How to Write a Press Release

Hi CEO's I wanted to share some tips I got from my friend Heather Fuller from E Release. She writes press releases and does PR. You can find her by doing a Google Search for "Press Release Services".

Any way definitely check out her website if you are a business owner or entrepreneur and you want to learn how to write a press release or have her do it for you.

The cost is excellent. They will write it for $299 500 words or less. When you think about the 30,000 people who may see it you can see this is just pennies...

She can also do the sending of the release for $399 and you save $99 when they do both the writing and release for just $599.

There are many excellent PR people and this service is just an affordable alternative until you have the budget for a full time PR rep.

I found it very helpful and I hope you do too.

How to Write a Press Release
Planning Begins Before You Write a Press Release

While no one can guarantee your press release will be published or used for an article, there are things you can do to improve your chances. The biggest obstacle to most press releases is the release itself.

When writing your press release, it should be:


Concise - editors receive hundreds of press releases a week (perhaps more) and appreciate releases that are brief and to the point.
Well-written - a good way to ensure your press release ends up in the waste basket is: bad spelling, poor grammar, and illogical or unsubstantiated claims.
Factual - stick to logical and substantiated claims, avoiding statements of belief: we're the best, the cheapest, etc.
Honest - avoid the padded quotes by company officers; even if they are experts, they come across as biased. If used, stick to the facts.
Timely - if your press release isn't topical, consider incorporating it with a recent news event -- but don't stretch it.

Questions to consider before you write a press release:


Who is the preferred audience of your press release?
What do you want readers to take away from your press release?
What does your press release provide: invaluable information or just another offer?
What is the support or justification for the information in your press release?
What is the tone of your press release?
Are you aware of possible pitfalls or areas to avoid?
What do you want to accomplish with your press release: increase business, disseminate information, or both?

Does the press releases lead (opening) address or answer the basic tenets of journalism:


who
what
when
where
why
how

PS:

Here is Heather's contact info and be sure to tell her I sent you.

Heather Fuller

Associate Editor

eReleases Press Release Writing

and Distribution Services

http://www.ereleases.com

hfuller@ereleases.com

Toll-free: 800.710.5535

Tel.: 410.679.1792

How To File a Fictitious Name Statement

So Now You Are A CEO,

What is next? You have your business idea and you need to now get a fictitious business name. So here is what you need to do in Solano County and some basic requirements you should be aware of:

Filing Requirement:
State law (Business & professions §17910) requires that every person, partnership, corporation, or other association, who regularly transacts business in this State for profit under a fictitious business name, shall file a statement with the County Clerk. Within 30 days after the statement has been filed, the registrant shall cause it to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County in which the business is located, and the Affidavit of Publication filed with the County Clerk within 30 days after the completion of the publication.

Filing Instructions:
Submissions for Fictitious Business Name Statements must be complete, accurate, and legible to be accepted. Any missing, incomplete or illegible information will cause the form to be rejected, with the forfeiture of all filing fees. Please review the submission checklist before submitting the registration forms.
Complete in triplicate (1 original & 2 copies) the Fictitious Business Name Form
Enclose a Cashiers Check or Money Order made payable to the "Solano County Clerk" for the total amount of the filing fees.

Review the form to ensure that all fields are complete and clearly legible.
Fictitious Business Names can be obtained in person at the County Clerks Office or by mail. If you elect to appear in person, please bring the completed forms and a valid form of payment for all fees.


Renewal Requirements
Fictitious Business Name Statements remain in effect for 5 years from the date of filing. To renew an expiring statement the following requirements must be met.
Submission in triplicate of the Fictitious Business Name Form
Payment of filing fees

If the renewal filing has no changes from the initial filing, it is not necessary to publish the renewal filing.

Abandonment of Fictitious Name:
Per section §17922 of the Business and Professions code, "A person who has filed a fictitious business name statement may, upon ceasing to transact business in this state under the fictitious business name, file a statement of abandonment of use of fictitious business name."

To abandon use of a Fictitious Business Name Statement on file in Solano County, you will need to complete and submit a Statement of Abandonment and pay the applicable filing fee (see schedule of fees).

Withdrawal From Partnership:
Per section §17923 of the Business and Professions code, "the withdrawal of a partner does not cause a fictitious business name statement to expire."

To withdraw from an existing partnership on file in Solano County you will need to complete and submit a Statement of Withdrawal.

Instructions for Publication
Within 30 days after filing a new Fictitious Business Name Statement or change in status of an existing statement, the registrant shall cause it to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County in which the principal place of business is located. The publication must be once a week for four successive weeks and an affidavit of publication filed with the County Clerk within 30 days after the completion of the publication. The newspaper selected should be one that circulates in the area where the business is to be conducted. California Business and Professions Code §17917 (paraphrased)

Business License
Filing a fictitious business name statement does not license you to conduct business, it will only register your fictitious business name. Contact the appropriate local agency to obtain a business license.


Hope this helps you be the Best CEO you can.

Bankruptcy VS. Foreclosure

Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and even career professionals in this market may be entering a Financial Crisis due to failing real estate prices that are killing our economy.

You may be in between the Valley of Decision in between and two very hard rocks and both options will ruin your credit and make you feel like a looser but what choice do you have and what choice do many of us have?

Foreclosure is an option when you have no equity and are unable to sell, refinance or make the payments. First try to talk to the lender about the situation and see if they give you any options. Then be very sure that the market won't recover in a reasonable amount of time.

Then consider family members and their feelings. Some may be adversely affected when asked to pull up their roots. Walking away from your home is never an easy decision but if you have no source of income and the savings are getting low it may be your wisest choice.

Bailing out now and preserving what you have left may sound good now but do know that your lender could try to sue you for the balance or try to take other assets such as homes you may have. So don't just assume you will escape with out a scratch if you bail out.

Bankruptcy could be a viable option when you not only have an upside down mortgage but you also have debt you can not repay. Bankruptcy additionally does not always mean that you will lose your house either. You can do a Chapter 13 and restructure you debt including past due mortgage payments and pay penny's on the dollar when you agree to repay your debts with a reduced payment structure.

Explore both options and consult with a professional before making any decisions as they are both unpleasant experiences but perfectly a legal options when you are stuck between two very hard rocks and a bulldozer.

For more information check out: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p908/index.html

Media Jobs

Have you ever wondered about a career in Broadcasting?

Most every You Are A CEO event has a media crew. We work with StellarVision.TV to provide high quality media. We always have PowerPoint Slides, Videos and music at our events and someone must run the AV and Sound support.

Surprisingly, there are actually a very small number of people trained in this field?

Media jobs are hard work but also fun. Here is some of what one of my friends from a public TV Station shared with me about a career in broadcast TV, radio and Internet.


...In the US professional broadcasting industry, we suffer from a lack of trained people to shoot and prepare the audio/video for distribution. Our corporation has partnered with a new private school to train future broadcast technicians and talent people. I believe the tuition starts at around $12,000 for a 2 year program and the waiting list is growing!

...those interested in broadcasting careers [can get] a BIG head start on many of the basic disciplines [through this school]. We ...have a tremendous resource at our disposal.



Some links:



http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/11782566.html - article on the new school



http://www.centrotvandradio.com - the school



http://www.nmtv.com - our corporation

Networking at a Community Luncheon

Hello Everyone.

I wanted to announce that the "It Takes You" luncheon hosted by lifeskills 411 will be on December 9th at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm at the Emeryville Hilton. Donations are $50for adults and $40 for youth 17 and under and seniors 65 and older.

We are having this luncheon to bring awareness to what lifeskills is doing to teach youth and their parents the skills they need for life.

We are attempting to build an army of concerned people who can promote unity in working on solutions for our youth and their families. There will be excellent networking and sponsorship opportunities.

Please help us spread the word about the event. We are seeking sponsors who may want to underwrite (support it financially) this critical event.

Please register on line at www.lifeskills411.org or contact us at (510) 741-2045.

Anyone Can Get a Map To Your House Using Your Phone Number on Google!

Personal safety is a concern of many executives who work late and have opportunity to exchange phone numbers with business executives. Caution should be used when giving out any personal contacts because anyone can use the phone number on Google to get a map to your house.

Some people work at home and are equip with safety devices such as an alarm but just so you are aware Google and many other online directories have easy access maps to your house simply by entering your phone number.

Check out this email sent to me:

Google has implemented a new feature that enables you to type a telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and you will be given the person's name and address. If you then hit MapQuest, you will get a map to the person's house. Everyone should be aware of this! It's a nationwide reverse telephone book.

If a child gives out his/her phone number, someone can now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming.l

Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. I tried my number and it came up along with the mapquest and directions straight to our house. I did fill out the removal form for my self, and encourage all of you to do the same. Quite scary.

Please look up your own number.

In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to: Google (http://www.google.com/) Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on your telephone number and then click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48-hours.

Check your own number and although this may not apply to you if you have an unlisted number or cell phone as primary contact, but you may know someone who needs to know this.

Effective Advertising with Corporate Giving

Most Corporations as well as business owners have an advertising budget and they may or may not be seeing a return on their investment. May we suggest a corporate giving program which will not only get your company branded but also create the most effective type of advertising with grass roots word of mouth marketing.

When your company gives they will be recognized and that means that your company is seen in a positive light and receives good will. When this happens people will remember you when the need arises and that is very effective advertising.

Lifeskills 411 encourages corporate giving programs where businesses donate money to our annual operating expenses with either a monthly or annual donation. There are many benefits to corporate giving in addition to supporting a cause that is worthy. The youth and families you impact become aware of your company and what products and or services you offer. The public is given positive information about you and being a corporate donor bring excellent public relations to your firm.

If you are unable to support on a monthly basis or to our annual operating budget a company can also get their name out to the public by sponsoring or supporting events such as our December 8th Luncheon at the Emeryville Hilton or the Grand Gala Dinner in February 16th, 2008.

Corporate giving is necessary for most non profits to operate in light of cut backs with state and federal budgets and businesses more than anyone benefits from a strong community.

Please make sure you include lifeskills 411 in your Corporate Giving Program as we care for our most precious asset, Our Youth!

Are You Looking For New Business Contacts?

My Space is a great way to meet new people that you can do business with. You can search for people at : http://search.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=find

Have fun, be save and network.

Young Entrepreneur Story Founder of "Rockstar".

Did you know that the Energy Drink "Rockstar" was created by the son of Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage? Yep its true.

Here is what Wikipedia says:

Russell Goldencloud Weiner (born 1970) is the creator of the Rockstar energy drink. Weiner is also the founder and CEO of the company, which is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Weiner is the son of Michael Weiner, Ph.D., better known as conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage, and Janet Weiner. Both of Weiner's parents are herbalists. His mother, Janet, serves as CFO of his company.

Before creating Rockstar, he co-founded the Paul Revere Society in 1996 with his father.[1][2] According to the Society's mission statement, its purpose is to bring "together Americans who actively seek to take back our borders, our language, and our traditional culture from the liberal left corroding our great nation."[3]

In 1998, Weiner ran for a seat in the California State Assembly, District 6 on the platform of being a card-carrying Paul Revere Society member. Footage of the televised debate shows him pulling out the membership card, holding it up high, and speaking at length about his membership in the society.[4] His candidacy was endorsed by his father, mother, and Shannon Reeves, President of the Oakland NAACP[2]. Weiner's campaign was unsuccessful.

Got Insurance?

A CEO's worse nightmare is a lawsuit. The right insurance can protect you and even cover claims so make sure you are fully covered at all times. Your office, property or employees can encounter losses and or damage and you will sleep much easier knowing that you are covered. Business Owners Should carry insurance for:

Fire
Flood
Theft
Life
Disability
Health
Auto
Earthquake

The best way to ensure you are fully covered is to meet with several experts and get a consultation. We will be looking for insurance agents to post to this blog and provide tips for our CEO's.

If you know of any please post contact info here.

Thanks

Meet Criminal Defense Attorney Jason Clay

Michael E. Parker, the CEO and Founder of Stellar Enterprise was honored for his work with a Business of the Year Award from the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce. At this event we were fortunate enough to come in contact with a man who makes his living defending those accused of crimes they often did not commit.

We have asked him to tell us more about his life and hope that you will recommend him if anyone you know needs a defense lawyer. Jason has the heart and wit when your life is on the line.


Here is what he shares:

Being a criminal defense attorney has been a very rewarding experience for me because it has enabled me to fight for individuals who too often are forced to face the injustices of a racist and oftentimes corrupt criminal justice system without adequate legal representation. Whether it’s the result of an overzealous prosecutor who decides to hide exonerating evidence from the defense, or a corrupt police officer who has planted incriminating evidence, everyday innocent people find themselves convicted of crimes they didn’t commit. I’m sure we have all heard stories of people who have been locked up in prison for 10 or 20 years, only to find out later through DNA testing or some other newly discovered evidence that they were actually innocent of any wrongdoing.

It is the desire to combat this type of injustice which motivates me to work as a criminal defense attorney. Too often I have seen people get used up by the system simply because they weren’t aware of their basic Constitutional rights. Part of my job is to prevent the government from infringing on these rights. When I agree to take on a case I know that a person’s freedom is at stake, often times their future is at stake, and in some instances their very lives are at stake. In essence they are placing their lives in my hands. At times, this responsibility can seem overwhelming, but it’s all worth it if, at the end of the day, I know that I’ve been able to help someone.

I’ve been fortunate in a sense that I’ve been able to use my skills to help quite a few people over the course of my career. Just a few months ago I represented an 18 year old kid who had been identified by the victim of a robbery as being the perpetrator of the crime. Because of the charges, my client was facing up to six years in prison. Fortunately through cell phone records and other witnesses I was able to show that he could not have been present at the time of the robbery because he was at a different location. The district attorney eventually dismissed all charges and the court made a finding that my client was factually innocent. The feeling that I get in knowing that I helped this kid, who had no prior criminal history, from having his life ruined by a serious felony conviction is what makes my job so rewarding.

In order to become an attorney, one typically obtains a bachelor’s degree from a university and then a JD from a law school. While in law school most students take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam which, as the name suggests, is a multiple choice exam designed to test an applicant’s knowledge of the rules of professional responsibility. A person must pass this exam before he or she can become eligible to be admitted to the bar. The state bar also conducts moral character background check of each applicant before a person can become eligible to be admitted to practice law in the state. The final step is the bar exam itself. This is a three day exam held in July and February of each year. Once a person has passed the bar and satisfied the other requirements, it is simply a matter of being sworn in as a member of the bar, and then the person is eligible to begin practicing as an attorney.

My initial job after becoming an attorney was with the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office. In 2006, after 11 years with the Public Defender’s Office, I decided to venture out on my own and open my own law practice. To cover the initial start up expenses, I loaned myself a sufficient amount of money from my savings account to cover the anticipated costs. I then settled upon a location in Berkeley for my office, and once this was done everything else quickly fell into place. I set up a telephone and fax line at the office, I purchased furniture and equipment, I had business cards printed and created stationary on my computer, and obtained a business license from the city. Once all of these steps were completed, I was ready to open my doors to prospective clients.

My office recently celebrated its one year anniversary. My office currently handles all adult and juvenile criminal matters including all misdemeanors such as theft and driving under the influence, as well as serious felonies such as murder, robbery, sexual assault and other violent felonies. My office also handles contempt allegations in family court proceedings.

I can be contacted at my office at 1010 Grayson St., Suite Two, Berkeley, CA or by telephone at 510-704-1773.

Employers Do You Want to Retain Your Team Members?

Invest in them and in yourselves. The You Are a CEO program will teach your team members how to work with others including management and develop their skills by understanding who they are and what their strengths and weaknesses are in a non threatening way. www.youareaceo.com

There is also a friend of mine who runs a Psychology Seminar for employers who are challenged with retaining team members. Check out their seminars at

http://maximumadvantage.readytalk.com.

Are You Investing & Saving Money?

Michael E. Parker, Terrance Fulton and Elealeh Smith recently delivered a moving financial seminar at the Emeryville Hilton. The event moved me greatly even though I have heard them speak several times. After the event I reflected about the lessons I had learned and about a very big lesson I once learned about about investing and saving money:

I was married at 25 for about 9 years. My husband was not a saver nor very good at handling our finances in general. His earnings were sporadic and spending habits consistently increasing. Despite these challenges I did manage to secretly save and invest 4-10k in various mutual funds during our marriage but by the time we were divorced I was just about penniless.

Starting over at 35 was a challenge but once I started healing emotionally I knew I needed to invest because I now had just one income – mine. I decided to again invest in mutual funds because I felt safe there but I soon realized that I was never going to get rich there with the funds I had and so I turned to real estate which I could buy with very little down.

My first home as a divorced woman was a foreclosure in Stockton California I bought for about 215k which I later sold for $275,000. After that I purchased 2 more homes for $265,000 and $310,000 which both doubled earning me over a half of a million dollars in equity.

The wealth I made saved my life when I was laid off from my job and needed to find a way to survive. With out this equity from my investment I would have been in financial ruin. The real estate market I had long earned an income from dried up and finding a job with a paycheck was a challenge with no other skills.

I faced living over 14 months with little source of income but I had plenty to live on (thank God) due to these investments!

I share this story to show the public that many women will face divorces, job challenges or just unforeseen circumstances and if you don't have any savings or investment vehicles you can be in dire straits.

The real estate market in most areas is depressed but there still are markets globally that will earn equity if you buy right.

I support Lifeskills 411 because they teach our youth the necessary things they need to know in life such as investment skills, financial literacy, budgeting, positive relationships and so forth.

I wish I would have had lifeskills 411 growing up I probably would never have made all the mistakes I did. I urge you to attend our upcoming gala on December 8th from 6pm- 8pm at the Emeryville Hilton so you can learn how you can help our youth... It Takes YOU!

Please care, be counted and be there on Saturday December 8th from 6pm - 8 pm.
I believe women need to learn about finances and investing earlier in life and it starts at home but when home fail, school or program such as lifeskills 411 can give youth the information to lead better adult lives.

Can YOU TUBE Boost Your Career?

Yep It Sure Can

but if your looking for a more focused version We strongly suggest StellarVision.TV

StellarVision.TV is the newest edition to CEO Michael E. Parker's family of companies at Stellar Enterprise. StellarVision is a one stop shop for business owners who want to tell the world about their products and or services and who want to network with other business users. There are no entertainment type videos of a singing cat in the bathroom of a New York apartment but rather serious tips for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to be successful.

Now speaking of successful we have to give it up to Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, founders of You Tube who were recently achieved the pinnacle of success by being on Oprah. They say that they were inspired during a dinner party at Steve's San Francisco home to share videos online.

For those of you who are not Internet savvy You Tube is a video-sharing website where anyone can post a video and become world-famous overnight. From science experiments and music videos to adorable animals and laughing babies, more than 200 million videos are watched on YouTube every single day.

Be Honest, When Your Stressing Do You Crave Chocolate?

CEO, Executive or Team Member, when stress comes many reach for chocolate. To me what's the Mystery, when you are stressed you want to feel good and nothing makes you feel better than a sweet treat like chocolate.I love the taste and the way I feel eating it. It seems to fill up a hole that only chocolate can fill up. I enjoying the entire experience, It puts me into a great mood. There are times I just have to have it. Times when my inner chocolate meter gets low and goes off only chocolate will satisfy.

We use chocolate to relieve stress, celebrate, make up and cheer up. It consoles our children and our best and worst days. Some say women crave chocolate for the magnesium and some say it is good for your heart and I believe both are true and for that and more people love it.

There is a local company that is making the best chocolate I have ever tasted and I do believe I am somewhat of an authority. This chocolate satisfies... Really. I have a friend who also loves the finer things in life as I do and she agrees that one bite of this chocolate and the cravings we get stop dead in their tracks.

This Chocolate Company creates the wildest inventions I have ever heard of: Dark Chocolate, Cayenne, Sea Salt, Persimmons... and it goes on.

Check out Cacao Anasa -The Everything Chocolate Experience!

Cacao Anasa is a San Francisco based chocolate company run by my friend Anthony...

Experience chocolate at the pinnacle of indulgence.... Experience Cacao Anasa! ...www.cacaoanasa.com - 4k -

You Waste 70 Hours Per Year Sorting Junk Mail

I earlier posted a link to help you stop junk mail but I wanted to post some facts which will help you take this seriously. Be the CEO of your life and stop wasting time sorting junk mail.

Why Stop Junk Mail?

In addition to being a Personal Nuisance & Environmental Hazard it Saves Trees.More than 100 million trees are destroyed each year to produce junk mail. 42% of timber harvested nationwide becomes pulpwood for paper.

Reduce global warming. The energy used to produce and dispose of junk mail exceeds 2.8 million cars.

Save water. About 28 billion gallons of water are wasted to produce and recycle junk each year.

Save time. You waste about 70 hours a year dealing with junk mail.

The pulp and paper industry is the single largest consumer of water used in industrial activities in developed countries, and it’s the third-largest industrial greenhouse gas emitter (after the chemical and steel industries).

The average adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year (about 560 pieces). 44% goes to the landfill unopened.

On average, we receive 10.8 pieces of junk mail a week, compared to only 1.5 personal letters.

More than 62 billion pieces (4 million tons) of junk mail are produced each year.

The majority of household waste consists of junk mail.

40% of the solid mass that makes up our landfills is paper and paperboard waste.

Junk mail inks have high concentrations of heavy metals, making the paper difficult to recycle.

$320 million of local taxes are used to dispose of junk mail each year.

California’s state and local governments spend $500,000 a year collecting and disposing of AOL’s direct mail disks alone.

Transporting junk mail costs $550 million a year.

Your name is typically worth 3 to 20 cents each time it is sold. Lists of names and addresses used in bulk mailings reside in mass data-collection networks. By stopping credit card offers and other junk mail, you’ll help protect your identity from theft and fraud.

41pounds.org eliminates 80-95% of junk mailings for you by contacting dozens of direct marketers on your behalf.

By reducing your junk mail for 5 years, you’ll conserve 1.7 trees and 700 gallons of water, and prevent 460 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere — and you’ll gain about 350 hours of free time!

Want to Get Rid of Junk Mail?

I found a service that will reduce or eliminate your junk mail for about $41 dollars for 5 years. Check it out at https://www.41pounds.org/ Sure you can save $41 dollars and do it your self by calling and writing all the senders but for $41 bucks I think its worth it. Take control of your mail, be the CEO of your mail and save time sorting all that junk.

Good CEO's Know When To Let The Team Play!

CEO's are known for demanding hard work from their employees and a good CEO knows that to get the hard work you must also show you care about them, become friends and sometimes that means letting them play too. A great way to show your team you care and let them play is a company event which will help them get to know each other better which improve employee retention by reducing conflicts and strife.

This season we suggest Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple. Its a musical performance about love playing through December 9th at the Orpheum Theatre located at 1192 Market Street at 8th in San Francisco. It stars Oakland's own Latoya London from American Idol, Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child, Felicia P. Fields, Rufus Bonds Jr. and Jeannette Bayardelle as Celie.

We found out about this performance when Ms. Jeannette Bayardelle performed a song for the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce where our CEO and the CEO of Stellar Enterprise, Mr. Michael E. Parker received an award for Business of the Year. We all enjoyed her performance greatly and we think you will too.

There is a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening show or a Wednesday matinee if you don't want to fight the crowds. To purchase order online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.shnsf.com or charge by phone Tickletmaster (415) 512 7770 or visit the Orpheum Theatre Box Office at 1192 Market Street at 8th in San Francisco.

FYI: The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce luncheon attendees received a special offer of just $49.50 by using the code Harpo.

Commercial Carpet Protector

If you own your own business you probably care that the carpet looks good, clean and is protected from accidental spills or stains. We suggest regular cleaning and scotch guarding to protect your commercial carpet.

I use: Bayside Carpet Cleaning - (866) 892-6113 - 135 Radcliffe Dr, Vallejo, CA -

Replacing commercial grade carpet can be expensive so protect it!

Target Is On Board

I recently Googled You Are a CEO to see what was out there and found out to my surprise that even Target understands and supports the You Are a CEO perception of everyone being the CEO of their own life.

We run the corporation of us and that is a lot of work. We have our health, our career, our family and our personal life which has departments like: household, finances and entertainment.

A well balanced life begins with understanding that we run the business of us and that we need to be sure we are equip for the job of running our lives with the most effective tools.

When we are sick we go to a doctor but how do we evaluate how well we are running the things in our lives?

To learn more call us at 510 741-2045.

To buy the book Your Mind and Body are a Corporation and You are the CEO shop Target.comwww.target.com/gp/product/1929830025

Michael E. Parker VS Oprah Round #4

Amy/Jean/Oprah say:

Secure your financial freedom. Being smart with money gives you independence, options and a safety net in case of emergencies. Amy says the surest route to financial security is to follow your bliss. "The more you enjoy what you do, the more success you will have, and therefore the more money you will earn ultimately,"

CEO SAYS:

Organize your money first via focused bank accounts. Use a software program to record your cash, expenses and goals. Identify personal spending limits which is money spent for any reason you want. Keep those funds away from funds you need to pay bills with. Keep a journal of all money that comes into your household for any reason. Identify how much money you will allow to be used to increase your wealth with investments or on something you value as an asset or for long term wealth. Take the time to make a household budget and make sure everyone knows the rules. Wealth can be earned through disciplines cash management because it is not what you make but what you KEEP.

So who wins round #4?

Do you like both forms of advice?

Michael E. Parker VS Oprah Round #3

Amy/Jean/Oprah say:

3. Walk through the world with confidence. When you exude confidence and believe in yourself, you will attract success into your life, Amy says. "If I put the energy out there that I am capable, that I am smart, that I am interesting, that I am having a good time in my life, then that's what I've always gotten back," Amy says.
Take ownership of your life. Every individual is responsible for securing his or her own happiness and dreams. "Success is a mindset and you just have to prepare yourself to achieve in all areas of your life," Amy says.

CEO SAYS:

In order to think positive you must first learn to believe in yourself. If you do not have a positive view of yourself, then you tend to look at life in a negative way. Remember this equation: How you think + How you feel = the actions you take. Your mind tells you how to think and feel but who really programmed you? Do you act like your mom when you get mad? Are you just like your Dad when something goes wrong? Can you change how you feel by changing how you think? YES! You Are in Charge of YOU! You must consistently send your brain positive messages so it will develop positive emotions which lead to the right actions in your life.

Learn executive life skills from the You Are a CEO program and you will be equip to handle all that life throws at you. You will have the confidence because you have the tools and the real skills to deal with your mind set, your self esteem, your relationships, how you communicate, organizing your spaces, and managing your money which can bring great confidence to your life when you feel financially secure.

What we truly value is what drives us, so you must understand the inner most desiring force that guides your decisions and behavior as a result of learned experiences accumulated over time. So, if you are driven by money, men/women, power, fame, titles and possessions then that is what you will value in both business and in life. You will set up your life and work activities to achieve what you value and often these can collide with those in our lives who may not share what we value and conflicts can arise.

Face your fears but understand where the fear comes from.

Who won this challenge? Or is it a tie?

Michael E. Parker VS Oprah Round #2

Amy/Jean/Oprah's Team Says:

2. Realize your self-worth. The first step toward making any real changes in your life is recognizing your value as a person—imperfections and all. "Accept who you are, be grateful for who you are and then fall in love with the core of who you are," she says.

CEO SAYS:

You must first regard yourself as an asset and a positive contributor to a variety of environments and communities by displaying your abilities and competence, which deals with your concept of self. However, you must always maintain an attitude of thankfulness and a mind for continual self-improvements with out losing your self-respect. If you have self-esteem, you will know how to respect yourself as well as respect for others.

There are 3 basic types of respect: Given (for those in authority), Earned (based on personal experiences, General (general respect for all humanity). Once you understand the three basic types of respect you can become sensitive to the needs, feelings, achievements and responsibilities of others while never losing sight of your own needs, feeling, and capacity to achieve because of who you are and what you stand for.

So who has won this challenge? Who's advice do you prefer and why? They are both great but what rings a bell for you and why?

Authors Works:
and Related Resources

"Who Said So" The Questions Revolutionary Businesses Ask That Make Them Successful by Michael E. Parker

Get Yours! The Girlfriends' Guide to Having Everything You Ever Dreamed of and More by Amy DuBois Barnett

Michael E. Parker VS. Oprah

If anyone knows me they know my biggest dream is to be on Oprah. When I say be on Oprah, I really mean for Michael E. Parker (not me personally) to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Take a look at some of these videos on youtube:

http://bit.ly/doCbqY
http://bit.ly/9VQpVx
http://bit.ly/9Cie1P


I feel that Oprah is an Icon who helps people but the more and more I attend seminars from Michael E. Parker I wonder are these two actually competitors? Oprah is a talk show host but so is Mr. Parker. Oprah has her own company so does Michael E. Parker, Oprah helps many people deal with their issues but so does Mr. Parker.

However... even Mr. Parker himself would admit we don't have the fan base or the supporters Oprah has but who knows how big he will grow. Recently Mr. Parker was awarded Business of the Year by the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce and with the success of recent events such as the Biz Tech Expo in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in September '07 I think Mr. Parker is young enough to one day enter at least her arena. But I know I am bias because he has helped me change me life so much.

Just the fact that a 200-300 lbs woman over 40 gets up every morning to tackle her biggest fears is a testament that Michael E. Parker has the ability to change lives through his adult lifeskills411 seminars; especially mine.

So recently one of Oprah's talk radio programs opened up these topics...lets see how they compare with the You Are a CEO program point for point. How it will work is I will post a comment from one of Oprah's guests and compare it to the You Are a CEO program and you can comment or vote for who's advice is better for you. Of course we think the comments from both are great that's why it will be a real challenge to choose.

Here are our two competitors:

Amy DuBois Barnett who shares with Jean Chatzky(An Oprah Winfrey production) the key lessons that she says can help anyone find success in theirs.

VS: Michael E. Parker who has partnered with his Curriculum Director from Lifeskills 411 Mr. Terrance Fulton to form the You Are a CEO program and interpreted by me Julie P.

Tips for a Successful Life Point #1:

Oprah's Crew Amy says:

1. Embrace your fears. Fear is an indication of personal growth, Amy says. Unless you take risks and go outside your comfort zone, you'll never reach your full potential. "That's how you know that you're growing as a person, whether in your professional life or in your personal life," Amy says.

CEO SAYS: The You Are a CEO program says that each person must first become "Personally Aware" of who they are. This means examining your strengths and weaknesses which may include fears. We must understand our emotional patterns which are natural emotions shared by all human beings such as anger, love, laughter, crying, fear, etc. What makes us different from one another is when our emotions are shaped by personal experiences as well as the environments we have been exposed to: affectionate families quiet families, angry environments, abusive environments etc.

The key is to develop emotional intelligence to know our thoughts patterns are shaped by your experiences and values. Some of what we may have learned was simply copied from a family member because we learn how to act and react by copying others and this practice may develop actions or thoughts that are not really be how we may feel or think now.

We must look at our fears and dig deeper to see where do the beliefs we have actually come from? Are these beliefs we developed as a child that perhaps are not founded on who we are now? Can we let go and change how we feel through learning new information? Fear is a normal emotion that keeps us safe and is actually a good thing if used right. Teenagers have not developed their "fear" responses like adults and thus take more risks which get them hurt more often.

WINNER: ????

Amy, do you have more to say?

I do think that Amy/Jean?Oprah are correct in that we should face our fears but also understand that fear is designed to keep you safe from harm and is a good emotion when used properly however unrealistic fears can prevent success.

When my mother retired she came to live with me. I noticed that she is controlled and limited by fear. I dislike that attribute but it serves her and often it keeps her in better situations because she is cautious. Do I want to be her or like her? - NO but I respect her being who she is.