What Does Oprah Have That You Don't?!

by Kelly Green(Email: kelly@holisticbrandingcoach.com)

What does Oprah have that you don't? Well besides 1 billion dollars, the one thing that all successful people (and companies), like Oprah, have in common is a commitment to their brand. They have firmly established the message they want to send to their target consumer and have consistently maintained that message. Although it may need to be tweaked over time, the basic essential message remains the same. Think of some of the most popular brands you know - Oprah, Coca-Cola, Mercedes Benz, Tina Turner, etc. With each of these brands you know exactly what to expect when you buy into their product - an informative, entertaining talk show; a cool, refreshing beverage; a quality, luxury vehicle and a high-energy, electrifying concert. By staying true to the brand message they want to convey to their target audience, these people/ companies have been able to turn their passions into profits!

You too can build a successful practice by considering the commonalities of those entities. Start by doing the following:

1) Identify your brand early in the business development stage. When developing your business plan, the mission statement should reflect the image you wish to portray to the public; ie, your brand. Once you have a solid business plan, constantly refer to your mission statement when devising any business strategies. This will greatly increase the chance that all marketing campaigns going forward will incorporate your brand objective. Furthermore, by staying committed to that brand, you solidify a standing with your ideal clients/ customers. Staying committed means nothing more than believing in your product or service and presenting it in its' most authentic form. In a previous article I wrote about identifying your personal values while developing your brand. With every marketing message you put out, constantly refer to those values. Making sure that once again the core message is the same.

2) Re-evaluate, re-evaluate, re-evaluate! Is your product/ service reaching your ideal consumer? No? Then clearly you are off-the-mark with your branding. One of the ways in which to get back on track is to re-evaluate your marketing strategy. Now normally I wouldn't advise doing any marketing without first establishing your brand. However, in this case marketing can be justified. Depending on your type of business, doing a simple, inexpensive marketing campaign such as creating a blog, circulating a newsletter, offering coupons or discounted services allows you to get feedback as to what your customers like and dislike. You'll also recognize what campaigns garner the desired sales results. The ones that work can be tweaked and used to attract your ideal client.

3) Research, research and more research! You should always be current with any trends that are taking place in your industry; in other words, stay ahead of the curve! The best way to do this is to stay connected. In today's climate of social networking, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., makes it easier than ever to connect with potential customers and others in your industry. You will want to be very specific with your networking endeavors; not all of them will get you in front of your target audience. Some other strategies include joining industry specific associations, getting involved with community activities that will get your name publicized and trying a referral partnership with other local entrepreneurs that can send business your way.

Many people tend to overlook the value in doing research of your direct competition. It's one thing to look at the competition who are doing well and envy their success, but it's quite another to take that information, dissect it (research how, why and the ROI) and utilize it to benefit your bottom line. In some industries it's perfectly acceptable to collaborate with your competition or even form an affiliate relationship. If that's not possible, pay attention to their marketing campaigns and take note of the factors that caused sales to spike or slump. Bottom line in research - track the trends and capitalize!

Staying committed to your brand is sometimes daunting especially when your business does not take off right away, but don't despair - think Oprah! If this is your passion, stay the course! Happy Branding!

(To contact this author, Email: kelly@holisticbrandingcoach.com)

Filmmaker and Director Bobby Yan Wraps Commercial for Ford Motors

Local Talent Continues to Make National Impact

Last weekend, in Atlanta, Ga., director Bobby Yan added another national campaign to his very successful stint of recent projects. He was chosen to shoot a Ford Motor commercial featuring the new 2010 Ford Taurus for a strategic partnership to promote TV One's new premiere program, "Unsung".

Two weeks prior, in Los Angeles, he directed the first two videos off of the Oscar Award winning group, Three 6 Mafia’s forthcoming album, "Laws of Power" including the first single, "Shake My" featuring Kalenna (Diddy's new group, Dirty Money).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_OgbjO6pp4

The second single is titled "Lil Freak" and was shot in Three 6's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUcB0Vkwn

Just a few months prior, Mr. Yan directed videos for 2 Stellar Award nominees, GI, “Get Up” and the James Fortune’s smash single “I Trust You” which is still in heavy rotation on radio and has been deemed the most played Gospel song of the year.

When asked what inspires Bobby to be so steadfast and relentless in his approach to his craft, he responds, “My passion for filmmaking both on and off the set keeps me going.” He continues, “I always want to outdo myself on each new job, growing leaps and bounds and continually evolving my look and style. It keeps me fresh and always on the forefront of creativity and technology.”

Other video projects include; Super 400, “Flashlight”, Hurricane Chris, “A Bay Bay”, Mecca/ft. Raheem Davaughn, “Doggstarr” remix and Julius Petty, “Get Out Of My Way”.

About Bobby Yan

Asian American filmmaker Bobby Yan was born and raised in Washington Heights, moved to Hollis Queens, and later spent his very formative college years in New Orleans, La. His rich background surrounded by a diverse melting pot of cultures, people and experiences have had a major impact on how he sees the world and the filters by which his creativity flows. His artistic eye is influenced by living and breathing the Hip Hop culture in New York City as well as the spirit of the South and his Chinese American heritage. This true hidden talent recently graduated from NYU with a Masters in Digital Design, honing his visual skills with CGI and EFX. With a passion for change, Yan's commitment to film is to create works within the Hollywood system, as well as outside of it.

For Bobby Yan’s reel and other clips: http://immigrantfilm.com/directors/Bobby%20Yan/

Contact: SheNotes Ent, Raychelle LeBlanc, shenotes@gmail.com

Top 7 Ways to Create More Productive Hours in Your Day

1. Use the 80/20 rule. We all know that 80 percent of our results come from 20 percent of our efforts. Figure out what the top 20 percent of your activities are and concentrate on them. Delegate the other tasks or put them off until later.

2. Reduce the Time You Spend on Email. Set up electronic file folders and flag messages from clients and other key contacts. Avoid the urge to check your email every few minutes.

3. Put Fun Names On Your Daily Activities. According to Lisa Nichols, one of the teachers in the Secret Movie, we need to put fun names on our tasks. Instead of checking email, she calls it "Finding money." Instead of working out, she calls it, "Bringing sexy back."

4. Work with a Timer. Buy a kitchen timer and turn it on when you start a task. When I'm editing corporate sponsor proposals for my clients, I put the timer on for 20 minute intervals. Just knowing the timer is on, makes me more productive.

5. Take Frequent Brakes. Avoid working for hours on the phone or your computer with no brakes. Get up, stretch and walk around every hour. If you're in a home office, you could take a walk around the block. If not, you can just go outside. Breathing in fresh air and looking at nature will re-charge your battery.

6. Strive For Completion, Not Perfection. This is a favorite mantra that I use with my clients. Too many of them are perfectionists and it blocks them from completing tasks and moving on to the most important cash flow activities in their businesses.

7. Reward Yourself For Completing Tasks. I love chocolate, so after completing a task, I eat a piece of chocolate and savor the flavor. I eat the good quality chocolate, so I my hips haven't gone condo yet.

Good stuff right?? As seen on www.WealthyBagLady.com.

10 Words to Delete from Your Vocabulary - By Barbara J. Henry

Words are powerful because they shape our thoughts, determine our actions, and chart the course of our lives. This is true whether the words are positive, giving hope and encouragement, or negative utterances that steal our joy and confidence.

Wherever we are in our lives, personal relationships, or careers, the words we have used consistently are partly responsible.

This fact should prompt us to become more aware of our words, and when needed, to change them so that we can begin to get the results we really desire.
Recently, during a particularly challenging period, I discovered that I was using some of the following words far too often to get the favorable results I sought.

1. Can't The use of this word is primarily responsible for countless hopes and dreams lying dormant on the "drawing boards" of our lives. Completely eliminate your use of this word and you will see a significant positive change in your life.

2. But When used as a conjunction, "but" negates whatever statement that precedes it." I want to study law, but it will take a lot of hard work." Your mind does not focus on your desire to become a lawyer or judge; it only sees the hard work you will need to perform. Replace "but" with "and."

3. Should Any statement that uses the word "should" generally elicits guilt. "I should go to the gym," makes you feel guilty for not going. Replace this word with "choose," as in, "I choose to go to the gym, or I choose not to go to the gym today."

4. Maybe This word indicates indecision, doubt, or uncertainty as to a course of action. For example, "Maybe I'd better wait to..."
For those of us interested in personal development, "maybe" should be used very sparingly. Use "I will" or "I will not" instead of maybe. The mere sound of the more positive words emits feelings of confidence and resolve which are so important to our personal well-being.

5. Soon or Later Both are indefinite references to time. They are also non-committal. They should be replaced with a definite time and date. When someone tells you he or she is going to do something "soon" or "later," there is no way to determine when whatever it is will get done. Imagine what could happen to deadlines and your integrity when these words are used frequently.

6. Someday Someday, like soon or later, is much too indefinite, and when it is used, it shows the same lack of commitment. Replace "someday" with a specific date and time.

7. Never This word is absolute, and there are only limited situations when "never" is absolutely true. The use of this word, in my opinion, suggests a closed mind, which seriously hinders our self-growth efforts. The word "never" should be replaced with a non-absolute term.

8. Won't The word "won't" implies an unwillingness, reluctance, or closed mindedness, and like the absolute term "never," it is quite harmful because it closes the door on many of the actions we need to take to reach our goals.

9. If This is a small word that carries large doubts and uncertainties, and when used often, it gnaws away at our confidence and intended actions, two qualities necessary for any type of success.

10. Try or (I'll Try) I don't know about you, but each time someone has said these words to me, or the few times that I have used them in conversations with others, whatever the subject of "I'll try" was, rarely, if ever, got done. Replace "I'll try" with "I will."

These words must be given serious thought before we use them in our "self talk" or in the conversations we have with others.
We must remember this: Our words affect our thoughts, our actions, our very lives, and because of their power, we must choose them with the utmost care.


An article fromSelf Growth.com http://www.selfgrowth.com/

Parenting 101 - Contract included. :-)

OK, these rules, in the form or a contract, that were set forth today by my cousin Rose to her 2 boys ages 7 and 12. The family is in full support so they will be held accountable to this contract by EVERYONE!

I laughed hysterically but she is absolutley correct in setting guidelines. You would have to know her (and the boys, especially the youngest one) to understand but none the less, here is a contract for all of the parents out there that have just had it!!!

This should be interesting. :-)

*********

The Rules

Grades
You must maintain a c average, as well as citizenship. If you receive any grade below a C you will be put on restriction for 30 days, B’s will receive $5 dollars each and A’s will receive $10 each and every progress report. If teachers call home for any negative reason you will be restricted for 2 weeks, for every additional phone call that is negative, a week will be added on. Example: one phone call 2 weeks, two phone calls 3 weeks etc. One book will be chosen by me weekly for you to read during family reading time.
Home work is to be done before 7pm unless circumstances do not allow it. If it is not done by this time, $1 will be deducted from your allowance, if it happens twice in one week you will be restricted for the week

Duties at home
You will have days and chores assigned to you, the chores will need to be completed before you do anything else other than home work, there will be a certain amount of time that you are given to complete these tasks, if you are asked to do additional chores or something different you will comply immediately with out question. Upon completion you will receive $5 every Saturday night, if they are not completed or you do not do them in the allotted time you will be restricted for the week and $1 will be deducted for every day that work is not done. If you see things were they don’t belong or messed up fix it clean it up take pride in your house and your things.

Restriction
When you are on restriction (or grounded) you will NOT be allowed to watch television, talk on the phone, play any video games, play on the computer, go over any ones house, have company, you may have extra chores, and no extra snacks. I will talk to grandpa, and other family to make sure we are all on the same page and your restriction follows you. If you break any of these rules while grounded like sneaking on the phone or computer, a week will be added on to your time and you will loose your allowance for that week. Although you are restricted you will still be able to earn your allowances if you follow the rules while grounded.

Punishment
Punishment consist of: staying in your room only, spending time on the wall, push ups, running, writing, reading the dictionary and writing sentences, washing walls steaming curtains or clothes, and anything else that is asked of you. If you back talk, or do not follow anyone’s instruction you will be immediately punished, by the adult in charge of you. Let’s not forget you are not too old for corners and there is nothing to do there.

Respect
Treat people how you want to be treated;
I have noticed that over this past year the disrespect giving to me by my children has gotten completely out of hand it has also been brought to my attention and mentioned by many other family members, teachers, and friends that my children are very disrespectful regularly, to others, and mostly towards me, this is going to end, I work too hard and do too much for you guys, and am too nice a parent to be treated badly by my children. I have tried to be more than fair and the methods that I have been using to discipline you so far and you are just not mature enough for. You are not to speak to ANY adults disrespectfully not teachers, or anyone whose care you are under. If I have a friend or anyone that I have given authority over you, you are to listen to them the first time they speak without resistance or back talk. When an adult gives you direction or orders you DO NOT need to check the with me or double question what they have asked of you even if I am home there is no need ask me the same question, also you both have a habit of undermining people and being sneaky or manipulative this will also stop. If you do not listen, or you attempt to take advantage of a person or situation you will be punished and put on restriction. If I or any other adult gives you direct instructions, you are to respond with yes ma’am or yes sir. Let’s understand that we are not equals and I do not have to follow your rules nor do I have to answer any of your questions, you both need to learn to stay in a child’s place and when to shut your mouth. I am the boss

Changes And Other rules
These rules will be posted implemented and followed, so you can not say you didn’t know.
You will not be left alone at home, neither of you are mature enough for that, also you will not be around adult conversation.
If the week is good we will have family night were we can go bowling play games have company, watch movies, go swimming, family work out time, play time, reading time and other fun stuff. I will listen to your ideas for that. Also we are going to begin going to church again I expect you both to participate with an open heart. I want to be able to have fun with you and do things with and for you but you have to work for it and your behavior MUST be respectful, appropriate, and deserving of these privileges. You must ask to watch movies or shows, listen to music, with cursing or anything else not for children and you must ask to use the phone, computer, or get something to eat or drink, also eat at the table unless told otherwise.

There are no sides with kids only right or wrong and what we say, so I do not want to hear any negative comments about anything if you do not get your way, this is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
OK here are some examples of reasonable response to instruction that are acceptable:
Yes ma’am, or yes mama, here I come, I will get to in one minute, and I am working on it.

You will come directly home from school unless you have permission or you are after school with a teacher. Do not talk any family business out of the house; also do not talk negatively about any adults or discus adult business with others. No wrestling in the house or at school it is not always play time you need to learn self control, if you are not getting along with someone even your brother then you need to take time away from that person. There will be no cursing, rolling eyes, mean faces, or sucking teeth. When any one calls you, your response should be yes or yes ma’am nothing else. Also unacceptable behavior is slamming doors, storming off, talking under your breath, making unnecessary comments, speaking out of turn, getting smart, making faces, taking about adults in a negative manner, and just blatantly doing what you want when you want, this behavior will be disciplined, if you break these rules you will face punishment and restriction. There maybe rules added on as well. And if you should forget you can sit in the corner and re read the rules.

This is not a democracy and the things that I or adults tell you to do are not up for discussion and we are not in need of your opinion, you both learn how to keep your mouth shut we don’t always care to hear what you have to say.

What have you learned that you would want to pass on??

“If you had the chance to impart your wisdom to the world to leave as your legacy, what lessons have you learned that you’d want to pass on to humanity?”


Jen Blackhert's Top 10 Lessons for Humanity

1. TRUTH: Let go of all your inner struggles or fights by accepting what is. What IS the truth? When you accept what is, you can then choose to keep what you may not want or change it. So be impeccable with your true word, so you can accept and see what is – this will allow you to make conscious decisions to change it what you don’t like. “..the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

2. PASSION: Listen to the desires and passions in your heart. There is reason for these passions – you see — your passions are your divine path. Spirit guides us with our feelings within – go within or go without.

3. SEE: See yourself living your dreams now. Hold the vision and make your decisions based on what you see. It really is that simple.

4. EXPERIENCE: Too often we find ourselves “doing” things and not “experiencing” life. Be in life and stop “doing” things to get things done. The great Taoist master Lao Tzu said, “Do without doing.”

5. GIVE: When you give yourself, your gifts and gratitude the universe send opportunities and rewards in abundance for all areas of life.

6. RECEIVE: When we can do both give and receive openly — life flows with ease. Be open to every opportunity to give and receive.

7. LOVE: Fall in love with everything that is in your life. This includes the people you interact with, your environment, work, life and even how you operate you. Take time to take inventory of what you tolerate and what you don’t love, then remove what you aren’t in love with.

8. POWER: We are more powerful than we may ever know. Too often we allow illusions such as fear, doubt and worry to creep in. When you understand these are just feeling in your human body and they are not you — you can shift your emotions positively and stand in your power.

9. JOY: Allow life to be simple, easy and FUN. Do what you want. Love the life you lead. Stop following the rules of the world and march to your drummer.

10. PRACTICE CHANGING YOUR MIND: Know the techniques you need to change your subconscious habit and behaviors so you can live a life of personal freedom.

Super 400’s Future Looks Bright with New Single “Flashlight”

Response Records Releases Junior Album, “Sweet Fist” in Fall 2009

Super 400 is slated to hit the airwaves this month with their new single “Flashlight” from their forthcoming junior album. Denver, Colorado based Response Records is releasing the album in the fall of 2009. Sweet Fist will be manufactured and distributed through Rock Ridge Music with an exclusive license.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Response Records to distribute and promote Super 400” , says Jason Spiewak, Rock Ridge Music. He goes on to say, “Sweet Fist” is a tremendous rock record, one that will please the band’s current fan base and surely make them new ones.”

Lifelong fans of the influential Memphis sounds of Stax Records and Big Star, Super 400 chose the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee to record their third album, Sweet Fist. As much history museum as functioning studio, Ardent has captured the essence of such greats as Led Zeppelin, Stevie Ray Vaughn, ZZ Top, Isaac Hayes, & Big Star, to name a few. As the legends before them, they recorded the album entirely on tape, capturing most final cuts on the first take.

Hall of fame mastering guru Larry Nix, along with son Kevin, refurbished the one and only Stax Record Lathe that before being moved to Ardent, created the first copy and master for every Stax Record and later classic albums such as Led Zeppelin: III, Stevie Ray Vaughn: The Sky Is Crying and ZZ Top: Afterburner. Months of valuable time and unmentionable resources were spent to insure that the historical lathe made its’ return debut to cut the new Super 400 album. It can humbly be said that history has been made.

Adam Anderson, Response Records states, “The new album Sweet Fist marks a magnificent pinnacle in the sonic evolution of Super 400. Both powerful and soulful, the band took the analog Memphis sound and gave it a shot of adrenaline on this record."

The band has become one of the most loyally followed rock bands in the Northeast, and the fan base is growing; last year's national tours started a chain of bootleg recordings that have been traded and coveted around the world. Back home, the mayor of Troy gave Super 400 their own official holiday, 'Super 400 Day', to recognize the band's musical achievements as well as the love and support the city has shown for them.

Each of their completely unique performances evokes the raw, euphoric essence of Rock and Roll. Their upcoming release, Sweet Fist, truly reflects the light and dark of this new millennium; it unravels the tales of this modern world with an analog tongue rarely heard in the digital age. It represents both homage to their influences and an insightful progression of the dynamic power of Super 400.

For more info visit: www.responserecords.net or http://www.super400.com/