to ensure that the mortgage will be paid off with the life insurance proceeds.

Once we’ve looked at the cost to raise the children, send them to college, and pay off the mortgage, its generally recommended to include 4 to 6 years of income. This allows your family time to heal emotionally without the added burden of worrying about finances.

Lastly you want to calculate the cost of final expenses, which averages $ 12,000 in the US.

If you’d like to calculate what YOUR family needs, call me at 919-943-5577 or e-mail me at nancy.j.williams@mwarep.org. Also, visit my site at www.healthinsuranceraleighnc.com.

Nancy Williams’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

The small business arena is a sure sign of the entrepreneur spirit and growth. Personally, I like to support small and local business as much as possible.

Here are some of the most recent new business’ in the Raleigh area as per Go Downtown Raleigh for the last quarter of 2011.

1. Battistella’s Cajun Kitchen (200 E. Martin Street)

2. Tutti Frutti (222 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 103)

3. The London Bridge Pub (110 E. Hargett Street)

4. Volcano Café and Lounge (108 E. Hargett Street)

5. C Grace (407 Glenwood Avenue)

6. Cimos (111 E. Hargett Street, Suite 100)

7. Foursaken Media (111 E. Hargett Street)

8. Videri Chocolate Factory (327 W. Davie Street, Suite 100)

9. Zaky Mediterranean Express (222 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 105)

10. Oryx Restaurant and Ultralounge (510 Glenwood Avenue)

How about you? Will you visit any of these places? I know my family and I will.

Are there any other small local business that have recently started that you have found to be amazing?  Be sure to let me know in the comment section below!

Amy Shair, REMAX Real Estate’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

When we learn to well navigate … and then ‘fool’ … others working within a system, the words “smart rat” come to mind. I was one! So I know what it is to ‘dance’ like a rat, intimately.

When I completed Landmark Education’s Curriculum for Living and their year long Leadership Training in 2004, I became one very ‘smart rat!’ I could counteract any of their ‘logical coaching’ and deflect, because I had become unconsciously competent in being smart about their systems. Hey, I drank the Kool Aid frequently.

I was completely inauthentic and not at all transparent. That was 8 years ago and I have studied and applied what I’ve learned so that now I can be nearly 100% transparent all the time. It’s the price we pay for being an Expert — a real Expert. And being transparent and 100% responsible is freeing … the opposite of what I ‘used to think” it would ’cause.’

Serving others with a veil or smokescreen in place leaves people feeling uneasy. You always know where you stand with me. If you don’t have the muster to speak directly to me — or anyone else — about a concern, that’s your issue and likely something you must break through to grow in awareness. Saying another is ‘unapproachable’ is hooey … you may as well admit you simply don’t have confidence in yourself.

Recognize the Smart Rat (it might even be you)

1. The smart rat hits you right off the bat with their story of honesty and authenticity. When someone tells you they are honest and authentic, watch out. Those who ARE authentic, have no need to lead with it.
2. The smart rat hits you with all their certifications, experience, and degrees FIRST and always FIRST. These folks don’t really believe in themselves, even with lots of training.  If they did, there would be no need to force feed it every time they encounter someone.
3. The smart rat smiles in your face and gossips behind your back. That is, rather than taking their complaint directly to the source, they love having someone step in to share it for them. They thrive with others complaining to anyone BUT the source, someone who could actually DO something about. 
4. The smart rat doesn’t trust you and will want to be paid first. I’m not saying that’s altogether a bad thing, yet the smart rat will take from you at no charge whenever they can. In fact, they ‘ask’ others to help them and their clients for free, while they’re billing others.
5. The smart rat is good at belonging to groups that appear to afford them financial gain. If you are in the group and not a revenue stream for them, they will leave you like a dried up piece of cheese to go for what ‘looks’ juicy to them.
6. The smart rat always knows more than you, regardless of your business, and is ready for a ‘fight’ to prove you wrong at every turn. They must be right about everything!

1. One of my 8-week masterminds studies a few years ago, I tried the ‘pay by the week’ scenario. It was during a lull in economic times and I was working to serve. During the first session (and you commit to all 8, not just one) this person behaved as though I was all about the $ 10 he owed me and not his commitment to the 8 sessions. He basically crashed the study. No one before or since has ever exhibited this type of ‘rat’ behavior.
2. Last year someone expressed desire to be in the study and came to session one without payment. I had agreed as I do these studies to give first. The person worked smartly and quickly to intentionally disrupt the meeting in a number of ways. One was so obvious as they began to slowly rip to pieces the name plate I made for each person and pointed it out with a flimsy excuse of why they were doing it. [I am doubtful if this person ever did that before or since.] As the Universe does, the person never returned, and never paid for the session. It was a good thing for everyone concerned. 

I have learned as I continue to study grow in my own awareness of my potential, those who used to be in thoughtful harmony with me, often drop off the thought frequency for one reason or another. So I let them go as the Law of Sacrifice says we must “let go of people and things of lesser value, to make room for those of greater value.” You can happily let go of the ‘smart rats’ in your life … now that you are aware of who they are, how they may operate, and that they are taking up precious space in your life.

Leslie Flowers’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Launching the Learning Series – Details

At EpicRealm we have experience and expertise in one area: video. But we, like every business, need to continue to learn much more to run a successful business.

So, to continue learning andadd value to the business community and our clients, we thought we’d try something new – A Learning Series.

To continue learning it has to be a simple experience – so we’ve set up an online opportunity. Viewers can watch and ask questions of an industry expert as they present in one of three areas:

• Promoting your Business – marketing and sales
• Making Money Online – the use of informational products for online sales
• Saving Time – organizational efficiency in business (“Time is Money”)

AND – each presentation is free!

Just to be clear – there is no telephone involved, just internet connection & your computer. This is nota webinar. There is no software to download. You’ll see a real person – in real time – really presenting…

Each expert will spend 40-50 minutes presenting, and as you watch you can submit your own questions via chat or tweet.

Our first presentation is on Wednesday, February 29th – 12:00 noon.

“Developing Your Differentiation”- under the category Promoting your Business/Marketing

Click HERE to go to the EventBrite page to sign up.

Alex – Web Video Specialist’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Vanessa Vendola, Katie Dixon, Teresa Robinson, Andy Hamilton, Kelli Peele, Gaynor Fries, Fred Gruber, Betty Ann Crump, Heather O’Sullivan, Terri Klein, and Stacey Shanahan among others all took advantage of that awesome 99 cent coffee.

March 15 we will have Third Thursday in APEX at Rudino’s Sports Porch. 919 will now have one in Cary at Rally Point Sports Grill and one in Apex at Rudino’s on 55.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/195175370590632/

The link above is our new Facebook page for Business Networking in Apex… Join Up!

See ya all soon!

Oops… Detroit After 5 TONIGHT at Rudino’s in Apex at 5:30…Wings BlackHawks!

Jim Vogel’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Team Nimbus All-Star of the Week

Randy Courtney is the owner of Courtney Software Services

Nature of Business:

Computer Support, Web Design & SEO. We focus on small to mid-sized Businesses. Our goal is to help you run your business instead of your business running you. Computers are a tool to help you, not a tool to run your life. Our choice for web design to to design a sit for you that you can use not one that you have to call us for every little change. It’s your site and we want you to be proud or it and be able to use it.

What Randy has been up to since his participation in 100 Days to Abundance/Team Nimbus:

Better understanding on the principals of business and the tools that are available with bill and his group. Just wish that I had this class 18 years ago when I started my business.

I’m excited about my business growth and using multiple streams of income. I like being in control (as much as anyone can) of my own business.

Randy’s best advice to other small business owners:

Don’t be afraid to find another small business that has been in business longer that you and ask questions. There are many ways to waste time and money that you probably don’t have. They may be able to stear you away, but remember, It’s your business and you know it better than anyone.

Bill and his team are a great asset, and if you can take the time, it’s worth it to get a good understanding of some of the tools and concepts that are out there. Just don’t stop learning after the class is over.

If you don’t have the pleasure of knowing Randy you can connect with him on:

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Inside919.

Read about other Team Nimbus All-Stars.

Bill Davis’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

1. Final Expenses – which average $ 12,000+ in the United States. This is assuming there are no left over medical bills that were not covered by medical insurance.
2. To minimize the effect of taxation on retirement plans and help ensure your spouse has enough funds for their remaining retirement.
3. Leave a tax free inheritance to your loved ones or support a favorite charity after you are gone.

For those that chose not to purchase a permanent plan when they were younger, its not to late to look into it now. Although they are more costly, there are also plans that are guarantee issue – meaning that regardless of one’s health they are still able to purchase life insurance. The best plan however is to get sufficient life insurance while one is younger and still healthy.

I can give you more information if you call me at 919-943-5577 or e-mail me at nancy.j.williams@mwarep.org. Please visit my site at healthinsuranceraleighnc.com.

Nancy Williams’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

I wasn’t sure if Google Plus would be that significant or not but the following has gotten my attention. FYI – Some of this info is a little dated by about 2 months, but it remains noteworthy.

Google+ Pundits Weigh-In

“According to data collected by GlobalWebIndex, Google+ has skyrocketed in the past few months and can now boast over 150 million actives users.” – Source: WebProNews

Per Search Engine Land, “Google+ uses a diaspora-like way of sharing content with users by utilizing circles. I think this format is very appealing to many users who are working to balance their professional and personal life.”

Tom’s Guide says, “This time Google is serious – After many years of tinkering, and more than a few false starts (Remember Orkut, and Wave? Anyone still Buzzing?), Google has released Plus, its answer to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and all the social networking sites in between.”

And, Mashable.com weighs in with, “The Gloves are Off!” in response to Facebook.

Google+ – My 2 Cents

For search benefit and social media benefit, I’m recommending that my clients use Google Plus, but the jury is still out for the next several months on how successful Google & users will ultimately be.

What are your thoughts? PLEASE COMMENT!

———————————————–

Article Source: Google+ Hits 150 Million

Author: Bob Walton is a Raleigh SEO & Local Search search engine marketing service provider for local businesses. If you want to DOMINATE LOCALLY, need a new website, or have questions on improving your existing website, please contact Bob @ 919-523-4185.

Bob Walton’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

You can feel it in all aspects of the real estate market these days.

I just saw a great post from DownTown Raleigh Alliance about some additional awards the Raleigh Area has recently won:

#2 Smartest City in North Carolina – American City Business Journals – November 2011

• Cary and Durham also ranked very high
• Chapel Hill received additional recognition for the smartest communities with population less than 99,999.

#4 Best City for Technology Jobs -Forbes.com – November 2011

• Technology jobs outpaced the overall rate of unemployment
• Raleigh rated #4 for this list

#5 Top 10 Metro Areas for Growth Since the Recession – Urban Land Institute – October 2011

• In just 10 percent of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, total economic growth exceeded 10 percent since 2007.
• Raleigh North Carolina is #5 on this list

I find this news very encouraging.  I am seeing an increase in Buyers and Sellers, and the good news is only helping homeowners on both sides of the transactions in Raleigh.

How about you?  Have you seen an increase in activity in your area also?

Amy Shair, REMAX Real Estate’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

This statement is true in all areas of life, particularly for me as a life coach.  I love when I teach or coach having just enough edge to keep people engaged. If you go too far you can ensure hurt or they will just go away.

Honest Communication to Audience

Like Pat says “I have made every mistake in the book at least once and sometimes seem to have to repeat it a few times before I learned it.” 

One time I made a very mild joking comment to a guy in a class and then after the break notice he had left. I just had a gut sense something was off and called the person in charge. She checked it out and he thought I was making fun of him in front of the class. From my perspective what I said was actually making a comment with the intention to validate him, but that did not matter.

Communication is based on the response you get not what YOU think you communicated.By not attending to this important point, it is simply broadcasting your message, poorly. I got permission to talk to him and said, “I notice that you left and am concerned I may have said something to offend you”.  He said No (which did not match what I knew) and I said in a different way the validating statement I made to him. He then said that someone “might” have miss understood that and I thanked him for pointing that out. We were able to have an effective conversation and both left the conversation in a positive manner.

Caution with “Tough Love”

Their seems to be a new trend in what I called justifying “Tough Love” even in presenters and coaches.

Asking questions like “Who still does not have a Facebook page, yet?”in a tone that is showing them off as stupid. Like that presenter has the right to embarrass someone in front of the room.

If you are going to be tough you have to have earned enough trust to do this.  You also want to have the goal to empower the recipient, NOT just be “right”. This is something I watch with my classes and clients very carefully.

There is a fine line between being evocative and provocative.

I remember coaching one day where I had two very different clients in the same day (the details have been changed some to protect confidentiality). The one in morning was a former line backer. Very big and tall, an intimidating guy and real smart. Our meeting ended up in a heated “discussion” where we had to focus on root issues with him.

My second client was a former schoolteacher, and her level of engagement was focused on confidence and empowerment.  I could not have used the “same” cookie cutter formula for both clients.  It would have crushed one of them.

Balance

Using the right level of engagement is what is required. My commitment in teaching and in coaching is to do my best to see through the eyes of every person in front of me.  I speak to that individual whether there is 1 or 500 people in my class.

Listen to what really is needed for the client at hand. If a little toughness is needed, I make sure I have earned the right with compassion first! My engagement is to come from compassion and to be willing to do what it takes to make their goals a reality.  Sometime I do a great job with that and sometimes I need to learn something new.

Many people wanted me to move away from being a “coach” for it really is not a profession like lawyer or doctor. To me coaching is what I do and that is like being in the trenches with my clients as though it is my life at stake not being a tough drill Sargent on the sidelines or just some cheerleader.

Your Thoughts?

I welcome your honest views on this.

Martin Brossman is a Success Coach and Social Media Trainer.  Martin is the co-author of Social Media For Business book, Linking into Sales and is a sought after Teacher and Trainer for Community Colleges throughout North Carolina. To find out when Martin is teaching and/or training near you sign up for his newsletter here.

Martin Brossman’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Experts recommend having enough life insurance to replace income for 7 to 10 years. To meet that recommendation, the typical married couple would need to double its current coverage according to a recent study by LIMRA.

There are more things that can and do go into a calculation on how much life insurance a family needs, the 7 to 10 years is a very basic formula. If you currently have more than 7 to 10 years of income in life insurance protection, you are probably covered appropriately. If you have less than that, it would be worth the time to look into your options.

Call me at 919-943-5577 or e-mail me at nancy.j.williams@mwarep. org if you are interested in reviewing your current coverage and your needs. Please also visit my site at www.healthinsuranceraleighnc.com.

Nancy Williams’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

David Newton’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Modern medicine has given us the benefit of living LONGER.
The vast majority of adult western males however are not MATURE.
Once they hit middle age, their spots are again revealed. “High school spots!”

Adult males are primarily emotionally adolescent!

So when middle age sets in for a man who has been married for decades, guess what’s #1 on a middle aged man’s mind?

You know … Sex! Rather than become intimate and traveling on an inner journey of love and purpose with their life partner, men just want to get some because they were never taught how to BE an adult male! Because of the nearly non-existent male role model that existed for our grandparents and theirs, they have no one from which to model their behavior.

Here’s an article for the men out there (and their wives) who have been married for 20+ years and rather than lavishing their attention and love on their long term life partners, they go after the bright shiny object (BSO) or the ‘squirrel,’ as they did as adolescents. Flashy, barbie-like figure, and let’s not forget body enhancements, the ease of spending lunch with a prostitute, and then back to work, and pornography prevalence, presence, and pervasiveness.

If you are an adolescent male living in a middle aged mans body, CONSIDER that YOU killed your partner’s sex drive!

Get busy and SEEK what it was you once loved in your life long partner, and check out this article which will articulate what you ARE NOT DOING that you CAN DO, quite easily to begin to restore the integrity of the modern marriage contract.

From Men’s Health News Feb. 10, 2012. 4 Things you do to kill her sex drive.

Leslie Flowers’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Each week we highlight a member of the Team Nimbus community and what they have been up to. This week we highlight…

Nancy Davison, PT, LAc is the owner of Elite Integrated Medicine.

Nature of Business:

I am a licensed acupuncturist and physical therapist with more than 35 years of experienced as a health care practitioner. Continue reading…

Bill Davis’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Life insurance will never be cheaper than it is while you’re young and healthy. By planning ahead, you’ll ensure you have the protection you need when you need it most, and at a much more affordable price. In fact, it won’t cost much more than a burger and fries at your favorite fast food once a month. Its also important to protect insurability. Anything can happen at any moment to change an individuals’ health situation to make it more difficult to purchase insurance at a later date (especially if you ARE having the burger and fries every month).

Also, it costs money to die in the United States – in fact final expenses on average cost around $ 12,000. Somebody has to pay that bill, even if it happens at age 25.

To find out just how inexpensive it is, call me at 919-943-5577 or e-mail me at nancy.j.williams@mwarep.org. Also, visit my site at www.healthinsuranceraleighnc.com.

Nancy Williams’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

It is with gratitude I thank businesses like Rocky Top Hospitality, Shuckers Oyster Bar and Restaurant, Sisters’ Catering Company and many more for being a strong supporter of our community.

With these businesses we continue with our Mission: Funding the Heart of America!

Sandra Burnett, President

Sandra Burnett, www.thehCard.com’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Love is in the air with Valentines, candy hearts, and chocolate everywhere you look. As we purchase small gifts for the ones we love, do we consider the basic value of loving ourselves?

Learning to love yourself starts with making a conscious decision, an intention to become happy and lead a fulfilled life. When you do not love yourself it is almost impossible to ever reach your whole potential.

Because of his brain injury, my son Kevin has an exceptionally difficult time loving himself. This is a disability that colors his entire life, and he has struggled daily to overcome it.

This week Kevin had a breakthrough moment. I challenged him to write down different ways to love yourself. He came up with five ideas that have value for us all.

Five Ways to Love Yourself

1. Forgive Yourself Don’t beat yourself up over all the little mistakes you make throughout the day. You are usually your own worst critic.
2. Believe in Yourself Even if you feel like you can’t do something, never give up.
3. Congratulate Yourself Give yourself a “pat on the back” for your accomplishments, even the small ones.
4. Take Good Care of Your Health You will feel much better about yourself when you eat healthy, drink water, and exercise regularly.
5. Have Fun Take time each day to have some fun. Don’t let small annoyances ruin your whole day.

As we learn to love ourselves, we are able to share love and joy with others. Do you have more ways to love yourself that you can share? Please let us know in the comments below. Kevin and I are eager to learn more.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Robin

Robin Thomas’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

By staying in our comfort zone we continue to do what we’ve always done and don’t push ourselves to our maximum capacity for excellence!

What makes you comfortable in your business?

• A certain type of client
• Working only with people who you know and like
• Doing what you know best

What makes you uncomfortable in your business?

• Cold calling
• Learning new skills
• Public speaking
• Networking
• Phone calls

We’re all experts on the production aspect of our jobs.

• if we have a bakery, we are excellent bakers
• if we have a dance studio, we are excellent dancers
• if we have a photography studio, we are excellent photographers

But, what about the other aspects of our small businesses that must be accomplished such as:

• Sales
• Marketing
• Accounting
• Information Technology
• Graphical Design
• ….

Are you comfortable doing all of these things? As small business owners we must wear many hats and sometimes one or many of these are way outside of our comfort zone.

Image what it would be like if we always stayed in our comfort zone.

Stay tuned to discover how stepping outside of your comfort zone can help you reach your full potential!!

Lauren Paparone’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Inman noted the end of the year home value appreciation as a top value with the median sales price jumping 7.3% from third quarter 2010 to third quarter 2011.

Also noted in the article was the median sales price for Raleigh-Cary metro was $ 224,300.  This is one of the highest median sales prices around.

I am seeing increased activity with both Buyers and Sellers, and it is a breath of fresh air in the real estate market for sure.

Amy Shair, REMAX Real Estate’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Perhaps you never thought about these things and how you show up for others. Now you can if you like.

If you answer more than 4 of these questions with ‘yes,’ consider you have branded yourself this way … always taking, rarely giving — with a mindset of fear and lack. 

Success never comes to the takers. It may ‘look’ like it temporarily, yet in the end, it is the giver that gains. The takers have a mindset of ‘lack.’ They simply don’t believe there ‘is enough for them’ so they have to ‘grab what they can for free and run.’ They live in fear and worry.

If you are one of these folks, the next time you get something for free, pay for it anyway! You will be surprised at how the person responds … and more important how you feel about yourself.

Happy pondering …

Leslie Flowers’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

The day I met Julie I attended Cary Coffee & Contacts. That was early this year. In December I began treatments with my wonderful chiropractor as several cervical vertebrae were being forced out of alignment by muscle knots extraordinaire!

So they’d go back in and the muscles would pull them back out.

LOTS OF PAIN!

In 5 minutes flat, after the meeting (and before my chiro appt), Julie applied trigger point therapy and off I went to my appt. 5 minutes away. The chiro said my adjustment was better than any other one and asked what was I doing. I told him.

The next week he and Julie had coffee. He works with Hurricanes in support and could see a magnificent collaboration available.

I took a full hour appointment with Julie and the pain disappeared! It did creep back, BUT, Julie had showed me EXACTLY where my trigger points were (not where the pain is by the way) and then I began to do it myself!

A few friendly 5 minute adjustments and one more session and voila!

No chiro, no therapy … I do it myself! 

I’ve watched Julie erase localized pain within 5 minutes.

Julie has written several books on the subject as is a well known expert in trigger point therapy. She is a fascinating woman with tremendous energy and a servant’s heart, for sure. 

Click HERE for Julie’s web site.

Leslie Flowers’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

This week, the featured article is “Going Small to Better Serve Clients”.  The articles shares how Frank DeGeorge, the President of the Maven Group pursued the success his company currently enjoys.

Feel free to read any and all of the other articles in Small Business Insights of the Triangle.  They share the collective experience and wisdom of many of the successful small business owners in the Triangle area.

____

Small Business Insight of the Triangle is a regularly published online magazine focused on celebrating the success and impact of small businesses on our community. If you would like to receive copies of the new articles via email as they are published, you can Subscribe at the Small Business Insight of the Triangle website.

Bill Davis’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

I am in my third year of my Virtual Assistant Social Media business.  I am convinced more than ever of the power of positive relationships.

As a Virtual Assistant, I have the pleasure of relating and engaging with MANY various types of business owners each week:

• Business Owners
• PR / Marketing Staff
• Website Developers
• Trainers
• Additional Contractors related with the Client’s Business
• Beginner Virtual Assistants
• More!

As the economy slowly changes, the one constant I see is the power of relationships.

Here are 5 Steps to Build Quality Business Relationships when engaging in the relationships with your business and your client’s business support needs.

1.  Less is More -  Listen more than you talk when engaging with fellow business relationships (for yourself and your client).  I listen to what my clients’ needs are, and when I speak with one of their vendors directly, I make sure that I listen to ensure that the vendor and my client are on the “same page”.

If someone ASKS my professional opinion, I give it, honestly.

2.  Engage Authentically - Be sure to engage positively with all members of a client’s team.  It is important that you are authentic when you engage with your client, their connections, vendors, etc.

• If you genuinely like a post click “like” or “share”.
• Stay business professional (not too much personal interaction)
• Use common courtesy, say “please” and “thank you”.
• Publicly say THANK YOU – on various social media sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, www.Inside919.com, etc.)

3.  Have Your Clients Back – Plan Ahead - Without a question, the days when I smile from ear to ear is when a client out of the blue says “thanks for having my back”.  As a Virtual Assistant Social Media Manager, my job is to ensure consistency of information so that the client has the freedom to engage and relate as they do best.

4.  Excellence - It is imperative that you offer excellent service to your clients (and their team members).  Remember, every person  you touch is a potential referral source!  I get a lot of business from third party vendors I may have engaged with one time for a particular client.  I do an outstanding job and go the extra mile to make sure the client’s reputation is in tact and the project is done well.

5. Become a Connector - If you are not a perfect fit for someone, be honest.  If you can’t help someone, try to offer a solution that will help them.  It does take a bit of time to sometimes find an alternative fit for a potential client, but I want to make sure that client is taken care of.  If they took the time to reach out and call me (often after researching for a while) I want to do what I can to help them fulfill that need.

How About You? Is there another tip that you utilize in building quality relationship with business owners that you touch in your Virtual Assistant business?

Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Dear Account Holder,

With intent to ensure that correct information is being sustained on our systems, and to improve the quality of service we can provide to you; INTUIT INC. has taken part in the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] Name and TIN Matching Program.

It appears that your name and/or TIN, that we have on your account is different from the information on file with the SSA.

In order to check the data on your account, please enter the site.
Yours truly,

INTUIT INC.
Corporate Headquarters
2632 Marine Way
Mountain View, CA 94043

For a brief minute, it seemed real. Fortunately, I have been inundated with similar e-mails lately – from the BBB stating that someone has filed a complaint (I receive this one at least once a week. I called to verify that it was not real), from Fed Ex stating that they have tried to contact me about a package I sent out and then later one that I was to receive (both scams), several from my bank wanting to verify information and the big one – a letter that went out last year to not only me, but several of my clients stating that we needed to do a year-end filing and submit $ to the address to be in compliance.

All these e-mails and letters look so real and it is hard not to react with curiosity and the intent to be in compliance. A few months ago, I did end up clicking on the link to the BBB e-mail – the last time I will ever do that! I ended up with a very bad virus on my computer. So what does one do when you receive an e-mail or a letter asking you to update information, or to click on a link to find out more? Just the fact that they are asking you to click on a link should bring out the red flags. When I receive these, I now perform a Google search to see if anyone else has received something similar and to see if they are legit. Rather than click on the link provided, I go to the website myself and research it to see if it is real, or call the company.

So, the e-mail from Intuit this morning. I have to admit – it got my attention – for a second. After 2 minutes of research, I found out that it is a scam. If you receive one similar to this, just delete it from your computer. When I did that this morning, I received another one – this time in my spam folder. Why the first one did not end up there, I’ll never know. If you feel compelled to take it a step further, send a copy of the e-mail to the organization that it is posing to be from – in this case, spoof@intuit.com. Whatever you do, do not click on the link or forward the e-mail to anyone.

For more information on the e-mail from Intuit and what to do if you receive a similar one, visit their website at: Intuit Online Security Center

Melanie L. Paul’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Team Nimbus All-Star of the Week

David Hirsch is a Business Development Representative with Frankel Staffing Partners.

Nature of Business:

Frankel Staffing Partners is a boutique white collar professional staffing and recruiting firm. I work in business development to help small to mid-size companies or organizations with their staffing needs. Our recruiting practice is focused on emerging markets such as Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Software, as well as filling core needs in Accounting/Finance, Administrative/Clerical, and Legal Support.

What David has been up to since his participation in 100 Days to
Abundance/Team Nimbus:

The concept of the 212 degree relationship has really helped me over the years. While I am constantly looking to form new relationships and grow my own network, a few of the key relationships I have built over the years and continue to work on prove to be the most beneficial to me – and that’s because the work goes both ways – we’re in it for each others benefit.

The opportunity to work with new and emerging businesses in our area is very exciting. Even small, established businesses that do not operate with a edicated HR staff but still need assistance in growing their teams are great to work with.

David’s best advice to other small business owners:

You must dedicate time each week to work on your business, not just in it. Without taking the time to look at it from the outside, you’ll often miss out on key opportunities that are right in front of you.

If you don’t have the pleasure of knowing David you can connect with him on:

Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

Bill Davis’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

And so I learned and played and eventually, I won a game! I danced around. It WAS a big milestone for me. We split games, and when I could beat him consistently and over time ….

It was time. Time for what? To find another chess mentor, one that once again, I COULD NOT BEAT (meaning I had so much to learn). And so it was that my boyfriend lost his chess mentor-ship slot and someone else stepped in. I repeated the process until once again, I could beat my new mentor which sent me looking for the next one.

I have noticed that as I press forward in my personal and professional development, the mentors that taught me and showed me the paths available to me, also must fall by the wayside as mentors.

As long as I continue to grow in conscious awareness of my own potential, infinite, I actually see things in them that no longer align with and are not in harmony with my own Truth — speaking the truth — taking concerns to the source — and living a life based on virtue and value. Many purport to walk the walk, and I admit it ‘looked’ like they did at one point. With their help, I can see this is no longer where I belong.

They haven’t changed their philosophy … I have changed mine! And with that I bid another long time mentor good bye. I am deeply appreciative of all I learned yet I am crystal clear I cannot move forward toward really MATTERING to people, without finding another mentor.

It would be like continuing to play chess and not growing and learning.

(c)Leslie Flowers 2012.

Leslie Flowers’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

1. Think of life insurance as an investment in their future. We’re giving our child a financial head start when we do it and believe it or not, in many cases we can do that for around 7 cents a day! Can’t do much for 7 cents a day any more.
2. To protect their insurability. Depending on the policy and the carrier, your child may have the ability to continue to buy additional life insurance throughout their life at standard rates regardless of their health history. I can tell you from experience this is BIG!
3. Lock in low premiums on permanent plans. Its very inexpensive to purchase permanent plans for children. I recently spoke with a grandparent who had purchased their grandchild a permanent plan several years ago. The cost was around $ 30 a month, and now today the grandchild has over $ 20,000 of cash value they can use for college. (And this cash value doesn’t count against them when completing a student loan and/or scholarship application nor does using the cash value cancel the plan.)

Just a little tidbit to think about – 17% of American children are overweight. This puts them at a higher risk for health problems that could last their lifetime and affect their insurability.

Please call me at 919-943-5577 or e-mail me at nancy.j.williams@mwarep.org to find out how you can protect your child or grandchild. Also, visit my site at www.healthinsuranceraleighnc.com.

Nancy Williams’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

Martin Brossman’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking

I was asked a question today that really made me think. What does one do when the IRS selects a company for an audit? This is not a new question for me. In fact, it is one of the most common questions that I am asked during an initial consultation with a potential client.

In my many years as a non-profit CFO, I have been through many, many different audits. I know how auditors think and what they are looking for. I know how to help businesses get organized and keep good records in the event they are ever audited and help move them from a place of fear into one of strength and empowerment.

This question; however, I had not been asked before. When the IRS notifies a company that they are being audited and you hand over your QuickBooks file, the IRS has access to more than one year of data. Suppose you started your business in 2002, it is now 2012 and you receive notice that your 2007 tax return is being audited. What do you do if they request access to your QuickBooks file? Once in that file, they have access to data from 2002 through 2012.

Is there a way in QuickBooks to restrict them to only be able to view the year that is under audit? This question was asked in a QuickBooks online forum, relayed to me and well, it made me think. There really is no way that I know of to restrict access to a particular year within the file. QuickBooks offers the ability to close out a year and then allows the user to password protect access to that data. That won’t work; however. Even if you have a different password for each year, you will have to go back through prior years to get to the year under question, thus having more than one year of data available.

The only real solution I could think of is closing out the file at the end of the year to a separate QuickBooks file and then running the cleanup function to remove all past year’s data. The data for prior years is still there – it is journalized with the detail removed. To do this, follow the steps below at the beginning of the New Year (note: these instructions are for QuickBooks 2011 and should work for other versions):

• Create a backup of the file (File, Create Backup).
• Create a folder on your hard drive to store each year’s new file – perhaps a folder named “Yearly QB Files.”
• Restore the backup (File, Open or Restore Company, Restore a Backup Copy).
• Save the new file to the folder you use to store the yearly QB files. Use a unique name to identify the file (i.e. ABC Company – 2010).
• Once restored, open up the cleanup tool (File, Utilities, Cleanup Company Data).
• Select “Remove transactions as of a specific date.”
• In the box, enter the date to remove the transactions up to. For example, it is 2/2/12. If you only wanted data from 1/1/11 forward (2011), enter 12/31/10. It will remove (journalize) all transactions on or before that date.
• There are other options that can be selected as part of the cleanup. Check those that apply to you.
• Once the cleanup process is finished, run a P&L detail for a prior year (in the above example, 1/1/10 – 12/31/10) to make sure all the detail has been removed.
• Make a backup of the file following the steps above.
• Switch back to your original file before entering in any new data in for the current year (File, Open Previous Company).

Do this at the beginning of each year and you will have one file with accounting detail for that year only and a separate file for each subsequent year in the event you are audited by the IRS, allowing them access only to detail for the year under question.

Have other questions about what to do in the event you are audited, talk to your CPA or tax professional. One article I recently read on the subject that has very good information: “What To Do If The IRS Audits Your Tax Return.”

Melanie L. Paul’s Posts – The 919 Business Network – Local Business Networking