1April

VOL, 22 NO.4$4.95

Chatting with the ExpertFeaturing

Julie Chenery

Who’s the Next Big thing?

Graber Farms

Growing Your Team: In 3 Easy Steps

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Vol. 22 No.4 Small Biz Forward is published monthly by Celebrate Business Publishing, a division of Business Success Unlimited. ISSN 2332-5887

No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted into any form by any means without written consent from the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All letters sent to Small Biz Forward will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication, copyright purposes and use are subject to SBF unrestricted right to edit and comment.

Executive EditorNancy BecherAdvertising Inquiries nancy@success4biz.bizSubscriptions 701 N. Prairie Street, Sturgis, MI269-651-3555SmallBizForward.comSuccess4Biz.bizTwitter @ SmallbizjunkieFacebook /bsucinnectorlinkedIn /nancybecher

Editor, Layout, Designer, PhotograherZachary Harker

BSU helps small business succeed throughmentoring projects, networking groups, andentrepreneurial forums. From business knowhowto business networking, BSU has it all.For more information about our one-on-oneconsulting, business retreats or networkingforums contact me at:

701 Prairie Street, 2nd Floor, Sturgis, MI 49091

Phone: 269-651-3555

Email: nancy@success4biz.biz

CEO: Nancy K Becher A trusted and caringservice provider for the entrepreneur andsmall business owner in need of marketing and advertising advice, as well as a large networking group of businesses

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Did you know that Paint (something all computers come with) is one of the best and easiest ways to create graphics for posting on your Facebook, LinkedIn, and website pages? You can find pictures online through places like Google (be careful that they are not royalty protected). Save them to your hard drive, then open them in Paint and you can change their size, you can write on them, delete bits and pieces – all to help in your brand creation and maintenance.

Headquartered in New York, TED started in 1984 as a conference bringing together the worlds of technology, entertainment and design, and has received international acclaim in the years since. At its core, the nonprofit has managed to stick to its roots of covering “ideas worth spreading,” and its website features informative videos worth watching.

Talks are grouped by theme on the site page, and lectures are listed under “Tales of Innovation,” “Technology, History and Destiny,” and “What’s Next in Tech.”

When you want to know how to get more people seeing your website and interacting with you via the Internet, here are a few programs that might help:

Website Analysis Tools

• Website Grader – Website analysis tool from Hubspot.

• Blog Grader – Blog analysis tool from Hubspot.

• WooRank – Website analysis and SEO rank checker tool

(similar to Website Grader).

• Pear Analytics – Website analysis and SEO rank checker tool

(similar to Website Grader).

• Google Webmaster Tools – Provides you with detailed reports

about your pages’ visibility on Google.

• Google Analytics – Analytics to monitor your website traffic.

• List of free SEO rank checker tools

RESOURCES

Thanks goes out to the Open Door Gallery for allowing access to the rooftop for these photos

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Contents

pg.14

pg.16

pg.8

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6) Office to Office

7) Letter to the Editor

8) Managing Your Business -- resources to help you grow!

11) First Impressions

12) Expansion and Increased Security

14) Being Connective

16) Next Big Thing

20) Think Expansion? What about contraction?

23) Growing Your Team: In 3 Easy Steps

24) Chatting with the Experts

29) How to Achieve Autonomy As An Entrepreneur

30) Bigger, Better or Worse?

34)Challenge Yourself to Get Healthy

40) Shortcuts in Outlook® 2010 and 2013 Can Save You Time

42) Considering Franchising: 5 Key Concerns

44) We PLay Hard, We Work Hard

JAN MURPHY

pg.24

pg.34

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Spring has sprung? While writing this I am doubtful that we’ll ever see spring. We’re supposed to get 4 inches of snow today along with freezing rain. But I know that eventually the weather will warm. The sun is shining at the moment and it WILL get to be spring soon!

The same is true for our businesses. We’re crawling out from the dark and depressing winter and our hopes and dreams for growth are beginning to emerge and bloom like the soon to be growing flowers in our gardens. Spring is all about growth and re-beautification of our world around us. And as business owners these hopes and dreams focus on our companies and how we want them to grow. Every entrepreneur and small business owner is on a constant quest to improve his or her business. But with the daily obstacles that come with running a business, new initiatives and improvements often get left behind.

Business expansion is a stage of a company’s life that is fraught with both opportunities and perils. Growth means potentially having to hire employees, buy more product, move into a larger space, and so on. This means that you are no longer running the same business but in essence have an entirely new entity that you have to gain control over.

While it is really exciting to see your dream of success “coming true”, it is also important to understand that you now need to have a handle on many new and perhaps never envisioned situations. The paperwork involved with the government and taxes for employees, bookkeeping questions, time management, less time with family and friends, etc.

The April issue of Small Biz Forward looks at ways we can expand our businesses (or perhaps slow down the growth process to gain more control over how we grow). Don’t let the excitement of spring and growth go to your head…flowers WILL bloom, your business WILL grow, but don’t rush it. We want the snow gone, of course, but I’m not sure I’m ready for 90° weather yet. The same could be true for unmanaged growth. Enjoy reading!

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If you have seen the Small Biz Forward magazine, then you know about the variety of tips, techniques, insights and events that are offered each month. Reading it from cover to cover each month has helped me to define my target market, develop a marketing plan, realize how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals and how to fill out a SWOT form. If you are unsure of any of these terms, then you need to get on board with one of Nancy Becher’s in-person Peer Advisory Board meetings or the online version of these meetings. Invite your most respected friends to join in and glean from everyone on the call! You will want to schedule these into your month on a continual basis to keep up with the latest in marketing, business tips and successes because we know that today, things will always be changing and you need to stay in touch with them or your business will begin to slip down the slippery slope of complacency. Join in the fun, grow your business, and send me a text when you reach your next S.M.A.R.T. goal! You can contact me;

Kathy Williamson, at (574) 850-4424.

I look forward to hearing from you, hopefully on the next Peer Advisory Ca

“Looking for a magazine that’s full of great suggestions, well written articles and inspiration for entrepreneurs in every field? Nancy Becher’s Small Biz Forward magazine delivers. Love the advertorials and the unique advertising opportunities available too - I’ve used the advertorial advertising package a number of times over the past year with great results and so much appreciate Nancy’s eagerness to help me present my company in the best possible way.” Karen Bachert, Owner of K Enterprises & Your Business Needs Fans

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So you’ve been in business for a while. Your revenues are growing, and you’re finding yourself in a sustained growth period. But you are still trying to do everything yourself. How’s that going for ‘ya?

Now’s the time when you need to start putting processes and procedures into place instead of running by the seat of your pants. Sound familiar? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a plan in place to get you from point A to Point X, Y and Z. So, let’s get started. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.

Have you ever compiled a business plan? What about a SWOT analysis? Do you have your mission statement? These are all important parts of creating your roadmap. If you have done these, get them out and reread them, thinking about how they may have changed and morphed since they were originally written. If you haven’t done them, NOW is the time. Start work on them now.

Managing Your BusinessResources to help you grow!Nacey Becher, Growth Specialist at Business Success

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It is also at this time that you may be considering hiring employees to help take you to the next level. Do you know all the laws and regulations that you have to abide by when you have employees? What about job descriptions and work flow processes? Do you have those in place? Depending on the type of business you have, are you looking at enlarging your facility? Moving from home into an office? Buying or renting space? Maybe your employees will be homebased and telecommute? Where do you hold meetings? In a coffee shop? Or an office conference room? All of these are important decisions that need to be made as you grow.

Perhaps you might want to consider working with a human resources agency or a placement service that can take on the tax liabilities, find the right employees (through their tests and procedures, freeing you from those responsibilities) and worry about payroll. These are great services and while you pay a bit more to have them on your team, it is often well worth the expense.

As you grow, you should also be thinking about financing. You probably have been bootstrapping up to now, but by this time you need to know you have the resources to pay for employees, to expand, to hire a lawyer, or other support. By creating a relationship with a bank you will have someone on your side – there to help you when you need a loan or other financial guidance. Now

may also be the time to think about other, alternative financing options such as venture capitalists and angel investors. And of course, any time you’re talking about money, you need to have your ducks in a row, know your financials (perhaps you have a bookkeeper or should think about getting one). If you don’t know your numbers, no one is going to take you seriously.

And speaking of attorneys, it also becomes important at this point that you have someone you can call on with legal questions. Someone who can answer questions that are not easily answered by Googling them. Do you hire one on retainer? Do you use one piecemeal – only when something comes up? Does it make sense to have legal plans in place so that you don’t getsidelined should the need arise.

How do you find out about all these different people, businesses, strategies, etc.? Always do your research, but ask colleagues, collaborators, clients – get referrals and then talk with people. You need to feel comfortable with who you bring on board, and reasons for doing things in a certain way. If you don’t believe in the person or process, it will probably not work for you.

Whatever you do, know that the “Chief Cook and Bottlewasher” approach is not going to work any longer. You’ve done great so far, but now it’s time to delegate and find those who do what they do best while you take care of business.

Nacey Becher, Growth Specialist at Business Success

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Just how Important Are They?

The first impression could be their only impression of you. If it is not favorable, then they may tune you out. Experts believe that in the first 4 seconds, people will make judgments about you & tell themselves:

• I will (or will not) buy from this person • I will (or will not) like this person• I find this person kind (or not)• I find this person intelligent (or not)

Some people put very little time in their appearance and it shows. Good grooming and making sure that your clothes fit properly is necessary in order to appear creditable and respectable. Looking good gives you confidence. Sometimes personality can overcome bad first impressions, but most often people are not given a second chance to impress. Sometimes conforming to standard business attire is required to earn the respect of the person you are seeking to sell your products to.

Not only is your appearance important, but your place of business can reflect negatively on you as well. Assuming that it does not matter to other people is a huge mistake. Let me share this story with you.

In my networking organization I had a very talented photographer who worked out of her house. She had been a member for months and photographed many of the members for their professional headshots. I hired this photographer to shoot the cover of a magazine that we were publishing at the time. It was a group picture and when I was scheduling this with those in the group, I had several of the members ask me if I had ever been to her home. I had not and most had assumed that I had. Their concern and their complaint for having the shoot at her home was that it was cluttered, dirty and had a distinct odor from her pets.

At that time, it was disclosed to me by all that were involved that they were extremely pleased with her work but could not recommend or refer customers to her because they believed it would be a reflection on them by doing so. This is a case where first impressions did matter and halted any opportunity for this person to get repeat business and referrals.

People are too embarrassed to be honest and prefer not to address their true feelings sometimes. For that reason, don’t be oblivious to your surroundings. Check your competitor’s workplace or make arrangements to meet people in other locations if you cannot maintain a professional image within your home.

Be sure not to make the critical mistake that appearance does not matter to people.

In sales and sales management for over twenty years, Jan has trained people to successfully market their products and services through adaptive and consultative sales techniques.A recent transplant from

Atlanta, Jan is the Founder of Women’s Business Bureau, a women’s businessorganization in Kalamazoo.Jan’s expertise lies in building ground floor operations into fast-growing, profitable businesses. Contact Jan:

Phone: (334)-560-6955 (cell) Website: www.womensbusinessbureau.com

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All of us in business look at expanding, but when we do that we also need to look at expanding our security for the business and ourselves as well. As we become more popular in our given industry there are more people that become envious of us, who despise us because we have become ‘someone’ or feel threatened by our career advancement. While we all hope to increase our popularity, our income levels and our careers, we need to keep these folks in mind, as they do not want to see you get to where you wish to be.

As a security consultant, I constantly read news articles where employers have been threatened by former employees who have been terminated, competitors who feel that they are being robbed of business they feel is theirs and more. This is where and when we need to increase our security awareness and keep our eyes and ears open for anything out of the normal. Things like a competitor showing up at the same location as you for a meeting, clients saying that ‘so and so’ has contacted them and has made some accusations about your business practices. These contacts should peek your interest and make you wonder why. Why did Mrs. X show up at this Expo, why did

Mr. Y call my client and say those things? You may be in the same line of work, may sell the same product line, may have overlapping districts, but what is their motive.

This is the time to check things out, how well is that competitor doing on sales, are they struggling? Did they take a shot at this big client you just got and they were shunned? Did they try for a spot at this Expo and only one per industry or product line was permitted and you got in and they did not. We all know how competitive the business world can be.

Expansion and Increased Security

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How do we expand our security needs as we grow?

Step one as always will be maintaining your situational awareness. This is one item that should never stop evolving. The more we maintain our situational awareness the more we will see things we never have before. Not just things that could harm us, but it could be that first flower that spring brings.

Step two is to know who your competition or others in your sphere of influence are. The more we know about them, both professionally and sometimes personally we know where we stand competitively. We want to know if they are struggling, have any of their clients approached us and if so why? Do not be afraid to ask why they wish to discuss business with you vice their current supplier. We do not want to make enemies by someone feeling we are robbing business away from them.

Take a look at their Facebook and LinkedIn pages. What are we seeing? Are we seeing a happy person, a troubled business owner or nothing at all? Many of us know on a personal level others within our business and see them regularly at networking events, business meetings or even socially. Keeping these lines of communications open helps with our security. If one of these people starts hearing things they will hopefully let you know when someone starts talking bad about you or to your clients.

Step three, increase our security! Make sure family or business associates know where we will be for business meetings, who the meeting is with and when. Plan the meeting in high traffic areas, especially if this is a first time meeting. As the time approaches for the meeting, PUT DOWN THE SMART PHONE! Start looking around, do you see the person you are meeting with? See anyone else who you recognize? Does it feel safe? If it does, enjoy the meeting, you may just have a new client or you may be able to help that business owner who is about to lose this client. We never want to take away clients from others if we can help it.

Along with meeting safety, how about our home or business security. How secure are they? Alarm system in place? Cameras so we can view who is coming and going when we are not there? Let’s not forget our automobiles, are we locking them, parking in well let areas? Are we using remote unlocks? Stop right there, do not use them to lock your car: they can be hacked.

So for this month, let us stay safe, stay secure and watch your six!

Ed Becher, (Ret.) US Marine and Former Chief Instructor, US Dept. of State, Uniformed Branch, Diplomatic Security Service is the owner of Center for Protection, Security and Personal

Safety (The Bodyguard Academy) which is a provider of training and resources to keep you, your staff and clients safe. He can be contacted at ed@thebodyguardacademy.com or by phone at (269)651-3355.

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BEING CONNECTIVESocial Media - Blogging by Gail M. Turluck

The successful small business owner today knows the importance of social media to reaching the market, sharing new product and opportunities, and keeping up with trends. Frequently what comes to mind when one hears the term “Social Media,” one thinks of the biggies: Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Google+, Pinterest, and a few others. Having consistent, accurate and timely material on all of those platforms is critical. For some unexplained reason, however, many overlook a really important outlet and that is the weblog, more commonly known as the “blog.”

Getting started is easier than one thinks it may be. The first choice to make is whether to use a free platform or to pay to have the content hosted. While free is almost always good, there is the possibility that the blog host might one day in the future decide to shut down or take your blog down and then, poof! All your hard work is gone. A confident, forward looking business owner is wise to invest a small monthly fee to have a paid host blog account to maintain control of what happens to those tidbits of brilliance to be shared with the wild, wild west of the internet.

The front door to your business is your web site. A web site isn’t quite considered social media, though they are based on the internet. A web site is more of a one way communications tool; here is what we are, here is what we do, here is how to do things with us, here is how to find and reach us.

Nearly all web site hosts also host blogs and to me it makes sense to keep your internet presence hosted altogether. That way, if you need to change hosts some day in the future, there is far less arranging to do and more fluidity to the process. Web site hosts, just for examples’ sake, include iPage, GoDaddy, HostGator, FatCow, and bluehost. A few blog experts have a particular hosting service they prefer, and if you are really keen on details it may be worth making 5-10 web searches

and reading about their preferences and why, but the most important thing is to get your blog started.

When developing a blog for your business, look at it as a way to be able to deliver a message about one topic far more in depth than you would on your web page, in a Facebook post, or you could ever consider for Twitter. You may utilize it as one of many arrows in your quiver of on line advertising, though it belongs in a special quiver all its own.

Consider taking a team or corporate approach to administering your blog. As with all things on the internet, it is important to recognize this written material is merely a tool to help build your business and is not something to become emotionally attached to. Perhaps someone in your team is a better writer or can more effectively describe your product or benefits and should be entrusted to manage this presence to free up your time for tasks better suited to you as the leader. Setting a procedure requiring blog post approval for your team members before having it go live is recommended.

So, you have a host, now you need to decide what platform to use for delivering your blog entries. There is an advantage to using one of the dedicated blogging web-based programs, as they have wired in sharing and outreach features that will cause more people to see and share your message than if you wrote and posted your message on a dedicated company web page.

First to consider is WordPress, the most widely used blog platform. WordPress offers both a free version and a pay to tie to your internet web host server version. Utilizing the pay version lets you designate the blog to your same URL making it much easier for web surfers to locate, and more importantly, re-locate, plus you retain control of the content.

Blogger.com is free though it is tied firmly to Google and you must have a Gmail account to get started. If you’re a Google fan this could be a good choice, but as a free platform there is no guarantee of permanence nor control. Blog.com is reportedly owned by Yahoo!, yet there is no claim on the web page of such and disappointingly the most recent year for Blog of the Year awards is 2011. I would steer clear as this points it up to having poor service.

Consider b2evolution.net. This platform encourages you to start out with a simple blog, hosted on your own server. Then they guide you to next steps, should you be ready, including contact management, email marketing, social networking, photo albums, forums and more all integrated and is open source (free).

You’ll also frequently see Joomla!, which is used both as a web site database content driver and/or as a blog platform. It is rather complicated to set up, manage and use, and I suggest you consider some of the other platforms. Drupal is another platform that is used doubly as a web site developer and/or as a blog platform.

If by now you have not discovered your perfect fit for getting started, you may also consider Svbtle, Ghost, PixelPost, TypePad, Gallery2, phpBB,

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Nucleus, Geeklog, Roundcube, or Coppermine. Some are more image driven (photos), some balance text with images, some are friendliest to text. Each has its area of strength and weakness; if you keep a good document backup of your blog contents, you also could later change from one platform to another and repost your materials to a new platform.

As you select your platform and tie it to your web host, keep internet security in mind. As with your email account, make sure you set a really strong password for your blog account, too. Have lower and upper case letters, numbers and at least one character for ultimate security. Keep the URL for your new blog account recorded in a safe location as well as your password.

Next, set up your design. All of the platforms offer a wide variety of pick and fill designs. You can lose days to this process or be smart about it, set a timer for 15 minutes, make your choices and call it DONE! No matter what design you first set up, it’s likely as time passes you want to make changes and that’s fine.

Now it’s time to make that first blog entry. Pick a single topic,

Gail M. Turluck is the President of Connective Marketing of Richland, Michigan. Connective Marketing offers communications services including writing, e-newsletters, newsletters, web site content writing and updating service, editing, proofreading; Send Out Cards; and more on a contract or consulting basis. She may be contacted at gail@connectivemarketingllc.com or by visiting www.connectivemarketingllc.com.

focusing on something related to a goal you want to achieve in a set period of time, a week, a month or a quarter. Write about this topic, sharing what benefits there are to the reader, how it is used, illustrate as you are able with a few photos if possible, and always include a way for the reader to get further information. Before you click on “post,” either take a 10 minute break and come back and proofread it or have someone else read it to make sure the message is complete and clear. Then go ahead and post!

You are not quite done. It is important for blogging to be effective to be done on a somewhat regular basis. This routine does not have to be as perfect as an e-newsletter, but going 3-6 months between blog posts isn’t really blogging. Some blog platforms have a reminder that is built into the system and if so, make sure you set it up for the frequency you intend. If the platform you select does not have this option, utilize your e-calendar or phone calendar so you get a prompt, and then make sure you act on it.

Blogging can provide a special opportunity to connect to your clients and potential customers in great detail differently than is achieved through a web site. It’s also a good idea from time to time to share in your blog some of the real life experiences you are living—recent trips, funny anecdotes, new baby, marriage, child graduation, or other items of interest. Make your content lively and have fun with it!

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Graber Organic Farms is going on their 11th year of feeding the neighborhood. The goal of this family run farm is to support the health and environment of their local community. Graber Farms offers a Community Supported Agriculture or CSA program that allows you to make a connection with the farm and receive a weekly box of fresh organic produce. They are committed to growing high quality certified organic products. The produce is available at several local farm markets and health food stores. They also sell directly to several local restaurants.

What is CSA? Community Supported Agriculture or CSA is essentially a connection that is built between the consumer and their local farmer. By becoming a CSA member you support local farmers by paying an annual fee for fresh organic produce. These fees help the farmer purchase supplies such as seeds, water, equipment, and pay for labor. In return you receive hand picked seasonal certified organic produce weekly for the entire season. A CSA program allows consumers to support their local farmers and be insured they will receive the freshest produce available. Tens of thousands of families have joined CSAs, and in some areas of the country there is more demand than there are CSA farms to fill it. But this business is very proud of the fact that they provide their “members” with some of the freshest produce around. And even

though the sale process has started, you can join throughout the season.

The next question that may come to mind here is what is organic gardening and why is that any better than regular farm grown produce. According to the website www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm, The term “organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as “organic.” Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Graber Farms stays strictly within those guidelines.

Due to these facts (and others) the price of the items sold may seem a bit higher than some of the other produce you can buy; yet Mickieann and Bill Suder, owners of the business will not apologize for that fact. Instead, they will tell you that other produce you buy may NOT always be fresh, or organic, and you don’t really know where it comes from. For her, the facts are simple: what she sells is ALWAYS fresh from the farm and there will never be any synthetic pesticides or petroleum-based fertilizers used. They are pure.

Who is the next big thing?Nancy Becher

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How do you, the consumer, buy these wonderful items? There are several ways. The CSA program is a contract between the farm and the end user. Their 2015 CSA season runs for 20 weeks from June to October.

Your box of organic produce will include a variety of fruits and vegetables. The Harvest Calendar on the website has a list of fruits and vegetables they will be growing this season and the expected harvest dates. Due to weather conditions beyond their control the dates of availability are subject to change, but they promise they will do their best to give you a wide variety of produce in each box.

Share Size and Cost

• Half Share $16.75 a week for a minimum of 5-10 pounds of organic produce

• Small Share $27.25 a week for a minimum of 10-18 pounds of organic produce

• Medium Share $37.75 a week for a minimum of 18-25 pounds of organic produce

• Large Share $48.25 a week for a minimum of 25-30 pounds of organic produce

• Half Share is enough to feed 1 adult

• Small Share is enough to feed 2 adults

• Medium Share is enough to feed 3 to 4 adults

• Large Share is enough to feed 4 to 6 adults

There are many locations around the Fort Wayne area where the boxes can be picked up. The website graberorganicfarms.com lists the various locations and times when items should be available. You can always make arrangements to pick up at the farm as well. The weight of the share boxes will vary throughout the season. At the beginning of the season they will be lighter; towards the middle and end of the season they will weigh more than the minimum. This all depends on the type of produce that is in season.

If you’re not interested in being part of the CSA, but would still like to have these wonderfully fresh and tasty fruits and vegetables from time to time, the farm is also at local farmers markets around the area and can be purchased individually at those locations (also listed on the website). When you’re eating out at restaurants in and around Fort Wayne, you also may be eating items fresh from the Graber Farms fields. There are many restaurants and co-op grocery stores that use the products too!

One thing that Mickieann wants you to know is that they are always interested in supporting those who support themin any way they can. She told me that if there’s anything you would like them to grow they will do their best to see if it makes sense for them to add an item not already on their lists. Just send them a request and they’ll see what they can do.

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As well, if you need hay for your animals, the hay at the farm is also organic in nature and they sell this in the fall and winter as well.

If all that isn’t enough, this list of things that the farm does for the community is just getting started. Throughout the year there is so much more than growing going on here. One such thing is a great way to teach your children about the food they eat and what it takes to grow it. Families are welcome to come visit the farm and actually help out with various things. When you come to volunteer for a day, you will be fed certified organic food, prepared by a chef from Eddie Merlo, you will go home with a recipe card and produce. Even when it’s raining, Mickieann tells us there’s work to be done in the barn. You can call 260-710-5656 to set up a time to come on out. In 2014, they had 13 rows of tomatoes (3,500 plants). The tomatoes are grown 18-24 inches apart and are tied up every 6 inches. These rows stretch over two football fields in length. They also had over 30 rows of berry bushes. There are over 5,000 onions as well. There are also bees and a beekeeper who pollinate the produce every season.

Just a bit about the chef – he will live on the farm during the summer months and will be heading up the events listed below. As kitchen manager and corporate trainer for both Outback Steak House and Texas

Road House (as well as cook/assistant manager at Red Lobster), you can rest assured that the food will be TERRIFIC.

During the growing times, the farm has a Fun Family Friday Night where their brick oven will be cranking out pizza and much more for visitors to share. The last Sunday of the month there will be something going on: on June 28, a Bar-B-Q grill-off will be held, and on July 26th a Hog Roast Charity will be held with local restaurants preparing side dishes. August 30th is a surprise and will be announced later in the summer. September 27th is a pumpkin harvest where you can carve your own pumpkin to be judged in the competition (if you’d like). Every Friday and Saturday during October there will be a corn maze and the year winds down on October 25 with a flannel shirt bonfire. Sounds like so much fun. But that’s not all – there will also be wagon rides, kiddie train rides, cow milking/making butter, homemade apple butter, canning, showing the proper use of knives in the kitchen and more. Suggestions anyone? The farm says send them to farmerjoe.csa@gmail.com or call 260-710-5656.

Think that’s all? Guess again. If you’re looking for someplace to have a farm vacation, and are willing to help out around the fields, etc. give Mickieann a call and she’ll see what she can arrange.

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Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Well, before we go we just have to give you a little bit of background on this amazing woman. After she was diagnosed with cancer she began to eat organic and spent time working at the farm. She went to farmers markets and starting to talk with other vendors and consumers. Selling was all new too as she referred to herself as “this stay-at-home mom.”

In 2012 she and her family moved on the property (then Amish), with 2 dogs, 8 cats, 1 horse and 2 ponies along with a rooster and 10 free range chickens. Electricity was powered by a windmill, but after having the hot water stop and the lights go out while washing her hair in the shower, there was no argument – REAL electricity was no longer an option. For too long they had run out in the rain and snow to fill the generator with gas. (And yes, there WERE times when the gas can was empty). NO more. They now have electricity and are very happy.

Located 4 miles east of Harlon (Rte. 37) on the Indiana/Ohio state line (Hicksville, OH), they are very easy to reach and their website at graberorganicfarms.com leads you to so much information you really need to take a look at it all.

Since the family feels so blessed with everything they have to offer, they want to let their customers know that for every CSA purchase a portion of the

sales goes to a charity of the buyer’s choice. More information is available on the website.

They are taking orders RIGHT NOW for the CSA program and will soon be very busy out in those fields. Plan now to take some time, take your family and head out to the fields to see where the best and freshest fruits and vegetables come from locally! You won’t be sorry. And bring along some cash to take some of that wonderful produce home with you too.

Graber Farms 26409 Springfield Center Rd. Harlan, IN

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The lifeblood of your business is cash flow. Early in my entrepreneurial career, I believed that if I just got out and networked enough, the clients would come around and I’d have cash flow. And that may well be true, but the intermediate step between cash flow and expansion requires a cold hard look at your billable hours. No billable hours, no cash flow, and soon, no way to pay even very little overhead expenses. But now you’re billing fifty hours a week and doing everything else, too…

If your business includes a great deal of providing billable hours, say eight or more a day, you can charge your clients much less per hour. If much of your day is spent marketing yourself, networking, writing articles like this one to build your personal brand, then you better get some serious buck for your bang when you have billable hours. Either way, you’re limited to

the same number of hours per week as the next guy. If you’re early to bed and early to rise, then you’ll be working fewer hours than the next guy (hint – she’s not early to bed.) When the work piles up, instead of exhausting yourself working 60+ hours per week with no end in sight (and no weekend even visible in your rearview mirror) you need to make a change.

As you think about expanding your workforce, you need to consider carefully: will your new employee add or subtract from your bottom line? Can you find someone who can execute your billable hours for less pay (perhaps you are running a lawn-mowing business and would like to hire a high school or college student) while you get paid to do the higher value of managing the business? Or if you’re a massage therapist who can pull in $90 per 45 minute session, perhaps you need someone who

can execute the non-billable hours (administrative work) for less than it costs you in lost billable hours?

This magazine’s network of entrepreneurs includes people with some pretty fantastic solutions. One thing to consider before you add a full time employee is outsourcing admin work to someone – that unbillable dreck you have to sludge through for twenty hours a week even as you provide thirty-five hours of highly-paid billable hours as well. Consider the possibility of contraction as well, for your own health. How much do you really need? Can you raise rates a bit and outsource your admin time to a virtual administrator? I am fond of quoting Lao Tzu: There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough. Sometimes expansion means going after more than enough. As you consider expansion, also consider what contraction might look like.

Thinking Expansion? What about contraction?

Adam Fleming

Adam G. Fleming is a husband and father of four, teaches active listening, powerful questions and SMART goals to non-profits and churches. CEO at Evergreen Leaders, Owner at Epic Life Studios, international traveler, multicultural thinker and author of the novel white Buffalo Gold.

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Creating healthy changes in behaviors in the community in a fun and engaging way NUTRITION • PHYSICAL ACTIVITY • HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS • HEALTH AWARENESS

Challenge Yourself to Get Healthy Gather your team & join the Michiana Community KENKO Challenge It’s a Win-Win

Teams and individuals compete in health-based challenges and games and share their successes online and through social media. Go to www.CindyCohenRN.com to as an individual or team. JOIN now through April 20th, 2015 CHALLENGE dates: May 5th – July 5th (8 weeks) REGISTRATION fee: $10 per person WEB BASED website connection SMART PHONE applications TEAMS consist of 2 – 10 people, any group POINTS are calculated in real time PRIZES awarded to the top teams

FUN | INTERACTIVE | EVERYONE WINS We make fitness & eating healthy so much fun, you’ll forget you’re doing either.

Kenko, meaning “health” in Japanese, is a workplace wellness team-based challenge with the objective of implementing a fun and engaging approach to creating healthy changes in behaviors and the workplace. Kenko combines mobile, online, print, social media, and video into a fun and energizing work-wellness package you and your company will love.

Community challenge kicks off

May 5th. Register today!

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YES! I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE MICHIANA COMMUNITY KENKO CHALLENGE & START GETTING HEALTHIER!

Register NOW! We are signing up Individuals, families, work-mates, companies, association and

organizations!

You are more than 8 times more likely to get healthy and 74% more likely to sustain those healthy behavior changes in a group.

If creating a team you must have 2 – 10 people. Don’t have a team? Join the MICHIANA Community Team!

____ I would like to be a Team Leader & invite my friends to be on my team.

____ I would like to join an existing team.

____ I am an individual, I don’t have a team & would like to join the MICHIANA Community Team.

READY TO GET STARTED? THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SIGN-UP

1. www.CindyCohenRN.com click MICHIANA KENKO

2. Download the KENKO CHALLENGE on your smart phone

3. Leave us your contact information – we’ll assist you:

Name: _____________________________________

Email: _____________________________________

Cell Phone Number: __________________________

Registration Ends: April 20th, 2015 FEE: $10/person

Michiana Community Challenge Dates: May 5th – July 5th

For more information contact: Cindy Cohen RN, C2 Your Health LLC 800.245.8917 vm Cindy@CindyCohenRN.com

YES! I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE MICHIANA KENKO CHALLENGE COMMUNITY PARTNER PROGRAM & GIVE BACK! The Community Partners Program recognizes businesses and other organizations that provide support to the Michiana Community KENKO Challenge. Our Community partnerships create the opportunity give back to our community by supporting the change we want to see by influencing healthy behavior change.

Join the Community Partner Program to receive: →Social Media Marketing – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest (8,000+ impressions) →Wellness Interested Targeted Email Mkt (12,000+) →Press Releases – 100 sites →Website Hosting

Silver $150 – All of the above PLUS → Your logo & website link on all 8 week s of challenges

Gold $300 – All of the above PLUS →Your logo &website link →Offer a special or coupon on the corresponding week

Platinum $450 – All of the above PLUS →Your logo &website link →Offer a special or coupon every week →Host an event during the challenge and invite challengers to your business for an onsite activity

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Eating Well of South Bend to add to growing their urban garden in with vertical hydroponic tower gardens.

Contact Name: _________________________________

Email: ________________________________________

Phone Number: ________________________________

Name of your Company: _________________________

Partnership Interest: SILVER GOLD PLATINUM

Ask us how to give back by sponsoring a vertical tower garden urban garden.

The Michiana Community KENKO Challenge is organized by the Team at C2 Your Health www.CindyCohenRN.com

23

Step 1: Determine the best awards for your company and apply for them.

Why: People love trophies and awards. When you are recognized locally, nationally and globally people are drawn to you. They see these awards and want to work for your company. Recently a company that I partner with won an esteemed Staffing Award that only 3% of companies in the nation are awarded. They publicized this on a billboard and later that week applications came pouring into their office unlike any other time of the year. The best thing about it is that they received qualified and extremely talented applicants! This is proof you can attract great people into your organization with just a little work put into going after awards out there. There are many, so determine which one is best for your organization and go after it!

Step 2: Hire Intelligent and Competent People

Why: Invest in your business by quickly hiring intelligent and competent individuals to meet demand. With that said, it is imperative to install online task management systems and implement check lists for everything. The systems and documentation you set in place will allow for the newly hired team to hit the ground running. Discover where it is best for you to attract future employees for your organization. I always remember the saying my father said: “you get what you pay for, so if you buy cheap, you get cheap”. Sometimes a little investment in attracting the right people is needed for you to get the best quality candidates out there. Invest in finding the right people.

Step 3: Build a strong company culture

Why: What type of business are you? Are you completely online and have all of your employees working from home? Be sure to adapt a culture where people can still enjoy the “water cooler” talk and set up tools such as Skype, Face Time, Video Chat and more. Maybe your company is “bricks and mortar”. It is important to set standard meetings, whether they are weekly or every other week. It’s important to keep the lines of communication open. Most importantly – the company culture is lived and breathe by everyone, everyday. Decide what you want your culture to be and as the leader, be sure to set the stage – If you really want a great culture you must lead others by your example.

Growing Your Team In 3 Easy Steps

Susie Olivarez Owner & Senior HR Consultant Iron Sharpens Iron – Discovering Your X Factor www.your-x-factor.com

24 JAN MURPHY

In this month’s Women Who Achieve article, Jan Murphy talked with Julie Chenery about her business and what she believes has made her (and it) so successful. Here’s the interview in Julie’s own words.

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Q Tell us about your company. When did you start it?

1978 was when my father opened his first shop, formally known as Westside Auto Body. He has sold out and retired. However we still have our first employee who works 3 days a week for us, He is 85 years old! We now have grown to 7 shops in southwest Michigan and have the 4th generation of Jacksons working in and on the business.

Q How many employees do you have?

We have 95 employees currently.

Q What is your business about?

Collision repair.

Q What is your company’s gross revenue range?

15 million annually

Q What advice do you have for women to build sustainable businesses?

Identify if your product or service solves a problem or a void, if yes, start solving it and surround yourself with a team of people who are smarter than you are. Invest 3% of your income into higher learning. Strive for excellence but not perfection. Always put people first.

Q What do you think it takes to be a successful business owner in this market area?

You need to have the better “3 P’s” (people, product, and process) than your competitor. Compassion and respect for your staff and customers, strong ethics and leader-ship. Constant learning, a need to succeed, a need for others to succeed. Don’t major on the minor. It’s ok to be afraid, but don’t let that stop you. Stay positive. Give back more than you take. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel.

Q What do you believe attributed most to your success?

My family, My mother is strong and independent , My father is my hero, my brother is my business partner and one of my best friends, my determination and a solid marriage. And my business coach.

Q Do you think women have more obstacles than men in their careers or in building

profitable businesses?

If you would have asked me that question earlier in my career I might have said yes, but my answer is No. Thinking any other way is becoming a victim and we all have obstacles regardless of gender.

Q Best advice career and business advice that you want to share.

Identify what you want, write it down with a time frame, get to work, and enjoy the journey. Don’t worry about being judged and try to be nonjudgmental. Listen, and remember that there are always more than one way to do something. Study the laws of the universe and don’t try to fight against them. Be grateful. Treat everyone with respect. Find something that inspires you and get excited about it. Have more than one source of income. Protect your assets. Don’t pay for your toys with credit. Have a 6 month emergency fund account. Avoid drama. Get some thick skin and have a sense of humor (example when I told my husband about this interview, he wanted to know how much I paid for it!)

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Q If you had the ability to do something over, what would it be?

A lot of things come to mind, too many to list but as I get older I find out things always happen for a reason and they happen when they are supposed to, even if it’s not on the time frame I wanted or thought it should be.

Q Do you struggle with work and life balance?

Of course, I always am on a guilt trip but I have a wonderful husband that helps me out.

Q How did having children affect your career?

No kids that I can remember, but I do have a rescued dachshund (Eddie the shop top- dog) with separation anxiety, so he is attached permanently to my ankle, that has been a challenge, but he is also a blessing.

Q What mistakes do you believe women make today?

Well, I have made a lot of these mistakes so here is a starter list, trying to please everyone, not learning to love and take care of themselves first. Low self-esteem. Lack of confidence, not having a plan or knowing what they want out of life. Allowing to become a victim, life is not fair, so accept it and rise above it. Taking things too personally. Being too needy. Talking too much, apologizing too much. Not giving yourself permission to fail. I work in a male dominated environment and I can say this also applies to many men. I interview a lot of people and my experience is that when it comes to salary negotiations, women will always “put themselves on sale” they are willing take less than the position pays and don’t negotiate for benefits. But a man is firm, usually starts requesting a higher salary than the position pays and always negotiates for better benefits. Then women get angry when they get what they ask for and the guy next to them is doing the same job with less time has more vacation time or is paid better. Words of wisdom would be don’t do that. Employers are always having a hard time no matter what the job market is to find outstanding people and if you are outstanding - don’t sell yourself short right out of the gate. It’s not about being humble, that makes you look weak. Business is a wonderful game to be played and if you are going to play it, play to win. It is more fun and profitable when you are winning.

Thank you Julie for this wonderful look into your life. Fantastic words of wisdom to live by. It gives the readers a sense of hope and a knowledge that they, too, may become (or are) experts at what they do.

In sales and sales management for over twenty years, Jan has trained people to successfully market their products and services through adaptive and consultative sales techniques.A recent transplant from

Atlanta, Jan is the Founder of Women’s Business Bureau, a women’s businessorganization in Kalamazoo.Jan’s expertise lies in building ground floor operations into fast-growing, profitable businesses. Contact Jan:

Phone: (334)-560-6955 (cell) Website: www.womensbusinessbureau.com

27

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29

How To Achieve Autonomy As An EntrepreneurWhen you decided to start a business, you most likely dreamed that by doing so, you would achieve both financial freedom and time freedom. Of course, both of these are possible, and not without a clear plan that is adapted as you grow.

Sometimes, the financial success of small business hinders the time freedom aspect, as entrepreneurs fail to set up systems that run without them. Many eventually find that time freedom is more important to them than financial wealth.

Is this you? If it hasn’t happened yet, can you see down the road that it could?

Cool. At least you have the vision to see it!

So, allow me to give you some ideas for how to achieve autonomy as an entrepreneur.

There are three main areas to develop an an entrepreneur, which will give you the time freedom you desire.

1. Build an impeccable team of talented people who can do all the stuff you don’t want to do, and/or aren’t good at doing. Trust them, and give them the authority to do their job independently, without the need to dictate to them. Destroy hierarchy as an idea that has expired. Establish a collaborative work environment, assuring the you’re all in the right conversation.

2. Commit to consistently building air-tight processes that execute flawlessly, so that your repetitive tasks are efficient and lean. Create this as an essential task, measure the results, and reward those involved for meeting or exceeding the metrics.

3. Empower every member of your team to innovate process continuously. Question all assumptions, as growth requires constant review and analysis of functionality. Bake this into your culture so people feel safe in calling out when something isn’t working.

Most entrepreneurs are rock solid when it comes to ideas. There is never a shortage of them, and most of them have a good possibility for working if executed. It’s the follow through — the execution that generally falls away, resulting in those great ideas fizzling out.

That’s why the 3 part plan for how to achieve autonomy as an entrepreneur makes so much sense. Successful entrepreneurs surround themselves with the right people, process, and mindset so that all aspects of the business get handled efficiently and with passion.

What’s the use in creating piles of cash if you can’t get away from your business enough to enjoy it?

I see a month in the tropics in your future. What do you see?

Charrise McCrorey is a leading business and leadership consultant, life coach, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur, who specializes in serving clients all over the world. Her superpowers include a finely tuned sense of intuition, mad courage to say what is true, and an unremitting ability to inspire and light people up. She is an endless source of optimism, in an ever-cynical world.

She’s the equivalent of Dorothy’s magic shoes, helping the people see what’s always been inside them, so that they use their natural talents to create a better future. Her work is powered by her commitment to asking provocative questions, which offers a productive space for the answers to emerge. Through a commitment to having conversations that matter, she encourages leaders and entrepreneurs to get clear on what they really want, while gently guiding them into bold action.

30

Size DOES matter, and the decision of whether or when to expand your business operations is a tricky one. Way back in the early 1990’s when I started my first law firm with my partner, it was just us and an office manager. We did it all, kept busy and had a great time. After a year or so, the issue of hiring another attorney arose and we joked that we “hired and fired” that mystical next employee a hundred times in our minds! Fast forward four more years and our business had changed drastically: big offices, two support staff, four partners, one law clerk, two other lawyers “of counsel”, a part-time associates and tenants. But bigger didn’t equate to better. Sadly, after two more years, we had huge accounts receivables but not much personal revenue, differing philosophies on the sort of practice we should be, and serious differences on the distribution of responsibilities. As a result, we all went our separate ways but in the process, I acquired valuable lessons in what not to do that have guided my own and my clients’ business decisions.

When debating expansion, think long and hard about the kind of lifestyle you have or that you wish to have in the future. With size, comes extra overhead, additional benefit costs, more complicated paperwork, and employee issues. You will also either have to feel comfortable with your ability to handle the management obligations that growth will require or to have the funds to hire someone equipped to do that job. DO NOT underestimate how much chaos/damage can be done to your business operations by poor management. Many of my clients are excellent at what they do but are less than proficient at managing their businesses. Will you be content with having to work harder just to make sure the company is managed properly? Will you start to resent the fact that others are doing the work you love to do but you are getting to do less of it just because all the management chores have fallen upon your shoulders?

Another major issue is what sort of growth is best for you. Do you want employees whom you or others will supervise, a partner who will work alongside you, or an investor who will infuse funding but stay out of the picture day-to-day? Do you feel confident about taking on a financial burden of extra salaries and benefits that will be your obligation even when the slow times arise? Will the addition of a partner/investor require written agreements, restrictions on decision-making, or even a sea change in the focus of your business? Take your time and really get to know the people whom you add to your business “family.” You will be starting a professional relationship with them that may occupy more of your time than your existing personal relationships. Don’t rush into anything or you may learn the hard way what not

to do when hiring/adding personnel. Make sure your personalities, abilities and priorities are complementary. Liking a person or working with friends/family is not enough – I lost a best friend 17 years ago because we had incompatible business styles and it still hurts.

When it comes to “stuff”, my advice is to beg, borrow, get [gently] used or share. . . much like a new car, the bright and shiny WILL acquire dents/wrinkles or whatever sooner or later. Better to not worry about such things if you can manage it.

As you acquire more people, space, stuff - or whatever, use professionals to help you. Your tax advisor and your attorney will be invaluable to guide you and document what your obligations are. If you don’t have one or the other, get them! Consider outsourcing managerial tasks to the extent possible. Every dollar you don’t spend on salaries may end up saving you many more dollars in avoided benefits/taxes/insurance.

When you do decide to expand, be highly mindful of finances. Set benchmarks, agree upon base salaries and division of revenues, troubleshoot ahead of time what might happen under “worst case” scenarios, and above all, make sure that your clients do not get ahead of you when it comes to payment. Watch your revenues and bottom line like a hawk and always make sure that you, as the original owner, don’t find yourself paying everyone else, with nothing left for you.

If you’ve done your homework, and feel comfortable with your choices, then go ahead and take the plunge – and all the best to you!!!

BiggerBetter or Worse?

31

14 15

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32

Business Success UnlimitedJust A Reminder… The BSU MastermindProgram has started back uponline the 2nd and 4thWednesday of April

Every MondayGeorgetown Plus Networking, Northeast Innovation Center, Forth Worth, IN

Meets every Monday at 11:30am

• Join us for FREE LUNCH and A new way of networking

• $3 & 2 Business Cards gets you in!

• Bring promotional materials and be ready to share

about your business!

• RSVP for a display table for $15 during the group Call

Randi: (260)-312-7862

• Come Early & Stay late & NETWORK

Every WednesdayExit 25 Networking, Agaves (Exit 25), Fort Worth, IN

• Meets every Wednesday at 11:30am

• Join us for RELATIONAL Networking & Promote each

other to Success!

• $3 & 2 Business Cards gets you in!

• Bring promotional materials and be ready to share

about your business

33

Premier Women’s Network

• Premier Fort Wayne, 1st Tuesday

• Premier Niles, 1st Thursday

• Premier Angola/Auburn, 3rd Tuesday Premier

Warsaw, 3rd Tuesday

• Premier Mishawaka, last Tuesday

• Call Mary Jo Smith @ (574) 514-5193

Women’s Business Bureau

• Kalamazoo Country Cub, MI 49006

• Contact Jan Murphy: (334)-560-6955

Success Roundtable• Fetzer Center, WMU Campus April 15 from

11:30a-1:00pm Call Nancy

Becher for registration

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• Northeast Indiana Innovation Center,

April 30, 11:30-1:00pm

• Sturgis Office of Business Success Unlimited,

6:00-7:30pm

34

Challenge Yourself to Get Healthy

Join KENKO Challenge Michiana

It’s a Win-Win

In a few short weeks the spring will be here along with a renewed interest in those New Year’s Resolutions you left behind -- committing once more to making

your health a top priority.

Why do so many people fail at obtaining their health and wellness goals, and what are the secrets behind those who succeed? Of all New Year’s resolutions made this year 40% of them included losing, getting fit, managing stress and eating better however only 8% of us are successful. These failed resolutions come with a big price.

Our community health statistics are staggering. Chronic disease is at epidemic proportions plaguing over 35% of our communities, 35% are currently obese and another 30% of us are on our way increasing the risk of major diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer which are all impacted by our lifestyle choices. Sickness stops you from being productive, causes you to miss work, impacts your paychecks and reduces your happiness. It’s costing our community too. Poor health impacts com-munity schools, where you live and how you live your life. In fact poor health is directly connected to those who are living poverty in every community. When you are not at

your best it’s hard to give back to the community through volunteerism too.

As a community we can band together to create a healthier more vibrant life for all of us. As a com-munity of people coming together to support each other in developing healthy lifestyle choices we are encouraged and motivated by sharing information, experiences, testimo-nials, accountability mixed with a little friendly competi-tion and humor. Utilizing social media community adds convenience, anonymity and non-judgmental interactions fueling success.

Studies show the key to success is to keep it simple, believe you can do it, invite your friends to do it with you, and mix it up with a lot of fun! When you have the support of a group you are 8 times more likely to accomplish your health and wellness goals. According to Corporate Wellness Magazine Workplace Wellness “Team Challenge” - activities that engage people in becoming hap-pier, healthier, and more energetic at work - are gaining popularity and changing lives.

Challenge yourself to make health easy. Join the team. What makes team challenges successful is they are a supportive, positive climate of fun and camaraderie helps people to adopt or maintain a healthy way of living. Join-ing team competitions fuels excitement, provides people with like interests support each other, increases success and is loads of fun!”

In 2013 Cindy Cohen RN owner of C2 Your Health LLC is on a mission to empower people to lead healthier lives, develop healthier worksites and build healthier communities. After years of looking for an exciting and fun way to empower individuals,

work-sites, organizations and associations in the community to take a more active role in their health and creating a healthier environment they found the KENKO

Challenge.

35

C2 Your Health LLC of South Bend, Indiana is partnering with Columbus Chamber of Commerce of Ohio to bring the KENKO Challenge to Indiana and joining Shelby County Chamber of Commerce KENKO Challenge, Indiana. Using the

KENKO Challenge you can create a team of people (maybe your family, those you work with, see at school and even see at church) to be your cheerleader to get you back on the road to better health.

You can take the challenge and be the change. Together you and your team will be the catalyst to launching a community wide effort to increase awareness of healthy behaviors, eating healthy to lose weight, what to eat that’s healthy, exercise to be fit, exercise to lose weight and reduce stress making a huge difference not only in your health and wellness a but the health and wellness of those around you.

The KENKO Challenge was developed by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and explains “KENKO, as meaning “health” in Japanese. It is a wellness team-based challenge with the objective of implementing a fun and engaging approach to creating healthy changes in behaviors and the workplace. KENKO combines

mobile, online, print, and social media.” What could be more fun than to empower people to lead healthier lives and build a better community at the same time?

The KENKO Challenge is an 8-week team challenge type wellness program that promotes healthy friendly competition among the participating teams to create healthy changes in their lifestyle. The challenge is available to all interested individuals and groups such as families, friends, businesses, organizations and churches. Any group of 2 – 10 members can participate. If you don’t have a

team, that’s ok join the Michiana Community Team. Each team will be awarded points for participation in various challenges that focus on health awareness, improving their nutrition, promoting a healthy work environment, and increasing awareness about their personal health.

The KENKO health challenges are educational and fun for everyone! H2 Go! Rethink Your Drink (add water), Let’s Get Physical (add exercise), Strike a Pose (add movement), No Frigin’ Way (bring your lunch to work), Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself (assess your health risks) are just a few of the fun team challenges.

The Shelby County and Columbus Ohio Chambers have been having fun for the last 3 years and people love the rewards of developing healthier habits. Here’s what they are saying ….

The Kenko Challenge has been a fun way for our “team” to work together on a project that is different than our day to day office tasks. It’s a special bonding experience for all of us. We are all at different fitness levels and it’s good for us to be able to work together so that everyone on our team benefits from this experience.” - Participant

“There has been a week or two where I haven’t logged every challenge I’ve completed, but I’m still doing them. Just because the challenge may be over I still plan on continuing on my own.”

Participant

“I enjoyed posting pics of my ‘healthy’ meals. It actually made me think about what I was putting into my body, and inspired me to come up with creative and tasty ways to prepare my meals.”

- Participant

Prizes and recognition will be awarded to the top teams! Registration begins March 15thth. The challenge begins just after spring break and just in time for summer running between May 5th – July 5th, 2015. For information, to sign up a team or sign yourself up for a challenge go to http://www.cindycohenRN.com .

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If you’re a service business, especially, it is important to remember when you were just starting out. The Golden Rule is important to always keep in mind. Many small businesses or freelancer has been taken advantage of at some point when starting off. What hurts is when it still happens when they have years of expertise in their field. One of the fields this happens to more often is anything related to being an artist. For example photography, graphic design and web design. There are so many to be listed. More often than not the client doesn’t consider the time and effort put forth by the artist. The most common plea to not pay the full price or nothing at all is “Oh this is great exposure for you” or “I am doing a favor by hiring you”. The exposure is simply having the work out there. If the person has been working hard, the only favor can be done is paying the bill for the work that was done for them.

Something that the client doesn’t know is the level of work goes into creating anything from a logo to a website. Even just sketching can take hours coming up with the perfect design. In the end many freelancers and other firms will not get paid, due to the client not liking what they see. Rather than blowing up and not wanting to pay, be involved in your design and have a clear idea. You might be

thinking “what am I paying them for”? Well until someone invents a machine that can see inside one’s imagination, you are going to have to vocalize your ideas. For those that are doing the designing, think of the client as your grandparents and you have to explain things in detail and slowly, but do not treat them like idiots. Show them respect as they may know a thing or two, but do not have time themselves to do the job.

More often than not the client thinks that they are coming up with this “great idea” for trading a service for cost. If one goes out to eat and the bill comes are you going to pay for what you got or tell them “Oh the food was great, I am going to tell my friends and they will come here.” No, you are most likely going to pay the bill. This not just happens to artists, but also magazines and websites when it comes to advertising in/on them.

Food for thought.

“When you buy something from an artist you’re buying more than an object. You are buying hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation. You are buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You are not buying just one thing; you are buying a piece of a heart, a piece of a soul . . . a

small piece of someone else’s life”

10 things not to say to a ______:

1. I’ll just get my friend to do it. 2. You know what you should make . 3. Do I get a price break if ______ ?4. I can make it myself . 5. Why does it cost so much ? 6. How do you make this? 7. Will you donate your ____ to our

event? We can’t pay you but it will be great exposure .

8. My (insert low aged kid/relative) does this stuff too.

9. Kids this is what happens if you don’t go to college .

10. I can buy at/hire ______ for $_______?

Taking a look from the other side

At times I feel like the starving artist. Having more than one job to pay the bills and feed myself. In the end, I would like to be a decently fed Artist, with one job.

Zachary Harker

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Living a healthier life not only affects you, it affects those around you too. When you’re healthy you wake up refreshed ready to go to work. Filled with energy you become more productive, fully awake after work ready to have fun with the family, and sleep soundly at night waking up the next day in a good mood.

If this is not you, then you might want to “challenge” yourself to get healthy. By setting weekly goals, and rewarding yourself for winning, you will be well on your way to the healthy lifestyle you have been seeking. Sounds great doesn’t it? You tried that and it doesn’t work? Oh but it does, what doesn’t work is you slipping back into to those unhealthy habits. It’s just you it’s easy to lose sight of your personal health goals or have them take a back seat to what is urgent right now in your life. By now your vision of a healthy body may even be a faint memory.

The problem is sadly when it comes to your health it’s a pay now or pay later state of being. You will pay now with low energy, poor sleep, aches, pains and generally feeling sick and tired. You will pay later with doctor bills, medical treatments and spending your hard earned paycheck on sickness instead of vacationing. Where is the happiness in that?

When it comes to our health we are all in this together. So let’s come together to make ourselves healthy and at the same time make our community a healthier place to live. Join a community team challenge; create some excitement around health with some friendly competition.

Across the country, communities are coming together to support health and wellness through team health challenges. What makes community team challenges successful is they are

a supportive, positive climate of fun and camaraderie helping people to adopt or maintain a healthy way of living.

Joining team competitions fuels excitement, provides people with like interests support each other, increases success and is loads of fun! Weekly health team challenges provide the plan and strategy for small steps moving you towards realistic bigger goals through education, and a little friendly competition.

Group mentality isn’t a bad thing. We all know when we are in a group with others on the same journey, we think this is working for them; perhaps it will work for me. I can give it a try too. A new study shows that people who take part in community-based weight loss programs lost more weight than those who are trying to shed pounds on their own. In fact, they are 8 times more likely to lose the weight and increase their chances of making lasting healthy lifestyle changes by 50 – 60%.

Get where you work on board too. Organize your co - workers to join in a community health challenge. Making wellness a group effort where you will increase cohesiveness, engagement, productivity and make working more fun! That’s a win – win for every business owner.

Team challenges make fitness & eating healthy so much fun; you’ll forget you’re doing either.

The Michiana community is having a community challenge this spring. Registration ends April 20th and the community challenge runs from May 5th to July 5th, 8 weeks. The KENKO Challenge is being brought to the Michigan - Indiana area by C2 Your Health LLC and it’s only $10.00 to

join. You don’t need to live in Indiana or Michigan to participate or even be on a team; you can join the Michiana Community Team!

What are you waiting for? Go right now to the website and sign up for some healthy competition. To join the challenges go to www.CindyCohenRN.com.

Join the Challenge to Make Getting Healthy & Happier Easier Together

Cindy Cohen is a registered nurse with 35 years experience from the bedside to CEO of a hospital. Cohen is recognized as an accomplished author, wellness expert, and corporate wellness leader. As a health coach and wellness consultant, Cohen is the guiding force behind the C2 Your Health Team in helping others find their way to improved personal and business wellness.

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Your Friendly Banker

C E R T I F I C A T E O F D E P O S I T

N G T F A R D R E V O L C M R T L U A V

C O M P U T E R S N I O C U R R E N C Y

L B I L L S U W C D I P B P M A T S D K

N O I T U T I T S N I L A I C N A N I F

K L A W A R D H T I W M N Y E S U D D G

C W C N T C H E C K O S K M M F N G R H

O A G Y M P I N N U M B E R T E L L E R

T I B L C C N F N R G T R C L R N Q G U

S T O A A A T T I C A C C O U N T T A D

J I R T R S E S A T N E M E S R O D N E

Z N R I D H R M S G N I V A S Y I O A S

V G O M O N E Y O R D E R A M M B T M K

Z I W I T R S I G W I N D O W R P K Y L

I E E G A G T R O M A C H I N E E T O J

banker

check

cash

deposit

account

teller

window

signature

stamp

endorsement

withdrawal

loan

coins

bills

interest

vault

camera

manager

savings

certificate of deposit

statement

machine

computer

desk

fund

stock

bond

money

line

waiting

money order

payment

atm card

pin number

identification

amount

transfer

security

financial institution

currency

borrow

lend

overdraft

mortgage

To answer the trivia question, look for a word or phrase that is hidden in the puzzle, but not in the word list.

Trivia: The world's first modern bank opened during the 14th century in this country.

Answer: _______________________________

Super Word Search Puzzles - www.superwordsearchpuzzles.com

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Inspiring Change

You can tell who the strong women are. They’re the ones you see building

each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Women’s Business Bureau

Open a chapter near you!

269-389-0556

www.womensbusinessbureau.com

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Shortcuts in Outlook® 2010 and 2013 Can Save You Time

If you’re like most Outlook users, you haven’t had the time, or inclination, to discover what all of its features do. You’re too busy just trying to keep up with your email! But take a few minutes to read on. The Quick Access Toolbar and Quick Steps are worth a look.

Quick Access Toolbar

Frustrated when you can’t remember where Outlook put some of its commands? Tired of multiple clicks to do a simple task?

Outlook’s Quick Access Toolbar, located above or below the ribbon, gives you shortcuts to just about anything. You can add commands and remove any you don’t use. I’ve added “New Folder” and “New Contact” to mine.

I’ve also added an unusual one: Message Options (found in the All Commands list). What is it? It displays the message properties, including the Internet header, which gives you a clue as to who sent it. Not always foolproof, but often enough so I use it when I suspect phishing. I don’t open the email. I just select it in the inbox with a single click, and click the Message Options icon on my Quick Access Toolbar. Example: an email purportedly from Experian Data Security shows “Return-path: <experiandatasecurity@scorepaid.us>.” Not from Experian after all. If you see a legitimate email address though, that’s no guarantee that it’s okay because so much can be faked. But this gives you an idea when it’s obviously not from who it pretends to be.

Here’s how to add commands to your Quick Access Toolbar:

1. Click its expander arrow and select More Commands.

2. Select from the list of Popular Commands, or choose from Commands not in the Ribbon or All Commands.

3. Select one you want to add and click the Add button.

4. To remove a command, select in on the right side and click the Remove button.

5. Rearrange commands by selecting one, then clicking the up or down arrow button to rearrange them.

6. Click OK.

Quick Steps

If you have a lot of folders and use them often, you probably have a few you use more often than others. Quick Steps lets you move a message to a folder with a single click, no matter where the folder is stored, even if it’s in a separate archive file.

Quick Steps appears on your ribbon in open messages or when you’re on the Home tab.

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Here’s how to add commands to your Quick Access Toolbar:

1. Click its expander arrow and select More Commands.

2. Select from the list of Popular Commands, or choose from Commands not in the Ribbon or All Commands.

3. Select one you want to add and click the Add button.

4. To remove a command, select in on the right side and click the Remove button.

5. Rearrange commands by selecting one, then clicking the up or down arrow button to rearrange them.

6. Click OK.

Quick Steps

If you have a lot of folders and use them often, you probably have a few you use more often than others. Quick Steps lets you move a message to a folder with a single click, no matter where the folder is stored, even if it’s in a separate archive file.

Quick Steps appears on your ribbon in open messages or when you’re on the Home tab.

Here’s how to create a Quick Step:

1. Click the Quick Steps expander arrow.

2. Click “New.”

3. Select “Move to Folder.”

4. Give the Quick Step a name.

5. Choose the folder.

6. Click Finish and OK.

With my monitor, I see six folders in my Quick Steps. It’s easy to arrange them so your most frequently used ones are at the top. Just select a Quick Step in the dialog box and click an arrow button to move it up or down.

To use a Quick Step when you’re reading an email or have selected it in the inbox, simply click the appropriate Quick Step in your ribbon. Voila! Your email message is now stored in that folder.

You can customize a Quick Step to do a lot more, but I find the Move to Folder option my favorite. Check it out — making the time to set up a few Quick Steps will save you more time in the long run.

Certified Professional Organizer® Susan Kousek is the owner of Balanced Spaces® in Reston, Virginia. She works with people who want to increase their productivity while still having balance in their lives, and teaches seminars including “Control Your Email.” Susan can be reached at Susan@BalancedSpaces.com or 703-742-9179.

Susan KousekCertified Professional Organizer® Susan Kousek is the owner of Balanced Spaces® in Reston, Virginia. She works with people who want to increase their productivity while still having balance in their lives. Susan can be reached at:

Susan@ BalancedSpaces.com 703-742-9179

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In my practice, people sometimes ask me questions about franchising. The reasons people give for considering franchising their business often relate to a desire to see growth in the business in which they have invested years of their time, substantial financial assets, and a great deal of their personal identity. Legacy is often the quest of the successful entrepreneur.

Whatever may be a person’s reason for wanting to transform their successful business into a franchise, one or more of five key considerations are often overlooked, until the potential franchisor has spent even more of his or her valuable time and resources. These five key considerations are:

• Adequate Capitalization• Legal Requirements• Accounting Needs• System Development• Be a Leader: Maintaining

Perspective in Your Franchise Business.

Over the next few weeks, Executive Legal Professionals will publish a series of several articles on its blog (www.ExecutiveLP.com/press), providing a more comprehensive

treatment of each of these considerations. An abbreviated summary follows.

5 Key Concerns When Considering Franchising, In A Nutshell

With respect to adequate capitalization, allow me to lead with, perhaps, one of the more disconcerting figures you are likely to see.“Most honest advisors in the franchise business will tell you that you’ll need at least $500,000 to $1,000,000 in initial capital to even think about starting a franchise company. You will probably work harder than you ever have for at least 2-3 years before you even start to make any money on your franchise operations, and it could easily be 3-5 years,” according to Jeff Elgin, who “has almost 20 years of experience franchising, both as a franchisee and a senior franchise company executive. He’s currently the CEO of FranChoice Inc., a company that provides free consulting to consumers looking for a franchise that best meets their needs.” (entrepreneur.com) Mr. Elgin also adds some encouragement, however:

“The rewards and satisfaction of building a successful franchisecompany are incredible but so is the price that you’ll pay to reachthis goal. Make sure that you want to pay the price before you start this process and then go forward with realistic expectations and you should do fine.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Elgin. When considering whether or not to franchise his or her business, the most important things a potential franchisor can have are reasonable expectations. Some other good news is that a potential franchisor does not necessarily need $500,000 – $1,000,000 right away. Bootstrapping a franchise company is not a good idea, but initial capital in the neighborhood of $100,000 can get the process started, as long as you can clearly see how you will finance projected expenses over the first three to five years of the franchise company’s operations.

A franchisor will also need to have a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) prepare audited financial statements for the franchise company. As with good general counsel, so too the value

Considering Franchising: 5 Key Concerns

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of an accountant to a franchise company cannot be overstated. One of the disclosure requirements under the legal section, above, is that the franchise company have such audited financial statements. The legal requirements, therefore, will not be able to be completely addressed until these statements have been audited.

Finally, a franchise company must develop and thoroughly document the systems that each franchisee must use to successfully operate their franchise. Marketing plans, training programs, sales systems, etc. all must be created and refined. Often, a good franchising consultant can be hired–for around $50,000.00–to assist with this process. One important thing to remember is what your franchise company will be selling. If your company, Acme Widget, Inc., has been family owned and operated for seventy-five years, and has been in the business, all that time, selling widgets, and if you decide to expand your brand by forming Acme Widgets of America, Inc., a franchise company, you have entered a whole new realm. No longer are you in the widget business! You are now in the

business of selling franchises, not widgets! Of course, Acme Widget, Inc. may still carry on as it always has, but Acme Widgets of America, Inc. will never sell a widget–only franchises. So, if your passion is widgets, you may want to consider leaving that industry to enter the franchise industry.

industry to enter the franchise industry. Considering franchising, as Jeff Elgin says, can be immensely rewarding and satisfying. On the other hand, it is expensive, and requires one to enter unfamiliar territory. As Christopher Columbus famously said, “You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” For those who dare to dream, the promise of immortality looms large. If you have questions about franchising your business and how Executive Legal Professionals can provide outside general counsel and franchising legal services to your business, please call (615) 669-6566 or just drop us a line. We look forward to helping you cross the ocean to a whole new world.

Nashville business attorney Noel Bagwell is licensed to practice law in Tennessee. The founder of Executive Legal Professionals, Mr. Bagwell leads the firm and serves clients that include start-up entrepreneurs and businesses of various sizes. A graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, Noel distinguished himself by earning the 2010 Scholar of Merit award for his academic performance in Economic Analysis of Law. Noel is also the Leader of the Start-

Up & Small Businesses Aspect of Practice for the National Center for Preventative Law.

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We Work Hard We Play Hard

The old saying is still very true today. We would like to celebrate that with you. If it means going out hunting, fishing, sports, renaissance fairs, we want to see it! Send us photos of you and even your co-workers playing hard. Then look forward to them in future SBF issues. To kick it off here is the staff from Small Biz Forward. Email photos to nancy@success4biz.biz

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Figuring Out the Money? NOOOOOOOOOFor most of us, I’ll bet, we’ve been running our business (as my grandpa would have said) by the seat of our pants. What comes in, we spend, and we pray that the next paycheck is right around the corner. That has worked ok so far, but now that you’re feeling like you’re ready to take that next step and grow, grow, grow, it’s time to “put on our big boy pants” and start thinking about finances. What are our costs, our revenue? Are we making a profit? What, actually, does making a profit mean? Is your head spinning yet? Are you ready to run and hide under the bed?

The one thing you have to know is that when you’re ready to expand, money becomes a BIG factor: you will no longer be able to do everything by yourself. You will need staff, perhaps a new office, materials, etc. They all cost money. But with-out understanding the finances, you’re going to find yourself in BIG trouble much more quickly than you’ll find yourself growing. I’ve got a quick little test for you, to see how well you understand some of the basics of financing your business growth.

What are three factors that a business should consider when choosing a source of finance?

What is a bank overdraft and what are the ramifications of using an overdraft?

What is retained profit?

How can a business raising finance by managing working capital more effectively?

What is a venture capitalist and how can you use one effectively?

Take a bit of time to think about these questions. Google the answers and you’ll be one step closer to having some new financing for your business in a way that makes sense and helps you move forward!

(*And if you really want the answers given to you, you can find them at http://success4biz.biz)

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Member Values and Benefits

Empowerment Circle

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One FREE Business Card Listing in Small Biz Forward Yearly

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Subscription to Small Biz Forward FREE

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Cost

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Check Your Attitude A Self Examination Check the statements below that are TRUE. _____ I have a positive attitude. _____ I am eager to please customers. _____ I am always positive when interacting with customers. _____ I am always positive when interacting with employees and co-workers. _____ I choose to be happy and upbeat. _____ I remain positive when problem situations arise. _____ I control my own attitude. _____ I cheer people up. _____ I don’t make excuses. _____ I choose to be polite and courteous. How many were true for you? If you left even one unchecked (false), then you have room for improvement.

Choose to Have a Positive Attitude,

You’ll Be Happy You Did!

© Customer Service Is Free / customerserviceisfree.com 2010-2011

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