Making Your Point... Quickly

This article, by Will Craig, is short and sweet and....well...to the point! With Facebook and Twitter and all of the other social media out there you only have a few key strokes in order to capture your audiences' attention before you run out of space. Time is valuable to everyone these days and if you can remember these 4 simple rules you will be able to say what you mean, speak in a language that will be comprehended and remembered and be successful in getting YOUR point a crossed!

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/



Hubbard Glacier July 2009

Making Your Point... Quickly


by Will Craig

The media has changed the way we communicate. If you plan to hold an audience -even an audience of one- you must now think in terms of brevity, pacing, and distinctive language. Below is a formula used by television producers to write 30-second commercials. Keep in mind, this is the language of people who only have a half a minute to sell you something.

Hook
Something used to specifically gain attention, i.e.: headlines in a newspaper, TV and radio "teases," chapter titles in a book. What is the most fascinating, unusual, striking, or funny aspect of your message? That's your hook. Put it up front!

Build Up
Who, what, when, where, and how. Just like the news story that follows the dramatic headline. This is where you explain, reinforce, and prove your point.

Payoff
This is where you drive your point home, ask for the order, or close the deal. This is the reason for the message. The hook and the build up allow you to make your point with impact.

The Point (in thirty seconds)
We live in a headline society. If you can't bottom line your thinking, you won't be a top line success. Everyday your success is being determined by how well you communicate. Marshall McLuhan said, "The medium is the message." In this case, the medium is you. You telecast your own messages and the ratings you receive from your audience determine your success in life.

How To Increase Your Blogging Productivity by John Chow

Whaaaat, don’t tell me you didn’t… are you for real?! Well, what happened? Are you sick?…


Did you ever have a similar conversation with your boss? I’m sure you did. We all experience the unproductivity beast at times. In case you don’t recognize it, try this for size. You just spent a whole day procrastinating about your lack of productivity and go to bed a frustrated person, ready to do another day of … doing nothing.

When We Have To Stop Kidding Ourselves

It’s OK to be a master procrastinator from time to time, but not most of the time! Interestingly though, a lot of people who claim they can’t make money online are exactly that! They busy themselves with meaningless tasks such as reading blogs, eBooks, tutorials, email, and the countless other tasks we do each day. Oh, I did forget Twitter, chat and other social media.

If you don’t see growth in your business, look at what you DO each day to help your business grow. Do you actively:

• Market your business?
• Work your business to earn money? 
• Brand your business?  
• Network with people who can bring you new business?  

If you said no to all of the above, then you need to do some major renovating and restructuring of your working habits. In fact, you NEED to get proper working habits, because you clearly don’t have any.

 

Admission Is The Key

When we are unproductive, we usually are for good reasons. We could be: 

• Exposed to constant distractions.  
• Unhappy about our working environment.  
• Unclear about directions.  
• Resenting our boss.  
• Unmotivated.  
• Experiencing a lack of passion/drive.  
• Or we could simply suck at self-management.

If you do, then don’t worry. Not everyone is born a productive guru. Most of us have to unlearn bad habits and learn good ones. Whatever the reason for your lack of action, as long you admit to yourself that in fact you do suck at being productive, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Be honest about your lack of productivity and don’t kid yourself about doing the things that don’t matter to your bottom line. Checking email a dozen times a day won’t put money into your pocket. Neither does chatting on instant messenger.

 

Once, and if you have reached your daily target, you can indulge all you want into the pleasure side of business/a job.

 

Setting Benchmarks

  A great way to beat unproductive habits is by setting benchmarks. I like to work with daily income goals myself. If I haven’t reached a certain income target in a given day, I simply don’t rest. I work when I’m sick, angry, frustrated and happy. To me, all these personal states of being don’t matter as much. What matters is my business and going forward. 

 

Is it easy? Heck no. At times it is the hardest thing I do, especially when I work with the worst cold, or fever. But as long as I can work, I usually do.

 

There is much satisfaction in finishing a day, knowing I’ve done all I could that day. It is the one reason why I’m successful and not wishing to be!

  

How you too can become a productive person, in charge of your destiny

 

The step from major procrastinator to major achiever is often smaller than you think. The secret of the whole concept lies in the step.

 

It’s the action, or the lack of it that ultimately makes the difference in your day. If your head is filled with things you need to do, then you should try to prioritize your priorities first.

 

The quickest way to stop procrastinating is to ‘just do it,’ in the true Nike sense.

 

Reclaim your life by facing the unproductivity beast head-on. It’s not going to be easy while you retrain your habits, but I can almost guarantee you that it is possible to become a very productive person by following the tips below:

•   Work in short productive bursts. The burst is determined by your concentration span. For some this relates to 20 minutes at a time, while others can last a full 45 minutes.  
• After each productivity burst take a short break to refresh your mind and body. 
• Drink lots of water. Try to avoid too much coffee (yeah, I now it’s my vice too.)  
• Opt to work in a no distraction zone whenever you can.  
• Make sure your office is well lit and has fresh air.  
• Start the day with the most complicated task.  
• Work out a system that works for you, forget what the gurus say.

 

Enjoy the ride!

Feel free to add your tips on becoming more productive.

 

Keep Your Business in the Public Eye By RON CONSOLINO

Q: How can you do effective marketing without spending a lot?


A: Even on a limited budget you can create a quality marketing plan, assuring customer satisfaction and a good image for your business.

Start by clearly defining your major selling advantage. What makes you better, more memorable and of greater value to your target market than your competition? Identify your ideal customer. What challenges are they facing that you can provide a solution to?

Network to build your prospect base. Attend trade shows, chamber and other group meetings that have members in your target market.

Create a memorable identity for your business. Marketing is about visibility, consistency and repetition in the marketplace. Be visible in a consistent way and repeat that message over and over to your target market. Invest in creating a professional logo.

No more brochures. The brochure is the most common type of promotional material, but it's also the most useless, especially for newer businesses that are still evolving. The minute the pamphlet comes off the press, it is outdated and you'll want to make changes.

An alternative is a promotional kit, which generally consists of a two-pocket folder with your logo on it that has information about your business.

Include your biography, company history, a press release, a list of products and services, references, a professional photograph, reprints of articles you've written or been quoted in, a newsletter and a question and answer sheet.

Stay in the public's eye. Repetition is the key to visibility. A rule-of-thumb is that it takes at least six impressions before a consumer associates your product or service with your business name. Write a press release on your business accomplishments and send it to local business reporters.

Develop an effective Web site. The key is to make it easy for clients to reach you and receive information about you. Include your Web site address on all printed marketing materials.

Generate ongoing referrals. Ask your best client (particularly after they've said something wonderful about you) if they would assist you in the growth and development of your business by signing a referral letter that would come from them and be delivered to your prospects.

Finally, implement a marketing plan by creating a timeline with specific steps toward meeting your goals.


Ron Consolino is a management counselor for SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business. His column is intended to provide general information. Send your questions to: Small Business, Houston Chronicle, P.O. Box 4260, Houston 77210.

LaMothe Services Speaks at LABS-Inc. Denver Office: Thank YOU!

I had the pleasure of being invited last month to speak in Denver at LABS Inc. about the Infertility Industry. It was my pleasure to share with the entire executive and marketing staff a power point presentation entitled Focus on Infertility, A Comprehensive Overview.

Allow me to share a little about LABS Inc. LABS was founded in 1979 as Immunological Associates of Denver (IAD). The laboratory offered testing to physicians and hospitals in Colorado. Growth occurred as local transplant centers began using IAD services to support organ transplantation. Over the years LABS has become one of the premier transplant medicine reference laboratories in the country. Testing is focused on donor eligibility determination and final product safety; infectious disease testing, microbiology, histocompatibility and environmental monitoring. You can visit their site at http://labs-inc.org/

Since LABS Inc. has committed itself to working with infertility clinics, the company wanted to educated its staff on what Intended Parents go through after they are diagnosed with Infertility. They wanted to learn about the obstacles that are faced by all parties involved with Surrogacy, Egg Donation, Sperm Donation and Embryo Donation. A company like LABS Inc. who is willing to invest in this type of education for their staff really needs to be looked at closely. They are dedicated, educated, FDA compliant, reliable and serious about helping to keep costs down for the clinics as well as Intended Parents who use their services.

I had a tour of the Denver lab and was really impressed at how efficiently it was run. They have the test results back in the hands of the Doctor's within 24 hours! The people were friendly and obviously interested in helping the infertility patient the best way they could.

Working with companies like LABS-Inc. is truly a pleasure and I thank them for inviting me to share what I know about the people involved in the Infertility Industry!

Sharon LaMothe
LaMothe Services, LLC
727-458-8333

Sharon LaMothe: Editorial Review Board for Pregnancy Corner

I have accepted the privilege to sit on the Editorial Review Board for Pregnancy Corner. Launched in July 2009, the goal of PregnancyCorner.com is to provide accurate, up-to-date and unique content related to pregnancy. All content on PregnancyCorner.com is reviewed by top obstetricians and gynecologists, as well as other specialists within the childbirth industry, who have donated their time and experience to ensure Pregnancy Cornor provides consumers accurate and unbiased information.

I am looking forward to reviewing articles and watching Pregnancy Corner grow! Please take a moment to check it out! http://www.pregnancycorner.com/

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

Sexism in America: Alive, Well, And RUNING OUR FUTURE by Barbra J. Berg, Ph.D.: A LaMothe Book Review

I received Sexism in America: Alive, Well, And RUNING OUR FUTURE by Barbra J. Berg, Ph.D. before Christmas for review and honestly didn’t see how it would change anything about me or the way I see my daughter’s rights, her peers, my mother’s upbringing or our political past, present or future. We teach equality in our home already. My husband does laundry and dishes, I mow the lawn, and we work together on projects like cleaning out the garage or planning a party. Row vs Wade is alive and well…what did I need to know? Boy was I wrong on all counts! Sexism in America is well written, well researched and pages 325-412 documents everything Barbara Berg writes about in previous chapters regarding women’s rights in the 20th century.

Sexism in America reveals both the cultural and structural sexism that prevails despite previous victories, taking readers, like me, through a comprehensive exposé of the battles women still face in order to achieve true equity.


• The incredible disparities in cost of women’s health insurance versus men’s, the revamped war on reproductive freedom, and why the US is considered 31st in world gender equity

• The rise of infant mortality rates, teen pregnancy, heart disease and diabetes in women, as well as sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls

• The rampant workplace discrimination that women, especially mothers face, and the wage gap between men & women that begins immediately after college and grows over time

• The pervasive sexism in popular culture beginning with male characters dominating 85% of speaking parts in G-rated children’s movies to increasingly violent and accessible internet pornography

What was also incredible to me were some of the comments made by doctors, politicians and leaders whom we (once) trusted to care about the rights and health of women in America.

• Regarding Birth Control “We will never give over the control of our numbers to the women, themselves. What? Let them control the future of the human race?” (Male physician talking with Margaret Sanger)

• Regarding Miscarriage “There are two types of habitual miscarries: the basically immature woman or the frustrated independent woman.” (1977 medical text book)

• Child Care “Child care threatens family stability by encouraging women to work and encouraging a communal approach to childrearing.” (President Nixon)

• Equal Rights (Falwell) wanted to “bury Equal Rights Amendment once and for all in a deep, dark grave.”

Yes, there is PLENTY more to make your blood boil that happened in the PAST but it’s the future we need to worry about. Chapters on Clinton, Bush and comments on Obama are all included as well as what girls are facing now….body image, education, and career opportunities all still not equal to boys/men. Did you know of the hidden provision in Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 REQUIRES all public schools to provide the military with personal data on their students including birthdates, social security numbers, e-mail addresses, phone numbers and grade point averages? Equipped with this information, recruiters can bypass parents and contact the students directly.

If I didn’t say it before, Sexism in America: Alive, Well, And RUNING OUR FUTURE by Barbra J. Berg, Ph.D. needs to be put on your MUST READ list. Once you do I will be very interested to hear your comments!

Q&A with Sharon LaMothe: Should Women without Insurance Coverage become Surrogates?

Q: Hi Sharon,
I have a question if you don't mind. We have been in business for 2 years now and just recently, this year, started a Surrogacy Service. I have 3 women who are interested in being Gestational Carriers but do not have insurance. They are willing to take less compensation to help the couples if the IPs can provide the Insurance. I have found that even with them taking a lesser amount of compensation, the process is still quite expensive for the Intended Parents. What is your suggestion if any.

A: I often had the same situation with women not having maternity coverage. You can list them on your data base as without insurance coverage and lower their base fee by $4,000 and just tell them that they maybe harder to match and that it may take longer. If their situation changes where they do have insurance coverage, then their base fee would change at that point. Remind Intended Parents that no matter what an ins. policy says (or doesn't say) regarding surrogacy arrangements they (ins. co) can always refuse to pay in any case so it maybe safer for them to pay for a policy from say, New Life, that covers surrogacy arrangements then relying on BCBS or some other company whose policy under a huge gray area where surrogacy is concerned. Under no circumstances have a woman (surrogate) use government assistance. Insurance fraud is a huge price to pay for helping others!

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

Five Startup Mistakes to Avoid By STEVE STRAUSS

Because the new year often brings with it fresh optimism and thoughts of running your own show, leaving the rat race, or even making money from a hobby, I posted below a great Q & A on what to avoid when you contiplate starting your own business...great information here! If you would like to add a comment regarding something YOU wish you had known when you first started out fee free!


Sharon LaMothe
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/



Q: I really have no choice but to start a business as I have been out of work for too long. I'm excited about getting going but what should I be on the lookout for -- what mistakes can I avoid? Ed

A: This is a good, smart question. While it is true that small business owners tend to be an enthusiastic, optimistic bunch, that same enthusiasm can be a hindrance when we think that all of our ideas are great ideas.

They're not.

Here, then, are the 5 Most Common Start-up Mistakes (and how to avoid them):

5. Not looking before leaping: Sometimes you have to jump right into a new business -- an opportunity presents itself, the time is perfect, whatever. But far more often you do not have to dive in headfirst (and you should not).

Take a breath, slow down, stand back, and take a critical look at your venture before investing too much time or money.

- What could go wrong?

- What part of your plan is weakest?

- What if things don't go as planned?

- What's the deal with your competition?

This sort of critical analysis will serve you well. It can help to point out danger signs and potentially save you from making an expensive mistake.

4. Starting with the wrong legal structure: No, there is nothing juicy about this tip, but it is vital nonetheless. Most small businesses start out as sole proprietorships. Most small businesses are making a big mistake.

Legally speaking (and I can say that as I am a "recovering attorney"), a sole proprietorship offers you no protection. If something goes wrong with the business, you personally are on the hook. But if you incorporate, the corporation is a separate legal entity from you. That is a main reason why people incorporate or form LLCs.

3. Lack of a marketing and advertising plan: When you start a new business, it is like being alone in a dark room -- you know you are there, but no one else does. The only way you can turn on the light and let people know you are out there is by advertising and marketing your business.

Read some books about marketing (my book, The Small Business Bible, might be a good place to start). Take some online courses. But trial and error is, unfortunately, the best teacher in this regard. Market and advertise your business, and then do it some more.

2. Undercapitalization: Yes, it is true that most start-ups begin with less than optimal funding, and yes, it is also true that many small business have overcome that obstacle, but it is also true that you will have a far higher likelihood of success if you have enough money to start properly.

How much?

At least enough to run the business and live for six months, while you get established. You simply don't want to be forced into having to choose between paying the rent and running the ad as you are trying to get your business off the ground.

And the #1 preventable start-up mistake is...

1. Having no website or a bad website: Your website is your business card in this century. One of the first things potential new customers will do is Google you and look for your site. Having no site, or maybe worse, a bad site, can kill your nascent business. And since it is so easy to get a professional site these days for next to nothing, there is no excuse for not having a great site, right from the get-go.

(Runners up: Not having a social media strategy, not being passionate about your choice, or failing to take advantage of all the free help out there.)
------------

Steven D. Strauss is one of the country's leading small business experts. The senior USATODAY.com small business columnist, his latest book is the Small Business Bible. A lawyer, author, and public speaker, Steve speaks around the world about small business and entrepreneurship, including a recent visit to the United Nations. He has been on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and The O'Reilly Factor among many others, and his business column, Ask an Expert, appears weekly at USATODAY.com. .

Oregon Surrogacy Laws

Oregon law appears to allow only uncompensated surrogacy arrangements. The statute prohibiting “buying or selling a person” has an explicit exemption for “fees for services in an adoption pursuant to a surrogacy agreement.” This appears to codify the conclusion of a 1989 opinion issued by the attorney general, which indicated that the state may invalidate any agreement in which money is exchanged for the right to adopt a child, particularly when the birth mother contests it. The case law confirms that if a surrogate mother is compensated for her consent to adoption under a surrogacy contract, the contract is unenforceable. However, it appears that a surrogacy arrangement in which the compensated surrogate mother would have carried the baby with or without pay would be upheld. In one case in 1994, the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld an uncontested surrogacy arrangement, refusing to invalidate the agreement even though payment to the surrogate mother exceeded her pregnancy-related expenses. The Court emphasized that the facts indicated the surrogate would have entered into the agreement even without compensation and that she was not seeking to withdraw her consent for the adoption of the child. However, this case was decided before the statutory provision discussed above was passed by the legislature.

 Citations: Office of the Attorney General of the State of Oregon, No. 8202, 46 Op. Atty. Gen. Ore. 221 (April 19, 1989); In the Matter of the Adoption of Baby A and Baby B, 877 P.2d 107 (Or. Ct. App. 1994).

Happy New Year from LaMothe Services, LLC

Happy 2010 from Sharon LaMothe

Wishing you great success in the year to come!

For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

 

The Business of A.R.T.

LaMothe Services, LLC