Having faced several minor and at least one major turning point of my own, I can speak from experience that usually these experiences result in positive changes. How many times has your hard work resulted in an outcome far removed from what you intended? How many times have you cried out, “why?” only to later discover that the topic of your anguished question was the best thing that ever happened to you?

Whether you have been downsized, outsized or resized in your business, whether you realize  your finances will prevent you from retiring with dignity…. or if you have faced significant changes in your personal life, it is important to realize that your turning points are the necessary experiences that can lead to greater fulfillment and open your eyes to different thinking patterns and habits.

Not every turning point is negative. Many are glorious unexpected windfalls. You receive an unexpected raise, new business drops into your lap, you meet the love of your life. Someone gifts you with an unexpected kindness. These too are important turning points.

And that’s what turningpointmagazine is all about. It is a platform for discovering new coping mechanisms and learning to embrace and celebrate your turning points.

At the same time,  you probably have professional experiences or personal advice that you want to pass along? Are you looking for new customers or clients? Do you want to provide words of encouragement? Will your wisdom be of benefit to others? Or do you simply want to sound off about issues that irritate you?

If that is the case, turningpointmagazine is your platform for sharing.  With turningpointmagazine you become an active participant, whether submitting articles, participating in discussions and comments or by becoming one of our experts.

Further, you might be looking for new ideas or different opportunities.  Do you need to boost your income? Boost your retirement savings? Start a business that will carry you into retirement? ARE YOU FINALLY READY TO PURSUE YOUR TRUE PASSION?

Although the legacy Turning Point Magazine has been around for 18 years, this is a new beginning, the beginning of a wonderful adventure. And, while we are starting with a blogsite, look for expansion and improvement as we add more and more informative articles, new business opportunities, self-development opportunities, and much, much more.

turningpointmagazine is your platform for getting involved, participating, learning, sharing your resources and knowledge. And for celebrating your turning point!

May God continue to bless you!

SUBMIT YOUR TURNING POINT STORY

What kind of person do you want to be?

Do you want to smile more? Do you want to have more fun? Do you want to listen more than you talk?  Do you want to add some spontaneity to your life? Do you want to worry less?

What do you want to be in your professional life?

Do you want to work less but earn more? Do you want to pursue your passion? Do you want to do what you love?

What kind of friend do you want to be?

Do you want to have deeper conversations with friends? Do you want to meet new people? Do you want to say “I love you,” more?  Do you want to say “thank you” more?

What kind of parent to you want to be?

Do you want to really listen to what your kids are saying? Do you want to stop yelling so much? Do you want to tell them you love them more? Do you want to teach them meaningful life lessons?

Do you want to change how you spend your leisure time?

Do you want to read more? Do you want to watch less TV? Do you want to start exercising? Do you want to listen to more classical music? Do you want to learn a foreign language? Do you want to eat more vegetables?

The new year gives you an opportunity to look back on your life, while planning for the future. Keep in mind that when you take that final look back, you’re sure to regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did. Live life now. Vida Viva!  Live life to the fullest.

As times go by, we can remember certain periods of our lives with great fondness. Whether it was how you looked in that tight little yellow dress, or how wearing that Members Only jacket made you feel like part of the in-crowd, we all cherish our good memories.

But, time goes on, everything changes.  Sometimes though, even those of us who celebrate the Turning Points in our lives find ourselves inadvertantly wandering back into 40 years ago.

The evidence of our “4 decades behind the times” behavior, style or language can be pretty funny. For instance, every time one of your friends ends a telephone conversation with a hearty “Ciao,” don’t you just know they’re channeling the 70′s TV show Kojak?

Or, what about your girlfriend who loved wearing peasant skirts in the 70′s and is now reliving her youth by showing up in today’s fashion interpretation of the style?

When was the last time you noticed that in some ways, you or someone you know has fallen victim?

Comment with your best examples of 4 decades behind the times living! Remember the ground rules – no mean comments, don’t identify anyone in particular….keep it strictly tongue in cheek! AND REMEMBER…BY POSTING YOU GIVE US THE RIGHT TO USE YOUR COMMENT (BUT NOT YOUR NAME OR CONTACT INFORMATION).

DO: Write a Realistic Business Plan.  Your business plan must be based on realistic assumptions and estimates that are supported by facts and concrete information.  All business plans rely on estimates and assumptions, but a winning business plan supports all assumptions with facts and verifiable information.

DO: Ask for Enough Money.   Make sure you are not asking for just enough money to fail.  As a general rule, when determining how much money to seek from investors, consider all your marketing, personnel and fixed costs for three years. That total will become your funding request.

DON’T:  Have a Weak or Incomplete Marketing Plan.   Your marketing plan is going to be the center of your business plan.  The executive summary, financials, management and the products/services sections all must support and revolve around your marketing.  Therefore, the importance of the marketing plan cannot be ignored. 

DON’T: Have Financial Spreadsheets that do not match your Business Plan.  This is the second most important aspects of your business plan. The financial plan provides the numbers that correspond to your written plan. It is important to research the expected future revenues and expenses for your business. Monthly income statements and cash flow projections should be included. Existing businesses should also include historical financial statements.

DO:  Include market research.  Market research includes important information about your current and potential customers, including demographics (income, age, etc.) and industry information as well as the size and market for your business. Market research helps to determine the feasibility of your idea, an appropriate marketing strategy for your customers, and the likelihood of selling your product or service. By including market research and citing your data sources, you will lend credibility to your plan.

DON’T: Present Inexperienced Management Team. Angel investors need to feel secure with the experience and skills of the management team running the company.  As the entrepreneur and business owner, your responsibility is to make sure you have a solid management team and personnel.  Therefore, do not try and wear all hats in the company.  Identify who will do accounting & payroll, sales & marketing, training and customer service.  Include resumes and bios of key personnel.

DO:  Acknowledge the Enemy.   A common mistake made when writing a business plan is ignoring the competition.  Even if it’s a new invention or new way of providing a service, competition always exists.  Remember this rule; “If there is no competition, then there is no market for your product”.  So acknowledge the competition, and then prove how your business has a sustainable competitive advantage.

DON’T:  Be Paranoid.  If you have a good idea, then believe that at least 10 other people have the same idea. If you have a great idea, then I bet 5 people have the same idea.  Therefore, implementation and not secrecy is the key.  So tell everybody your idea and as the Law of Attraction will confirm, those who believe in you and your idea will be drawn to you.  

DON’T: Fail to Act.  One of the worst mistakes people make is failure to act.  Your first business plan will not be perfect, nor will it be great.  But if you sit and worry, complain and make excuses, you will never complete it.  

DON’T:  Quit After The First No.  Less than 1 percent of start-ups get funded by business investors or angel investors, so the odds are daunting.  But you need to learn the reasons why you got a no, address them, refine your thinking and go back hard at it again.  Be willing to accept rejection at least 6 times before you are successful in securing investor funding.

Eligible Project Costs include land acquistion, building acquisition, new building construction, renovation, equipment, furniture and fixtures, professional fees, interim interest, construction contingency and soft costs. The refinance of eligible existing debt is acceptable as part of an expansion project under SBA 504 guidlines.

Example for a $1,000,000 project:

 * The SBA 504 program offers financing in partnership with conventional lenders to help borrowers conserve working capital and lock in a below market, 20-year fixed rate.

Interest rates on the 40% SBA 504 portion are well below market (approx. 4.88% all-in as of November 2010) and fixed for 20 years!

Typical projects range from $150,000 to $10,000,000.

Contact Mac Dobson 312.360.3306

Dante’s latest book, Black Business Secrets, is another manifestation of his goal of putting African Americans on the path to entrepreneurship. Through the 500 tips, strategies and resources outlined in Black Business Secrets, Dante gives the reader a GPS that details the quickest and best routes to building a successful company; he includes pitfalls to avoid; and strategies to outsmart, outperform and out-earn competition. He also poses very real questions that the entrepreneur should address as part of his or her business ownership process.

I have watched with pleasure and amazement as Dante evolved from a young brilliant technology geek with a business concept well beyond his years, to become the internationally respected business mogul that he is today. By 30, Dante had built Diversity City Media, known for its marquee online businesses: BlackPR.com and BlackNews.com into a marketing and PR powerhouse with Fortune 500 clients too numerous to name.

The information in Black Business Secrets is solidly relevant, whether you’re starting a new business, or need to reaffirm your commitment to your existing company. And, you don’t have to be African American to benefit from Dante Lee’s rich advice. It is pertinent for all entrepreneurs. That is why it is one of my favorites.

Read this book!

Pat Means

A race official rushed over to give her two options. She could either be assisted off the track, or she could get one foot over the finish line on her own. Brave Holland chose to get across the finish line by doing the only thing her weakened body could bear; she raised herself up on all fours and crawled. With other runners easily breezing past her, Holland simply put one hand and then one knee in front of the other and slowly made it across the finish line.

Holland said, “I just kept on telling myself, ‘I need to finish and I need to cross the line.’”

When Holland decided she was going to finish the race by any means necessary, she did not take time to wonder if she could make it, she did not think about how she would look as she laboriously pushed herself forward, she did not worry that she might be putting her health in jeopardy – she simply did what was necessary to win.

Had Holland chosen to give up, her teammates, coach and parents would have been disappointed with the loss of the championship, but they would not have blamed her for her physical collapse. They would have been more concerned about her health and would have supported her, nurtured her and worried about her. They would have assured her that she made a “good try.”

Fortunately, “good try” was not part of Holland’s definition of success. To her, success for herself, the team and coach meant making it across the finish line. Finishing was the only successful outcome.

As businesspeople, we set many goals and objectives on our road to success. Every step of the way is filled with a million obstacles that keep us from being a true winner. When this happens, we often redefine our desired goal and settle for less than our original plan. We tell ourselves that we’ve given it our best and friends and co-workers join us in supporting our “good try.”

To real winners like Holland Reynolds, nothing less than success is acceptable. Winners experience setbacks and detours, but treat them as temporary conditions and not permanent roadblocks. Instead of falling victim to the “good try” syndrome, they figure out how to use these trials as building blocks for success.

When she was interviewed, Holland went on to say, “I don’t remember falling, but then I remember crawling across the line.”

That is how it is in life and in business. The joy of accomplishment is remembered forever, while overcome obstacles fade from memory. Winners know that the road to success is not a direct path, and adapt and respond to challenges as they make up their own blueprint for success.

 That is why we can all take a lesson from brave 16-year old Holland Reynolds. She demonstrated what winners do. She made it across the finish line, maybe not according to the original plan, but she finished successfully.

Whatever your background, but especially if you are a black American, The Warmth of Other Suns is a must read. Not only must you read this book, but you should pass it on to everyone you know.

The book, released in late 2010, chronicles a watershed event in American history – using the stories of three individuals and their families to recount the decades-long great migration of African Americans from the South to the North and West, which lasted from World War I through the 1970s.

Written by Isabel Wilkerson, who in 1994 was the first black woman in the history of American journalism to win a Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing,and the first African American to win for individual reporting, The Warmth of Other Suns will stand as a classic of narrative journalism and of modern American history, on par with works by Diane McWhorter, Doris Kearns Goodin and Robert Caro.

Ms. Wilkerson spent over ten years researching and writing this book, drawing on archival materials and over 1,200 interviews to trace the lives of Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling and Robert Foster from their difficult lives in the South to their critical decisions to leave behind all they know to look for a better life in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

The Great Migration is perhaps the most underreported stories of the twentieth century, perhaps due to the fact that it was so vast and unfolded over many decades. Yet the more than six million black Americans who participated in the Great Migration were the silent actors in racial and social change in this country. They weren’t the ones leading Civil Rights Movement marches or perhaps not marching at all. They were the ones who were quietly forced to leave the arcane and often brutal remnants of the South’s “percular institution” in search of an unknown better life for themselves and their children.

Some of these migrants, as well as their children and grandchildren, would go on to become among the most influential people in the country: Oprah Winfrey, Toni Morrison, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Michelle Obama, August Wilson, Denzel Washington, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Thelonious Monk, Arthur Ashe, Michael Jackson, Prince, Tupac Shakur, James Baldwin, and Malcolm X, to name a few. Yet, the ones who had the greatest influence on America’s history were the millions of other Great Migration characters who simply raised successful families and made positive contributions to their communities without fame and fanfare.

This extraordinary book is a universal story of longing, loss and hope – people leaving one isolated land for the dream of a better life in more fertile soil. As with Tom Brokow’s,  The Greatest Generation, theirs are stories of adventure and courage. Published by Random House, The Warmth of Other Suns is a must read.

BUY THIS BOOK

THIS POST WAS GENERATED BY THE TSA ON ITS BLOG SITE ON 11/18/2010

TSA Myth or Fact: Leaked Images, Handcuffed Hosts, Religious Garb, and More!

There are so many rumors floating around right now that it’s hard to keep them all straight. So, in an effort to get everybody on the same page with the facts, here goes…

 Pat-downs Myths & Facts

Myth: All children will receive pat-downs.

Fact: TSA officers are trained to work with parents to ensure a respectful screening process for the entire family, while providing the best possible security for all travelers. Children 12 years old and under who require extra screening will receive a modified pat down. 

Myth: The TSA pat-down is invasive

Fact: Only passengers who alarm a walk through metal detector or AIT machine or opt out of the AIT receive a pat-down. For this reason, it is designed to be thorough in order to detect any potential threats and keep the traveling public safe. Pat-downs are performed by same-gender officers and all passengers have the right to a private screening with a travel companion at any time.

Myth: The pat-down is a punishment for opting out of the AIT.

Fact: There’s nothing punitive about it – it just makes good security sense.  And the weapons and other dangerous and prohibited items we’ve found during pat downs speak to this.

Myth: Everyone who travels will receive a pat-down.

Fact: Only passengers who alarm a walk through metal detector or AIT machine or opt out of the AIT receive a pat-down. It is one layer in our tool kit to address the nonmetallic explosives threat. In yesterday’s hearing, Administrator Pistole said: “The bottom line is few people in the overall scheme of things will actually receive those pat downs. Now, we’ve heard some examples, and obviously, there’s a vocal group out there who have experienced this for the first time, and, rightfully so, raising concerns, what’s behind this. And the bottom line is we, the transportation security officers in particular, are trying to work in partnership with the traveling public to say we want to ensure that you are safe on this flight. Work with us in a partnership to provide the best possible security. And that’s what it comes down to.”

Myth: Complaints about the pat-downs are extremely high.

Fact: Only a small percentage of the traveling public receives a pat down as they travel through the security checkpoint.  Approximately 2 million people fly in the United States every day.  The number of complaints is extremely low.

Myth: Pat downs for certain individuals are limited to the head and neck.

Fact: No one is exempt. Everyone is subject to the same screening. TSA is sensitive to religious and cultural needs, but everyone must be screened effectively. Administrator Pistole echoed those sentiments on MSNBC’s Hardball recently.

(At 4:42 on the clip)

MR. SMERCONISH: All right, here’s another one that I hear from radio callers, the Muslim guard exception. You may not even know what I’m talking about. But if someone approaches a TSA checkpoint and they’re wearing, by way of example, a burka, what’s the drill?

 MR. PISTOLE: Everybody goes through the same process. So whatever their ethnicity or religious beliefs, which I’m sensitive to and appreciate, the bottom line is people are treated the same in terms of either going through the advanced imaging technology if that’s available or to walk through the metal detector. And if they alert, then they would have to have that alert resolved. And the best way of doing that is through a pat-down.

 MR. SMERCONISH: No free rides, right, Mr. Pistole?

 MR. PISTOLE: That’s correct.

 AIT Myths & Facts

Myth: AIT is not safe.

Fact: Backscatter technology is safe for all passenger and has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Standards and Technology and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. All results confirm that the radiation dose is well below the standard for safety set by the American national Standards Institute. The technology is safe. A person receives more radiation naturally each hour than from one screening with a backscatter unit. In fact a traveler is exposed to less radiation from one AIT scan than from 2 minutes of an airline flight. 

Myth: There has been an overwhelming public outcry against AIT.

Fact:  A recent CBS News Poll found that 4 in 5 Support Full-Body Airport Scanners

Myth: AIT cannot detect powdered explosives.

Fact: This is false. Advanced imaging technology is deployed specifically because of its ability to detect both metallic threats – which a metal detector would pick up – and non-metallic threats – which a metal detector would not pick up. This includes explosive material that can take the form of powders, liquids and gels and be used in an improvised explosive device made up completely of non-metallic material.

Myth: Everybody who travels must undergo AIT screening.

Fact: Advanced imaging technology is optional – anybody can choose to opt out and receive alternate screening, which will include a pat down.

Myth: TSA Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) images can be stored on the AIT machines located in our airports.

Fact: Completely false – TSA’s machines should not be confused with the recent stories about the U.S. Marshals Service.  The machines used by TSA at our airports cannot store, print or transmit images. They simply don’t have that ability. Administrator Pistole also addressed this on Hardball. (At 6:03 on the clip)

Myth: TSA Officers are sharing AIT images they are taking with their cell phones.

Fact: Our officers are prohibited from bringing electronic devices such as cell phones into the AIT viewing room. This is a fireable offense and no such reports have been substantiated.

Myth: The AIT images shared by TSA are proof the images can be stored.

Fact: The images shared by TSA are either from the vendor, or were photographed by the media at a press event where an example of the technology was shown.

Myth: Children must be screened by the AIT.

Fact: Anybody can opt out of AIT, including children.

Miscellaneous Myths & Facts

Myth: Airports can opt-out of TSA screening.

Fact: All commercial airports are regulated by TSA whether the actual screening is performed by TSA or private companies. So TSA’s policies – including advanced imaging technology and pat downs – are in place at all domestic airports.

Myth: Radio Host Meg McLain was handcuffed to a chair after choosing not to undergo AIT screening.

Fact: She was never handcuffed to a chair and many of her outlandish claims were proven to be unfounded.

AUTHOR:  Blogger Bob, TSA Blog Team

Some businesses are rising to the challenge by starting recycling programs and installing energy-efficient light bulbs, but think that further initiatives will be too complicated to implement. A green cleaning program, can, however, meet any business’ criteria for performance and cost. 

If a product doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter that it is earth-friendly or
affordable. Companies can go to their distributors, who  will usually provide sample products. Companies can then test the products in as many scenarios as possible. Tests should take weather
into consideration. For example, businesses located in regions that experience heavy rain or snow all winter may not choose the best product if they test in dry, summery conditions.

Most product lines include highly effective products as well as others that don’t work as well.  Since it’s pragmatic to order all products from a single brand, businesses should match their most important cleaning needs to the best products in the line. For example, a jewelry
retailer must have crystal-clear display cases to showcase their products, so priority should be given to a line with a highly effective glass cleaner.

Evaluating the green claims of cleaning products can also be difficult. Several national organizations certify products as green, however each uses different criteria and specifications, based on proprietary definitions and internal reviews. One designation, DfE (Design for the Environment), is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DfE-certified products must meet rigorous standards for biodegradability and toxicity, health hazards, storage and shipping limitations, flammability, etc.

Companies also need to consider how products are packaged. Pre-measured packaging, for example, can contribute to a green initiative, as it creates less waste. Shipping and storage savings can be significant also. 

The cost of cleaning products should be evaluated on a total cost
of ownership basis since so many factors contribute to the overall goal of a clean retail environment. Businesses can make an estimate by choosing one location and determining how much money it would cost to keep it clean for one year with each product in consideration, including storage costs, labor and supplies.

One size does not fit all when it comes to cleaning, especially for multi-location retailers. Consideration should be given to seasonal changes in cleaning needs as well as those based on general geographic location. National multi-location retailers can generalize by classifying stores in zones and considering the unique needs of each zone to ensure that the cleaning program is effective.  By calculating the cost on an annual basis, any seasonal impacts will be taken into consideration.

For more information, visit www.jbiglobal.com or www.pakit.com.