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Media Darlings: The Top Ten Do's and Don'ts of Working with the Press
There’s a saying in the newspaper business: Advertising is expensive—but editorial is priceless! This simple phrase speaks to the fact that readers trust and value any information they read in an article or column far more than any data they glean from an advertisement. Even when the facts presented in an article and an advertisement are identical, the results are the same. Positive editorial coverage is worth its weight in gold.Yet many exhibitors don’t know how to work effectively with the media. I hear it all the time – from both sides of the aisle. Exhibitor

t the precursor to a wrestling match, and it doesn’t feel like a dead fish. Do you wanted to be handed or greeted with a dead fish? I doubt it! Always make your grip firm, but make adjustments based on the firmness of the other person's grip.

4. Up and down, not back and forth. A good handshake has a nice up and down motion, not a back and forth one, as if you were jointly trying to saw some wood. Again, adjust the motion to what seems natural and comfortable to the other person.

5. Adjust duration. Some people prefer a long handshake, others prefer them much shorter. Observe the other person

Is Everyone Your Client?
As the famous joke goes, nothing in life is certain, but death and taxes. However, even though all of us have to pay taxes, I have never met a tax accountant who says that "everyone" is a client. Rather, tax accountants focus on different market niches. Some work with small businesses, some work with corporations, and some concentrate exclusively on high net worth clients.However, I have seen several people claim that everyone is their target market. Not so. I always tell my clients that three conditions have to be met for someone to be your potential client - t

It’s something most of us do often. We shake hands. We shake hands with long-time friends, with old acquaintances and with brand-new people. Shaking hands here and shaking hands there.

I took a class in college where they taught us how to shake hands. I remember thinking at the time – more than 20 years ago - that everyone should know how shakes hands effectively. Then, as I reflected, I realized that I had shaken more than a few hands that needed those lessons. I thought then, and agree now that my Dad taught me the basics and importance of good handshakes.

In much of the world, the handshake is a part of the first impression that we make. People think about first impressions from a grooming and dress standpoint, in business situations they practice what they might say, and they often read books to learn what kinds of questions to ask to remain authentic and create a positive first impression.

And while all of that is important, it is the handshake, often overlooked and forgotten, that is the first physical information others receive about us at the early part of a relationship.

In other words, handshakes matter.

And a strong one can make a big difference.

An American colleague who has now been living and teaching in Japan for some time must agree, because she emailed me and part of the email reads:

Next week is the beginning of the school year - and I really want to get my new students off to the best possible start. Would you be willing to share your thoughts on how to give a really great handshake? I have been away from the U.S. for so long, and have few opportunities to practice (though my bowing has gotten really good :))

Here are the secrets to great handshakes, assembled to respond to her earnest request.

1. Start with eye contact and a smile. A great handshake isn't just about a physical gesture, it is about connecting with the other person. It is a physical greeting and you want to convey your pleasure in greeting the other person. The best way to do that is with your face and your eyes.

2. Go for the thumb. Keep your hand open and make sure your handshake will be a hand shake, not a finger or palm shake. This means getting the joint of your thumb (the lower joint - the tissue between your thumb to your forefinger) nestled into the joint of their thumb. This allows you to truly have a full handshake.

3. Firm, not strong. A good handshake is firm but not overpowering. It isn't the precursor to a wrestling match, and it doesn’t feel like a dead fish. Do you wanted to be handed or greeted with a dead fish? I doubt it! Always make your grip firm, but make adjustments based on the firmness of the other person's grip.

5. Adjust duration. Some people prefer a long handshake, others prefer them much shorter. Observe the other person a

Credibility In Advertising
I recently saw an ad taped to my mailbox, mind you, my mailbox is shared by many residents of my area. The postal real estate is typically reserved for flyers of lost dogs, cats, small children, etc. This time, however, the ad was soliciting a service which, I feel, requires a personal connection. The ad simply stated: “Affordable, Quality, Licensed, Day Care. Call XXX-XXXX”While I do not have children yet, I can only assume a responsible parent would look at this impersonal solicitation for their young children and laugh. Would you consider trusting this namele

of the first impression that we make. People think about first impressions from a grooming and dress standpoint, in business situations they practice what they might say, and they often read books to learn what kinds of questions to ask to remain authentic and create a positive first impression.

And while all of that is important, it is the handshake, often overlooked and forgotten, that is the first physical information others receive about us at the early part of a relationship.

In other words, handshakes matter.

And a strong one can make a big difference.

An American colleague who has now been living and teaching in Japan for some time must agree, because she emailed me and part of the email reads:

Here are the secrets to great handshakes, assembled to respond to her earnest request.

5. Adjust duration. Some people prefer a long handshake, others prefer them much shorter. Observe the other person

When People Talk Non-Stop
Many business people get stuck in the networking situation of being cornered by people who talk and talk and talk about themselves. Those people also take a hard sell approach, working diligently to convince you to buy from them even if what they are selling is nothing you want or need. It would seem that there is no way out of the situation. You are doomed to being bored until this person moves on to their next victim.A good friend is an accomplished networker, knowing that really it’s all about the person he meets. Realizing that his job is to find out as

ing and teaching in Japan for some time must agree, because she emailed me and part of the email reads:

Here are the secrets to great handshakes, assembled to respond to her earnest request.

5. Adjust duration. Some people prefer a long handshake, others prefer them much shorter. Observe the other person

Demand For Kitchen Linen Items
The home d?cor influenced industry is made up of many core products with insurmountable everyday demands e.g. curtains, bedspreads, quilts, pillows etc. But it also includes the product market of kitchenware and kitchen related linens, and rightly so with the ever increasing and beautiful variety of kitchen and table linen that includes tablecloths, table runners, napkins, table mats, aprons and mittens. And presently, these kitchen related linens contribute to anywhere from 5-10% of the total industry sales worldwide. And in an attempt to cater to these ever growing d

sical gesture, it is about connecting with the other person. It is a physical greeting and you want to convey your pleasure in greeting the other person. The best way to do that is with your face and your eyes.

5. Adjust duration. Some people prefer a long handshake, others prefer them much shorter. Observe the other person

Are You Putting Technology Before Your Customers?
Which is more important the technology or the customer?The one thing about the online world you can be sure of is change. It seems like every day there is a new technology being added which will make the internet more accessible. As online marketers, we strive to keep up with all these trends and incorporate them into our marketing arsenals.Going back to when the internet started, it was a bit of a nerdy place to be, with lots of people communicating in text only. Some savvy individuals saw how this growing community could be exploited and used to

5. Adjust duration. Some people prefer a long handshake, others prefer them much shorter. Observe the other person and adjust the duration to the situation, how well you know the person, and what seems comfortable to them.

6. Consider your left hand. While it may not be appropriate in some cultures, I often use my other hand to grasp the other side of the person's hand or to touch their arm. This gesture makes the handshake warmer and more personal. When I am trying to convey those feelings I include my left hand as well. You might consider doing that too.

7. Close with eye contact and a smile. If the smile and eye contact hasn't continued throughout the handshake, finish it out that way.

After re-reading and thinking about these secrets several times, I realized that the deeper key to handshakes (as with many things in life) is intention. Keep your focus on the other person, and you will naturally do many of the things on the list. You will make the handshake a natural part of your connection process. You will make eye contact. You will smile. You will connect. You naturally adjust your grip, etc. You will focus on the other person.

As a leader or a person responsible for interacting with Customers in any way, the value of this skill is obvious. The fact is though that having a great handshake is a life skill we should all cultivate. It matters to us in creating first impressions and in building relationships.

Thanks to my Dad for teaching me and thanks to Teresa for asking me the question.

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Why is research and development in artificial intelligence and robotics so very important in the present period? Well because we are about to hit the end of an era as all these Baby Boomers retire and leave the work force. Many will be living well into their 100 year birthdays and beyond.

Do many of us realize that we are working an unpaid part time job for the grocery stores and some home appliance stores? We are ringing up our own goods, are not getting any price discount for doing so and are saving these retailers money.

When looking to build a brand that steals market share and changes behavior it is imperative to challenge everything and observe the problem dispassionately. Research is a crucial element of the brand development model, and yet most of the existing research is worthless and tainted with bias before it even has a chance to use its legs.

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