Don’t Let Your Online Reputation Hurt Your Business

We all behave like idiots at times. It’s been that way since the dawn of civilization. The one saving grace has always been that only a privileged few ever got to see us say or do dumb things. Until now.

What you say and do in the privacy of your own home is your own business. But what you post on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook is not only read by hundreds, thousands, even millions of people, it’ll be there until the end of time.

Look at it this way. Everything you do on the Internet is like a tattoo you get late at night that can never, ever be erased. The truth is this. Anyone considering hiring or doing business with you -- not just today but for the rest of your life -- will Google you and check out your social media presence. Which means lots and lots of you are doing some serious damage to your careers, your business, and yes, to your personal brands.

Here are ways you could be making an idiot of yourself, shooting yourself in the foot, making yourself unemployable, or otherwise damaging your reputation with social networks.

I’ve got a wonderful life. Happily Married Mommy to Two Wonderful Kids. Living a Charmed Life With My Beautiful Wife. Really? That’s your Twitter profile? Ever watch Wheel of Fortune? Everyone’s got the most amazing husband. Everyone’s wife is drop dead gorgeous. Everyone’s children are so talented. Really? What are the odds? Here’s the thing. Nobody cares and you lose all credibility by putting it in your profile.  

Look at me -- I’ve got a degree. I don’t know when this practice started but now, everyone’s listing their academic degrees and all sorts of obscure certifications next to their name on LinkedIn and other profiles. MBA, MA, PE, PMP, CPCC, MPS, HCS, M. Ed., some titles go on for days. It’s trite, silly, and you may as well just say, “Hi, I’m Jay Jones and the best thing I’ve got going for me is some dumb degree I got twenty years ago that about a billion other people have.”

It’s on Facebook so it’s safe and confidential. Would you waltz into an important job interview and just lay out a bunch of compromising pictures on the table? Would you talk about your political leanings, your religious beliefs, and what really went down at that Mardi Gras party last weekend? Well, if it’s on Facebook, all it takes is one little security lapse and a Google search algorithm to crawl along and, voila, it’s forever discoverable.

I’m a CEO. These days, anyone with a Twitter account and an IP address is a CEO. Let me explain something. CEO is a title, a legal title that refers to the chief executive officer of a real corporation. You know, a place where people work and make money. If you’ve got a small business, a sole proprietorship, or an LLC, you can call yourself whatever you want, but you’re not a CEO.

I’m so proud of what I’m working on; I’m going to share it with all my competitors. As far back as I can remember, executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders have been blabbing things they shouldn’t to the media and immortalizing embarrassing statements in emails that always seem to find their way into a courtroom. Now, top executives are destroying their careers by tipping off competitors about their strategies on LinkedIn. According to a Forrester Research survey, 82% of 150 companies were monitoring social media primarily for competitive intelligence. Now that’s smart.

I ask strangers for favors. Would you walk up to a complete stranger on the street and ask them to do you favor? No, it isn’t an emergency; just some dumb thing you want them to do. Of course not. Well, then why am I now getting weekly, almost daily requests from people I don’t even know to endorse their skills on LinkedIn, write a blurb for their book cover, and who knows what else for absolutely no reason?

I’m a cute cartoon character. If you want to have a little fun and make your online avatar a caricature of yourself or a cartoon character, be my guest. I guess most hiring managers and potential customers have a sense of humor and wouldn’t think you don’t take your job or your business seriously. You never know. But a pic of you and your spouse or your kid is where I draw the line. As a personal avatar, it’s just creepy.

I can quote famous people. You know all those fluffy inspirational quotes people spew out day and night like chronic Internet rashes you can never get rid of? Well, here’s an idea. If everyone didn’t waste so much time digging around for quotes to share with everyone else, they might actually spend a little quality time doing some critical thinking, some real feeling, and, oh, I don’t know, maybe even coming up with something of their own worth saying or even quoting.

Look. I know you want to have a great online presence. We all do. But trust me when I tell you that, when it comes to marketing yourself, less is more. Keep it simple. Think quality, not quantity. And think before you post. Better still; just think. Period.

Source: http://foxbusiness.com

JBF Gives Back

Thank you to all our FABULOUS CONSIGNORS and PARTICPANTS! Together we have given back over $7 Million in cash and in-kind donations to local charities across the country! That is nothing short of amazing! We love your generous hearts and thank you from the bottom of ours for donating your unsold items that go to help families in crisis shelters, community clothing closets, food banks and other wonderful organizations that help give hope to those who need it most. You inspire us! Thank you for helping Just Between Friends give back to the communities we are so honored to serve!

For more information: http://jbfsale.com/jbfGivesBack.jsp

Below are some of these charities Just Between Friends has been honored to support.
     Fresno YMCA
    Sacramento FoodBank Services
    Visalia YMCA
    Colorado Catholic Charities
    Airman's Attic/US Air Force
    The Junior League of Denver
    Mary's Closet
    Parent Pathways
    Loving Hugs
    Denver Christian School
    Highlands Ranch Mom's Group
    Outreach United Resource Cntr
    Alpha House of Tampa
    The Spring of Tampa Bay
    A Hope and A Future
    The Good Samaritan Network
    The Julian Center Shelter
    Birthright of Richmond
    Baxter Neighborhood Help Center
    Klothes Kloset
    Community In Schools
    Marie Sandvick Center
    Arc's Value Village
    C.R.O.S.S.
    The Lighthouse Shelter
    Hope's House
    Synergy Services
    PhelpsCountyCommunity
    Lutheran's Fam & Children's Services
    Our Lady's Inn
    Salvation Army
    Broken Arrow Neighbors
    MargaretHudsonBAProgram
    Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries
    Fort Bend Women's Center
    Foxboro Elementary School PTA
    City Gates Ministries
    Family Life Education
    Infant Crisis Services,
    OK City
    Shepherd's Gate
    Helping Hands of Lake Geneva

LOL/Why?: Fart Gymnastics

This is a video that shows a floor routine performed by gymnasts blowing ass. The fart effects in question were added by Vimeo-er GHOST+COW FILMS. Eek, I hate bovine phantoms! The kid in you is totally gonna lose it, so let your inner child have some fun for once and give it a watch. Personally, I feel like a lot of the farts seemed… ill timed (just like in real life). Some seemed to be anticipated, others like an afterthought. What? People have strong opinions on basically everything, I can’t have a stance on a video about gymnasts farting during a routine? You can’t censor me!


Source: http://www.incrediblethings.com

Winter Storm Warning in Southern Minnesota

Blizzard Warning expanded to cover west central Minnesota as strong northwest winds cause near zero visibilities.

A Blizzard Warning is now in effect across much of west central Minnesota. This includes areas along and west of a line from Alexandria to Redwood Falls. A Blizzard Warning continues for south central and southeast Minnesota. This includes areas along the Minnesota River from Redwood Falls to New Ulm, Mankato, and Red Wing. This includes Interstate 35 south of New Market, and the Interstate 90 corridor between Fairmont and Albert Lea.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Central and East Central Minnesota and all of west central Wisconsin. This includes St Cloud, the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Eau Claire and Ladysmith.

Strong northwest winds from 35 to 45 mph are occurring across West Central Minnesota early this evening. Law enforcement agencies are reporting near zero visibilities in widespread blowing snow. Travel is not advised. The strong winds will work across south central and southeast Minnesota during the remainder of the evening and overnight hours with blizzard conditions occurring in these areas.

Heavy snow will continue across East Central Minnesota and western Wisconsin through the evening. The snow will slowly taper off during the night. Snowfall rates from 1 to 2 inches per hour will occur. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches are likely across much of eastern and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Over a foot of snow is likely along a line from Albert Lea to the eastern Twin Cities metro. New richmond, and Rice Lake.

Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until noon CST Friday.

•     Timing: Heavy snow will continue tonight. The snow will taper off early Friday morning.
•     Main impact: extremely difficult travel conditions. Especially in open areas where 2 to 3 foot drifts may develop.
•     Snow accumulations: 6 to 12 inches, heaviest over East Central Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. This includes the Twin Cities. Totals approaching 15 inches are likely across the eastern Twin Cities metro northeastward To New Richmond and Rice Lake.
•     Winds: West-northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
•     Visibility: a quarter to a half mile, except Whiteout conditions at times in open areas.
•     Other impacts: Wind Chill readings will fall into the teens below zero late tonight and Friday morning.

Source: http://www.google.org

5 Tips to Travel on a Dime

A weekend getaway or a family trip is a fun way to spend your vacation, but you don’t want to worry about money the whole time. Whether you are visiting a relaxing resort or Disney World with the kids, you want to get the most out of your trip without breaking the bank.

Be aware of your spending limits and you can still have a blast! For you and your family, here are five ways to travel on a dime:

   1. Think about alternative transportation. Most families pack up the car to drive to their destinations, but one way to cut costs is to travel by train, bus, or even a cruise ship! Airplanes are generally the most expensive way to get from one place to another, and it can be a hassle with baggage and little ones. For cost-effective travel, consider Amtrak, the nation’s train system, or a week-long vacation on a cruise ship. With these modes of transportation, you can see several different places and save money at the same time.
   2.  Compare. Check several travel websites and call individual airlines and hotels to shop around for the best deals. Some sites offer travel packages so you can save on flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. Don’t rule out all-inclusive stays, either. Depending on your vacation plans and goals, these deals can actually keep more money in your pocket.
   3.  Take an adventure. Everyone knows that eating at a hotel restaurant or one catered to tourists can cost a pretty penny. Instead, join the locals in town, where you can find cheaper and tastier food. Bonus: they can offer some insight into what you should see and do while you are visiting the area.
    4. Utilize your discounts. With certain memberships, like AAA and hotel chain rewards programs, you can save money on hotels, rental cars, flights, and vacation activities. Make sure you save money when you order your personal checks before leaving town. If you like a specific airline, try to book with them often so you can earn Frequent Flyer miles and points. Find out if your hotel or rental car company offer savings for senior citizens, students, young children, and safe drivers. Make discounts work for you – it doesn’t hurt to ask!
    5. Discover the beauty of last-minute deals. If you have a flexible schedule and want to take a weekend trip alone or with your family, you should check last-minute travel websites for big savings. Airlines, hotels, and cruises discount their prices deeply at the last second in order to fill their rooms and seats. Note: try not to wait for last-minute deals for hot spots during peak seasons, or you might miss out.

With these five travel tips, you can enjoy your stay and come home with money in your pocket. Make the most of your vacation without stressing over how much you’re spending. Plan effectively before you leave, and you will have a trip (souvenirs, pictures, and a full belly) to remember!

VistaTek ‘Exceeding Expectations’ of Job Growth

You may remember a year ago when Stillwater coaxed VistaTek into moving their precision plastics manufacturing plant to town with a $250,000 forgivable TIF loan.

It appears the city’s gamble is paying off.

The city loaned VistaTek TIF funds for down payment of the building, renovations and to help offset the cost of moving the business from Vadnais Heights to the UFE Building on Greeley Street.

That forgivable loan was tied to job creation, in part, because as Community Development Director Bill Turnblad said at the time, that’s what manufacturing is all about.

VistaTek came to town last spring with 25 full-time equivalent employees.

The city’s hope was that by the end of 2014, VistaTek would have 28 full-time equivalent jobs, and by the end of 2015 increase that to 35 full-time jobs.

Well, VistaTek currently employs 36 full-time equivalent workers.

“They’ve exceeded goal,” Turnblad said. “We hope they continue to be successful…They’re doing well, and that’s a good thing.”

The city estimates that each job bring about $8,240 into the community annually.

Last year, VistaTek Managing Director Dan Mishek told the council the employment numbers tied to the loan were on the low side of what the city could expected of Vista Tek, and it appears he was right.

“My goal is to have 50, 60, 70, 100 employees,” he said last February.“That’s the goal of doing this — and this is the prefect building to do that. It was made for making plastic parts.”

Source: http://www.stillwatercurrent.com

Beauty Works Like a Drug on the Brain

With Valentine's Day around the corner, consider this: The human desire to look at attractive faces plays a role in how people select their partners, and the rewarding feeling beauty arouses has its roots in the brain, new research reveals.

In fact, the researchers found attractiveness seems to stimulate the same brain region as the opioid morphine.

Just like tasty food or good music, "being attached to someone, like a romantic partner, is rewarding for people," said study researcher Olga Chelnokova, a psychologist at the University of Oslo, in Norway.

Liking and wanting are not the same thing. Liking describes an attraction to something, whereas wanting describes a motivation to have it, whether or not a person likes it. The opioid system is the part of the brain that encodes "liking." The related but distinct dopamine system controls "wanting." [Oysters to Chocolate: Top 10 Aphrodisiacs]

Most research on human attraction has involved scanning the brain passively, rather than probing it with drugs, Chelnokova said. And many of the latter studies have been done in animals, not humans, she added.

Chelnokova and her colleagues recruited 30 healthy men for their study. The researchers gave some of the men morphine, which activates receptors in the opioid system, and gave others an opioid suppressor.

The scientists showed the men photographs of women's faces that varied in attractiveness, which the men could flip through at their own speed. The scientists asked the men to rate how much they liked each of the faces and measured how long they lingered on each one.

Participants who were given morphine rated the most objectively attractive faces very highly — in other words, they liked them more than the other faces. In addition, the morphine takers spent more time viewing the pictures of the faces they found most attractive and less time viewing unattractive faces, suggesting they also wanted those faces more.

By contrast, the men taking the opioid suppressor showed less liking and wanting: They rated the attractive faces less highly and spent less time viewing them.

Taking morphine had the strongest effect on how the men viewed the most attractive women; such attractiveness may signal evolutionary fitness, the researchers said. Thus, the opioid system might help humans choose the best mate by producing rewarding feelings when seeing those mates, while making unattractive mates less desirable.

Source: http://www.livescience.com

Teen Chocolate Festival

The Stillwater Public Library is hosting its annual Teen Chocolate Festival on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 6-8:30 p.m.  Students in 6-12 grades will be playing games and contests, exploring chocolate related books, watching a film and sampling lots and lots of chocolate.

“This year the event’s theme is the book, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’” said Emily States, young adult librarian.  “The teen advisory committee was excited about watching the classic Willy Wonka film and creating a fun and nutty chocolate factory atmosphere.”

According to States, participants are being encouraged to dress up as their favorite Willy Wonka character.

“We want to have an even better atmosphere with the costumes, but they are not mandatory,” said States.  “However, teens who dress up might just be eligible for a special prize!”

Besides the movie, participants will play chocolate related games like chocolate trivia and bingo.  They will then get access to library’s river of chocolate in the form of a chocolate fountain, which is back by popular demand.  Marshmallows, graham crackers, pretzels, brownies, Oreos, strawberries, and more will be available for dipping.

Throughout the night, young adults will have a chance to win one of five “golden tickets.”   The golden ticket winners will get to tour the Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory as a group on Saturday, Feb. 22, where they will sample even more chocolate and learn the secrets of making fudge.

Registration for the event is strongly encouraged.  To sign-up, call 405-372-3633 x8106 or email askalibrarian@stillwater.org.




Source: http://www.stillwaterchamber.org

But … We Can’t Afford to Do Branding

Actually, you can’t afford not to.  Sure, branding can get incredibly expensive if your idea of branding is a nationwide television and print campaign.  But it doesn’t need to be.

Here are 4 low-cost actions you can start on today to help your small business create, build and reinforce brand:

1) Start with clarifying what your brand stands for.  What’s that “one thing” you want customers to think of, when thinking of your company?

    Most knowledgeable — that is, your representatives can help the customer choose options in a complicated product environment?
    Speed — such as your 10-minute lunch menu, or same-day delivery, or fastest time to create a customized solution?
    High quality — especially when all the competition is low quality?
    Something else?

Think it through.  If you or your team are confused about that “one thing” that sets your company apart, customers probably will be, too.

If you’re not sure what this is, find out.  Schedule a strategy session and hash it out with your team.  Do a customer survey to ask existing customers what they value most.  Start asking new customers what made them choose your company or product or service.

Try to limit it to one thing or at most two things you want your brand to be known for.  If you end up with a laundry list of 20 things, go back to the drawing board and narrow it down. Customers don’t choose a vendor for 20 reasons. It’s usually one or two reasons that push them over the decision edge.

2) Audit your marketing materials.  This is low hanging fruit. Check over your website, your Facebook page, your brochures, your ads — every piece of marketing you have.  Do you have words in them to clearly convey “that one thing” that you want to be known for?

Or are your marketing materials sending mixed messages, with brochures emphasizing lowest cost, while your website emphasizes unparalleled quality?  Maybe you deliver both, but in that case the combination of both should be conveyed, not one or the other.

Is your company name abbreviated in your marketing materials with cryptic initials that customers may not understand?  Just because you refer to your company internally by an abbreviated acronym doesn’t mean customers have any clue what you’re talking about.

Look at sales scripts, too.  Are sales reps conveying what your brand is, the way you want them to?  Or are they saying something different?  You may even learn something from them — they may have discovered through trial and error what customers value most and how customers perceive your company.

Make sure everything reinforces what you want customers to think about your business.

3) Demonstrate it with stories.  Stories make your brand “stick.”  It’s not enough just to say over and over that “we offer high quality.”  Show it!

Write up case studies about how you helped a customer with your high-quality solution to solve a problem that no one else could solve.

Or get a testimonial about how your product outlasted other products by five years.

Write your company story in the About section of your website, and repeat that story in press releases, interviews and other communications. Create a video about your company “story.”

4) Use colors, symbols and other elements to create visual associations. Check your marketing materials for consistency.  Are you using an outdated logo on some materials?  Do you even have a logo?  Are colors consistent?

Visual elements are important clues that trigger other associations and help customers remember your business.

Remember, branding isn’t just for large corporations.  When customers have seemingly endless choices, branding becomes a crucial competitive edge.  That’s the value of branding for small businesses.

Source: http://smallbiztrends.com

8 Tales of Romance from Tech Giants

If your most intense love affair thus far has been with the glow of a computer screen, fear not that human love will elude you.

Instead, take heart from these eight tales of romance from the hallowed halls of tech greats, and remember that beauty fades far faster than the brain. In this case, it truly is the thought that counts.

    Bill Gates

    The king of the Microsoft empire employed some lofty gestures to find his queen. After courting girlfriend Melinda French for about six years, he popped the question in 1993 with a rather romantic proposal. Chartering a plane to take them to Omaha, the twosome arrived at a jewelry store. Who was waiting for them? None other than billionaire Warren Buffett, who kept the store open specially for them so they could privately shop for a ring.

    For the wedding, Gates rented out the entire Manele Bay Hotel on the Hawaiian island of Lanai, for ultimate privacy.

    David Karp

    Tumblr whizkid David Karp isn’t fond of material possessions, so when he purchased a brand new $1.6 million loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, he found it difficult to furnish. His bedroom was practically empty, and the living room only had a couch and a TV. His one mighty splurge? A restaurant-grade kitchen for his longtime girlfriend, Rachel Eakley, who is a trained chef.

Take your Valentine to Stillwater

Rose are red, violets are blue. Your sweetheart deserves special treatment and you do too! So, head to a romantic river town for some Minnesota nice along the scenic St. Croix River in Stillwater. Merchants along the historic downtown main street Paint the Town Red for valentine’s weekend to welcome you with specials and free horse-drawn carriage rides (Fri/Sat 4-8).Stillwater is romantic any time of year, but throw in a warm fireplace B&B suite, 2 person whirlpool tub, a candlelight dinner or culinary tour, some live music, a visit to the spa, and a fresh air boutique stroll  – you are sure to wine a heart!

Escape the big city lights and opt for a serene river bluff landscape with a hip European small town vibe instead. Walk hand-in-hand everywhere you’d like to explore. Park your car, put down your smartphone, and move your feet to discover this romantic gem only minutes from the Twin Cities.

Visit www.discoverstillwater.com/things-to-do/romantic-escapes/  to plan your romantic getaway during love month!

Real Story: How I chose my business name

Who: Neena Trehan of Spa Fabulous

What: Surrey-based beauty salon

The issue: How to choose an effective business name

The solution: "I was trying to come up with a business name for two years before I decided on Spa Fabulous, and we finally opened the salon in February 2005. I first considered the name BeautyNT, because my initials are NT. Then I thought of having SpaNT as a take on SpaceNK, a chain of upmarket cosmetic shops, but I decided it would look too much like a rip-off. I knew I wanted something original that would stand out from the crowd.

"Inspiration came when I was watching the American television programme, Sex in the City, and they kept saying the word 'fabulous'. I really liked the association it had with glamour and luxury in the programme. Finally, I decided on Spa Fabulous because it's original and conveys the personality of my business.

"Before you commit to a name you have to make sure you can use it. A simple check on the Companies House website, the official registry of limited companies in the UK, can tell you if someone else has registered your company name. I also bought the 'spafabulous.com' domain name for my website, after doing a simple online search through a domain provider.

"People remember the name Spa Fabulous, and it gets them interested. I use the same colours and fonts on my shop front, website and brochure which ensures that Spa Fabulous is a complete brand. It's a good sign that people walk into the salon and think it is a branch of a bigger chain - it shows I have the potential to grow. If I open more Spa Fabulous salons, they will all be part of the same easy-to-recognise brand.

"The name is really fun and funky, as well as being friendly, and I've tried to carry it through the business. The wording in my marketing is jargon-free and really conversational, as if someone normal is talking to you, not a beauty therapist."

Lessons learned: "When choosing a name, make sure it fits with your business personality and what you are trying to achieve. Also, make sure it is memorable. Don't be afraid to think about your branding from the word go. Once you have settled on a name, live and breathe it like an ethos, and convey your business to everybody you meet. Also, consider how your business will grow with the name. Before everything I do now, I always think, 'Be fabulous'."

Source: http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk