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Your
Legal Resource Newsletter
October 2007
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 Thank you for all your support and encouraging comments
with the last two issues of the newsletter. It's hard to believe
this is the third issue already. It reminds me of the irony in
the principle that whatever
you are resisting is probably what you should be doing.
I strongly resisted the very idea of doing a newsletter for 3
years. It was recommended repeatedly that I create one, but I had
so many reasons for not
doing it. "I don't want to be sending annoying
emails since we're all so busy and get way too much email as it
is!" " I don't want to end up as SPAM in your computer
that you'll never see/read." "I'm not a good
writer." The list goes on. The reality of it is that
most of you have found value in it and have told me what you appreciate
about the information and resources I'm sharing. That was entirely
the point of creating the newsletter. You have my promise
that if I don't have something of value to share in a particular month or
quarter, I won't send a newsletter. I just need you to promise to
keep sharing what's working and what isn't, so this can continue to be a
positive experience for both of us. Also, please keep responding to
my inquiries about your favorite books, business tips, upcoming events so
I can share them with everyone. I am grateful to each of you for
your ideas, articles, referrals, and support of my business. I'd
love to hear from you about what you are resisting in your
business. Maybe that's the thing you should be doing!
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TYPO Tales: innocent typing
mistakes turn costly- and
six typo-busting proofreading tips !
by
Guest Columnist, Linda Anger, The Write Concept, Inc. |
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The courts awarded one woman a $75,000 settlement
after a careless recruiting company sent her resume to potential
employers without noticing that an entire section was in gibberish.
In 2005, a Tokyo
firm lost more than $18.7 million as a result of a typo. A trader
intended to sell one share of stock for 610,000 yen, but instead placed
an order for 610,000 shares at 1 yen each.
A west coast
apartment complex ran an ad touting their "newly remolded bathrooms
and kitchens."
It can happen to
you. It has happened to me, and to the writer whose business card listed
his title as "poofreader." If you look carefully, you're likely
to find typos in books produced by the most reputable publishers. Even a
venerable institution like the University of Wisconsin is not immune. In
1998, the university awarded nearly 4,000 diplomas with the name of the
stated spelled "Wisconson." Imagine the cheese on their faces!
Lawsuits are one
way you lose if your contracts, letters, emails or brochures contain
misspelled words or improperly placed punctuation marks. One Canadian
company lost millions in an ugly 18-month court battle over the placement
of a single comma in a 14-page contract.
Typos and poorly
constructed sentences lower the credibility of your business.
Proofreading is an important skill that goes beyond running spell check
in your computer. Spell-checking programs reduce misspellings, but they
will not stop you from using the wrong word if it is correctly spelled.
Should it say affect or effect? Principal or principle? Further or
farther?
Slow
down to go faster
Proofing your
documents is a process - one that should be undertaken with patience and
adequate time for several passes.
I found three when I proofed this article the first time. Here are
six tips for eliminating costly mistakes in your content:
1. Put it
off until tomorrow, when you've distanced yourself from the copy and have
fresh eyes.
2. Always
proof from a hard copy, and read every bit of text out loud. Errors in
street addresses, phone numbers and email addresses are easily
overlooked, but can cost you in dollars and customers in the end.
3. When you
correct an error, re-read the entire sentence out loud.
4. Watch
for common errors like it's for its, missing end quotes and parentheses
marks.
5. Start
from the end and read backwards. You are more likely to spot errors if
you are disconnected from the thought of the sentence.
6. Hire an editor
or proofreader - an outsider who will approach the text without
foreknowledge, and be able to see "holes" in the context as
well as the typos.
_____________________________________________
Linda Anger is the president and principal writer/designer
of The Write Concept, Inc. in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Linda holds
primary responsibility for business development and management, and
oversees all copywriting, graphic design and PR support projects. Typical
projects include content and layout for advertising, annual reports and
magazines, press releases, brochures and marketing letters, web site
content, and book compositing. Her client list has included
DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Golson Books, Ltd. (New York), Hanek Book
Design (New York & Santa Fe), and Crittenton Hospital Medical Center.
For more information, visit: www.thewriteconcept.com.
_______________________________________________________
What's Cookin' At the Idea Lab?
For women business owners, women entrepreneurs, or women
thinking about a business of their own, check out the Idea Lab
at the Smart Women's Cafe.
Here's a few upcoming FREE teleclasses offered by Experts
of the Idea Lab:
October 24,
2007,
Brainstorming
action steps for your Business Ideas
7pm ET:Brainstorm
marketing ideas for your business in 2008
7pm ET: Year-end reflection: share
what you've learned in '07 and envision for '08
Free Classes are for Cafe Members.
To join for only $19/mo, click here to Register for
Smart Women's Cafe, and scroll to signup links.
(Paid
teleclasses may be available to non-members later.)
_________________________________________________________
The Millionaire Mind Intensive
An Event
You Don't Want To Miss !
Strengthening
the economy in Metro Detroit and Michigan will require Small
Businesses to raise the bar and demonstrate that we are the solution
through our innovative, efficient, useful, and profitable
businesses. To accomplish this paradigm shift, we'll need to change
the mindset of those who still think, "business as
usual." Maybe our own minds need to be expanded or
shifted.
The
Millionaire Mind Intensive can produce such a shift.
If
you've already purchased T. Harv Eker's book,
Secrets of
the Millionaire Mind,
click banner below to
register for your two free Millionaire Mind Intensive seats:
Regular tuition $1295.00 per
person, but free at the following venue:
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Friday
Nov 2, 2007 at 9:00 am Thru Sunday Nov 4, 2007 at 7:00 pm
at
Cobo Convention Center, Detroit, MI
If you haven't purchased
the book yet, click on the following link to do so and qualify for 2
free tickets to the event. (Note, you will need to purchase your
course materials for $97 per person for the weekend seminar.)
Click here to register for
Millionaire Mind Intensive
"There is a secret psychology to money. Most
people don't know about it, that's why most people never become
financially successful. A lack of money is not the problem, it is
merely a symptom of what's going on inside you." T. Harv
Eker
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TOP 5
Ways Our Readers Generate New or More Business:
1. GIVERS GAIN!
Chuck Gifford, LBN President, says, "Give
something of great value, that costs you nothing, to someone you
respect and admire and they will return to you something that costs
them nothing but is of great value to you. In other words,
give a referral to get a referral. Build a team of powerful
proactive referral partners dedicated to mutual support and you will be
able to put your marketing program on auto pilot."
Anahid Derbabian of Integrity Communications says, "
In every conversation, in every meeting, in every project you handle,
show your commitment and dedication to your client. Don't hold back,
and don't play it safe; there is no benefit in doing so. Give all
that you can, and then give even more. Your clients will begin to know
and experience who you are and your desire to help them. They will
realize that you are not one of the many quick-sale, all-about-me
business people that they unfortunately meet daily. With time, you will
develop your reputation, which in turn will help to increase your
overall business."
Brian Surowiec, Member of Essential IT, LLC, says,"BNI
is a great way to grow your business. The Givers gain philosophy of
creating trust in order to give business for others, continual
practice giving your company commercial in front of others, and being
able to experiment and create new ways to market yourself in a safe
environment makes it a great place for growing your business."
2. LISTEN AND RESPOND!
Kim
Crabtree of MetaOps Inc., says, "Understand
the Voice of your Customer. Craft your message in your customers
words, reflect their fears, frustrations, and joys."
Roger Wade, Project Architect for SSOE, Inc.,
says,
"My biggest success has been through emphasis on
responsiveness to requests from clients, consultants and
contractors."
3. KEEP IN TOUCH!
Andy Ruedisueli, Sr. Loan Officer for Flagstar Bank,
says,
"attending broker open houses is a good source
of new business, along with a monthly newsletter via direct mail
to my past client database."
4. BE VISIBLE!
Kyle Boehlke,
Ass't VP of Comerica, says, "attend
as many community events as possible to become well known in the area
you do business."
Lisa Lapides Sawicki, President of LPG Publicity, says, "Even
in a fast-paced, high-tech world, I find that old-fashioned networking
still remains my No. 1 key to success."
5.
LET OTHERS PROMOTE YOU!
Rick Hebard, Mortgage Specialist at Flagstar Bank had this
to say,
"When I close a loan, I ask the client to write a
reference letter for me and if they do, I make a donation in
their name to either the American Heart Association or the American
Cancer Society. Then I scan the reference letters as
PDF files and attach them to an introductory email when
prospecting for new clients, trying to match that person's situation
with a reference letter from a former client in a similar
situation. It helps to warm up the new prospect when they see I
have effectively helped someone else in a similar situation."
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Guest
Columnist, Bjorn Olson of Creative Breakthroughs
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Each year technology becomes more
and more complex. We're not just
talking about fancy data centers and virtual servers, we're talking about
the technology that even a basic network is 'supposed' to have. As a result, IT now costs significantly
more than it ever has before, and the IT project list never seems to get
any shorter.
The Black Hole is not just a
matter of evaluating endless solutions which may or may not meet
your business needs (like spam control), but it's also a matter of
how much it costs to support those technologies. Ten years ago the generally accepted
approach to information security, availability, and management was much
different. There were fewer
solutions to choose from and an "IT Generalist" could usually
"keep things running".
Times have changed and that
approach is usually inadequate.
Organizations now require input and expertise on dozens of
different fronts. It's no longer
limited to simply setting up a network with basic file sharing, and
having Suzie take the backup tape home.
The reality is that a typical company now has to think about
complying with Federal statutes regarding electronic file/email retention,
restricting improper internet usage by employees, ensuring proper
security and encryption systems are in place for laptops and other
telecommuting issues, as well as disaster recovery planning - just to
name a few. The list goes on.
As an industry (IT), the answer has been a significant
increase in engagements with IT Consulting Firms. This trend, however, has also grown to
become a pain-point due to steep hourly rates and unexpected billable
hours going through the roof. As a
result, companies like Creative Breakthroughs have added a Managed
Services arm to the existing Professional Services offerings. This model offers, among other things,
unlimited access to our IT Professionals for a fixed fee each month. The burden of keeping the network
efficient has now shifted to us as the provider, or else we lose money on
the deal.
Take for example a recent client who would previously go for
months on end with little or no IT expenses. Out of the blue there'd be a preventable disaster, and the
invoices from fixing it, although
fair, seemed excessive. This
Michigan client recently implemented Managed Services. They now have network monitoring to keep
the systems healthy, unlimited support as needed, and access to very
senior level Consultants who can provide advice on everything mentioned
in paragraph three above, plus a whole host of other areas. As a side benefit, the client saves
money in numerous other areas such as reduced costs on software and
hardware (a recent example includes
a firewall and a new server with MS Exchange) due to our many partner
relationships.
The end result for this client,and numerous other clients,
has been a predictable IT budget, a reduced total cost outlay for IT, and
a highly available and reliable network resulting in increased employee
productivity. As a Managed
Services Provider, CFO's love the cost savings and predictability, and the CEO's identify with our
vision to use technology to increase their revenues. It's not for everyone, but it has
indeed helped them to avoid the Black Hole.
_____________________________________
Bjorn Olson is an account
executive with Creative Breakthroughs of Troy, MI, a 16 year old
company. Bjorn's career spans ten
years in the IT arena working with small and midsize companies. Creative Breakthroughs is an information
availability, security, and management firm serving clients with as few
as five employees, as well as large companies and organizations such as
American Axle and the US Army.
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Favorite Reads Of Our Readers:
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1. Never Cold Call Again, by: Frank J. Rumbauskas Jr.
Kim Crabtree, MetaOps, Inc. had this to say, "Good strategies for the one
man show or individual sales person. Frank also points out why old
traditional selling methods of selling don't work anymore."
2. Cross,
by: James Patterson
Andy Ruedisueli, Senior Loan Officer for Flagstar Bank,
says," I love James Patterson books. I am reading Cross
currently. I love his style of writing because it seems to come from a
legal background and I love corruption books."
3. Your
Best Life Now, by: Joel Osteen
Anahid Derbabian of Integrity Communications says, "Each chapter of
this book really helps to identify the ways that we can each develop a
life of meaning and purpose. It is written in a way that really captures
and keeps your attention, and it provides much to consider."
4. See
You At The Top, by Zig Ziglar
Massage Therapist, Michelle Brown, "loves this
motivational book with real life examples for achieving success!"
5. The
Essential Drucker, by Peter Drucker
Dave Biskner, Business Development Manager of Synergy Plus
Solutions, says, "This book is Drucker's own compilation of his
best work over the last 60 years. It validated many
of the management principles I live by, and also provided me with
invaluable new insights."
6.
Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer
Anahid Derbabian of Integrity Communications says, "I agree with
Joyce that many of our challenges begin in our mind. Thus, we
must daily fight the battle in our mind, and create positive
and focused goals so that we go forward with purpose and build
personal and professional lives of meaning."
7. Crossing the Chasm, by Geoffrey Moore.
Richard Marks, Owner of EcoV Electric says,
"This book is about marketing and selling 'disruptive
products' to mainstream customers. It was very insightful in terms
of how to get from the early adaptors to mainstream buyers (ie. the
chasm)."
8. Straight
from the Gut, by Jack Welch
Dave Biskner, Business Development Manager for Synergy Plus
Solutions, says, "This book is a biography about Jack Welch, from the time
he joined GE to when he left as CEO. It provides a lot of insight
into how Jack thinks, why he chose to do the things he did, and where a
lot of management and innovation concepts used throughout the business
world originated from."
9
. Nice
Girls DO Get the Sale, by Elinor Stutz
Anahid Derbabian of Integrity Communications says, "I met Elinor
at a conference last year where she was a terrific keynote speaker.
Her background in sales and her book can help anyone who struggles in the
area of sales. Her book is easy to read and filled with important ideas
to inspire you and guide you forward."
10. I Don't Have Enough
Faith To Be An Atheist, by Norman Geisler
Roger Wage, Project Architect for
SSOE, Inc. says, "This book contains a wealth of information
and apologetics on the existence of God and the Science to back it
up. Logical progression of ideas and conclusions."
11. Network
Your Way to $100,000 and Beyond, by Minesh Baxi and Chuck Gifford
Lisa
Lapides Sawicki, President of LPG Publicity, had this to say, "I found the
book very compelling and I feel it helped me immensely with my business.
Even though I've been doing this for 20 years, the ideas Minesh and Chuck
give are outstanding!"
12. Influence:
The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Chialdini, PhD
Rick
Hebard, Mortgage Specialist at Flagstar Bank, says, "I learned about
the six 'weapons of influence', (which are reciprocation, commitment
and consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity) and how to
apply them in your everyday life, work and/or personal
relationships. I like it because it is not a lot of 'theoretical
garbage', but rather some very concrete and practical ideas backed up
with real life examples to support them. When I read about the
weapons I could see where my use of them could be enhanced
through the nuances he describes."
13. More Than A Dad, by Scot Anderson
Brian Surowiec, Member of Essential IT, LLC, says, "this
book
is about becoming the father every child
needs and every wife desires. I enjoyed reading this book because the
author uses hilarious examples from his life combined with Biblical
principles and perspectives on how to build great relationships with your
children." |
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