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We had great fun last week, when 12 Make-it-Flyers
met for a special board meeting that was filmed for a video, designed
to show viewers what it feels like to be part of an Advisory Board.
We’ll let you know when it’s ready for viewing.
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 Clutter
has been an on-going challenge for Dave, but last week he experienced
a complete office makeover! There isn’t a single pile of
papers in his office now. As a result, he enjoys working there,
is so much more efficient and is committed to maintaining his
wonderful new systems. If you have a clutter problem, we highly
recommend hiring someone to come in and organize you!
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Dave and Victoria
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Russell
Puls
Quality Connections Marketing Magazine
Like many entrepreneurs before him, Russell Puls spent most of
his professional life in the corporate world, thinking, “Is
this all there is?” In March
2006, he did something about it.
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With his wife Lisa,
he founded Quality Connections Marketing Magazine,
a full-color publication filled with full- and half-page ads with
coupons, direct-mailed quarterly to single-family upscale households.
“We’ve designed our zones around shopping and traffic
patterns,” Russell says. “Our magazine is delivered
to 60,000 households, with no delivery to condominiums, apartments
or businesses to ensure the best customers available for businesses
advertising.”
Quality Connections boasts 80 percent
renewal of contract advertisers. “We give
special incentive advertising rates for restaurants,” Russell
says. “We primarily cater to small- and medium-sized local
businesses and chains. Turnkey advertising includes ad design
all in one low price.”
Q: What do you find most fulfilling
about running your business?
CS: Helping our
clients to succeed.
Q: What motivated you to start
this business?
CS: Tired of the
corporate advertising world and wanted to share 35+ years of advertising
sales and management skills with smaller businesses.
Q: What book has been most helpful
to you in your business?
CS: The Bible. If you can’t
get through to a person/business, shake the dust off of your sandals
and go on to the next. Best sales advice, and it’s over
2000 years old!
Q: Who has influenced you most
in your life?
CS: Giuseppe Amaro, my grandfather,
who immigrated to the United States in 1918 from Sicily as a poor
farmer. After 10 years of working in coal mines and on railroads,
Giuseppe sent for his wife and children. He opened an Italian
deli in St. Louis and ended up owning several blocks of downtown
St. Louis. He was a self-made man.
Q: What has proved to be your most
successful marketing strategy?
CS: Integrity and honesty
in presentations and business. Selecting only those businesses
best suited for readers of our publications and building great
ads with plenty of “sell” in them.
Q: What have been the greatest
challenges you have had to overcome, or are currently facing,
in your business?
CS: Had to overcome all
of the usual start-up problems: lack of name recognition, no prior
track record, surviving accounts receivables, etc. Biggest problem
is lack of personal time as I am a workaholic.
Q: How did you benefit/are you
benefiting from participating in a Make-it-Fly®
program?
CS: I love to share my knowledge
and help people, and am open to applying lessons learned from
other members to my business.
Q: What would you say to other
business owners who are contemplating getting involved in a Make-it-Fly®
program?
CS: Are
you kidding? Make-it-Fly®
is one of the best business organizations available today! If
you want grassroots help, experienced advice and solid business
friendships, then Make-it-Fly® is the
way to go.
Russell Puls can be reached by
phone at: 303-670-1683, or visit his website at: www.qcmarketing.com.
Forward
this email to a friend. |
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|
 Dave’s
Networking Tip:
Don’t
forget to express gratitude and appreciation
to those you meet at networking events. This is another
building block in the cultivation of relationships. Remember,
people like to refer others to business professionals
whom they know, like and trust.
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 Too
Much on Your Plate?
Ten Tips to Help You Cope
By Victoria Munro
During the holidays, it’s
easy to overindulge—there are lots of opportunities
to load up our plates with scrumptious holiday fare. For an entrepreneur
with a business to run, balancing the additional demands of family
and holiday events can prove overwhelming. In
both instances, the results of too much on your plate can be harmful.
Wearing the many hats of a small-business owner is tough at the
best of times. When your business starts to really take off, perhaps
before the needed cash is flowing to hire the right help, it can
be even more challenging. Add to that some holiday stress, and
the pressures skyrocket. You can find yourself caught in a relentless
cycle—finishing each day with a longer “to-do”
list than when you started in the morning. Use
the following tips to help keep your health and sanity, stay energized
and focused, and enjoy this holiday season.
| 1. |
Focus
on the Big Picture
Develop a daily habit of taking time, even a few minutes,
to reflect on your ultimate goal for your life and your business.
Plan your day with this in mind. |
| 2. |
Take
Control of Your Day with a To-Do List
Create meaningful daily to-do lists based on your weekly plan.
At the end of each day, review your accomplishments, congratulate
yourself on achievements and discover what you can learn from
tasks that were scheduled but not accomplished. |
| 3. |
Live
by Priorities
Be crystal clear about the tasks you want to accomplish each
day. Ruthlessly prioritize these and then complete them in
order, resisting any temptation to skip over or postpone the
tough ones. |
| 4. |
Set
Realistic Expectations
Don’t pack too many projects into a day. Allow flextime
for those unexpected phone calls and employee or family interruptions.
|
| 5. |
Look
at the Positive
Always aim to see the glass as half full. Turn your attention
to things that have gone well. |
| 6. |
Choose
How You’ll Respond
Stress is a normal part of life. We can’t avoid it and
we can’t always choose our circumstances, but we can
choose how we respond to events. Decide beforehand to stay
serene. |
| 7. |
Don’t
Over Commit
Like the tendency to load up your plate with too many holiday
goodies, over commitment can make you sick. Determine not
to take on more projects than you can comfortably handle. |
| 8. |
Talk
Over Difficult Issues
Discuss your challenges with a trusted friend or board of
advisors. This can alleviate stress and clarify your perspective. |
| 9. |
Take
Care of Your Body
You will be far more effective after a good night’s
sleep. Also, physical exercise relieves tension. |
| 10. |
Take
Time to Recharge
Taking a break will make you more resistant to stress. Even
five-minute breaks to relax, breathe deeply and think about
something fun and pleasant can help. Plan time for fun too—laughter
is good medicine. Taking time this holiday season to relax
and play shouldn’t be considered a luxury. |
Click
here for the printable version.
Click
here to read more articles like this one.
Forward
this email to a friend.
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Victoria’s
Marketing Advice
Express Your Thanks in
a Thoughtful Way
Expressing thanks in a meaningful way
is part of marketing. Think about who has helped you in
your business this year: staff, vendors, colleagues, clients,
family. Take a few minutes to write each of them a personal
note of thanks. Be specific about how they helped and
what it meant to you. |
Back
to Top
|
Ever
Thought About Seeing a Counselor?
 Have
you thought about seeing a counselor but don't know
how to find one? I am a Licensed Professional Counselor
and a Specialist in Grief and Loss. I offer a safe
place to process life for individuals, children, couples
and families. I understand running your own business
and how tough it is to take care of yourself. No charge
for first session!
Janet
M Buntrock, MA, LPC,CT
Candlelight Counseling, Littleton, Colorado
Call: 303-797-6443
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A Special Offer for Employers in the Denver Area
Connie Shadley, who was spotlighted in our
last issue, is offering a Complimentary HR Risk Analysis
to In-Flight Refueling readers.
This involves a 60-minute one-on-one meeting
with Connie, after which, you will receive a report identifying
your low, medium and high-risk areas. The report covers
all areas of HR, including legal compliance, hiring, performance
management and pay practices.
Call Connie
at 303-736-8002
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READING THIS
AD? THEN WHY NOT PUT YOURS HERE TOO? The In-Flight
Refueling Ezine reaches more than 1,800 entrepreneurs,
small-biz owners, consultants and marketers. Reserve
your advertising spot today in the next In-Flight Refueling
Ezine,
http://www.make-it-fly.com/ezineads.html.
Paid Advertising Disclaimer: Make-it-Fly®
LLC does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability
of any of the paid advertisements above or the quality of any
products, services, information, or other materials displayed,
purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection
with any ad. It's common sense to do your own due diligence before
purchasing any product.
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The
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101
Each
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101 program
consists of 12 non-competing business owners who meet once a month
for three consecutive months. In the spirit of giving, they offer
each other solutions, ideas, resources and encouragement. Dave
and Victoria facilitate each group and share powerful tools to
assist business owners in reaching their goals and living more
balanced lives.
If you have experienced a Make-it-Fly®
program, please share the following openings with other business
owners who need support. Call Dave for more information at 720-962-8888.
Programs are held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Current program openings in Denver:
- Fridays - January 4, February 1, March 7, 2008
- Thursdays - January 31, February 28, March 27, 2008
- Mondays - March 3, April 7, May 5, 2008
Click
here to sign up for Advisory
Boards.
Or call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Alumni
Boards are groups of 12-14 small business owners who have
participated in at least one Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and wish to continue the support and accountability
with a group of like-minded, giving business associates. Members
meet once a month for a three-hour meeting.
If you completed the initial Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and are interested in more information on Alumni
Boards, call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Make-it-Fly®
Café
High altitude networking, where exceptional people help each
other.
Next
Café is scheduled for
Date: Thursday, December 27, 2007
Time: 4:30 to
7 p.m.
Location: Seasons Café
in the DTC, located at 8101 East Belleview, in the Marina Square
Center.
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Click
here to read previous issues of Make-it-Fly®'s
email newsletters.
Contact
Make-it-Fly® - Dave and Victoria:
email: info@make-it-fly.com
voice: 720-962-8888
web: www.Make-it-Fly.com
Reprint
Permission:
Please email or call Victoria if you'd like to reprint any information
contained in this newsletter. Thanks! © Copyright 2007. All
rights reserved.
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Make-it-Fly®
LLC
720-962-8888
355 South Teller Street, Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80235, USA
http://www.make-it-fly.com
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