One of the essential skills for any entrepreneur is negotiation. How well you can negotiate a favorable agreement or deal for your business can often spell the difference between failure and success. Negotiation can occur between you and your employees, your vendors, your customers, or even your investors. Despite the possible sense of intimidation or distaste many business owners might have around negotiating, it is a productive skill that will enable you to build your business in positive ways — and it does not have to be approached as an adversarial tactic to be endured!
One of the fundamental keys to successful negotiation is to be certain of what you want to achieve and what you are willing to settle for. In their 1981 bestseller, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Without Giving In, Roger Fisher and William Ury state,
The reason you negotiate is to produce something better than the results you can obtain without negotiating. What are those results? What is that alternative? What is your BATNA — your Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement? That is the standard against which any proposed agreement should be measured.
The other key is to know, as best you can, what the other party’s true needs and objectives are. In negotiating salary increase requests from employees, for example, it is essential to solicit the employee’s perspective — and to be able to accurately assess what may not be said aloud. With vendors or suppliers, knowing their break points — the bottom line they are willing to go to — as well as your own leveraging strengths with them, is critical to negotiating deals that are mutually acceptable.
Read about it here…
http://www.e-myth.com/cs/user/print/post/10-steps-to-effective-negotiation
We are delighted to highlight one of our newest members to the family, Kenzie Perry of Kelepso Design Studio!
Find out why he loves what he does and also please join us in supporting his business, so that he can WIN a contest for best design. Go here to vote: http://www.tigerimports.com/survey/?take=1&b=4
What does your business do? We provide a full range of comprehensive design services including art, accessories, event design, furniture design, graphic design and interior design.
Any interesting fact(s) you can share about your industry? Many clients don’t realize that they receive a substantial discount from retail and trade stores when they hire an interior designer to make purchases for their home or business. Interior designers don’t only make your home or place of business beautiful, but they design to protect the health and safety of their client’s well-being as it pertains to building codes.
Most popular problem you help people solve? The most popular problem I help people to solve is conceptualizing an idea. Many people can image a particular design, but can’t visualize it or illustrate it.
What year did you kiss Corporate America goodbye and why do you hope to never go back? I kissed Corporate America goodbye March 16, 2009 and I hope I never go back, because I was making too much money for other people utilizing my own skills and talent.
How do you stay motivated? I stay motivated by looking at the big future and visualizing what the future holds. If I work hard to accomplish a particular task, the benefits will be rewarding.
What’s a bold move you took that turned your business around? The biggest bold move I’ve made to turn my business around is writing a business plan.
What’s your favorite area on www.ownyourpower.ning.com? My favorite area on OYP is the events page. There are a lot of great opportunities to network and learn more about yourself and business ownership.
What’s a unique talent that you have that might surprise us? I can sing and play the piano by ear.
It’s sadly time for your last meal on earth…what would it be? My last meal on earth would be Zahkia’s cheesecake with Kahlua sauce. I love sweets.
If you could do it all over again, what is the biggest mistake you’d avoid next time around? I would have searched for a mentor in college to guide me through the registration process as it pertains to student loans and finances. And I would also intern earlier during my college career to make sure I knew how a particular industry operates.
Most exciting moment that you got your time to shine? The most exciting moment is when I was selected as a top 5 finalist for the 2009 Tiger Imports Design for Life Competition. Please vote for me at http://www.tigerimports.com/survey/?take=1&b=4. The deadline to cast your vote is May 15, 2009.
What’s in your cd player/ipod right now? Everything. I don’t discriminate. I’m exploring other selections of music besides gospel (although it is my favorite).
If you could have superpowers, what would you want? My superpowers would be able to pause time and to be more intuitive.
Check out Kenzi’s design and learn more about Kelepso by adding him as a friend! http://ownyourpower.ning.com/profile/kelepso
Fiona Bloom is an enterprising social butterfly who is ONE TO KNOW, especially if you are in the entertainment industry. She’s specializes in Events/PR and Social Media Training. For the last two in and a half years, she has been offering consulting to boutique companies and lifestyle brands. The Bloom Effect is into producing launch parties, listening parties, showcases, networking events and PR for developing and unsigned/independent artists and other brands in Entertainment biz. Own Your Power has been partners with Fiona for a long time now and we want you to find out why she LOVES WHAT SHE DOES!
What does your business do?
The Bloom Effect also educates people in the industry about how social media can grow your brand and give you the necessary exposure you need to get the ears and eyes of corporate companies and bigger entities. It’s all about applying these tools and applications to your art to add to the excitement and energy -further build your awareness and buzz.
Any interesting facts that you can share about your industry?
Well, music specifically- CD’s aren’t selling – yep- we need to accept the fact that music is free- less and less folks will pay for downloads- some of the bigger more established acts are offering free music and furthermore-we’re realizing that making an album- those days are numbered…We’re better off putting a couple singles out a month- offer audiences different songs at different times- not all at once.
Biggest pet peeve in business? My biggest pet peeve – well I have two if that’s okay!
One- when people don’t follow through- don’t return a call or email. I know we’re all guilty as I’ve done that a few times but there needs to be a justified explanation. Don’t tell me you’re interested in collaborating or working with me unless you mean it- Lots of hot air in this business!
Two-Being in a meeting and not looking directly at me- eye contact- can’t stand that- very important and can make or break whether I want to get into business partnership with that client.
How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by being passionate and looking forward to my waking hours when I can delve into all the exciting projects and clients I work with.
One thing that you would change if you could? What would I want to change! I would like to have gotten married while my
Granny was still alive- she died in November in 2007! She has been my
biggest inspiration.
What’s your favorite area on www.ownyourpower.ning.com? I love the networking on OYP- of course I do- I’m a networking Queen!!!!
What’s a unique talent that you have that might surprise us? Unique talents- wow- I actually have a few. I’m a comedienne- yep I know it’s hard to imagine. I’m also a former concert pianist. I play a mean piano. I’m also amazing at Hula Hoops- shocking actually!
What year did you kiss Corporate America goodbye and why do you hope to never go back? I guess I kissed Corporate America goodbye after my year at EMI Records but to be honest- I’ve never found myself in Corporate America other than the temp gig in between EMI job and Indie label ZERO HOUR where I spearheaded their media department. Even though EMI was corporate and a major label- the fact I was working at an Entertainment entity- Corporate America never impacted me!
I have never had to wake up my 18+ career and dress in a suit – although now that I’m older/more mature the suit idea actually sounds quite appealing….Would have to be ‘Sexy’-I hope I never go back unless a company offers me a merger or buyout but even then-I’d have to have full reign or creative control!!
Have you used Social Networking to gain new contacts/business? If so, what have been any results?
Oh Yes- Can’t praise social networking enough and it’s helped my business tremendously- especially Facebook, Imeem, Flickr, Twitter and my Blog!
If you could do it all over again, what is the biggest mistake you’d avoid next time around?If I could do it all over- my biggest mistake was saying YES all the time or not knowing when to say NO and not being able to delegate and starting a business without the necessary business savvy or knowledge and learning the hard way!!! I’d also avoid selling my services for ‘FREE GOODS’ or chopped in half the price, because I needed the business or because I’m looking to expose my brand!
Most exciting moment that you got your time to shine? I love to MC shows– introduce new talent – I also won a NARIP Award for Top Strategist/marketer of the year!
I think 2009 and 2010 is my time to shine although. I am featured in this amazing book of incredible women called ‘Put Your Dreams First’ by author Thembisa Mshaka http://www.thembisamshaka.com Very incredible woman and great book and a must read for everybody on Own Your Power Network!
It’s sadly time for your last meal on earth…what would it be? My last meal would be Bi-Bim -Bop- beef- Korean food- I think I was Korean in a prior life!
What’s in your cd player/ipod right now? In my cd player right now is the Hip Hop Howl Mixtape SXSW Takeover Free
Download which is a MUST- some of the hottest indie R&B and Hip Hop acts are
featured with exclusive tracks http://www.imeem.com/hiphophowl
Want to reach out to Fiona? Add her as a friend in our community and
http://www.thebloomeffect.com
http://www.thebloomeffect.com/blog
Contact info: fiona@thebloomeffect.com
646-764-0004
Happy Earth Day everyone!
We should try to be kind to our environment everyday! However, this is a day to really remember that this is our ONLY HOME and we need to cherish it! I think I’ll go out in my garden today. It needs some love. 
What is Earth Day anyhow?
Earth Day, celebrated April 22, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth‘s environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. This date is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
The United Nations celebrates an Earth Day each year on the March equinox, which is often March 20, a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. Read full definition here…
By Jodi Helmer
Going green doesn’t mean buying a Tesla, or even a Prius. It doesn’t mean wearing the newest designer organic jeans or installing solar panels on your home. In fact, it doesn’t mean having to buy anything at all. Need proof? Check out these cheap and easy ways to eco-fy your existence.
1. Schedule a home energy review An energy advisor will do a room-by-room evaluation of your home to figure out how much energy you’re using and offer suggestions for becoming more energy efficient. Most utility companies offer free or low-cost energy audits to their customers.
“We all know there are things we can be doing to save energy, but it can be hard to know where to start,” explains Kendall Youngblood, residential sector manager for Energy Trust of Oregon. “An energy advisor can help you establish your priorities and figure out what changes make the most sense in your home.”
2. Clean your refrigerator coils The coils hold liquid that cools the air inside the refrigerator. But it takes a lot more energy to cool the refrigerator when the coils are covered with lint and dust. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum out all of the dust; then wipe the coils down with a damp cloth. Voila — you’ve just cut your refrigerator’s energy use by up to six percent.
3. Install a programmable thermostat A programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways to lower energy use and reduce heating bills — and you never have to think about adjusting the temperature.
“Programming the thermostat prevents the heat from running when it’s not needed,” explains Ronnie Kweller, deputy director of communications for the Alliance to Save Energy. “Set it to lower the temperature several degrees while you’re at work and it’ll help save up to 10 percent on your heating bills throughout the season.”
Keeping the heat low while you’re away from home will also cut pollution and reduce greenhouse gases, notes Kweller. Programmable thermostats are sold at home improvement centers and hardware stores, and online at sites like Gaiam.com. Prices start at $50 for a simple unit with a timer, and most are easy to install for the average DIY-er.
4. Drink tap water You’ve heard the numbers: Each year, more than 38 billion water bottles end up in landfills, where they’ll sit for an average of 700 years before even beginning to decompose. Add that to the 1.5 million barrels of oil — enough to fuel 10,000 cars — it takes to manufacture those bottles, and maybe that’s why per gallon, bottled water costs more than twice what you pay at the pump. Recent studies from watchdog groups like Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have exposed vague sanitation rules that set no specific contamination limits on the bottled water industry. According to NRDC, about one fourth of bottled water is plain old tap water in fancy packaging, and several brand name bottled waters in NRDC studies tested positive for industrial chemicals and bacterial contaminants such as… ew… fecal coliform. If that isn’t enough to get you to carry your own reusable bottle and fill up at the tap, then we don’t know what is.
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