Business Markets

While the Olympians of high politics clash with the Titans of international finance over the mega-million deals necessary to keep Greece in the euro, is anyone actually interested in what happens to Greece?

The top priority for Greece is to build a modern economy. Bailouts and austerity packages of themselves build nothing. While it is true that Greece, like America, Britain, and practically every other Western economy, needs to sort out its public sector debt, that in itself is not enough. Teaching a government to stand on its own two feet is a necessary precondition, but no more than that – a first step.

The important part, and the really hard part, is generating private sector business that adds value to the GDP. Those protesting about cuts in public services ignore the fact that, without viable businesses making money to pay taxes, there can be no public sector services. F

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Dear readers,

I find that we can occasionally learn about network marketing and social media marketing from traditional media.  This week I’m going to share some great network marketing lessons I picked up while watching American Pickers on the History Channel.

I’ve written in the past on social media marketing lessons we can get from professional poker players, Major League Baseball, and the Voice on NBC.

This time we’re going to take a totally different course. We’re going to talk about the tv show, American Pickers and how Frank & Mike would make great network marketers.

I’m visiting my parents for a few weeks because my dad had surgery and my business allows me to take time off and travel as need be.  Thank goodness I’m a full time network marketer and don’t have a J.O.B.  My dad and I we

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As our world moves quickly away from the Industrial Age into this Technology/Idea Age — we’re being called upon to build something very different than our parents or grandparents did.

Our generation is being asked to create ideas, technologies, new solutions to age old problems — all of which require us to be innovative.

What does that actually mean?  It means coming up with something new, being creative, coming at problems in a fresh way.  In business it means finding better ways to be valuable to your customers’ lives.

A lot of people believe that they’re not creative or they can’t do that sort of work.  I think that’s rubbish.  Everyone has it in them to find new answers.  Or even to ask new questions that lead to new answers.

How do you do it?  I might suggest you read a book I just finished called Innovate Like Edison by Sarah Miller Caldicott. (click

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An iconic London landmark, the Battersea Power Station, is now up for sale after Real Estate Opportunities the Irish developers were forced by investors after admitting they couldn’t repay over £502 million of debt on the project. Ernst and Young were appointed last December to recoup monies to repay investors, which include the Irish super bank, NAMA as well as the now nationalised Lloyds Bank and Victor Hwang, a Malaysian property tycoon.

The agents Knight Frank Rutley, better known as agents of choice to landowners and celebrities for selling their multimillion pound country estates have been appointed to find a buyer for London’s prime redevelopment opportunity.

The Battersea Power Station covers over 400 acres of prime development land next to the Thames. The

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Online and off, one the most important services I am often engaged to perform is the development of a positioning strategy for small to medium size businesses.

A positioning strategy is not simply a cleaver slogan but a powerful and dynamic stand that your brand takes in your category. Right now as you read this, I believe that you are sitting on something that would absolutely position you as the leader in your marketplace. All too often, we as small business people think that advertising an inspirational tagline, will draw in customers. But that really isn’t enough to make them engage you.

You have to been seen and believed to be a leader. Customers like to do business with leaders. Your position has to resonate with them. When was the last time you bought something based entirely on the slogan? We purchase all the time on our perception of their brand position all the time. T

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John Richards’s Predictions for 2012

Since our previous predictions have proved fairly accurate, I am going to stick my neck out and give some fairly specific best-guesses for the next year. I must give the health warning that these are only extrapolations of present trends, and do not take account of currently unforeseeable events – which, of course, always occur.

First, the good news: the world as a whole should avoid a full recession in 2012 – emphasise the word should. All the bad news should not be allowed to obscure the fact that global business is growing, albeit slowly. Recovery from 2008 should not be expected to be spectacular, but it ought to continue, so long as everyone keeps their heads.

Alas, the bad news is that they are unlikely to keep them in Europe. The latest scheme to save the euro, FU (Fiscal Union), does not address its underlying problems. I pre

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Dear readers,

I wanted to share these tips I saw in Tom “Big Al” Schreiter’s Fortune Now newsletter. With a few extra additions on effective business cards from me.

6 Tips for effective business cards design

1. Put your picture on your business card. People will remember you more easily. And you appear more approachable.

2. Use big print. As people get older , their eyes get weaker. You want them to be able to read your phone number and email address.

3. Use both sides of your business card. Don’t let that extra advertising space go to waste. Maybe you can make the back of your card into a coupon or introductory special.

4. VistaPrint.com always has introductory specials. Great place for business cards in small quantities.

5. Put your best foot forward. Prospects don’t care about your company name, they care about the benefit to them. Put your

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