December 2011 Articles (72)

As the end of the 2011 real estate market year approached, I noticed an increase in activity. I found this great article by SMA Publications that confirmed what I was seeing in the marketplace: House Appreciation and Sales are on the rise for Orange, Durham and…

I saw a few Inside919 friends recently. Some I had not seen in quite a while. In talking with them I heard their stories about what's been going on in their lives this past year. Some shared their general plans for 2012. It dawned on me after I got home that I don't have a clear idea of what their #1 priority is for 2012. I'm talking about specifically, not in general terms. I figured that if I knew what that specific goal was, there would be at least one more opportunity for it happening.…

I’ve taught a lot of salespeople over the years, and I’ve also bought from a lot of salespeople. I think it’s fair to say that some were better — more talented! — than others. Here’s a story about possibly the best salesperson I ever bought from. It all started when I bought a new desk some years back, and I wanted to set it up facing outward into the room. That meant dealing with all of the various cords and wires connected to my keyboard, mouse, monitor, telephone, etc., and unlike many…

Last month I asked you on my Facebook page to list your favorite movies. I requested that you tell me the titles and in return, I'd categorize those titles and present them as a future blog post; a neatly organized list of movies to watch. As promised, for your viewing pleasure over the next few long, dark months of winter, your favorite…

10 Reasons to Join the RDU 90 Day Challenge in January!

Besides the obvious health concerns that being overweight, or unfit, contributes to, such as…

The Cary Citizen asked Catering by Design to pass along some tips for New Year's Eve parties. We thought you might be interested in some too.

The 3 biggest tips we offer are:

1. Make it festive. Have exciting decor, music, foods and…

There is a growing threat looming to corporate computer security in the attitudes of younger workers to technology, according to a report issued Wednesday by Cisco Systems Inc.

Seven out of 10 young employees frequently ignore IT policies and two-thirds said they believe their company's policies need…

The Company as a System.

I have owned my own business for about three years. I was lucky enough to learn early of the importance of local small/micro business networks like Inside 919, Team Nimbus, and, of course, BNI. Along with the personal connections that benefited by business, I have learned a great deal about running a business from the leaders and members in these networks. In particular, to develop an internal system so the business will run independent from the owner.

The…

Looking for some networking ideas...

Here are some to work with in 2012.

1. Build relationships with other business owners or professionals with the purpose of creating a business referral network.

You can…

Brett Lewis (Blues Jazz Radio), one of our fellow Inside919 colleagues recently went into the hospital due to some heart problems. As a result, he has had some significant financial set backs, The William D. Burton Trio will be donating 100% of their tips from their performance at the Big Easy in Cary this coming Thursday from 8 - 11 pm to help Brett.

Please join us! Come have a little fun, get something to eat and meet a few Insiders and help us help Brett. If you are experiencing…

“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.”~~Albert Einstein

We started to consider the skills and techniques of doubling the results of your networking efforts on the first Sunday morning in January and have continued every week throughout the year. Thank you for staying the course. I certainly hope you have found some value in the fifty-two sessions presented.

Although…

Have Outstanding Invoices at Year-End? Don’t Accept Payments Until Next Year!…

Although Baby Boomers are known as the “forever young” generation, Generation X has now surpassed them in seeking cosmetic surgery and other procedures that help maintain a youthful appearance. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Gen Xers (now aged 31-45) accounted for 43% of…

Internet search enginesare complicated entities. In a nutshell, they are information retrieval systems, which helps us find information on the World Wide Web (the universe of information networked over millions of computer servers connect all over the globe). Please keep in mind, this article only scratches the surface of this topic.…

I started writing last week about catching some of the “big fish” among the prospects in your area, the companies and people who buy a lot of what you sell. As I noted, these big fish are usually pretty hard to catch. But with the right equipment and the right bait — in other words, a competent salesperson and a solid value proposition — it can be done. I also wrote that it helps to have a fisherman’s patience, combined with an entrepreneur’s sense of urgency, and that’s my starting point…

We are bombarded today that “Bigger is Better.”

Common on. . . Do you want to Value Size your meal? Or maybe you read the article in last month’s Computer World. “Hewlett-Packard declares that Bigger is Better.”

 …

Hopefully by now you’re reaping the benefits from the lists of routines, chores and tasks for keeping your home maintained. If not, you may wish to go back and review my last few posts:

Daily Chore List: Part 1

Daily Chore List: Part…

I just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and share with all of you a good Christmas story.

A while back I posted articles about a fellow who was going to be released from the correctional facility. (If interested, here is the original post http://inside919.ning.com/profiles/blogs/48-days )

Here is my Christmas Story in a nutshell.

After being incarcerated for thirteen years, Darin landed two…

Each week we highlight a member of the Team Nimbus community and what they have been up to. This week we highlight...

Ivye Wright Arnold is the Owner of Ivye League…

(Over the weekend I read this interesting article by Jennifer Peltz of the Associated Press. It is worth the time to read and think about)

The generation that gave the term "slacker" new meaning is looking with measures of rivalry, regret and tart bewilderment at a movement its successor mobilized in…