U.S. News & World Report

Resources from U.S. News & World Report for Small Businesses and Startupsstring(78) "Resources from U.S. News & World Report for Small Businesses and Startups"

Ashley Mcnamara, an Outreach Associate working with U.S. News & World Report, reached out to me personally and asked me to share these resources for small businesses and startups with my followers. She wanted to connect with me because Ashley feels that BNI is a great resource for small business professionals and the information found on the BNI website stood out to her and others at U.S. News & World Report. I am happy to connect with her, too.
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There are many resources available in the USA for small businesses, as well as certain nonprofits and other employers. The U.S. News & World Report has compiled a list of resources that are designed to help small business owners learn more about business loans and other financial options that are available. You can find these various resources listed in the links below.
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Small-Business Loans

Small-business loans can help you start or expand an existing business. And during the coronavirus pandemic, small-business financing could help your business stay afloat amid disaster. Loan programs from direct lenders and the Small Business Administration, including the SBA Paycheck Protection Program, can infuse working capital loans and other financial support when you need it the most. Learn how you can access capital for your business with the best small-business lenders.

Unsecured Business Loans

Small-business loans typically require collateral, which can be business or personal, and include real estate, equipment, savings, or other assets. But if you don’t have collateral to pledge for the loan or don’t want to put personal assets on the line, you do have no-collateral business loan options. Discover the benefits and risks of unsecured business loans as an option for business financing.

Bad Credit Loans for Small Businesses

If you have a checkered credit history, traditional banks or credit unions may be unwilling to approve a business loan. Luckily, alternative lenders, which provide options outside of conventional banks, offer small-business loans if you have a bad credit score. Get a small business loan with bad credit to start or grow your company.

Best Business Credit Cards

If you’re running a small to midsize business, you know how difficult it can be to get funding or to qualify for credit. One solution is to consider getting a business credit card. Many get confused about the difference between small-business credit cards and corporate credit cards. Small-business credit cards are ideal for someone who operates a business but who hasn’t yet established a business credit profile. Corporate cards are used by larger companies that have already built up a business credit history. Compare the different offers and choose the best business credit card that is right for you.

I have found these articles from U.S. News & World Report valuable and I am honored to share them on this website so that my followers, other small business professionals, and our BNI community can access them and “Restart the World” together.  I would like to thank Ashley Mcnamara for sharing these with me. Please also express your gratitude to Ashley for reaching out to me and providing these resources to you in the comments below.

Attention Non-USA Members: If you have information that would help members in your country, please share it in the comments section below.

Profit Growth Banking Blueprint

Roxanne Emmerich shares the Profit Growth Banking Blueprintstring(59) "Roxanne Emmerich shares the Profit Growth Banking Blueprint"

Fellow Transformational Leadership Council (TLC) member and friend, Roxanne Emmerich, discusses her upcoming book, “The Profit Growth Banking Blueprint”, with me in this video about how banking companies can create a workplace you and your customers love.
 
Roxanne has been trying to help the banking industry to get its act together. They have gone from having18,000 banks to 5000 banks, which tells you something is wrong. The problem is that when a local bank goes out of a small community, this causes the small businesses to go away too. According to Roxanne, the problem is that banking is set up to be transactional, not transformational. Banks are transactional and not about making sure people are winning. Banks are a cultural train wreck because their system is wrong. And it’s not just banking, it is all industries. The model we have right now in banking and most businesses is “Get your numbers, or you are fired”.

Her goal is to have others saying, “I feel so good about myself because I feel like I’m helping people”.

Her new book will help people purposely understanding how to perform. We raise the bar a little bit higher, so we’re building confidence in a way that is inspiring them. Roxanne will show through her upcoming book how you build confidence in systems so that we eventually tie everyone to profit in a way that creates a performance breakthrough because they understand they are being purposeful. The banks that Roxanne has worked with have doubled their profits in the first three years and almost all their employees report that their bank voted “The Best Place to Work”. Roxanne is a banking guru.

The Profit Growth Banking Blueprint

You may not be a banker, but her concepts will work with a lot of different industries too. The people that work with her absolutely love her.   Roxanne has authored many different books which I highly recommend. In a previous video, I give my recommendation of Roxanne Emmerich’s book, “Thank God It’s Monday!”. When her new book comes out I will post the links on my social media.

TLC

Poland

Witajcie w Warszawie!string(21) "Witajcie w Warszawie!"

This week most of our BNI directors from around the world are traveling to Warsaw to attend the 2019 BNI Global Convention. Welcome to Poland! To those BNI directors and members attending, I am looking forward to meeting you. Therefore, if you have never been to Warsaw, here are some tips from Ryszard Chmura, the National Director of BNI Polska that will make your trip to Poland more enjoyable!

Welcome to Warsaw! I am honored that Poland, Warsaw, will host BNI Global Convention 2019. This event will be held in Europe for the first time! A lot of BNI Members and Directors from all over the world will visit Poland this month. I can’t wait for this event and I am looking forward to meeting you. If you have never been to Poland, here are my tips, that will help you enjoy your stay here.

Polish language

I speak polish – what’s your superpower? I can’t say Polish is an easy language to learn, but knowing some basic greetings will help you with networking at the conference. But don’t worry, English is the second most common language spoken in Poland. I recommend you to try to learn a few words, which could help you break the ice with the Poles. The most popular greeting “Hello! How are you?” in Polish is “Cześć! Jak się masz?”

Must-see in Poland

Taking part in the 2019 BNI Global Convention is the best opportunity to visit Poland and sightseeing in our beautiful country. Poland’s capital, Warsaw is the heart of the country. The center of Warsaw’s public life is the Old Town. Visit the Old Town to see the most beautiful houses and palaces in the city or check out the museums. My second recommendation is Cracow. Cracow is the most often visited city by tourists in Poland. This city is not only the second-largest city in the country but also one of the oldest ones. Wawel Castle, the Old Town, and the Kazimierz district are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Polish cuisine and must-eats in Warsaw.

The market square in Warsaw offers a wide range of good restaurants with polish cuisine, where you can try polish traditional foods: pierogi, bigos or żurek. After the conference’s lectures, you can spend time at the market square, not only trying polish food but also polish traditional drinks. Have you ever tried “wiśniówka”?

Poland is known as the most hospitable country in Europe and I hope you will enjoy your stay here! Wishing everyone a fantastic 2019 BNI Global Convention.

Ryszard Chmura, National Director – BNI Poland

someday

Sam Horn shares “Someday Is Not a Day in the Week”string(54) "Sam Horn shares “Someday Is Not a Day in the Week”"

Fellow Transformational Leadership Council member and friend, Sam Horn, discusses her book, “Someday Is Not a Day in the Week” with me in this video.
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Sam is a personal friend and I absolutely love this book. Full of inspirational insights and advice, lifehacks, and real-world examples, “Someday is Not a Day in the Week” will help readers get what they want in life today rather than “someday.”
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 Download the Kindle version of this book by Sam Horn on Amazon

Are you planning to do what makes you happy someday when you have more time, money, or freedom?

What if someday never happens? As the Buddha said, “The thing is, we think we have time.” Sam Horn is a woman on a mission about not waiting for SOMEDAY … and this is her manifesto. Her dad’s dream was to visit all the National Parks when he retired. He worked six to seven days a week for decades. A week into his long-delayed dream, he had a stroke. Sam doesn’t want that to happen to you. She took her business on the road for a Year by the Water. During her travels, she asked people, “Do you like your life? Your job? If so, why? If not, why not?”

The surprising insights about what makes people happy or unhappy, what they’re doing about it (or not), and why…will inspire you to carve out time for what truly matters now, not later.

Life is much too precious to postpone. It’s time to put yourself in your own story. The good news is, there are “hacks” you can do right now to make your life more of what you want it to be. And you don’t have to be selfish, quit your job, or win the lottery to do them. Sam Horn offers actionable, practical advice in short, snappy chapters to show you how to get started on your best life ― now.
Ken Honda

Ken Honda shares “Happy Money”string(42) "Ken Honda shares “Happy Money”"

Fellow Transformational Leadership Council member and friend, Ken Honda, discusses his book, “Happy Money” with me in this video.
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Ken Honda is a personal friend and I absolutely love this book. What Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up did for your living space, Ken Honda’s Happy Money will do for your wallet. This book isn’t here to fix you, because as Ken Honda says, you’re already okay!
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Order this book by Ken Honda on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YrJiMe

Ken Honda—Japan’s #1 bestselling personal development guru—knows that getting rich quick is no way to achieve happiness. Too often, money is a source of fear, stress, and anger, sometimes breaking apart relationships and even ruining lives. We like to think money is just a number or a piece of paper, but it is so much more than that. Money has the ability to smile; its energy changes when it is given with a certain feeling, and this energy impacts not only ourselves but others as well. Although Ken Honda is often called a “money guru,” his real job over the past decade has been to help others discover the tools they already possess to heal their own lives and relationships with money. In Happy Money the “Zen millionaire” explains, in practical and accessible language, how to achieve peace of mind when it comes to money.
 
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Learn how to treat money as a welcome guest, allowing it to come and go with respect and without resentment; understand and improve your Money EQ; unpack the myth of scarcity; and embrace the process of giving money, not just receiving it.
Feel Better Fast

Feel Better Fast and Make It Laststring(33) "Feel Better Fast and Make It Last"

Dr. Daniel Amen believes that brain health is central to all health and success. When your brain works right, he says, you work right; and when your brain is troubled you are much more likely to have trouble in your life. His work is dedicated to helping people have better brains and better lives. In this video, Dr. Amen reveals his “BRAIN-XL” framework to help others feel better fast and make it last:

B for “Brain”

Your brain likes to do what it’s always done, even when that isn’t in your best interest. Getting stuck in unhelpful behaviors, holding grudges, and engaging in unproductive worrying all cause immense suffering. Work to optimize the physical functioning of your brain and shift your thinking habits to more positive practices for better health.

R for “Rational Mind”

It’s important to develop the mental discipline necessary for feeling better fast, including eliminating the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts), quieting your mind, focusing on gratitude, and even welcoming failure. With the help of some basic techniques, it’s possible for you to master your rational mind.

A for “Attachments”

Our attachments bring us the greatest joys and the most painful sorrows. It is when our relationships break people have the most mental health problems. Improving relationships and dealing with painful memories can help you achieve better outcomes. Learning how to improve your relationships can help you save your job, your marriage, your friendships, and all your relationships.

I for “Inspiration”

How to keep your pleasure center healthy in today’s world. Knowing and acting on your “why” is critical to living each day with joy. Purposeful people are happier and healthier, and live longer. Protecting your brain’s pleasure centers can help you live with passion and purpose.

N for “Nourishment”

In a world full of fast food and processed ingredients, our brains are affected by what we put into our bodies. Are you experiencing brain fog? A helpful nutritious diet can help you feel better quickly. Eating healthy foods can immediately boost your focus, memory and mood.

X for “X-Factor”

In any given situation, the X factor is the variable that has the most significant impact on the outcome.  Taking a look at the brain can be the difference between success and failure.

L for “Love”

Love yourself. Do things out of love of life or others. Caring for your body and brain affects your health and the health of generations to come. Love is the motivation that prompts us to put in the consistent effort and make the changes required to get healthy.

If you want to learn more about how the BRAIN-XL principles can help you stop the pain quickly, we recommend reading Dr. Amen’s new book, “Feel Better Fast and Make It Last.”

 

Feel Better Fast and Make It Last

Renowned physician, psychiatrist, brain-imaging researcher, and founder of Amen Clinics Dr. Daniel Amen understands how critical it is for you to know what will help you feel better fast, now and later. Dr. Amen has helped millions of people change their brains and lives through his health clinics, best-selling books, products and public television programs. In his book, Feel Better Fast and Make It Last, you’ll discover new, powerful brain-based strategies to quickly gain control over anxiety, worry, sadness, stress and anger, strengthening your resilience and giving you joy and purpose for a lifetime. If you want to feel happier, more optimistic, more joyful, and resilient, Dr. Amen’s groundbreaking new book is for you.

Please order his book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Please view Dr. Amen’s website for more information about his clinics.

Truluck's

You Achieve What You Measure – A Truluck’s Storystring(60) "You Achieve What You Measure – A Truluck’s Story"

Since I moved to Austin Texas, I’ve discovered a number of restaurants that I really enjoy.  One of them is Truluck’s in downtown Austin.  The first time my wife and I went to Truluck’s we couldn’t help but notice how engaged the host was when we walked up to check in for our reservation.  He was welcoming, friendly, and conversational.  It was unusual in that the host seemed more engaging than the normal friendly host you might get when you enter a good restaurant.  He was incredibly personable and it stood out to me. I took a mental note and wondered if the rest of the experience would be the same.

I sat down and the wait staff was very attentive (but not too attentive).  They were right on the spot when I needed something but they didn’t interrupt constantly.  The wine list was great (see this blog to know why that’s important to me).   Then, the meal came out.  It was phenomenal.  For me, a great meal paired with a great wine and great service are the proof of the existence of a divine being.  OK, maybe I exaggerate a little but it was really good.

My wife and I had a nice long dinner and a great experience.  When we were ready to go, the wait staff brought out the bill and a computer tablet.  The tablet had a series of survey questions on it.  The first is the screenshot on this blog.  They asked if I received a hospitable welcome from the host when I arrived!  Voila!  I now understood why the host really went out of his way to make us feel welcome.  (By the way, I scored it as “Absolutely!)”  The restaurant had about six questions in total relating to the experience during the evening and I checked each one of them at the highest possible level.

Truluck's

Trulucks measured key factors in their restaurant experience and the management got an immediate, real-time result for each of these areas.  This is a perfect example of “Achieving What You Measure.”  In their case, there was no delay in getting the results.  They could tell exactly how people felt about the experience before the customer even left the restaurant.  On one of my visits to Trulucks, I spoke to the manager, Thomas, about the survey system at the restaurant.  He said that the previous month they received a 98% positive rating from the customer surveys.  I told him that was outstanding.  I love his response.  He said, “actually, we always shoot for 100%.”

We could all learn from this type of management control system.  Well done to Trulucks.  I look forward to going back again soon.

 

Business Trip

My Must-Remember Items When Packing for a Business Tripstring(55) "My Must-Remember Items When Packing for a Business Trip"

I travel several months a year, speaking to business professionals about networking. When traveling, especially internationally, I try very hard not to forget important items I need for meetings or speaking to groups of people. . . but I admit it’s hard to remember everything all the time. An international magazine interviewed me recently on this topic. The reporter asked me, “What should business people think about taking with them on a business trip that they might not normally think about?” This list would benefit anyone taking a trip, so I’m sharing it here.

First, a few somewhat obvious things that can certainly come in handy on a business trip:

  1. Plenty of business cards: It is never a good idea to run out of business cards while traveling. Tuck extras in your suit pockets, wallet/purse, briefcase, and luggage. I put stacks in many places to ensure I always have extra.
  2. Name badge: If you do any networking while traveling on business, have your own professional name badge. Don’t rely on the hosting organization to do your name badge and do it right.
  3. Extra pens: Make sure you have a pen with you while you are doing meetings. I always find that I need to write some reminders down while I’m talking to people. It’s troublesome to track down a pen while you are busy networking.

Somewhat less obvious things:

  1. The contact information (or business cards) of all your referral partners. I sometimes find that having that information at my fingertips allows me to give referrals to people while I’m out networking.
  2. Hand sanitizer: I know this may sound a little bit like “Mr. Monk,” the germaphobe title character of a television series. However, I have found that since I’ve started using hand sanitizer after shaking many, many hands, that I have been getting far fewer colds than I used to get. Just be tactful about the way you use it. Don’t desperately and obviously spray your hands every time you shake someone’s hand.
  3. Breath mints: As obvious as it may sound, I can assure you from experience that many people have no idea they need them.
  4. Memory stick: Many times I have either needed to get a copy of something or give a copy of a file or presentation to people while out networking. Having a memory stick handy has been very helpful on several occasions.
  5. Camera: A camera is great if you want to memorialize some occasion or a meeting with someone important to you. A video camera can be important for anyone that blogs. It gives you a chance to interview someone during your travels. I do this almost every time I travel.
  6. Tools for your business: For me, that includes many copies of my bio for introductions whenever I speak. Despite that my team sends the bio in advance, there are many times when I arrive and they don’t have the bio handy. Another tool for me is a PowerPoint remote clicker. This is really important for me. I don’t want to rely on someone else to move the slides forward as I present. Also, you know that memory stick I mentioned earlier? I have copies of my talks on there just in case the group I’m speaking to has misplaced my presentation material.

When I asked some colleagues and other business travelers what they would add to the list, they added some that I hadn’t thought of. Here are some of their suggestions:

  1. A phone charger. I agree heartily, especially seeing how much these items cost in an airport, or in another country. And you certainly won’t want to forget your laptop power cord. Besides being expensive, it’s often impossible to be able to get the right one easily, if at all. Also, you should write a “note to self” to fully charge all of your electronic devices the night before you leave.
  2. Power adapter/converter. Though it’s usually easy to pick up a “universal” adapter at airports or stores in heavily populated areas, in this electronic age you would hate to need one and not be able to find one. It is best to have one (or two) packed and ready when you need it!
  3. The right clothes. Most of you have experienced differences in temperature or weather from one town to another, so you can imagine how different the conditions could be across the country or around the world. It’s never been easier to plan what clothes to bring, thanks to online weather forecasts for every region of the earth. Of course, there are no guarantees where the weather is concerned.
  4. A good book. Hear, hear! Those airport layovers, delays, and long flights can seem even longer without something interesting to read.

I’m extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel extensively for both business and pleasure. Over the years, Bob and I have accumulated numerous tips to help aid overseas business travel. It is also important to know the role that cultural differences play into global networking and how understanding those differences becomes very important as we do business around the world. If you are preparing to network in Asia?–Consider These Valuable Tips

There are certainly more items to include, but the above can certainly make or break an important business trip. So you definitely do not want to forget them.

Andy Lopata

The A-Z of Networking: R is for… (by Andy Lopata) [PART 2]string(60) "The A-Z of Networking: R is for… (by Andy Lopata) [PART 2]"

This month, Andy Lopata shares more of his networking tips which begin with the letter “R”

  • Rapport
  • Real
  • Regular
  • Rejoice
  • Remembering
  • Respect
  • Responsible
  • Richness
  • Risk Taking
  • Routine
  • RSVP

Click here to learn and more about the “R’s” of Networking in PART 1:

Click here to watch this video

Please click below to see Andy’s playlist of his networking tips from A to Z.

https://ivanmisner.com/category/a-to-zs-of-networking/

By knowing why you are networking and what you want to achieve, it is possible to plan accordingly and get great, measurable results. If you have any comments about Andy’s “N” list or any additional “N” words about “Networking” you will want to add to the list. please leave me a “Note” as a “Comment”  below.

Andy Lopata

As a business networking strategist, Andy Lopata works with companies on how to use networking tools to develop their businesses. Networking is not just about sales. Whether for lead generation, breaking down silos internally, recruitment and retention of top staff or developing future leaders, networks and collaboration have a key role to play. Andy works with clients to help recognize that role and put the strategy and skills in place to leverage it.

Andy Lopata

The A-Z of Networking: R is for… (by Andy Lopata) [PART 1]string(60) "The A-Z of Networking: R is for… (by Andy Lopata) [PART 1]"

This month, Andy Lopata shares his networking tips which begin with the letter “R”

  • Realistic
  • Reciprocal
  • Recognize
  • Recommendation
  • Referrals
  • Relationships
  • Reliability
  • Reputation
  • Research
  • Resonate
  • Results
  • ROI

and more about Networking in PART 2: coming soon

Click here to watch this video

Please click below to see Andy’s playlist of his networking tips from A to Z.

https://ivanmisner.com/category/a-to-zs-of-networking/

By knowing why you are networking and what you want to achieve, it is possible to plan accordingly and get great, measurable results. If you have any comments about Andy’s “N” list or any additional “N” words about “Networking” you will want to add to the list. please leave me a “Note” as a “Comment”  below.

Andy Lopata

As a business networking strategist, Andy Lopata works with companies on how to use networking tools to develop their businesses. Networking is not just about sales. Whether for lead generation, breaking down silos internally, recruitment and retention of top staff or developing future leaders, networks and collaboration have a key role to play. Andy works with clients to help recognize that role and put the strategy and skills in place to leverage it.

Beyond The E-Myth

Beyond The E-Myth with Michael E. Gerberstring(40) "Beyond The E-Myth with Michael E. Gerber"

Michael E Gerber was in the neighborhood and I invited him over for lunch. We did this short video about his latest book, Beyond The E-Myth.

Beyond The E-Myth

Beyond The E-Myth embraces the fundamental premise of that first book–that a small business only succeeds to the degree its owner goes to work ON the business rather than just IN it, creating the systemic Operating System that makes that business unique in the marketplace. The book, Beyond The E-Myth, expands that conversation with the entrepreneurial small business owner, in a clear, precise, and compelling overview that addresses their main job–inventing, building, and launching a company with the power to “scale”–to grow beyond the “Company of One” in a straightforward, eight-step process.

When asked, Gerber emphatically explains: “I wrote this to make the job of building a small business easy — for every man or woman struggling to get it right. This book cuts to the chase: A company is a product to be sold. Build it right, and you will sell it. Build it wrong, and you won’t. Most small business owners won’t. This book was written to fix that.”

 About the Author:

Everyone who knows small business knows Michael E. Gerber – Innovator, Entrepreneur, Author & Thought Leader

The mega-bestselling author of 29 “E-Myth” books, in The New York Times™Business WeekInc. MagazineFORTUNEForbes and WiredThe Wall Street Journal named The E-Myth the #1 business book of all time (November 1995) having sold millions of copies and has now been applied in 145 countries, in 29 languages and is taught in 118 universities.

As mentioned in the video, please check out Michael E. Gerber’s website and receive the first two chapters for FREE 

American Visionary

American Visionary: The Story of Barbara Marx Hubbardstring(53) "American Visionary: The Story of Barbara Marx Hubbard"

Beth and I are very pleased to share this movie with you. We are the Executive Producers of this film and we feel that the story of Barbara Marx Hubbard’s life and mission deserves to be told. She has inspired many the world over, and her work is changing the world for the better. We invite you to learn more about her life’s work and message in the exciting new film American Visionary: The Story of Barbara Marx Hubbard.

Barbara Marx Hubbard has inspired many the world over. Known as the mother of Conscious Evolution, her work is changing the world for the better. 

Humanity is on the brink of radical advancement, believes Barbara Marx Hubbard, who is known as “the mother of conscious evolution”. At 82, she seizes an opportunity to reach millions with her hopeful message. Featuring authors Marianne Williamson, Jack Canfield, Neale Donald Walsch, and more than forty fellow visionaries, this inspiring documentary examines what a positive future might look like and how we could get there. Hubbard asks, “How can we drive through our global crises and blossom into a future that is equal to our human potential?”

Learn more about her life’s work and message in the exciting new film American Visionary: The Story of Barbara Marx Hubbard. 

Now available for rental and purchase here: https://www.americanvisionarythemovie.com/

 

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