AtlantaEvent.com NewsFlash - Bird out of water?

Intro From Jeff Glaze

Jeff Glaze
Editor



"Buy my eye-opening ebook!" from Jeff Glaze, The editor of AtlantaEvent.com

In This Issue:

OPTIMISM BRINGS POSITIVE RESULTS TO THE WORKPLACE - By Dana Lightman, Ph.D.

Julie Stein Responds to the greeting in NewsFlash last week : Have you ever attended a FR*EE seminar or workshop?

Do You Love Food? - Howard Schwartz

Networking - How to do it - By Alan Fairweather

Greetings,

Want to start a profitable new business? Create something - anything - that works with an iPod. Yes, I said iPod, the popular mp3 player.

I recently got my wife one of these monsters for our anniversary, and that was just the beginning. If you have one, you know what I mean. Once you get one, you find that you must have all of the accessories. A case, an FM transmitter for your car, power supplies, accessory bag, voice recorder, external speakers, and on and on and on.

I have tried hard to resist, but thus far I have more invested in our iPod than in our home stereo. Yikes!

My advice, buy stock in Apple Computers. Who needs the MAC, give us the iPod! As I write this, I am ripping my entire CD collection into mp3 files. I currently have 6 days worth of music that will never play the same song twice. Another 3 days of work and I may be finished!

Someone give me the name of a good therapist before I spend any more time or money on this thing!

Speaking of therapy, please tell me what is wrong in California? You know what I am talking about. What the heck is wrong with those people out there? If you live in California and you are reading this please forgive me, but it is time for a cleanup!

I have never heard anything like a juror in a trial say "He is probably a child molester but..." PLEASE, there is no "but"!

I will not go into the details but as a father of a victim of a similar crime I am OUTRAGED! Some say that our system is still working, but I fear that it is in deep trouble.

If I could change only one thing in this country about our legal system, it would be this. I would pass a law that no juror involved in any trial can write a book or profit from doing their duty as a citizen other than the compensation currently provided and maybe that compensation should be increased so that anyone can afford to be involved in a long high-profile case.

Enough said.

Think about it and write to me.

Again, I just want to remind you to attend the Atlanta Business Mixer on the 23rd. This is the last one until September ( I put on that jacket and man is it hot outside ) and it promises to be HUGE. It is not FR*EE but almost with no membership required and only $5 at the door to attend. Be there this time, you will not regret it!

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By the way, the bird in the header is our parrot Jo-Jo. She is a great pet when she does not bite!

Jeff Glaze - Editor

OPTIMISM BRINGS POSITIVE RESULTS TO THE WORKPLACE

By Dana Lightman, Ph.D.

I totally agree! Unfortunately, I was sucked into one in May...the Women's Financial Conference at Cobb Galleria. I was skeptical prior to going due to the invitation received and it seemed too good to be true. However, I thought...what did I have to lose? After all, it was free.

I left, feeling very cheated and upset! I gained just enough info. to want to learn more, however, couldn't unless I purchased their tool kits for no less than 3K, 20K total if all kits were purchased!!!!! I wanted to go to learn how to increase my income so I could more easily pursue manufacturing my first invention. If I had 20K already, I wouldn't have needed so desperately to attend! GRRRR! It still makes me mad!

Thank you for sharing this information. Hopefully, others won't waste a day of their life like I did.

Sincerely,

Julie Stein

Do You Love Food? - Then Maybe Opening a Restaurant is Not Such a Crazy Idea
The restaurant industry in the United States employs an estimated 12.2 million people, making it the nation's largest employer outside of government agencies.

The restaurant industry in the United States employs an estimated 12.2 million people, making it the nation's largest employer outside of government agencies. This industry provides work for more than 9 percent of those employed in the United States.

Eating-and-drinking places are extremely labor-intensive -- sales per full-time-equivalent employee were $57,567 in 2003 and notably lower than other industries. More than four out of 10 adults have worked in the restaurant industry at some time during their lives and 27 percent of adults got their first job experience in a restaurant. Every additional $1 million in restaurant sales generates an additional 42 jobs for the nation's economy. In 2004 more than 54 billion meals were eaten in restaurants and school and work cafeterias.

The typical employee in a food service occupation is:
- Female 55%
- Under 30 years of age 52%
- Single 68%

Between 1970 and 2002, restaurant-industry sales will post a compound annual growth rate of 7.3 percent. Industry pundits are now tipping that restaurant industry sales on a typical day in 2005 will topple $1.3 billion. This equates to an annual estimate for 2005 of $476 billion in restaurant sales. This also includes the impact that such sales will generate in related industries such as agriculture, transportation and manufacturing. They estimate that there will be more than 900,000 locations serving more than 70 billion meal and snacks. The industry will continue to expand driven by the desire of American's need for convenience an increase in their disposable income, and the need for fast food to fit today's busy lifestyles.

Learn more about developing your own restaurant business plan:

http://www.hjventures.com/restaurant-business-plan.html
http://www.hjventures.com/restaurant-business-plans.html

Author’s Bio
Howard Schwartz is a partner in several business strategy groups, including HJ Ventures International, Inc. Howard has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs worldwide with a focus on writing business plans for companies interested in raising capital from Venture Funds and Angel Investors. Howard’s business plans have secured several million dollars in funding.
For more information: http://www.hjventures.com

Networking - How to do it

By Alan Fairweather

Networking is probably the oldest, easiest, most effective and least expensive way to get more business. It doesn't necessarily involve selling your product or service but it does mean selling yourself. However, that doesn't involve a lot of talking - it does involve a lot of listening.

Networking is about making connections with people and building a network of meaningful relationships.

Having good relationships means - these people will either do business with you and/or recommend you to others. These people are your unpaid sales-force and you've got to ensure that they do a good job.

Here are 9 steps to successful networking:

#1 Be prepared - Particularly if you're attending a formal networking event like the Chamber of Commerce -

#2 Think about whom you'll be meeting - Consider what your opening remarks or questions will be. And think about what you're going to say when they question you.

#3 Make sure you have lots of business cards, a small notebook and a pen - These should be easily accessible and not involve a rummage through pockets or a bag to find them.

Reminder - NEVER go anywhere without business cards

#4 You don't necessarily need brochures - These can be sent when you follow up later. A networking event is not a place to sell you product or service. (This is not understood by the people who have bored the pants off me over the years)

#5 Think about what you're going to wear - I've seen people rush into a networking event in clothes that look like they've been slept in. If it means having a change of clothes in the office or
going home to freshen up - then do it. Remember, the image you present to other people is the image they'll have of your business. Men should wear a bright tie (not cheap) and women should wear something bright. Remember, however - business dress, not sexy.

#6 Personal hygiene - Brush your teeth or use a breath freshener. I've met people at networking events whose breath would bring down a rhino at fifty feet. Avoid drinking wine or coffee; they can make your breath sour. Stick to mineral water or a soft drink.

#7 Watch out for the perfume - Both men and women, strong scents can be overpowering.

#8 Name badges - They'll probably hand these out at the event, however consider having your own produced. They're not expensive to produce and it means you can ensure that what's on the badge is what you want. (Conference organizers often get the details wrong on name badges) Pin the badge
on your right lapel - it's easier for people to read. The majority of people shake hands with their right hand. As you lean forward to shake hands, it means that the other person can read your badge easier.

#9 Go with a partner - Take a friend or one of your team to a networking event. While you're there, alternately separate and come together. When you see your partner with someone or a group, walk up and let your partner introduce you. Your partner will introduce you using a pre-agreed benefit statement. Something like - "This is my friend Mary Smith - she helps business people find more customers by improving their networking skills." It's then easier for you to make more contacts.

Alan Fairweather is the founder of Alan Fairweather International and more information can be found on his web site at http://www.howtogetmoresales.com