When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Coffee

It's not natural to reach out when your business is struggling. But that's exactly when you need to do it the most. Here are three ways a coffee can boost your business.

photo courtesy trublueboy http://www.sxc.hu/profile/trublueboy

 

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Running a small business is like riding a gigantic roller coaster. Sometimes you just want to close your eyes and scream.

When you’re on a steep downhill -- when the cash in your bank account is plummeting just as you need to make payroll -- the natural human instinct is to pull in, like a tortoise. We want to hide from the world in the safety of a hard shell that could pass for a rock.

But one of the best pieces of advice that I have ever received came from an accomplished and brilliant entrepreneur, just as I was going through a particularly rough patch: Do not become disconnected. Reach out to others.

Fine. What normal person reaches out to others when they feel like crap?

Here are three good reasons to fight your tortoise tendencies when your business hits bottom:

• You (and your team) may be in a rut. Entrepreneurs focus, drive hard and hold themselves to high standards. The flip side is that we can be our own toughest critics and run our teams ragged. Before you know it, everyone has lost their mojo. An outside voice can reset this parasitic dynamic and reignite the team. A new person may have some positive insights into the business’ strengths, constructive suggestions, or new areas or opportunities to think about. Either way, an outsider can break the stalemate of group think.

• Your next big opportunity could be a coffee away. The truth is that you never know where your best leads are going to come from, period. This is particularly counterintuitive for the analytically minded, high-tech entrepreneurs of my world. We think our leads will come from people who are as well-versed as we are in our specialized technology areas, replete with acronyms no one else understands. Wrong, wrong, wrong. How wrong? After attending a seminar by author Debra Fine, I got a terrific lead on a customer needing some very specialized optical scanning technology – right up our alley --  for a fellow entrepreneur in…the furniture business. Corporate furniture. Go figure.

• The world is not going to wait for you. Hiding in your office is not a winning strategy for unearthing new trends. Get out and see what is going on. Some areas of business are being turned on their heads. That’s a frightening prospect for incumbents. But these trends also present enormous opportunities that entrepreneurs can’t afford to miss.

Right now, I am seeing a tectonic shift in the business of manufacturing equipment, the kind that cranks out your beloved iPhones and iPads. In the “old days” of equipment, only big companies were players. It was a highly capital-intensive business with expectations of instant worldwide support. Then the other day, I saw a manufacturing system the size of a modest house, financed by a manufacturing company in China, and entirely designed and built by a network of small businesses in Silicon Valley. The system will be shipped to China in large containers and reassembled there. The value is in the design. The big infrastructure, cash reserves, and support of the big companies is not valued by the customer. It’s a huge opportunity for small companies, especially those that know how to collaborate.

The next time you are feeling down, fight against your instincts, and text a fellow entrepreneur. Coffee? Tea? If things are really tough, maybe you need something stronger. Just get out of your shell.

5 Reasons You Need to Meet in Person

From : Rene Simada Siegel

My clients are just like yours: They want to Skype, email and text. But here's why you still need face time.

shutterstock images

 

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inShare

Today's Editor's Picks

• 15 Ways to Keep Your Employees Happy
• How Wine.com Dominates Its Market
• Recruiting: Why Timing Is Everything
• Why Nice People Will Sabotage You
• Your Best Employees Always Ask 'Why'

When the daily avalanche of emails and voice messages gets overwhelming, it’s so tempting to retreat to my office and start typing replies and returning phone calls. That’s one of the biggest mistakes I can make.

No matter what industry we’re in, we’re all in the people business. We’ll only be successful if we really get to know our customers and colleagues. Many of my tech marketing clients are so busy that they now prefer texting to even emails or calls. Skype, WebEx and audio calls are convenient and create the illusion we’re actually having a meeting -- but nothing beats the power of a truly personal, face-to-face connection.

What can you learn from an in-person meeting that you can’t from a virtual one?

1. You're off the record.  In Silicon Valley and many other places, there are few private offices. Many of my clients work in cubes and can’t have private telephone conversations with me or anyone else. This means that when I talk to them on the phone, I might not get to hear the most important information they can share: the unique team dynamics or executive’s personality quirks that would make or break our ability to match an expert consultant. Over sushi or a latte or a walk around the block, my clients can let me know more -- with more color -- than they can over the telephone or in an email.

2. Make use of not-so-small talk.  Most business conversations are focused on solving a problem quickly and efficiently, while business relationships are built when people take the time to share and learn more about each other. That happens more naturally in person than over the phone or in an email. What cements a bond between people? Small talk about a favorite team, passion for pecan pie, parenting challenges, and the other bits and pieces that make us unique and interesting.

3. Make an impression. I bought a new handbag. It’s faux ostrich and it’s pink. Really pink. I’ve received compliments on it from every woman (and one man) I’ve met with in the past two weeks. I had worried it was perhaps not professional enough for business. But the style and color were bold, “spring-y” and made me smile. Who knew my $60 knock-off handbag would be such a great conversation starter and deliver such a strong personal statement? How do you do that over Skype?

4. Read the body language. Facial expressions often communicate so much more than words. We host consultant coffees and invite a handful of independent consultants to our office in order to better understand the nuances of each professional in a relaxed setting. We need to know what isn’t on the resume that makes each person unique. In their eyes and in their body language, we can see confidence, empathy, fear, friendliness or sincerity. That ability to “read” a candidate beyond their keywords is a huge competitive advantage for us.

5. Learn where the action is. I find out so much when I visit one of my clients in their office. Is the lobby bright and inviting with recent accolades proudly displayed? Do employees seem happy? Is there free juice and healthy snacks in the cafeteria? Brand new Herman Miller chairs in the conference room? Is everyone moving in slow motion or is there a palpable buzz? The environment speaks volumes and may factor into your business proposal or plan. By understanding company dynamics, we can communicate more effectively to meet their needs.

I love new technologies that allow me communicate with others more freely and quickly. But as a business owner, I try to remember customers want to work with someone they can relate to, not just buy from.

And I believe in walking the walk. Want to meet me in person? I'll be at the Faz Restaurant lounge in Pleasanton, California on Wednesday, March 7 between five and seven. Meet my team and join us for a drink. RSVP to @renesiegel.

I’ll be the one with the really pink purse.

This makeup stylist makeup Elevation Model at 14 Thousand Feet

EXCEPT breakthrough in the development of cosmetology, the world of make-up artists also participated in presenting the fascinating attractions.Dressing on top altitude of 14,000 feet is one of them.

Adam J Breuchaud is, the makeup artist who recently worked with HTC to create the latest breakthrough in the fashion world. And makeup on the model height was a new concept offers.

Using skydiving, make up the procession is in progress smoothly. Located high above the Arizona desert, the make-up artist was deftly dressed the model. Adam J Breuchaud itself known as a reliable make-up artist ever polish the faces of Hollywood stars like Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Olsen and Felicity Jones as quoted from Dailymail, Saturday (03/31/2012).

In carrying out the mission is sensational, Adam said that the presence of winds that reached 120 miles per hour is a challenge that needs to be conquered.

"One of the most difficult time to do that is when I do my eye make-up where the wind is moving so fast around the face. It's quite an obstacle to presenting a fresh 

Fuel price hike Will Affect Clothing

IMPACT fuel price increase was not affecting basic food needs alone. Secondary needs such as clothing also helped to increase prices.

The designers seem to have to stand by for the planned increase in fuel will also affect their business. Because the increase in fuel prices will also affect the fabric so that production costs were soaring.

With this condition of the designers not only demanded deft in turning the brain but also think of the anticipation that the design still needs to raise the quality without the high prices that result in consumer complaints.

It's like Thomas echoed Sigar, Indonesia designer who was talking with Legal recently. Therefore, Thomas was already preparing a plan if the plan is actually realized.

"The increase in fuel would have an influence on the production of the material itself, especially from the fabric," said Thomas Sigar when met after the show "The Enchanting Culture of Minahasa" at the Textile Museum, Jakarta, Friday (30/03/2012).

Despite the fuel price increase will affect the production of the existing fabric, but in person Thomas has their own strategies to overcome them. The trick is by way of providing higher quality but with the risk of not getting a lot of advantages.

"Yes, the risk will not be able to gain a lot, but at least it will be exclusive to the wearer because it is not available to everyone," he concluded. (Ind)

Ready to Wear Woven Clothing Ready to go global

After socialized in our country, woven fabric was prepared to enter the international arena. That's the designer weaves hope for increasingly globalizing Thomas Sigar adati the fabric.

In addition to batik, weaving the beauty of it was not blow up to the maximum. There is still a lot of weaving of the various regions that have not been explored and unexplored. To that end, the participation of designers in weaving became popularized thing to do.

With their nimble hands, woven fabric can be a cubit tersulap work even more beautiful and popular among the fashion lovers.

Sigar Thomas, one of Indonesia's senior designer is someone who persevere and concentrate on the wealth of Indonesia woven fabric. The desire for more introduced in the types of woven fabric became his goal. And to facilitate the process of socialization in the community, Thomas Sigar wants to realize the woven cloth in the box ready to wear fashion.

"There are still plans to go there, but it should really memertimbangkannya more mature. As with anything that benefits due to ready to wear clothing that competition is getting tight," said the man who always wore a scarf her neck is typical to Legal when met after the show "The Enchanting Culture of Minahasa "at the Textile Museum, Jakarta, Friday (03/30/2012).

According to him, to produce ready to wear clothing that is applied material was definitely different. Usually for a ready-made garments are ready to print material that is used, while weaving it over to a special design.

"Maybe if for ready made garments to the print so much so, because if a little difficult for weaving cloth. But I have plans for woven fabrics introduced to the wider community and not just to a specific community," he said. (Ind)

Child 12 Years of Dress Designing Filter Coffee

This paper shaped like a bowl of paper used for cupcake cakes and serves to filter the dregs in the coffee maker.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! held a fashion design contest using recycled materials in its manufacture.

The competition is named for the Trashy Fashion Week held at the Ripley's museum in St. Petersburg. Augustine, Florida, and followed the participants of various ages.

One dress is contested in this event is a mini dress design Analise Barnard and Amani Grant. The second contestant was 12 years old it makes a white dress made of paper coffee filters.

This paper shaped like a bowl of paper used for cupcake cakes and serves to filter the dregs in the coffee maker.

Wavy edge of the coffee filter produces frill accents throughout the dress. In addition to adding the pattern of off-shoulder, Barnard and Grant also added accents on the bottom tier dress.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Wednesday (28/3), a dress called "High Energy" was sweetened with a headband, earrings, and shoes with flower ornaments made of the same material. Large trash bag used as a cloak and adds a classic in this fashion.

Fashionista reported, with this unique dress, Barnard and Grant had won a prize of 100 dollars from the committee, plus 100 dollars from Ripley's.

The dress was later purchased by Ripley's to be exhibited in the museum.

In addition to Barnard and Grant, the other participant is equally unique. Kennedy Trutger, teens 15 years, making clothing from newsprint.

In addition, Masha Sardari, 17-year-old contestant, make a dress out of a paint brush to the bottom of brown paper.

(Rere / gur)

Sawunggaling legend in draft Evening Gown

Legend of East Java is the inspiration for Denny Djoewardy in his latest collection of designs on display in Indonesia Fashion Week 2012 (IFW 2012).

IN a legend says, a young man named Jake Berek duchy ventured into the center of Surabaya.

Armed with a piece of heirloom fabrics and pet rooster, Jake Berek seeking the identity of his biological father, as well as hone his chicken that always win when pitted.

After a long journey and a series of cockfighting game, Jake Berek finally managed to meet his father.

Apparently the father was none other than the Hero Jayengrono, the highest leader in the duchy of Surabaya.

Since then, Jake Berek earned the nickname "Sawunggaling" from his father.

Legend of East Java is the inspiration for Denny Djoewardy in his latest collection of designs on display in Indonesia Fashion Week 2012 (IFW 2012).

Sawunggaling legend embodied in a series of fashion dominated by maroon red and black, which is also the color of rooster feathers.

Rooster has become a hallmark of the legendary Sawunggaling, as well as a key fashion trends Denny this time.

To outline the design, Denny chose patterns evening dress accented with frill at the bottom that gives the impression of majestic.

Denny chose satin fabric as a base design that produces classic yet elegant feel.

As ornaments, Denny added shaped headdress that symbolizes the red horn comb chicken.

(Rere / gur)

Photos: Renny Adystiani

Seaweed Mask Rich in Vitamin C

In addition to delicious eaten and can nourish the body, seaweed can also make your skin more beautiful and healthy.

GRASS-in Japanese sea called 'nori'-known as a food ingredient that is quite popular in the country's cherry. Seaweed is commonly used as a mixture in a dish of sushi, while the dried seaweed is suitable as a snack.

In addition to sushi, seaweed is also a complementary materials onigiri, noodles, and soup. Before consumption, usually roasted seaweed first, to produce a snack called "yaki-nori '.

Yaki nori-flavored, such as ketchup, sauce, and sugar, to serve Japanese style or sesame oil and salt blended for Korean-style presentation, referred to as 'ajitsuke-nori'.

Edible seaweed species of red algae from porphyra. Japan, Korea and China became the largest producer of seaweed snack in the world with total production value reached more than $ 2 billion per year.

Seaweed is rich in protein and fiber, also contain iodine, carotene, and vitamins A, B, and C, as well as calcium and iron.

According to data from the Food Standards Australia - New Zealand, one serving of sushi seaweed containing iodine at 92 micrograms. This figure is almost sufficient for the daily human iodine, which amounted to 150 micrograms.

In addition to delicious eaten and can nourish the body, seaweed can also make your skin more beautiful and healthy.

The content of vitamin C in it a potent skin becomes softer and preserved its natural moisture.

It's easy. Take a piece of dried seaweed that is sold in packaged form in supermarkets. Soak in warm water until soft, but never destroyed.

After the grass was soft, place it on your face as a mask, and let stand 20 minutes. Once the liquid seaweed soak, rinse your face with cleanser, then dry with a towel. The skin will feel smooth and supple.

from Various Sources

Attend Fashion Show, Sooyoung Seohyun & Elegant Shown

FILL leisure time, two personnel namely SNSD Sooyoung and Seohyun looked attend fashion shows events leading label, DKNY.

As a brand that has a place in the hearts of fashion lovers highend, events DKNY (Donna Karan New York) This is always flooded with fashionistas and celebrities. It's a look at DKNY collection held a fashion show Spring / Summer 2012 in Apgujeong, one of the greatest fashion in Seoul.

In the event, some celebrities seem crowded locations.They include actress Jung Ryeo Won, Moon Chae Won, Jung Gyu Woon actor, as well as personnel SNSD, Sooyoung and Seohyun, as reported by Allkpop.

Especially Sooyoung and Seohyun looked different that night, they immediately get the attention nearbyers as classy and elegant dress she was wearing. Sooyoung was seen wearing one-piece long dress paired with a white bag and shoe heels that provide the perfect look and fit with the theme of the spring DKNY collection.

While the youngest member of SNSD, Seohyun appear to look more mature than usual. Loose white blouse, and combined with the blue dress gives the impression of a modern and chic for Seohyun. With the view that they show off in public, no one if fans were immediately captivated made. (Ind)

Trends in Women's Lingerie So Borong UK

British lingerie NEED for this year was on the rise.That's because a lot of British women who have swollen breasts.

This year seems to be a great blessing for clothing manufacturers in the UK. Because the British women often spend their time buying underwear. This occurs approximately within six months.

That fact was seen by one of the revelations in the clothing retailer, Marks n Spencer bra that managed to increase their profits. The increases were seen because of the high reports of their sales from high street giants such as MnS.

"Women have a love affair with beautiful lingerie and sales of our shows this to be a big trend," said one employee at a clothing store in the UK, told the Daily Star.

As with clothing that becomes passion and focus of women in the shop, and even then it turns out it applies to the purchase of underwear. Evidently, the lingerie market in the UK increases every year.

"This is due to the size of British women's breasts have swollen from an average 34B to 36D, and every shop there was eventually compete with the save a cup size bigger than before," close the store clerk. (Ind)