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Paul Allen, billionaire who co-founded Microsoft, dies at 65

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft Corp. with fellow billionaire Bill Gates and used the fortune he made from the iconic technology company to invest in professional sports teams, cable TV and real estate, has died. He was 65.

Allen died on Monday in Seattle from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to a statement from Vulcan Inc., his investment firm. Allen’s source for his varied investments and sizable charitable donations was his once-major stake in Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft. He had a net worth of $26.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Allen, along with Gates, helped create an entire industry selling software for a new breed of smaller, more affordable and widely accessible computers.

“I am heartbroken by the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends,” Gates said in a statement. “Paul was a true partner and dear friend. Personal computing would not have existed without him.”

Allen stepped down as an officer of the company in 1983 because he was grappling with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In 2009, Allen was treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which two weeks ago he said had returned.

‘A high-tech demigod’ is how Sports Illustrated described the man who came up with the name for Microsoft, a company whose ubiquitous products include the Windows operating system and the Office suite of software. “He is one of the richest men in history, a figure of such dizzying wealth and eclectic tastes that he recently donated $100 million to brain research and $25 million to the search for extraterrestrial life,” the magazine wrote in a 2007 profile.

Paul Gardner Allen was born on January 21, 1953, in Seattle to Kenneth and Faye Allen. His father was a university library executive and his mother was a teacher.

Allen went to the Lakeside School, where he met a younger Gates and the two worked on early computer programs in the school’s lab. In a time when computers were rare, Allen lurked in the University of Washington computer labs, using the machines and aiding students and professors. Finally a professor asked if he was actually a student and Allen was forced to admit he wasn’t. But he was allowed to stay, as long as he continued to be helpful, Allen said in a 2017 interview.

He attended Washington State University but didn’t graduate, dropping out and moving to Massachusetts to be closer to fellow computer aficionado Gates, who was attending Harvard University.

In 1975, they founded a company they called Micro-Soft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after Allen saw a new Altair computer kit on the cover of Popular Electronics magazine and realized computer prices would drop and software would be necessary.

As they struggled to produce operating software for Altair and International Business Machines microcomputers, Allen was regarded as the brains of the partnership, while Gates was the marketing whiz, according to Laura Rich, author of ‘The Accidental Zillionaire’, an unauthorized biography of Allen.

Allen, a Microsoft general partner, initially held the title of vice president. When he left in 1983 for health reasons, he was executive vice president in...

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Corporate Identity Management - Features And Building Corporate Image

Competition is great in the market place today.In order to get your business noticed,you will need good corporate identity management,by showcasing the good qualities of your company as well as emphasize the benefits your company will be to those who use your services.

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Event Planning - 5 Snags To Avoid Planning Your Next Event #FrizeMedia

The first thing that you should avoid when it comes to planning your next event is getting overwhelmed with details.

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Corporate Events - Why You Need To Hire An Event Manager #FrizeMedia

Corporate event managers enable you to showcase your products and services and add tremendous value to the corporate undertaking.

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Corporate Event Planning 101- Checklist And The Basics Of Planning

The key to the success of any corporate event includes effective planning and organization,setting an appropriate budget.You must include personalized promotional items,effective banners,and unique giveaways while effectively marketing to prospective customers and clients.

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#HomesForSale - Inexpensive Ways Adding Value To Your #FrizeMedia

If you are looking to sell your home,there are some ways you can spruce up the home to look more desirable to a buyer without huge cost.

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Definition Of Search Engine - What Is A #SearchEngine #SEO #FrizeMedia

Search Engines are special sites on the Web that are designed to help people find information stored on other sites.

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Marketing - Differences Between Marketing And Sales

Marketing and sales are one of the most important components of the survival of a business in the marketplace.

While both are dependent on each other many people confuse marketing with sales and vice-versa which is a big mistake.

Marketing involves designing a product according to the needs of the market and customers, promoting the product through advertising etc. and setting up a competitive price for the product.

Marketing is a platform which drives sales.

While on the other hand the sales process is what you do to successfully sell a product and fetch a contract.

Sales and marketing together is a part of selling and one cannot do without the other.

They can also be called activities.

The success of a business is critical to the success of these two important activities.

Marketing is the backbone of a company’s future and launching pad for the sales.

While the marketing process encompasses the design of the product, advertising etc. the sales process is the execution of all the efforts which involves direct interaction with client either by in-person, meeting, cold calls, or by networking.

But there is always an ongoing rivalry between the two, one claiming dominance over other.

The marketing people say they have an upper hand because they think it is they who designs the products, lays down the strategy and also develop tools essential for sales.

They say sales are the outcome of marketing and thus should follow its directions.

The sales people might not agree to this view and may be completely opposite in their opinion.

They may think that it is the sales people who actually sells a product and bring money to the business.

But many experts believe that marketing should play a pivotal role among the two.

A successful marketing campaign makes sales easy and makes people believe that it is actually the sales people who are the dominant leaders...

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Marketing - Vertical Markets

Marketing: Vertical markets offer a splendid way to develop your business.

The question is though, "Should you pursue vertical markets from the start or let them evolve naturally?"

The answer is highly dependent on your business plan and how you have positioned yourself in the marketplace.

However, with a business such as consulting, vertical markets tend to come about naturally.

A vertical market is such in which vendors offer goods and services specific to an industry, trade, profession, or other group of customers with specialized needs.

It is distinguished from a horizontal market, in which vendors offer a broad range of goods and services to a large group of customers with wide range of needs.

Such as businesses as a whole, men, women, households, or, in the broadest horizontal market, everyone.

Start with getting a good base of customers.

That's how you will resonate as a real expert.

Aggressively pursuing vertical markets doesn't make sense when you are trying to build customers and a reputation.

When you have a good reputation then you can think about how vertical markets might expand your business.

Focus on finding the sweet-spot clients that have a need for your services on a consistent basis and are willing to pay premium rates for them. ..

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Brain Exercises - Simple Activities To Tune Up Your Brain Power

Some brain exercises can be as simple as an intelligent conversation or reading something new. Others can be more involved, like doing crossword puzzles or solving lateral thinking puzzles.

Here are some general brain exercises you can do anywhere, followed by a few ideas for exercising specific areas of brain function.

Some Simple Brain Exercises

An entertaining brain exercise is to invent things in your mind. You can use many techniques for doing this.

It can be as simple as looking at things and asking "How could this be better?" Consider a clock, for example, and you might wonder if it would be better if you didn't have to look at it. Maybe a clock that periodically announced the time and even reminded you of appointments might be useful.

Other brain exercises involve puzzle solving. These can range from crossword puzzles to difficult lateral thinking puzzles, but a simpler, fun version of the latter, is the basic riddle. For example, "Why wasn't Bertha put in jail after killing dozens of people?" Because she was a hurricane.

Whether riddles are easy or difficult, they get your mind thinking in new directions, and this is good for getting your mind out of it's "ruts."

Inventing jokes is one of the more difficult brain exercises, especially if you haven't done it before. Just take a topic or a word at random, and find a way to make a joke with it. The word "Justice," for example, could become "What's the one place in the world you can find justice?"

In the dictionary! If you draw a blank after five or ten minutes, move on to the next word or topic.

Brain Exercises For Specific Areas

You may want to work on a particular area of your brainpower. Some of us have trouble with visual imagination, for example. To be architects, we would want to improve that.

This can be done by concentrating on scenes in one's mind. Imagine walking through your home, for example, and repeat the process until you can easily "see" everything in each room.

For better concentration, practice identifying "mind" irritations.

Anything that's going on just below the surface is sapping your ability to concentrate...

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Marketing - Differences Between Marketing And Advertising

Marketing and Advertising, although they sound similar,but in reality they are not.

Advertising is only a part of the bigger game called Marketing.

Marketing encompasses complete conceptualization of a brand right from research to designing to advertising to sale.

Advertising, on the other hand is a component of the marketing process which is nothing but conveying the message through variety of mediums to promote the product.

Advertising is one of the most important component of a marketing strategy and also the most expensive.

Advertising constitutes sending the message across the public about your company, product or services.

It also constitutes behind the scenes work like the process involving formation of various strategies and coming up with a right one to target the viewers.

The strategy consists of planning things like placing ads, deciding what media to use, what time, frequency etc.

The advertisements are generally placed via mediums like television, snail mail, newspapers, internet, emails, radio, magazines, mobile messaging, flyers, billboards etc.

The most popular one is of course television although advertising on internet is becoming increasingly popular too.

Easiest way to differentiate advertising from marketing is to consider marketing as a cake.

If you cut the cake, advertising equates to one piece of that cake.

The other pieces of the cake are market research of the product, product designing, media planning, PR, product pricing, customer satisfaction, customer support, sales and many more.

All these components or pieces of cake should work independently but collectively, in achieving the bigger goal i.e. sell product and build company’s reputation in the market.

Marketing is a marathon process involving many tasks that involve hours and sometimes days of research.

The research part of marketing takes the longest duration as it involves thoroughly understanding the behavior of people towards a product.

Designing the product and developing advertising strategy is also a time consuming process.

Only components that take less time are executing advertisements and sales.

Marketing can also be perceived as a medium between consumers and the company.

But many companies often make the mistake of confusing advertising with marketing.

They try to ape big companies like Coke and Pepsi in advertising but they simply ignore the work that goes behind that.

The classical example of this is, to take the case of logo for instance...

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Private Jet Charter - Benefits And Disadvantages Of Chartering A Private Jet

Private jet charterAre you interested in chartering a private jet? If so, have you done so before?

If this is your first time chartering a private jet, you may not know that you may be able to choose your own jet.

There are a large number of private jet chartering companies that have fleets of jets or more than one jet.

When this is the case, it is not uncommon for you to be able to choose your own private jet to charter.

While this is nice to do, there are some instances, where it may be more of a hassle than anything else.

That is why you are urged to examine the advantages and disadvantages of choosing your own private jet to charter.

The most obvious benefit of choosing your own private jet to charter is the fact that you can have exactly what you want.

It is no secret that jets come in all different sizes, shapes, and styles.

There are some jets that are designed for those travelling on business; these jets tend to have a small number of passenger seats, but a large amount of conference room space or working space.

There are also jets that are designed to accommodate a large number of passengers, like an organization that is chartering a private jet for a trip.

Choosing your own private jet will not only make sure that you have enough room for all of your passengers, but it will also help to ensure that there is room that you can use.

Another benefit or advantage to choosing which particular private jet you would like to charter is satisfaction...

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Job Search - Tips And Advice For The Right Career Path

Job search: If you’re not sure what to do in terms of a career, here’s a list that might help.

Some people are lucky in landing the career that they absolutely love.

On other side of the coin, thee are countless who are wandering in a daze trying to figure out the best route to a successful career

Hopefully this list will help in plotting your career path

1. Know thyself.

Identify what really interest and excites you.

Understand that these traits define you and use it to explore career choices and opportunities.

2. Take a career assessment test.

There are a lot of career assessment tests available online.

Find the time to take one.

The test gives you a lot of insights about your core competencies and work preferences.

3. Ask others.

It’s actually quite difficult to see yourself as others do.

It would be to your advantage to ask friends and family on your traits and skills.

Your co-workers are also a good source of information.

Knowing how they perceive you, what they like and don’t like about you and what skills or traits need to be changed can be helpful in determining your professional profile.

4. What moves you?

Would you be more interested in status or a six figure salary?

Do you want to make a difference in your community and the world or just on your company’s net worth?...

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Marketing - Promote Your Business The Right Way

Marketing: Be it a small business or a large corporation you need a good marketing strategy.

There are many ways to market your business, the question is which ways are the most effective for your product or service?

You can outline your marketing strategy with this popular saying, "Who, what, where, when, and how?"

First you need to know your product, is it something that people will feel they really need, what purpose does it serve?

Who is your target audience?

Two major components of your target audience are what age group and which gender will be most interested in your product.

Depending on what product or services you are trying to market you also may be able to target specific groups such as certain professionals or interest groups "hobbies".

What is it about your product that is better than any of your competitors?

Is it of better quality, does it have a longer warranty, does it cost less than the competition?

You need to know what it is about your product that is better than the other ones around.

These are things you will want to tell your target audience about your product.

An example might be if you are trying to market a fruit drink.

You would want your audience to know that it is made with more or all-real fruit.

That there are more vitamin benefits to your drink.

That it has a fruitier and more refreshing taste.

These are things that are going to motivate potential customers to try it.

I'm sure you have heard the first three rules of business and that is, location, location, location!

Product placement is an important aspect of marketing.

Make your product accessible to your target audience.

If you are a small business you want to place it somewhere that gets high traffic.

Depending on what you are trying to sell you want to be where your customers will be.

Locate yourself near a shopping plaza, hotels, restaurants or a main street that many people use to commute to and from work.

This is the "where" marketing question you should ask.

When should you advertise your product?

If you are using the media such as television or radio ads, this is a question to ask...

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Small Biz - Tips on Starting A Small Business

Small businesses have many challenges to stay afloat. Many budding entrepreneurs think that all they need is an idea or product, a name for their small business, and a bit of work and the product will sell itself and money will come rolling in.

If you have ever run a small business - even a home based business - you will know there's much more to it than that!

The first thing you, as a potential small business owner must always do, is research your market.

Then research your competition, then the available supply for your product or service, and find your unique selling position. This alone can take weeks often months.

Once you are satisfied that there is a market for your product or service then you need to sort out your business plan and cash flow projections.

Small businesses may appear low cost but many suck up substantial capital before they turn a profit so now, unless you are very fortunate, you must sort out how to finance your small business.

Do you remortgage your house? look for investment partners? borrow from friends or family? or approach the bank?

Whichever you choose you need to convince others that your small business will be profitable and they will get a return on their money.

Once finances are in place the hard work starts. You may have premises to arrange, suppliers to sort out, staff to recruit and manage, accounts to keep, products to design or source, lawyers to consult, accountants to hire and we must not forget in all of this market and get the all important customers to look at and purchase your products.

To do that you have to advertise your small business, but where and at what cost? Don't forget you have to provide customer support and accept returns. Then there's waste disposal ... and on and on.

Who's paying for all of this - in simple terms you, and your friends, investors and/or your bank are paying, until you are selling sufficient product or service to cover the costs - usually many months or even years away...

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Small Biz - Differentiate Yourself And Attract More Sales

Differentiate and you stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Present your uniqueness and emphasize your rare attributes in your sales copy and promotions and you'll capture the imagination and interest of those you want to reach.

In a world of copycats, it pays to be an original. It’s usually the creator of a new concept who gets the most mileage from it.

Innovative entrepreneurs often become market leaders while competitors keep doing things the same old way – until change is forced upon them. Differentiate or die.

Challenging the way things have always been done can lead to creative new options that reward you with a windfall of profits.

Differentiate your business and you attract attention. It’s new, different – even revolutionary – and it’s the kind of thing that generates excitement and creates a stir in the market.

After all, few new customers would be drawn to you -- if you were doing the exact same thing, the exact same way as everyone else.

Consider this question... “What Could You Do To Differentiate Yourself, Your Business, Or Your Product In A Way Prospects and Customers Would Appreciate?” Another thought to ponder is this... “What Traditions Could You Break That Would Capture Attention And Interest?”

Putting an effective new spin on your business should be done with the needs and desires or your customers and prospects in mind. Differentiate from their point of view.

What changes can you implement that would make customers say “Wow!”?

Think in terms of what people want. Essentially, they want to be served better, faster and with more convenience. They want to be entertained. They want to solve problems with less effort. They want instant gratification.

They want respect and to be treated as VIP's (which customers are, of course). They want to do business with companies that care about them, their environment, and the world at large. Differentiate in a way that appeals to these desires.

Look at every facet of your business and compare the way you do things to the way competitor does. Are you operating in a similar manner? How might you do things differently? What changes could you make in that area that your customers would truly appreciate and value?

Differentiate and you gain a huge advantage.

Re-invent your business operations and marketing materials as though you were the customer. Design everything from the customer’s point of view. Take “tradition” and turn it upside down. Recast your business. Make it more user-friendly and benefit-oriented. Blaze a new trail... even if it means re-inventing your entire industry.

Let’s look at a few simple examples...

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Entrepreneurship - Catch The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Entrepreneurship Grabbing opportunities with open arms is often easier to address than to actually do.

The majority of people find themselves dreaming about being rich but in reality they are doing nothing about it.

A good combination of procrastination and 'what if' syndrome can cripple your creative spirit and might mean your idea will never become a reality.

"Action equals knowledge' Socrates once exclaimed. He was one of the greatest philosophers of our time.

What he meant was that it is through action that we achieve results.

For example, you could think about learning French for months, imagining the holidays you will take and the people you will communicate with.

You can dream forever but accomplish nothing unless you actually make the effort to start taking lessons.

Much like the martial arts approach - the idea is to take action immediately and avoid over analyzing the situation.

Do you want to start your own business but are afraid of what kinds of things can go wrong? What if your initial investment doesn't pay off?

There are millions of things that could go wrong but likewise there are many things that can go right!

Fear can be paralyzing.

When thinking about starting a business particularly if you keep waiting for the right time.

There will never be a perfect time. It's now or never when it comes to starting your own business.

Overcoming your fear is a step by step process.

- Do you have a clear idea of what kind of business you want to start? A clear plan will help keep your worries at bay.

- Do you have access to the resources you will need? This includes the necessary start up cash as well as anything else you will need...

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Boating - 10 Reasons To Do A Basic Course

Boating is a great adventure and is being enjoyed by many on a daily basis, but with that comes a great responsibility.

It is not mandatory to do a boating course at this time but there are some very good reasons to get your self informed about the rules of the road.

1) You will learn about safety equipment and what you are required to have on your boat before you undertake any boating excursion.

This is very important because what you don’t have with you could make the difference between being able to handle a situation or not.

Also, that outing for the day could cost you if the sheriff stops you to spot check your boat and fines you for not having all the safety equipment required for your specific boat.

2) You will learn that driving a boat is vastly different from driving a car.

You are dealing with air and water currents.

If you have never docked a boat you may think that it is easy, until that is, the current is pulling you in the opposite direction that you want to go.

Understanding air and water currents will help you learn how to dock your boat...

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Spirituality - Ancient Rituals Of Spiritual Awakening

Spirituality: Spiritual awakening is a goal that most people seem to be looking for.

Ever since the prehistoric period, people seem to be in quest for a divine union and enlightenment.

There are different ancient rituals performed by different groups of people worldwide.

Indigenous cultures that still exists now, shows us a glimpse of how ancient people quest on having a deeper understanding of the earth and the spirits.

Unfortunately, rituals are considered to be of old-world and not accepted in our current period.

It is usually brushed off as an irrational, superstitious and primitive act.

The Church have totally rejected these rituals, quoting them as pagan acts and condemned by the Church.

Through these rituals, people get to understand and journey towards spiritual awakening.

In the ancient times there were mystery schools dedicated in discovering and exploring the mysteries of life and therefore touching some aspects of spirituality.

These schools flourished in Egypt, Tibet and Persia.

Ancient Egyptians have toning of special chants and sounds which took place during midnight in different locations like the sacred man-made lake and the secret chamber below the Great Sphinx.

This chanting and sounds stimulates a part of the head that can open up the brain to universal energy and electrical stimulation.

This could unleash or release your psychic gifts and abilities. Once it has been opened, more psychic and spiritual gifts will be experienced by the person.

Gifts would include intuition, creativity, clairvoyant abilities, and emphatic abilities...

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Waxing - Pubic Hair Sugaring Or Waxing

Waxing.The ultimate decision is up to you when it comes to pubic hair removal.

There are a few choices and many individuals see them in a different light.

Some find that just trimming the hair is enough while others are looking for the Brazilian wax where all hair is removed.

How should it be done? What is the right way to go about it?

Should You Wax?

Most individuals find that the most successful and the most beneficial type of hair removal for the pubic area is through waxing.

It is safe, although it can be somewhat painful. It is also inexpensive and lasts a good while, so it is by far the most chosen method of hair removal.

Although waxing is not a permanent solution, it can help to keep hair at bay for several weeks at a time.

The hair is removed directly from the shaft, which means that the follicle is not necessarily damaged and will re-grow hair.

On a positive note, many individuals find that the hair that does grow back is not as coarse or as dark.

And, in some cases, people find that the hair is also less with each procedure.

This is due to the damage that can be caused to the follicle during the procedure. If the follicle is damaged and cannot grow hair, you get a more permanent solution.

Getting The Hair Removed

There are many reasons why you should look into waxing.

First, you can do this yourself if you prefer.

There are several at home kits that you can use.

Alternatively, you can also look into having a professional do the work for you as well. ..

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Beliefs - What Do You Have To Believe To Prosper As An Entrepreneur?

Your beliefs, assumptions, and opinions give shape to the world, ordering the vast quantities of information and overwhelming amount of stimulation you receive every moment.

As many self-mastery gurus have advised us over the years, negative or limiting beliefs tend to close down possibilities, narrow the future and put a lid on progress.

Much has been written (and fortunes built) on how to identify and end limiting beliefs.

While it is important to be able to notice and work through limiting beliefs, it is also important to know and take a stand for what you "have to believe," to be proactive about what gets you out of bed in the morning, sparks your vision, fuels your choices, and instills the spirit of entrepreneurship.

What do you have to believe in order to show up, serve, and prosper as an entrepreneur?

But what about positive beliefs?

While it is crucial to be able to notice and work through limiting beliefs, it is also significant to know and take a stand for what you "have to believe," to be proactive about what gets you out of bed in the morning, sparks your vision, fuels your choices, and instills the spirit of entrepreneurship.

A "have to belief" is a way of understanding that resonates so deeply with your sense of purpose, meaning, and service that you willingly embrace it and subordinate your choices to it.

A "have to belief" is one that you hold with conscious commitment and self-reflective awareness, knowing that it is a belief (not a fact) and being responsible for the ways this belief endows your life with meaning, purpose, and focus.

There is no absolute, verifiable, objective third-party system that can prove a "have to belief."

Instead you learn to hold these beliefs as a skilled fencer holds a sword, or a tournament tennis player a racquet: with a loose-and-tight grip that responds to both inner promptings and encounters with the physical world.

It's important to hold a "have to belief" loosely enough to remember that you do not have the right to impose your belief on anyone else.

And in this loose-enough grip, there is room to question, challenge, and evolve what you "have to believe" as you learn and grow...

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Characteristics Of An Entrepreneur - Traits Of Successful Businessperson

The characteristics of an entrepreneur are identified in incredibly high energy creative people and are extremely self-confident.

They also have high levels of self-esteem,have the need to continually solve problems, take risks and learn from failures,both from theirs and others.

They also tend to thrive on change and have a natural predisposition to showing initiative and willingl to accept personal responsibility.

They scoop all available resources within their scope in order to realize success but only on their own terms.

Studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs possess these characteristics:

1. Self-confidence

This is that magical power of having confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities.

Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every aspect of our lives, yet so many people struggle to find it.

Successful entrepreneurs tend to have self-confidence in abundance.

Self-confident people are not obstinate people even though they tend to be dogged if they have a complete conviction in something.

If they have a thought about something and it seems to differ from the way another person is thinking about it, they will usually try to look at it from that person’s point of view, understand why it makes sense to them.

Surprisingly, a confident person’s impression of self is very grounded.

It does not simply blow in the wind and their ideas do not waiver based on what others deem important.

A self-confident person is not cocky or know-it-all. They have their doubts and make mistakes, and are far from perfect.

Nonetheless, they are willing to acknowledge their inadequacies without dwelling on them.

They do this by maintaining a sense of humor, putting problems in perspective, and focusing mainly on what they’ve done right, not wrong.

Despite the fact self-confident people are great believers in themselves, they make it a point not to suffocate others with their beliefs and ideas

Individuals are self-confident in what they know not only because they read, learn and think but also because they respect their instinct, intuition and the unique body of knowledge that they’ve developed by living life.

They also undestand the fact that one doesn't have to be labeled an “expert” to believe in one's own truths.

Individuals who are Self-confident let the world know who they are.

If they happen to covet something sufficiently enough, they feel they have every right to “go for it.”

Yet, they also accept that the path will rarely be easy.

Blunders, mistakes and failures are all part of the learning process...

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Martial Arts - Definition Styles And History

Martial Arts are the various forms of self-defense, usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet.

In modern times they have come into wide use for self-protection, as competitive sports, and for exercise.

Jujitsu teaches skills that enable one to overcome a bigger, stronger opponent.

A popular style of jujitsu is aikido, which uses wrist, elbow, and shoulder twists and graceful falls; it is non competitive and incorporates various spiritual concepts.

Other popular forms of martial arts include kung fu, karate, and Tae kwon do, all of which emphasize blows with the feet and the side of the hand, and kendo, in which leather-covered bamboo "swords are used.

All styles emphasize allowing ki (cosmic energy) to flow through one's body.

This belief in ki connects aikido with t'ai chi ch'uan, a meditation like discipline that emphasizes slow, graceful body movements.

The most popular form of individual exercise in China, t'ai chi is often performed publicly in large groups; it has been claimed to reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

Judo, a Japanese sport created in 1882, makes use of jujitsu principles.

Capoeira, a dancelike Brazilian discipline, is gaining in popularity.

martial

Pronunciation: 'mär-shl

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin martialis of Mars, from Mart-, Mars

Date: 14th century

1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior

2 : relating to an army or to military life

3 : experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE

- mar.tial.ly / adverb

Martial Arts

The term "martial art" is used in (at least) two different ways.

This can be confusing.

Some dictionary definitions only make things worse.

The dictionary definition handy at the moment defines a martial art as "Any of several Oriental arts of combat or self-defense, as karate, judo, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as a sport."

Typically this group uses "Martial Art" in one of two ways:

1) The first definition is a generic one, which defines a "Martial Art" as the study of any kind of combat and/or self-defense techniques.

This definition includes non-oriental arts like boxing.

This definition includes both those arts practiced primarily as a sport, and those arts practiced primarily for self-defense.

This definition includes those arts that emphasize only physical technique...

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Love And Happiness - Why Do We Hurt Those We Love Most And How To Stop This

Love and happiness: You truly love each other but can’t manage to communicate without disagreeing, fighting and ending up exhausted, each one in his corner, trying to lick his wounds and thinking of how to guard one self against a new attack.

And in spite of that…you love each other?

How is this possible?

Why do people hurt most those they love?

How is it possible that we can’t express our love?

How come we are full of good intentions but when it comes to reality we find ourselves again shouting and blaming the other one.

And then that monster of guilt jumps out of nowhere to our throat to strangle us once again.

How to stop this infernal behavior?

First let me explain why this happens.

We all need energy.

We need energy to live and to survive.

Energy comes in many forms : love, attention, interest, food, friendship, money, approval, recognition…

We all need this to feel good, to build our personality and to find our place in society.

But here it is : as long as we think this energy has to come from other human beings, we will get caught up in struggle.

Because human energy is limited.

We have to fight for it.

Human energy doesn’t last.

There isn’t enough of it.

So we have to be the quickest, the smartest, the most beautiful one, to attract the attention from the other and to pull his energy.

If this doesn’t work, we try another strategy.

We try to pull attention by negative behavior.

Every child learns this very quickly in his early life : when he is playing quietly on the floor with his toys, mum goes on cooking dinner or talking with daddy.

But as soon as the kid hurts his little sister or is playing “sick”, mum hurries to give attention to him.

She shouts maybe, she’s angry or worried, but no matter, all this is attention for the child!

He learns very quickly which behavior gives him the greatest amount of attention and energy.

When his mother or father looks at him, even angry, it still is energy coming his way! When they shout at him, they give him energy.

Negative energy, alright, but it is better than no energy at all.

When we grow up, and start to date, we discover a very interesting phenomenon : when we fall in love, we receive a lot of energy (attention, interest, time, love etc.) for free.

The other person gives us freely and abundantly a whole bunch of energy...

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Coca-Cola’s Digital Transformation: How e-commerce Is Shaping The Future Of This Iconic Brand

A lot has changed since Coca-Cola’s famous ad 'I’d like to buy the world a Coke' first appeared in 1971. That was before the internet, the personal computer and today’s nearly ubiquitous mobile devices. It was before Facebook, virtual reality and e-commerce.

Looking back, it’s incredible to see just how digital our world has become. Nowhere is that more relevant for iconic brands like Coca-Cola than the ways in which shoppers are interacting with (and purchasing from) them. To address the numerous changes in shopper behavior, Coca-Cola has set out a multi-pronged digital transformation strategy, which The Drum reported on last month.

Yet the very meaning of the word ‘brand’ is undergoing transformation as well. In today’s digital age, some individuals have as big a brand as many companies. Having millions of followers has become the new norm for leading social media personalities. What brands mean to us is changing—and brands need to change along with us.

As a result, brands are seeking out new ways to be relevant to how we digest content, current in their use of modern technologies and integral to our shopping experiences, whether those take place online or in-store.

With that in mind, and based on our collective decades of experience working with the world’s largest brands and retailers to craft their digital and e-commerce strategies, here are three key tenets brands must keep in mind as they transform themselves for a digital world:

Maintain omnichannel brand integrity. Amazon is now worth a trillion dollars, and some analysts are estimating the company could be worth double that in just a few short years.

At the same time, in-store purchases still represent 90 percent of total retail sales. So, for today’s brands, it’s not a question of online or in-store, it’s a question of how to maintain brand integrity across multiple digital and in-store channels, and how to do that in an efficient and scalable way. The answer is: using the right tools (but more on that later)...

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#FoodRecipes - #Cooking Tips Healthy Eating #Food Ideas #FrizeMedia

Food recipes,cooking tips,easy recipes and healthy eating ideas.You will find it all here.

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#Adsense Basics - Adsense Marketing #FrizeMedia #DigitalMarketing

Adsense basics deals with the hype surrounding this form of marketing,contextual advertising on your website,and stories of people making thousands from this groundbreaking concept.

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Michael Kors Acquires Versace for More Than $2.12 Billion

Following a day of rumors, today it’s official: Michael Kors Holdings Limited has bought Versace, the Italian luxury goods house founded by the late Gianni Versace in 1978 and now creatively helmed by his sister, Donatella Versace, for more than $2.12 billion.

Michael Kors Holdings will be renamed Capri Holdings Limited with the acquisition.

“This is a very exciting moment for Versace,” said Donatella Versace in a statement. “It has been more than 20 years since I took over the company along with my brother Santo and daughter Allegra.

I am proud that Versace remains very strong in both fashion and modern culture. Versace is not only synonymous with its iconic and unmistakable style, but with being inclusive and embracing of diversity, as well as empowering people to express themselves.

Santo, Allegra, and I recognize that this next step will allow Versace to reach its full potential.”

The Versace family will retain a role in the company, with Donatella, who has had a string of editorial and commercial successes since her Spring 2018 reissue collection, apparently maintaining her designer position.

(Versace CEO Jonathan Akeroyd will continue to lead Versace’s management team.) In Versace, Capri gains the luster of one of fashion’s few independent brands, and its most glamorous one at that.

In contrast to its other likely pursuers, Capri’s small portfolio of businesses allows Versace to enjoy that cachet unrivaled.

John Idol, CEO and chairman of Capri Holdings Limited, said, “Donatella’s iconic style is at the heart of the design aesthetic of Versace. She will continue to lead the company’s creative vision. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Donatella on Versace’s next chapter of growth.”

The acquisition is the latest...

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#Business - What Is A Balance Sheet? #FrizeMedia #DigitalMarketing

A balance sheet is a quick picture of the financial condition of an enterprise at a specific period in time.

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Business- Crisis Management Strategies And Risk Management #Frizemedia

Crisis management.The Net has opened worlds for businesses and consumers, but it has also created a public relations nightmare for businesses.Forums,opinion Web sites,blogs,and anything that is publishable can smear a company's name in moments.What to do?

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‘NPP Has Failed Ghanaians After Lying To Them’- Dan Abodakpi

An aspirant for the position of National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dan Abodakpi, has described the tenure of the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government so far as dismal.

According to him, having made a plethora of promises to Ghanaians ahead of the 2016 elections, the NPP has failed to deliver on those pledges.

He added that even the implementation of programmes like the Free Senior High School (SHS) education, which has been marked by the government as one of their major successes, has been fraught with so many challenges, forcing the government to adopt the double track system.

Speaking on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News on Thursday, Mr Abodakpi stated that the performance of the cedi, which has been tipped to struggle further against the dollar, was another indication of the current government’s failures.

When asked by the host of the show Umaru Sanda Amadu to rate the government’s performance so far, Mr Abodakpi replied, “dismal.”

“This is a government that came into power, lying to the people of this country. The NPP claim they are implementing free (SHS) education, but everybody knows the challenges that are being faced. The Constitution obligates any government to provide education progressively towards a point where it will be free.

But before we can reach that level, it must guarantee the educational system basic infrastructure, etc. They thought they could just jump to it by appealing to the emotions of the people and that is a lie, no government can do so.

And that it why they are talking about double track system, which is another name for the shift system that did not serve this country well in years gone by.

“Several other things are happening today; they said they were going to ensure that there’s stability with the currency. Today, the cedi depreciation and its effect on the general economy is there for everyone to see; the effect on transport, on industry, so many other things that we could talk about for hours. To that extent, they are...

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‘Visit Amidu And See If He Can Be Effective’ – Auditor General

The Auditor General, Daniel Domelovo, has made ominous remarks about the constraints of the Special Prosecutor’s Office on its work.

Mr. Domelovo warned that the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, is being rendered ineffective because of a lack of resources.

“The Special Prosecutor is not sitting well at all. There is no way he can be effective where he is seated,” he said at the at the Baah-Wiredu Memorial lectures on Thursday.These sentiments are likely to come as a blow to the observers who viewed the setting up of the Special Prosecutor’s office as a massive step forward in the fight against corruption.

Despite the well-regarded competencies of Mr. Amidu as an individual, the lack of a support does not augur well for the fight against corruption, Mr. Domelovo noted.

“I want to invite all of you to visit him [Amidu]. I won’t tell you why. Go and visit him and you will see whether you can be effective given that you have one deputy, one secretary, and no investigator, no prosecutor; nothing.”

“I don’t think one man can do all that so my submission is that if you want to do something, let’s do it well,” he stated.

As an example of such constraints affecting work, the Special Prosecutor’s Office recently said it is awaiting the recruitment of investigators to probe allegations of corruption forwarded to the office, including one against the CEO of the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company, Frances Essiam.

Mr. Domelovo’s office is currently working with the Special Prosecutor on a major audit of the civil service...

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Valerie Sawyerr: Helicopters In Chamber Pots; A Reaction To Forensic Audits By ‘ghosts’

I have read all sorts of articles in the newspapers of September 20, 2018, based on what is claimed to be a report of a so-called Cabinet Committee Responsible for the Coordination of Investigations/Forensic Audits.

The allegations? That Ghana Gas purchased helicopters from China National Aero Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), but they have never been used for the purpose of its purchase thus causing financial loss to the state of US$54,800,000.00; that the equipment for the helicopters was not delivered even though it was part of the contract price (US$5,958,366.76) and that ab initio training cost was not fully utilised for its intended purposes (US$300,000.00).

Then came the interesting part where members of the Ghana Gas board on which I served are listed in the ‘report’ and the publications as though we have all been approached to account for the helicopters and associated matters.

• Yes, four helicopters were purchased for coastal surveillance and other related matters under the Gas Infrastructure Project as part of the CDB facility.

• Since Ghana Gas did not intend to set up an Aviation Wing, it designated the Ghana Air Force to take over and manage the helicopters, associated equipment and required training.

• The Ghana Air Force is the agency of Government, which operates and keeps custody of the helicopters. GAF negotiated the cost and specifications of the helicopters and dealt directly with CATIC on all technical matters.

• In September 2015, there was a public ceremony where the helicopters were handed over to the Ghana Air Force. The ceremony was covered live on air. The President was present. Most newspapers carried it.

• Speeches made on that day reflected that the helicopters would be used for surveillance and monitoring responsibilities to secure installations like gas pipelines and allied operations across the country. That they would be used to enhance maritime security, anti-piracy operations, rig-bound medical and casualty evacuation, search and rescue operations, aerial photography, riot control, and traffic management, disaster management, anti-sea-bound narcotic interdiction operations.

• In May 2017, after tales of lost helicopters hit the airwaves, the NPP-appointed Management of Ghana Gas clarified that the helicopters procured for the security surveillance of the oil and gas enclave in the Western Region were stationed at the Air Force Headquarters at Burma Camp.

• Did the so-called Secretary of the Cabinet Committee not find this out in his deep sea fishing expedition? Is it that he does not even know how to ‘google’ and read, in case all other investigative processes failed him?

• Did he engage the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) or the Ghana Air Force to find out where the equipment is, whether all extra equipment was delivered in accordance with the agreement, what personnel were trained? Or did he expect Ghana Gas to supervise the Air Force patrols or to train pilots?

• Is he challenging the competency of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Mantsebi Tei-Nagai, or his predecessor, Air Vice Marshall M. Samson-Oje? Or is it...

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Above The Fold - Scroll-Line #FrizeMedia #DigitalMarketing

Definition Of Above The Fold

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Event Planning - When You Need To Hire An Event Planner #FrizeMedia

A good event planner will keep client timelines on schedule,budgets in check,be a savvy networker,and have details flowing smoothly

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Event Planning - 7 Reasons The Need For Team Building #FrizeMedia

You want to make sure that you have trust worthy people helping you out on your next event so that you can make it a great success.Team building tends to achieve the best results.

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Event Planning - 7 Key Points Events Should Be A Strategy #FrizeMedia

Social events have lot of benefits for any corporate or company's marketing strategies.Planning an event can be time consuming, but it is worth it.

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Event Planning - 6 Crucial Points Planning Event Itinerary #FrizeMedia

When it comes to planning an event,you need to do the event itinerary as well.Don't over load the program.

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Event Planning - 4 Ways To Ensure Your Event Goes Well #FrizeMedia

You will find that planning out the event will go a lot easier and quicker when you have a great road map to move on with.

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Event Planning - Working With Team Building Modules #FrizeMedia

When you first decide on bringing a team together you need to find out who is compatible and who is not.There are some people will naturally but-heads, but you will also find that some people just make a great team.

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Why This Midwestern City Has the Highest Concentration of Women Entrepreneurs in America

Founders who start companies in Chicago can enjoy both the benefits of a big city and the warmth of a Midwestern town. The Windy City's startup scene--which launched RxBar, Groupon, and GrubHub--is boosted by a strong talent pipeline from local MBA and engineering programs.

Female founders in particular are drawn to Chicago: a solid third of the city's startups are run by women.

Legendary incubator 1871 is in the historic Merchandise Mart building in the River North nabe; around it is clustered the city's "biggest concentration of startup activity," says Julie Roth Novack.

She co-founded event-planner platform PartySlate, which is based there, as are personalized clothier Trunk Club, Groupon, and parking app SpotHero.

The West Loop--famed for world-class restaurants such as Avec--is "really hot," says Jennifer Fried, co-founder of medtech firm ExplORer Surgical. Google opened offices here in 2015. Also here: food data company Food Genius and workplace caterer Crafty.

Medical device company Attune Medical, agtech firm Hazel Technologies, and battery-tech startup SiNode Systems call the up-and-coming Bronzeville home. 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler says the area is a hotbed for "aspiring entrepreneurs on the South Side."

Who to KnowShaniqua Davis wanted to expand Noirefy--the minority job portal she founded--so she turned to Chicago tech's It Girls: Gerri Kahnweiler and Cayla Weisberg, who run InvestHer. "They were really helpful for me" in starting conversations with investors, Davis says. The two have invested in Codeverse, PartySlate, and 11 other women-led ventures.

Genevieve Thiers was one of the first women in Chicago tech to score a notable exit: She sold a majority stake in her nanny platform, Sittercity, in 2009.

Now she writes $25,000 checks to invest in promising women-led companies, and also hosts well-attended monthly "tech salons" at her Lincoln Park home. "Genevieve was our first early success," says PartySlate's Novack. "It has been really helpful for women to have a role model like that."

When Penny Pritzker, billionaire entrepreneur and Obama's secretary of commerce, wrapped up in D.C., she knew she'd come back home. "I saw this explosion at the intersection of technology, innovation, and established companies in Chicago," says Pritzker, a Microsoft board member and chairwoman of her investment firm, PSP Capital Partners.

She hosts regular networking dinners for local founders at her home, and co-leads an initiative to help Chicago remain a top tech destination.

Red FlagsIllinois has billions in unpaid debt and nearly saw its credit rating lowered to junk status. "It hampers our ability to create more incentives" to bring firms to the state," says 1871's Ziegler. "It's the only drawback to starting a company here," echoes Melissa Kaufman, executive director of Northwestern University's incubator, the Garage. "It's a conversation stopper."

"Chicago has a reputation for not having early-stage capital," says Thiers, "which is not unfounded. There is a...

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Amazon Said It Wanted to Recruit 'Hundreds' of People to Start Delivery Services. Now Things Have Changed Big Time

At the start of the summer I told you about a unique opportunity with Amazon, if you wanted to start a business but you haven't known what to do.

In June, Amazon announced that it wanted to recruit a network of "hundreds" of entrepreneurs across the country, who would then start small delivery companies.

They'd have contracts to deliver for Amazon, and they'd use Amazon-branded vans that they actually leased from Amazon itself. In the best cases, Amazon was predicting small businesspeople should be able to take home about $300,000.

But now there are some new numbers out, and they're suggesting something very different.

First, Amazon says it didn't just get "hundreds" of applications. It's received "tens of thousands," according to Dave Clark, Amazon's SVP of worldwide operations.

"We expected a lot of interest but the sheer volume -- the tens of thousands of people who actually went all the way through the process to make themselves eligible for the program -- has been really humbling," he told CNNMoney.

Second, while Amazon originally was talking about ordering 5,000 delivery vans to lease to these delivery service owners, they're already gone way above that: they've entered into a deal to obtain 20,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans.

How big is a 20,000-vehicle fleet? Compare it to:

FedEx Ground, which says it has about 60,000 "motorized vehicles." We can assume that's not just counting last-mile delivery vans, but includes big tractor trailers, and other vehicles, too.UPS, which has, by my count, about 94,000 total vehicles in the U.S., including "package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles." (UPS doesn't break out its vehicles by country, so it's an estimate based on its total worldwide fleet of 119,000 vehicles).The U.S. Postal Service, which has about 100,000 Grumman LLVs, which are the slope-hooded vans you probably think of when you think of a mail truck.

Obviously, Amazon is massive. But the idea of creating a network of private delivery companies that's functionally about a fifth the size of the U.S. Postal Service, and doing it within a matter of months--that's pretty darn impressive.

They're launching the equivalent of one of the largest private delivery services in America--and one that would apparently have only one customer. So, clearly, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service should be a bit worried. If Amazon has its own network, it presumably would use the legacy package services less.

But the most important question for entrepreneurs is whether this news of the program's scope suggests it's a better or worse deal for would-be delivery service owners?

I'm not sure, actually. It shows Amazon's serious about the program, but it also suggests there could be a...

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3 Words and Phrases Great Leaders Never Say (Even to Their Worst Employees)

"Everything you say can and will be used against you."

That statement is true not just in a criminal arrest. In the workplace, great leaders know the words and phrases you use are critically important. They set the tone for the entire office, and you simply can't lead a team unless you choose words carefully. (I wrote about one word yesterday that could make all of the difference with a gas company in Massachusetts.) If you use the right words, even with unruly and difficult employees, you can lead well.

"Maybe..."This is a killer word in the office. Marginal leaders, the kind who won't last that long in management, like to play on emotions and "what if" scenarios, but the best leaders don't travel with that pack. They state their opinion and viewpoint clearly. They never say the word "maybe," because it implies an uncertain future for everyone involved.

An interesting note to make here, though, is that great leaders never even use the word with their worst employees; in fact, it's even more critical to be direct and clear with them.

"We won't approve that budget item" is a far better statement than something more wishy-washy (e.g., "maybe we'll approve that"), because employees will know how to plan and adjust their projects when you spell it out and skip the vague proclamations.

"In my opinion..."What's wrong with having an opinion? Everything.

Opinions are fine in politics and around the break room, but let's be honest, in the workplace, if you're leading a team and setting the direction, it's not really just an opinion or a suggestion. As a servant-leader, it's better to "serve" others by stating the facts and the decisions as they stand. Employees know what to expect.

If it's just your opinion about the budget, or the office space, or the company meeting next week, how does that give employees any direction for the future? Obviously we're talking about opinions if it's a brainstorming meeting, but even then: The more you can deal in facts and relay actual plans, the more employees will be able to act on those plans.

"I'm the boss..."Here's where things get dicey.

Great leaders communicate clearly; they don't make vague proclamations or suggest a few options as though the entire company is run by a Magic 8-Ball...

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Smart Leaders Start Movements. Here's How to Create One Yourself

Being a trusted partner to your customers pays many dividends as you work to grow your business. One approach that more companies are starting to use to build that trust is pioneering activities in which you go above the brand and tackle issues that are for the greater good of customers.

As a business leader, you are in the transformation business. And one of the ways you will take your customers from where they are to where they want to be is by addressing their most pressing challenges at both a micro and a macro level.

Taking a leadership position by starting a movement demonstrates to your customers and key influencers your commitment to the cause over the long term, beyond just growing your bottom line. Positioning yourself at the helm of a positive movement will help you become an indispensable ally in their quest to create positive change.

Recently, I sat in on a session at Democratic Dialogues in Cancer Care, a two-day program in Buenos Aires spearheaded by Novartis, a pharmaceutical company, in collaboration with the National Academy of Medicine. One in five deaths in Argentina is due to cancer. While the nation is seventh in the incidence of cancer in the region, it ranks third in mortalities due to cancer.

I was struck by the passionate debate leaders from various aspects of the medical system had about how to improve care. It was a testament to the importance of seeking out diverse opinions to develop strong solutions to complex problems.

Aliya Omer is the general manager of Novartis Oncology South Latin America. I chatted with her to get more insight into why the company organized the event. She explained:

The objective of the meeting was to share an inspiring vision to create a movement in cancer care that progressively achieves awareness, participation and the mobilization of all those who understand the existence of barriers to access for patients with cancer. Therefore, to do so, it was important to bring together high-level stakeholders who have cancer as part of their agenda to discuss cancer as a national issue through an engaging dialogue.

By organizing an event that rallies key parties within your industry, you can tackle an important cause, build stronger relationships, and elevate the profile and trustworthiness of your brand. Here are three important steps to pioneer a movement within your industry:

1. Identify a persistent problem. Think about what challenges exist that are barriers to your customers' realizing their goals. That could be, off the top of my head, the gender wage gap, food waste, or a lack of diverse talent within your industry.

American Express, for example, recognized that small businesses were struggling to stay afloat with changes in the economy, and created Small Business Saturday to encourage consumers to buy from local merchants. If you find a cause that's meaningful to you, you'll want to champion it for the long term.

2. Engage relevant allies to join the fight.You don't have to be a one-company army. Enlist the help and support of...

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The Brutal Truths That Helped This 28-Year-Old Build a $9.5 Million Business

Ever want to know what co-workers say about you when you aren't in the room? Entrepreneur Nathan Barry does, and he thinks it's important for his employees to know too.

Twice a year, the staff of his fast-growing email-marketing company, ConvertKit, meets in small groups, and each person takes a turn in the hot seat while the group talks about them, unfiltered, as if they weren't there. After 10 minutes, they have five minutes to ask questions and respond.

"Our goal is to set a culture of direct feedback," says Barry. Building relationships that foster a collaborative environment would otherwise be a challenge for his 35-person all-remote team. It's scattered across the U.S., Canada, India, and Europe, and apart from these biannual retreats, they interact mainly on Basecamp, Slack, and Zoom.

The practice is just one example of Barry's zest for collaboration and transparency. It manifests throughout ConvertKit's business, extending to marketing, employee pay, and an open-book policy that shares company financials on a public website.

The unconventional approach appears to be paying off. Last year, Boise, Idaho-based ConvertKit grew to more than $9.5 million in revenue--more than double its $4 million in 2016--and landed on the 2018 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing U.S. private companies at No. 72. Barry, 28, was also named to Inc.'s 2018 30 Under 30 list.

Barry is convinced that his dedication to openness and candid exchanges is key to his success. He says ConvertKit started the "unsolicited feedback" exercise, as it's known internally, because he experienced its benefits himself. It was part of the routine of his local "mastermind" group, which lends support and advice to entrepreneurs.

The constructive criticism that some people may want to hold back is "probably the actual stuff that will lead to growth," says Barrett Brooks, ConvertKit's chief operating officer, who had been part of the mastermind group.

A number of ConvertKit employees describe the practice as "terrifying," at least initially, and some still break into tears. "Immediately you think that everyone is going to tell you all the bad things about you and all the things you need to do better," says Nicole St. Germain, a customer success manager who has done it five times, starting at the first company retreat in 2016. The reality is much kinder, she adds...

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Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Says You Don't Need to Know Much to Be Successful. But You Do Need This

Jack Ma is one of the most successful businessmen in the world. Despite very modest beginnings (he was an English teacher who reportedly earned only $12 a month teaching at university), Ma founded Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce colossus, where he now serves as executive chairman.

So, what was the secret to Ma's success?

In a recent interview at the World Economic Forum, Ma shared his experience:

"At first, I knew nothing about technology. I knew nothing about management. But the thing is, you don't have to know a lot of things. You have to find the people who are smarter than you are. For so many years, I always tried to find the people smarter than I am.

"And when you find so many smart people, my job is to make sure the smart people can work together."

Basically, Ma's advice consists of two steps:

1. Hire people who are smarter than you.

2. Focus on getting them to work together.

In a world where most would rather be known as a leader than a manager, there's a lesson to be learned from Ma's philosophy.

Why good managers bring successWhile it's obvious that you want to hire the best, let's not underestimate the value of getting the best to work together.

Any team is going to bring along varying viewpoints, working styles, and ideas about how to get a job done, but the problem is that many high performers bring along something else: their egos. Because of their previous success, these individuals have even stronger opinions, which makes it difficult to get them to support one another's ideas, to disagree and commit. Sometimes, team members even consider themselves in competition with one another, which can be extremely self-defeating.

But a good manager can make all the difference.

Good managers know their team members' strengths and weaknesses.

Good managers can identify which situations will cause conflict, which they are skilled at overcoming. They also realize that conflict isn't always bad--if kept under control.

Good managers bring out the best from each member of the team, knowing how to motivate each personality to achieve optimum results...

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101 #Marketing Strategies - e Marketing Tips #FrizeMedia #Digital

101 marketing strategies simple enough for you to implement today.

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#Food And #Drink - #CookingTips #Healthy #Recipes #FrizeMedia

Resourceful articles on food and drink with cooking tips and techniques and how to food videos to help even the complete novice

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#Marketing - Differences Between #Advertising #Socialmedia #FrizeMedia

Marketing and Advertising,although they sound similar but in reality they are not.Advertising is only a part of the bigger game called Marketing.

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