CNN - Powell Choice Of Obama A Slap To GOP, Analysts Say.  One of the reasons for Powell's decision was based on the negative campaign being run by the GOP. While his decision and explanation carry much more weight, there are many people - inside and outside of America who may feel the same way. 

$1 Billion dollars in advertising revenue and a great big smile. You would have thought he'd won all of the gold medals at the 2008 Olympics. Nope! In 14 days, a major broadcaster will have received$1 Billion in revenue as proceeds from ads run at the Olympics. This made front page news. Something is wrong here.

The Olympics is about community and peace. Not Capitalism and exploitation.

Think about the Olympics and what it means, the work athletes do to get there, the commitment and cost to the host nation and the advances throughout the world that Olympics and the spirit of the Olympics has brought many countries. Contrast that with one major network having exclusive rights to broadcast the major events on television and the internet. Think about the fact that you cannot watch the major events on the internet. You can, however, buy videos.

Don't get me wrong - there are 3,000+ videos available online. If you are missing them, you can go to nbcolympics.com and take a look. Most likely, you won't see major categories for major awards, though. Thus, my rant!

The Olympics belongs to everyone. It should be shared with everyone. We all won golds with Michael Phelps. We were nervous with Shawn Johnson. We were amazed with the Chinese diving team. We won and lost with our athletes.

While living in a Capitalist society has its many benefits, I think that very clear lines must be drawn. The Olympics is about Community, not Capitalism. It is about Communities from all over the Earth coming together on a World front to compete. Crossing the line comes when the Olympics becomes about money from the position of creating exclusivity - keeping people who cannot pay for it from seeing it. When I hear about companies exploiting it for their own gain, it hurts me. When I see people beaming about the money they've made as a result of the Olympics, as though they'd won a gold medal, I am disgusted.

What I would like to see is many people benefiting from the broadcast of the Olympics. I'd like to be able to see any Olympic videos, free of charge, on the internet. Stick some commercials in there...who cards! I'm not talking about highlights or events no one is watching, or commentaries on specific events, but all of it. Sell come commemorative video collections on the side. People will buy them. Maintain relationships with Chinese businesses. Companies will have gained so much more by demonstrating that they are about the world progress, and not just their own.

As business owners, we have the responsibility to serve the communities we live in. We cannot expect to rape all of its resources and move on. It cannot last forever. If you think otherwise, you are only building paper dragons.

At Aepiphanni Business Solutions, we are dedicated to serving the needs of small business owners. We specialize in helping you develop strategies for your organization, and are committed to your success. If you have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at info@aepiphanni.com.

Labels: Business Path, Rant

Pain in the Wallet!!

The weakened US economy has caused price increases and a general feeling of "uncomfortability" in our everyday lives. This is what I refer to as a "Pain in the Wallet." While there isn't much you, individually, can do to return us to the growth eras we've all become accustom to, there are things that you can do to reduce your pain and increase your own level of satisfaction.

Many writers, these days, seem to have a fixation on trying to convince people that they can become the greatest thing since sliced bread, simply by willing it. I was reading a bit of "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61)" by Eckhart Tolle and realized, not unlike others, that it is a really good book.

However, I think that while the application has some merit, there is a great deal of other knowledge, wisdom and maturity that should go along with this. It is like dumping the abridged version of the Bible down someone’s throat: while there are certain principles they might get, there's no real way to understand and absorb it.

What does this have to do with you wallet?

Well, while you probably won’t get rich after simply reading someone’s get-rich-quick strategy, or after reviewing “Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!” by Robert T. Kiyosaki a dozen times, adopting some
of the principles in these books will make a difference in your life. You see, these books and opportunities are designed for a certain segment of people successful - those with a particular drive or motivation built into their personality. Remember, your responsibility is to be the best you that you can be. The question is, how do you do that?

Consider this: if you walk into a room of people you do not know, you have your arms folded, your head and you tend to migrate toward the walls. Okay – you get the idea. Now, what if you walk into the center of the same room, with your eyes bright and a smile on your face? Which method do you think will get people to notice you and gravitate toward you? The second method, of course, will be most attractive to people. Consider that attractive has the word attract as its root word, which means to draw in. Part of what makes you an attractor is your attitude.

This is one of the principles that is touted, repeatedly, in both of the books I’ve mentioned.

• A positive attitude is the difference between balancing your life and allowing your work life to dominate all that you do.
• A positive attitude is the difference between having it all and enjoying the things that you have.
• A positive attitude is the difference between throwing in the towel and giving up and pushing forward, looking for new solutions.

It is even the difference between having a customer and building a relationship with a client. All of these can affect your wallet, directly or indirectly.

Opportunities to address the pain in your wallet abound all around us. All of them will be impacted, positively or negatively as a result of your attitude. Attitude says, "I can't!" or "I can do it!" Attitude says, "I'll go, but I won't talk to anyone" or "Let's give it my best shot." Your attitude is displayed in your body language, your grooming, your clothing and your makeup. All of these things are things that you can control. All of these things can make you feel better or worse about yourself.

Today's world is bringing a number of economic challenges that is causing people to deny themselves of happiness. People are focused on what they are losing and won't be able to do or be able to buy. Maybe we should start to focus on wanting less and doing more with what we have. This is how we begin to change our attitude.

Like any change, it is not an overnight change, but it is one that begins with a single step. How can you reduce your pain? What simple methods or changes can you make to improve your attitude? How can you reduce the pain in your wallet?

At Aepiphanni Business Solutions, we are dedicated to serving the needs of small business owners. We specialize in helping you develop strategies for your organization, and are committed to your success. If you have further questions about creating your strategy or developing your vision, please give me, Rick Meekins, a call at 678-265-3908, or email us at info@aepiphanni.com.