TOMI Magazine November 2012

THE BUSINESS OF ENTERTAINMENT

TM The ‘Other’ Music Industry TOMI

Through The Storm

NOVEMBER 2012

Small businesses are compelled to thrive despite inclement economic conditions

ISSN 1934 7618

© Inc. Plan. All Rights Reserved.

Incplan.net

FORECAST IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE J OE SHURE

22

MOGUL YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME J AY LEOPARDI

42

WWW. COST-EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION D AVE CARROLL

48

PERSONAL ASSISTANT NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS C HARELL STAR

66

WWW. DYING TO PLAY B RIAN SANDERS

72

IMAGE DESIGNED TO WIN N ATHANIAL WILLIS III

74

4 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM

INDIE-PENDENT A NEW COURSE OF ACTION D EBORAH HENRY

36

WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM NOVEMBER 2012 5

Viral CLOUD ATLAS Pg. 98

NOVEMBER 2012

COVER Through the Storm

Small businesses are compelled to thrive despite inclement economic conditions

10 BUSINESS PLAN

8 ON A PUBLISHER’S NOTE Too Late

Through the Storm I NAUGURATION DAY SPEECH

14 INSPIRATION

12 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Through the Storm

Masthead I NAUGURATION DAY SPEECH

16 CORRESPONDENCE

18 iMEDIAte News VARIES

email the editor

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 6

22 FORECAST

24 INDUSTRY

In More Ways Than One J OE SHURE

Going For Self M AKING IT HAPPEN WITHOUT F INANCIAL BACKING

26 POWER PLAY

30 BUSINESS TRENDS

Hidden Agenda N EAL DESAI AND JAY LEOPARDI

Social Media Everything F ULLTIME ONLINE

32 POWERTICS

34 MANAGEMENT

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble P RESIDENTIAL DEBATES

Dealing With Anger S IX STEP PROCESS

36 INDIE-PENDENT

38 UNDER CONSTRUCTION A Million Miles Away L UIGI BIANCO

A New Course of Action D EBORAH HENRY

40 LAUNCH

42 MOGUL

Creating An Opportunity C HARELL STAR AND MORGAN GANTT

You Don’t Know My Name J AY LEOPARDI

44 PUBLIC RELATIONS Fabricated Story

46 ENTERTAINMENT LAW Think Again

I RISH A CADEMY PR COURSE 1

L AWSUITS AFFECT SMALL BUSINESS

48 WWW.

50 INSPIRATION

Cost-Effective Resolution D AVE CARROLL

In All Fairness K EVIN LAUE

66 PERSONAL ASSISTANT

52 SHUTTERBUG

Not A Sign of Weakness C HARELL STAR

Humanistic Photography W. E UGENE SMITH GRANT

70 BUSINESS HEALTH

72 ALL STAR

The War on Cancer H OW DOES ONE KNOW WHAT TO DO ?

Dying to Play B RIAN SANDERS

74 IMAGE

76 LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT High Performance B ET ’ S BLACK GIRLS ROCK !

Designed to Win N ATHANIAL WILLIS III

96 BUSINESS DIRECTORY Classified S MALL BUSINESS

98 VIRAL

Cloud Atlas H ALLE BERRY AND TOM HANKS

WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM NOVEMBER 2012 7

Too Late

In the early stages of business, a lot of your ‘ pay’ will be from what is called the Bartering System. This is an old but still relevant and necessary form of doing business. It falls in the line of ‘One hand washes the other’. When a company can’t pay cash or use credit to make a purchase, they may offer their prod- uct or service in exchange for your product or service. In doing this type of business, your next business deal is only as good as your last. What does this mean? Well, instead of establishing credit like a bank account or a major credit card, you now have to build up your credibility: the quality of being believable or worthy of trust. Having credibility is im- portant because at the stage when you can’t buy your way out of bad publicity or business with cash, it’s your credibility that becomes invaluable. Otherwise it may be too late. No credibility stems from a poor histo- ry with your vendors, associates and other corporate affiliates. Word of mouth spreads quickly. Especially if it’s posted on social sites like Facebook or Twitter. In business, you will find that an unhappy alliance can turn cold

quick. Unhappy clients are all too happy to tell everyone about you. Condition yourself to approach every relationship with good intensions because what goes around comes around. And it doesn’t come back the way you dished it out. It’s funny, because in entertainment, retaliation can be in the form of a song or a diss track. You can read about it in a public, in - depth interview. Turn on the television and watch your life unfold across the news screen. Or you just may never get a call again. There are many ways to annihilate a career. Productive, viable relationships are es- sential to any thriving business. Return calls. Follow through. Follow up. Otherwise, it will be too late.

Tonisha L. Johnson

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF

Twitter@anidemedia

8 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM

Through the Storm

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, cities like New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were preparing for what was considered to be a ‘ superstorm’, by closing shops, shutting down mass transit and evacuating low, shore lined areas. Even on the brink of a natural disaster, small businesses continued to work. Com- ments, posts and tweets from entrepreneurs indicated that despite the threat of power loss, work was still a top priority. Everyday, obstacles present them- selves. Some are by surprise. Others, due to certain current events, we know are coming. No matter what, one tries to prepare as best as they can for whatever-have-you. Today’s business person knows that the economy isn’t in the best shape. They know that there is very little appeal for small, up and coming businesses to garner investor attention unless their A game is up. This is why small business owners continue to press

on because there is always that small chance of opportunity and they want to be ready for it. The most common denominator among entrepreneurs is perseverance. Those obsta- cles? You can choose to go with the flow or rail against it. Form your own destiny instead of accepting the norm. Working hard is one thing, but having the courage to ‘get thru’ is a tool needed to be successful. In an instant, you may have to scram- ble but that’s ok. Being focused can get you through the storm.

Tonisha L. Johnson

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF

Twitter@anidemedia

10

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM

THROUGH THE STORM Small Businesses Are Compelled To Thrive Despite Inclement Economic Conditions

NEW YORK, NY (NOVEMBER 2012) - Winter is almost here. And the buzz is not com- ing from the cold snap. Small businesses are changing the way they do business by dis- covering ways to get new customers (and keep them), stay prevalent online, and get ahead of the competition. Job security and financial success are just around the corner. The 2012 Presidential election is here. After months of campaign promises, it has come down to two candidates: the incumbent Barack Obama and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. November 6th, Judgment Day, small business owners will decide which candi- date can garner funding that will increase new hires and revenue. “Governor Romney doesn’t have a five-point plan” -claims President Obama, at the 2nd Presidential Debate. “ He has a one-point plan. And that plan is to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules”. In this month’s Powertic section, both Romney and Obama ad- dress the hottest kitchen table political topic. With 2013 only weeks away, business owners are wasting no time in putting their game plan into play. In the November issue of TOMI Magazine, Joe Shure, co-founder of Inter- sect Fund, offers detailed advice on how small businesses can get to the front of the mi- croloan application line by improving their credit in our Forecast section. In our Indie- pendent section, Author Deborah Henry discusses the chilling discovery she made when writing the book ‘The Whipping Club’. “I was shocked to find out that during the 60s and way before there was this underbelly going on” - says Henry. “This hidden atrocity of people.” In our ongoing feature of Irish Academy’s online Public Relations course, we focus on the art of fabricating a story and how this can get you and your client into serious trou- ble. ‘It’s like telling a tale that you just have to keep up with’. In our Personal Assis- tant section, we address the challenges that come with the everyday business life. At times, getting through the storm of a business day can be an ‘all hands on deck’ type of thing. “People are busier these days than they’ve ever been” - says Charell Star, founder of PAforaday.com. “I’m willing to say in history. Employers are overleveraged and over- extended. We’ve gotten to a point in our society where people are afraid to ask for help. We have to move away from that.” The November 2012 issue is filled with resources for entertainment business owners to begin putting all of the pieces of the puzzle together. By maximizing your internet mar- keting with programs like Postling and SproutSocial. You can turn tweets into dollar signs, increase your customer service value by listening to key points made from current customers and would-be consumers, apply branding techniques that can turn your busi- ness into a household name. #### About TOMI Magazine TOMI Magazine™ is more than just another business publication. It is the ultimate enter- tainment business magazine that focuses on highlighting small business companies. In- corporating organization, knowledge, financial advice, awareness, event news, business solutions and investment strategies, TOMI emerges as a vital business resource devoted to helping underground and minor businesses grow and flourish.

12

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM

The ‘Other’ Music Industry TOMI TM THE BUSINESS OF ENTERTAINMENT

PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TONISHA JOHNSON

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BARBARA TAKO TAI-KIM SPENCER JUDE BIJOU

PUBLISHED BY TOMI ENTERPRISES, INC., A UNIT OF ANIDEMEDIA , INC.

342 Broadway Ste. 426 New York, N.Y. 10013 WWW.ANIDEMEDIA.COM

SOB FASHION RUNWAY

FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Write to TOMI Magazine 342 Broadway Ste. 426 NY, NY 10013 or email us at info@tomimagazine.com

TOMI Magazine (ISSN 1934-7618), 342 Broadway, Ste. 426, New York, NY 10013. The entire contents of TOMI are protected by copyright and NOVEMBER not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. TOMI accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. TOMI reserves the right to edit, rewrite, refuse or reuse materi- al, is not responsible for errors or omissions and NOVEMBER feature same on TOMIEnterprises.com , as well as other mediums for any and all purposes. TOMI Magazine considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible, although reporting inaccuracies can occur; consequently, readers using this information do so at their own risk. Each business opportunity and/or investment inherently contains certain risks, and it is suggested that the prospective investors consult their attorneys and/or financial professionals. TOMI Magazine is published with the understanding that the publisher is not rendering legal services or financial advice. Although persons and companies mentioned herein are believed to be reputable, neither TOMI Magazine/TOMI Enterprises/Anidemedia ., nor any of its employees accept any responsibility whatsoever for their activities. TOMI Magazine is developed in the U.S. and published worldwide via the Internet/print and all rights are reserved. All letters sent to TOMI (post and/or email) will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication, copyright purposes and used in any publication or brochure, and are subject to TOMI’s unrestricted right to edit and comment.

14 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM

LETTER TO THE PUBLISHER Send us an email: correspondence@tomimagazine.com

Letter to the Editor , send us an email at: correspondence@tomimagazine.com Facebook

Twitter

16 NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM

iMEDIAte 25 TH ANNIVERSARY B LACK MONDAY

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Friday, NOVEMBER 19, 2012, the Muse- um of American Finance will observe its 25th anniversary, along with the anniversary of the Crash of 1987. Founded by finance profession- al and historical document collector John E. Herzog in response to the events of Black Monday, the Museum of American Finance is the nation's only public museum dedicated to preserving, exhibiting and teaching about American finance and financial history . The Museum will observe its anniver- sary with a thought leadership symposium ti- tled "Restoring the Faith of Investors," which is an invitation-only event to be held at both the Museum and the New York Stock Ex- change. The event is intended to generate meaningful discussion amongst senior-level financial executives and industry association leaders and produce real solutions for re- establishing the investing public's faith in the nation's financial markets. " We are now at a time when finance is being questioned. Financial crises and scan- dals have shaken investor confidence," said David Cowen, the Museum's president and CEO. "Rather than shy away from such issues, the Museum looks to present them in a neutral forum, with the backdrop and understanding that finance has been a powerful force for building our nation's economy over time." The Museum, an affiliate of the Smith- sonian Institution, is located in a historic bank building one block from the New York Stock Exchange. It annually hosts more than 40,000 visitors, including more than 13,000 school- children. With education as its core mission, the Museum offers a program of permanent and timely temporary exhibitions; education programs for elementary through graduate level students; a robust calendar of special events and presentations; and an important collection of documents, artifacts and artworks related to the financial markets, money and banking. Its quarterly membership magazine, Financial History, is an internationally- recognized source for the history of business

and finance.

In addition to the NOVEMBER 19th symposium, the Museum will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Crash of 1987 with its annual "Great Crashes" guided walking tour of the Financial District at 1pm on Saturday, NOVEMBER 27. This unique tour is the only regularly-scheduled event that commemorates the Crashes of 1929 and 1987, as well as the Panic of 1907. For information, visit www.moaf.org/events . About the Museum of American Finance The Museum of American Finance is the na- tion's only public museum dedicated to pre- serving, exhibiting and teaching about Ameri- can finance and financial history. With its ex- tensive collection of financial documents and objects, its seminars and educational pro- gramming, its publication and oral history pro- gram, the Museum portrays the breadth and richness of American financial history, achievement and practices. The Museum is located at 48 Wall Street, on the corner of William Street, and is open Tues- - Sat, 10 am -- 4 pm. For more information, visit www.moaf.org or connect with the Muse- um on Facebook or Twitter.

Press Contact : Kristin Aguilera, Deputy Director Museum of American Finance 212.908.4695 kaguilera@moaf.org

Sophie Fischman Cognito 646.395.6300 moaf@cognitomedia.com

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 18

Netherlands, German, France and Spain. “Our fourth annual study of small businesses con- firms what we know from working closely with them; they consider and manage a wide varie- ty of local, national and global risks everyday while keeping faith in their values and ambi- tions. We hope that the insights in our study will help all those supporting small businesses make their essential contribution to economic recovery” - commented Bronek Masojada, CEO at Hiscox. Although small businesses had experienced tough trading conditions, the study found 48% of respondents were optimistic about the year ahead for their business, compared to 27% who declared themselves pessimists and 26% who were unsure. The Spanish (28%) were the least optimistic, the Dutch (61%) the most, and the US (55%) was in the middle. In five of the six countries, a majority of re- spondents reported an increase in new cus- tomers: the leader was Germany (72%) fol- lowed by the USA (64%) and the Netherlands (62%). Across all countries, 75% of respond- ents hope to avoid layoffs in the year ahead or even recruit new employees, and 61% were not letting the Eurozone crisis affect their business plans (575 in the five EU countries). Only 20% of US small businesses reported their plans were changed by the Eurozone cri- sis. As many as 91% of all respondents found benefits from running a small business as compared to working in a large company. Tight finances - but stable relationships with lender Forty-five percent of small busi- nesses reported profit growth over the past 12 months (33% in Spain, 50% in the US). How- ever, across all countries, 62% did not need to renegotiate borrowing terms from a lender, and 74% of those who had renegotiated had been partially or entirely successful. Small business owners stressed but de- termined Across all six countries, the average working week for leaders of small businesses was 42.8 hours, and 2.1 of those hours were Key Themes from the Study : Optimists outnumber pessimists

iMEDIAte ENTREPRENEURS IN 2012 L OSING SLEEP BUT NOT LOSING HOPE A Revealing Survey of Small Business Owners in the USA and Europe as They Cope with the Economic Crisis. - Optimism presides : Many more small busi- nesses are optimistic than pessimistic despite tough times in the last year. - Working hard for new customers : A majority of small businesses in five our of six countries reported increases in new customers. The av- erage working week for a small business own- er is 42.8 hours, but Germans work nearly 8 hours longer per week, on average, than their US counterparts. - Stresses and strains : The downturn has brought more stress to 43% of small business owners, and 31% reported sleeping problems. More women reported stress, sleeplessness and health problems than men. - Eager but lacking language skills : Small busi- nesses who had recruited school graduates gave them higher ratings for keenness and motivation than for language skills. - Few small businesses seek outside help : Only 22% of small businesses had turned to outside help from elected representatives and busi- ness groups and those that did preferred a business organization or a local representative to a national politician. NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2012 ( GLOBE NEWS- WIRE) -- A wide-ranging report published to- day gives a unique and revealing portrait of entrepreneurs in the USA and Europe as they cope with another year of economic crisis. De- spite financial pressures, stresses and sleep- lessness, they still have faith in their futures and maintain the determination to succeed. Published today by Hiscox, the the in- ternational specialist insurer, the fourth DNA of an entrepreneur study reports findings from a survey of 3,000 owners or partners in small and medium-sized businesses in six countries; the United States, the United Kingdom, the

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 20

spent complying with government regulation. The Germans put in the longest hours - 47.1 hours on average each week (2.7 hours on government regulation). The US had the se- cond shortest average working week - 39.4 hours, with nearly two hours per week spent dealing with government regulations. Forty-three percent of all respondents said that the economic downturn had given them more stress (54% in Spain, 49% in the US), and 31% reported sleep problems due to increased worry. However, 30% said that the downturn had made them stronger and more determined to succeed, and 31% said that it had spurred them to work more efficiently. New Recruits - keen but not so good on languages Among the small business across all six countries who had recruited new gradu- ates last year, 63% gave them high ratings for keenness and motivation, 56% for reading and writing and 52% for basic arithmetic. However, only 41% rated them highly for speaking foreign languages (USA 33% and UK

26%).

A helping hand Only 22% of small businesses across all coun- tries had asked for outside help from business groups or elected representatives. Eleven per- cent had approached a business or small busi- ness organization, and 9% of a local politician or mayor. Hiscox specializes in insurance for small busi- ness owners, such as professional liability ( errors and omissions insurance) and commer- cial general liability customized for a range of fields including IT, consulting, marketing, pho- tography, real estate, beauty and health.

Press Contacts : Hunger Hoffman 646.442.8341 Hunter.hoffman@hiscox.com

Katherine McGann for Hiscox USA 203.254.1300 ext. 249 kmcgann@prosek.com

WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM NOVEMBER 2012 21

FORECAST IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE J OE SHURE

Designed to increase entrepreneurship, micro- loans are portrayed as an easy to obtain, sim- ple solution, for startup funding. Microloans aren’t new. But, for some small business owners, it is hard to get their application approved. “We look at a number of factors when we are reviewing a microloan application” - says Joe Shure, co-founder of The Intersect Fund. An organization that helps small businesses grow through various train- ing programs. “First, we want to ensure the applicant has enough income to afford month- ly loan payments. It would be irresponsible of us to lend to someone who lacks the cash flow to make his payments, no matter how intri- guing his business or idea is. To enforce this policy, we verify an applicant’s income by looking at his tax returns and bank state- ments. We also ask him to complete a form on which he estimates his monthly income and expenses.” Before the application process, entre- preneurs need to check their credit history. Obtain a credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. These reports are a record of your individual or company’s finan- cial behavior. Financial institutions don’t al- ways report to all three agencies alike. By getting a report from each credit bureau, this will allow for an accurate, up-to-date view of all your financial history. “Applicants’ credit histories also come in to play” - says Joe. “We are more forgiving on this front than the big banks, but if an applicant’s credit history shows a pattern of irresponsibility, or if it shows they are behind on mortgage or child support, we will deny the loan. I should note that in addition to offering business loans, we offer a special “credit-builder” loan designed to help borrowers build credit.” Burning bridges isn’t something you want to do… ever. You never know when you are going to need a reference. References are just as, if not, more important to getting fi- nancing for your startup. It tells what kind of person you are. “Once we determine an appli- cant’s income is sufficient to make his or her payments and that his or her credit is halfway decent, we seek references. These usually in-

Joe Shure Co-founder, Intersectfund.org

- clude the applicant’s landlord, someone with whom he has done business, someone he knows from the community, and one other person. We ask these people what they think the applicant would do if he were unable to make a payment, and whether they would lend to the applicant.” “ Our underwriting process might seem pretty similar to those of most banks. While the concepts are the same, the numbers and tolerance levels are different” - says Joe. “ Banks, for instance, are generally unwilling to disburse a commercial loan of less than $25,000—doing so would be unprofitable for them. We will disburse loans of as little as $500. Also, we have a higher tolerance for applicants who have bad credit or lack it en- tirely. Last time we checked, the median cred- it score among our borrowers who have one was 599. Approximately 40 percent of borrow- ers had no score.” When applying for a loan, be sure to thoroughly read the entire application. Make sure that what you are entering is true infor- mation because a lie can cost you. “We re- ceive hundreds of applications per year, and we see some common—avoidable—mistakes

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 22

and it’s not a pleasant one — is that the lend- er knows he can repossess assets that have re - sale value. He has no way of repossessing the money an entrepreneur spent on rent over the past year.” The popularity of microloans are in- creasing. “...banks are as reluctant as they have been in recent memory to lend to busi- ness owners. The resulting scarcity of credit presents an opportunity for microlenders to gain market share.” “ Another factor - as far as I can tell— more people are starting businesses. I am speaking with a lot of people who have been forced out of the corporate world or who have given up on it in favor of starting businesses. Many of these new entrepreneurs have turned to microlenders for the resources they need to launch their new businesses.” There is much to think about and do before applying for a microloan. “We at the Intersect Fund have put together a list of the things all business-owners should have to give themselves as good a chance as possible to succeeding:  A Marketing Plan : even it it’s just a one- page document describing the business’s target market and listing a set of sales goals, it will help ensure a business own- ers uses his limited marketing resources ( time, energy, etc.) wisely.  To be registered : a business owner should determine which type of registration (sole- proprietorship, limited liability company, corporation) is best for him and secure it.  A budget : a business owner is his own boss. You will need to hold yourself ac- countable. A spreadsheet listing your ex- pected earnings and expenses for the coming year will help you stay motivated and on-task.  Good credit or a plan to improve it : many new business owners know their credit is “ bad” but are unclear about the details. Know your credit score and get copies of your reports. You can see what is awry and go about fixing it. Failing to do this will make it extremely difficult to get a loan—even a microloan—the future.  A bookkeeping system : business owners should consider investing in a piece of ac- counting software like QuickBooks; they can learn it quickly and have tidy financial statements at their fingertips. Managing a business is hard; managing one without knowing whether it’s making any money is nearly impossible. – Tonisha L. Johnson

from would-be borrowers. The worst thing a loan applicant can do is lie about his income or assets. If the numbers he gives us on his application fail to match the numbers on his tax return and bank statements, he’s told us all we need to know about whether we can trust him.” Small business owners approach the loan process as if it were a potential selling point. Excited about their business, entrepre- neurs talk more about the future success of the company rather than the current bottom line. “Another mistake applicants make is as- suming we will give them a loan based only on the profit they think their businesses will make in the future. There is a place for ambi- tious goals, but loan applicants should re- member that lenders care more about the amount of income they earn now than the in- come they think they can earn in the future.” There are lots of financial organizations like The Intersect Fund that want to help new businesses succeed. But you’ve got to help yourself first. “Before applying for a micro- loan, or any loan, for that matter, a person should complete a quick, personal finance evaluation. First, are you current on your mortgage or rent? Second, are you current on taxes and, if applicable, child support pay- ments? Third, do you have room in your budget for loan payments? A person who an- swers “no” to any of those questions has no business applying for a loan.” When writing a proposal, you think of interesting, unique ways to make yourself stand out. This too is necessary in the micro- loan application process. “A person who com- pletes the evaluation unscathed can take a couple of steps to make his or her application stand out” - shares Joe. “First, you should make sure you have a clear idea of how much money you seek and what it will pay for. For example, a person who asks for $4000 to buy a specific used food-truck is a much better bet for a lender than someone who wants $10,000 for “general expenses”.” “ Second, you should save up as much money as you can to contribute to the pur- chase for which you seek the loan. It’s safer for a lender to lend you $3,000 toward the purchase of $6,000 truck than to lend you the whole amount.” “ Third, you should know the types of things lenders are most willing to help pay for. It’s always easier to lend money for assets with re-sale value (like equipment, buildings, property, automobiles, etc.) than for expenses like rent, payroll or advertising. The reason —

WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM NOVEMBER 2012 98

laid-off is a better option.

INDUSTRY GOING FOR SELF M AKING IT HAPPEN WITHOUT FINANCIAL BACKING In the second set of the 2012 Presidential De- bates, both the incumbent and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney were asked about job creation. One particular graduate wondered after receiving a degree will he be able to earn a living as a fulltime employee. In the last four years, the Obama ad- ministration, has slowed job loss. But there are quite a few former corporate employees who have decided that ‘going for self’ by be- coming their own boss instead of knocking on more closed doors hoping to get a job with the same pay as they once had before they were

With little to no seed money, startups are starting out by bartering talent for talent. Betting that their skill will eventually get them the financial funds they need to go further and build a business perhaps or partner up with like-minds and possibly self-crowdfund their endeavor as a group. Small businesses are still unable to se- cure traditional funding. Microloans are more popular as indicated in the current Forecast section this month. However, without good credit or established credit, microloans are just as hard to attain. Becoming your own boss isn’t some- thing to take lightly but it is something to to seriously consider. With the current economic climate, chances are you will make a few extra bucks turning your talent into a thriving pro- fession. – Tonisha L. Johnson

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 24

WWW.CATEAPP.COM

Let’s say your company is finally branching out. Hiring new employees. Contracting new business. You don’t want certain files available to just anyone. Not even your co-workers. With the CATE app, you can now keep all of your contacts under cloak and dagger. In the entertainment industry, people are famous for obtaining high-end positions only to steal your A-list clients, get key information to use against you or sell to a competitor. “You can’t tell the application is installed on the phone” - says Jay Leopardi, owner of Who’s Big?, a branding agency responsible for the current success of the CATE app. “You have to dial a pin number to call CATE from your phone so you can check what’s going on.” A cellphone is still one of the most common and consistently upgraded toys owned. “Essentially, what we’re doing is mak- ing it readily available” - says Neal Desai, CATE app owner. “We are getting an iPhone app out shortly.” Your phone is your mobile office. Hold- ing important documents like proposals, email contacts and contracts that are pertinent to your business. So, why wouldn't you want to protect it at all costs? If you lose your phone, backing it up from a saved list online won’t stop the finder of your lost phone from access- ing current info. CATE is secret security on the go. – Tonisha L. Johnson

POWER PLAY HIDDEN AGENDA N EAL DESAI AND JAY LEOPARDI

In this day and age, information is sacred. The worldwide web, in the literal sense, can be a place of uncertainty. Who’s watching me? Do you know where I live? How did so many com- panies get my private email address? The internets level of insecurity is well- known, yet people aren’t afraid of using it. But they are protecting themselves and their data. CATE app affords entrepreneurs and estab- lished business owners an inexpensive ability to do so on a whole other level. CATE stands for Call and Text Eraser. On average, any consumer can download the app to protect their phone against nosey girl- friends and prying-eye boyfriends. It can hide your intimate text messages and keep a ‘ secret’ log of all the calls, texts and messages that you don’t want anyone to know about. For the individual with a bit more to secure than say a ‘cheater’s lifestyle’. One can take this app’s secure methods and use it to a great advantage.

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 26

POWER PLAY ESSENTIAL FUN P. A . FOR A DAY APP

Being a personal assistant is more than just getting a package signed. It’s the ability to know how to do the work of many, in a skillful way, and in record time. P.A. for a Day app lets you put your personal assistant skills to the test without actually having to be a fulltime hire. Available on iTunes, the app challenges you to succeed at getting the task done. Get on your bike and ride around town completing several tasks and earn points along the way. Being an assistant isn’t as simple as that. The challenge’s of everyday life such as traffic and time management really keep you on your toes. If you are considering becoming a per- sonal assistant, downloading the application to see where you stand is a must. You don’t want to be considered a slacker. But if you’re look- ing to hire one then this is essential fun in learning what to expect and what not to ex- pect when hiring a PA. – Tonisha L. Johnson

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 28

products performance or a person’s character. The web is more than just getting someone to instantly like your ideas or thoughts. Business- es are discovering that the web is a significant part of how a company continues to operate: should we go digital? How can we continue growing consumer relationships? Should we update our marketing plan? Are we losing or gaining customers? Has bad publicity caused us to lose current and potential business? Do we need to obtain more investment funds to upgrade the product? For all businesses, not just small busi- nesses, keeping connected is a part of having your finger on the pulse. Corporate owners may find that being on the web isn’t just about avoiding negative feedback. It’s about keeping in touch with consumers. That is all a part of having good customer service. Customer service doesn’t just end with a solution to a call or complaint. It’s continu- ously finding interesting ways to keep them coming back for more. Vice versa, a consum- ers constant interaction with your organization can help you build a business beyond meager satisfactory standards. You can build a brand with a loyal customer base that can span for years to come. – Tonisha L. Johnson

BUSINESS TRENDS SOCIAL MEDIA EVERYTHING F ULLTIME ONLINE

With the Internet being essential to all busi- ness, entrepreneurs are finding that being fulltime online takes more than committing to hiring someone to sit and answer consumer posts. It has truly become a part of everyday business life on all levels even for CEOs. Social Media Marketing programs such as Hootsuite, SproutSocial and Postling gauge more than just your followers and likes. It vis- ually describes the relationship between you and your existing customers. It also offers the opportunity to engage with new customers. People that you ordinarily couldn’t get to. Businesses are incorporating the web into developing CRM (Customer Relationship Management). They are using compiled data to better their products and services. They are also determining how to sell those same prod- ucts and services based off current customer feedback and conversations the web records through comments, posts and threads about a

30

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM

POWERTICS ONE TWENTY THE WORK CONTINUES

Road To Change Let’s Get Ready to Rumble

or what it’s worth, the debates are quite entertaining. The second presidential debate was held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York and moderated by CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. It fell short of a real boxing ring, as on the left, weighing in at 3 and half years, the incumbent, the Obamanator. And on the right, a definitive loss of 7 or more years, Mittens. Centered in a ‘red carpet’ ring, the crowd was allowed to ask each candi- date a direct question that had only been seen by Crowley and her team alone, “And because I am the optimistic sort, I’m sure the candidates will oblige by keeping their answers concise and on point.” Neither candidate adhered to the 2 minute time response. The topics ranged from employment and education to equal pay and illegal immigrants. First up: Rom- ney. When asked by a 20 year old first time voter will he be able to sufficiently support himself once graduated. Romney danced around the issue, “So what we have to do is two things. We have to make sure that we make it easier for kids to afford college. And also make sure that when they get out of college there’s a job.” Romney continued with saying what he would like to do but did not go about detailing how he would approach the issue. Obama’s response, “Now the most important thing we can do F

is to make sure that we are creating jobs in this country. But not just jobs, good paying jobs. Ones that can support a family.” Obama then de- tailed his exact plans if re-elected, “ Number one, I want to build manu- facturing jobs in this country again. Number two, we’ve got to make sure that we have the best education sys- tem in the world. Number three, we’ve got to control our own energy. We’ve got to reduce our deficit, but we’ve got to do it in a balanced way. Asking the wealthy to pay a little bit more along with cuts so that we can invest in education like yours. And let’s take the money that we’ve been spending on war over the last decade to rebuild America, roads, bridges, schools. We do those things, not only is your future going to be bright but America’s future is going to bright as well.” Easing on into unemploy- ment both candidates took shots at each other while ‘attempting’ to ad- dress and detail the actions needed to address long-term unemployment. “ That’s why I put out a five-point plan that gets America 12 million new jobs in four years and rising take-home pay” - said Romney. “ And Governor Romney says he’s got a five-point plan? Governor Romney doesn’t have a five-point plan. He has a one-point plan. And that plan is to make sure that folks at

the top play by a different set of rules” - claims President Obama. “ That‘s been his philosophy in the private sector, that’s been his philoso- phy as a governor, that’s been his philosophy as a presidential candi- date.” Romney tried to respond how- ever assured that he will have time to answer but it was pertinent to move forward as Crowley stated “We have all these folks.” The responses continued to turn into snide remarks and sarcasm. And even leading to a heated discus- sion to put it mildly when the follow- ing question about the attacks in Ben- ghazi, Libya were asked. “We were sitting around, talking about Libya, and we were reading and became aware of reports that the State De- partment refused extra security for our embassy in Benghazi, Libya, pri- or to the attacks that killed four Americans. Who was it that denied enhanced security and why?” Obama replied “So as soon as we found out that the Benghazi consulate was be- ing overrun, I was on the phone with my national security team and I gave them three instructions. Number one, beef up our security and procedures, not just in Libya, but at every embas- sy and consulate in the region. Num- ber two, investigate exactly what hap- pened, regardless of where the facts lead us, to make sure folks are held accountable and it doesn’t happen aga

again. And number three, we are going to find out who did this and we’re going to hunt them down, be- cause one of the things that I’ve said throughout my presidency is when folks mess with Americans, we go after them.” When Obama began to point out the road Governor Romney wanted to take, that’s when both candidates turned the debates into a huge disagreement and humiliation on Romney’s part. However, the ending debating ending took a more calmer turn. “What do you believe is the biggest misperception that the American people have about you as a man and a candidate? Using specific examples, can you take this oppor- tunity to debunk that misperception and set us straight?” Romney made certain that he let the American people know exactly how he felt, unlike letting them know all evening, how he would exactly, address their immedi- ate needs. “I care about 100 percent of the American people. I want 100 percent of the American people to have a bright and prosperous fu- ture.” President Barack Obama then replied, “And I want to fight for them. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last four years. Because if they succeed, I believe the country succeeds.” -Tonisha L. Johnson

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 32

Does your job require an impossible number of tasks completed by unreasonable dead- lines? Or perhaps you have a perfectionist, controlling boss who micromanages everything you do. These are examples of high-pressure jobs. Whether it’s fast-paced work, difficult work, too much work, or a stressful office pop- ulated by difficult personalities, many of us have jobs that leave us feeling frustrated, re- sentful, and angry. At its extreme, job-related anger can lead to workplace violence, which ranks among the top four causes of death in work- places during the past years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 3,000 people die from workplace homicide annually, and more than 15,000 workers a year suffer nonfatal injuries as a result of workplace vio- lence. What do you do when you’re so angry that you have to urge to break something, yell at someone, or worst of all, strike out? Here are some strategies that will help. MANAGEMENT DEALING WITH ANGER IN A HIGH-PRESSURE JOB S IX STEP PROCESS

Recognize that anger is a physical state Realize that frustration means anger, and an- ger is just a pure physical sensation. You can literally work anger out of your body like a masseuse works a kink out of your muscles. You need to move that energy out, physically and constructively in a safe place. Do it where nothing of values is harmed—including your- self-and no one is around to inhibit you. Feel how the anger affects your body Look for anger’s physical clues: ears getting hot, face flushing, chest pounding, rage mov- ing up your spine, sudden sweating, muscles tensing, and feeling as if you’re about to ex- plode. This is good! Once you can identify the feeling as physical, it’s not difficult to move the energy up and out your body. Get yourself to the nearest private bath- room When you’re ready to lose it, instead of biting your coworker’s head off or throwing verbal darts at your boss and losing your job, excuse yourself to a private bathroom and lock the door. To release anger from your body, push against a wall as hard as you can. Or grab the bathroom stall door and shake it on its hinges as if you were going to break it off the foundation. Or jump and down, stomp- ing your feet and shaking your fists.

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 34

Let the tears flow It’s not uncommon, when people release an- ger from their bodies this way, for people to feel the urge to cry. If you feel like crying, al- low the tears to flow. According to Minnesota research scientist William Frey, crying can help to wash chemicals that trigger the stress hor- mone cortisol out of your body—one of the reasons we feel so much better after a good cry. Purge the rest of your anger at home When you get home, pound a mattress with your fists, hit a tree with a rolled up newspa- per, scream into a pillow, growl, or hit old tel- ephone books with a flexible hose. After all this physical activity, your face will be relaxed and you’ll sleep very soundly. Watch how good you feel the next day when it’s time for work. Reprogram your thought patterns A side effect of workplace anger is blame, on the one hand, and feeling victimized on the other. Interrupt destructive thinking about how people and things “should” be and accept what is. You can change your thought patterns the same way you memorized times tables as a kid-through repetition. Repeat out loud: “ People and things are the way they are, not the way I want them to be.” Say it and think it hundreds of times, until it’s absolutely auto- matic. It’s a powerful phase to use before work, throughout the day in your high- pressure job, or just general. The results? Expressing the emotional energy and focusing on acceptance dissipates anger and restores balance. You’ll feel more centered and loving. Your thinking will be clearer. And you’ll be able to calmly accept what is, or be able to say or do what you need to in order to resolve the situation. – Jude Bijou Jude Bijou, MA, MFT, is a respected psycho- therapist, professional educator, and workshop leader. Her theory of Attitude Reconstruction © evolved over the course of more than 30 years working with clients as a licensed marriage and family therapist, and is the subject of her award-winning book, Attitude Reconstruc- tion: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life. Learn more at http://www.attitudereconstruction.com/

WWW.UNITEDCALLCENTER.COM

Learning how to be an effective communicator when answering the phone is all a part of cus- tomer service 101. Here are a few tips from UnitedCallCenter.com: Communication - When people call in for support or information, they want customer service agents who speak well and know their stuff. Domestic Employees - Businesses are far better off when they work with domestic call centers that pay extra for qualified, American customer service agents, who won’t alienate callers by confusing them with unfamiliar dia- lects and poor language skills. On-site employees - Remote agents who answer calls at their homes offers no way to protect the security of clients and their cus- tomers. Good security - Businesses should only work with centers that have strict policies of con- duct that prevent employees from having per- sonal belongings and pens at their desks, since these might allow them to photograph or wrist down credit card information. Modern equipment - Will make the client’s company information and that of the caller available the moment it is needed. Affordability - Companies should look for one that offers customizable plans that will fit most any budget. Versatility - Invariably, businesses get better customer support when they work with a cen- ter that has a wide range of experience. We have experience providing customer service for just about every type of company. MANAGEMENT HANDLE YOUR HANDLE R ELIABLE COMMUNICATION TIPS

WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM NOVEMBER 2012 35

INDIE-PENDENT A NEW COURSE OF ACTION D EBORAH HENRY

Research can put a whole new perspective on an idea. The excitement of starting a new pro- ject can supersede, well, just about anything going on your life. It takes total control over your mind. You can’t wait to start. You think of the benefits earned when you finish. It is all so new, fresh and wonderful that you find your- self diving right in. And then you hit your head against a rock. Hard. You realize you didn’t expect the unexpected. It was just a simple idea. Who knew such ‘things’ could come about? “I never realized in my lifetime that marrying somebody out of your faith would create so much tension. There is still an un- dercurrent of social injustice and intolerance for other faiths, other marriages, you know? So, that’s where I started” - says Deborah Henry, author of ‘The Whipping Club’. A story about a Catholic girl who gave up her half- Jewish child for adoption and the trials and suffering both endured. “My father was Jewish and my mother’s Irish Catholic. Being a child of an interfaith marriage made me feel isolat- ed a lot. I thought. What would it look like in Dublin? How I write it, I start reading non- fiction to really get a feel for the truth. What I unraveled outraged me. My grandmother who was close to me was from North of Ireland. She painted this picture of overgrown trees and pony’s she rode. I was shocked to find out that during the 60s and way before there was this underbelly going on. This hidden atrocity of people. Of women and children particularly who, if you were out of wedlock, were really whisked away. There was so much unchecked power by the church. And the state would work with the church’s. The nuns, the priests and the brothers would hide these women away. And the people I interviewed… the shame and the secrets. The guilt that they lived with. Their children really ripped out of their arms. It makes my book look like a fair- ytale.” The challenge of any task is to stay on course. To not fray from the goal no matter how hard you are distracted. But there are just some things that you can’t push to the side. Even if it has been said before some sto- ry’s are worth a second mention. “It was very

Deborah Henry Author, The Whipping Club WWW.DEBORAHHENRYAUTHOR.COM

challenging to take all of this information and turn it into a novel. I feel like it is not enough storytelling. So, I thought, writing a novel I could try to make into a film, would reach a different audience.” A new course of action brings an un- comfortable, but familiar ‘writing’ ground. For the author this means having to visually relive as well as adapt the story to play out on the silver screen. “The highest calling is for- giveness” - shares Deborah. “My biggest thing is forgiveness. Not just indictment of the church. I honestly think it was a huge dark period. We all have dark sides even as human beings. I think if we acknowledge the monster that is the dark side and sort of look it in the eye, that to me is the only way to begin the journey towards moving on.” An amazingly, true-to-life book trailer starring Eric Roberts as Brother Ryder and Luc Austin as Adrian Ellis, gives a realistic view into this chilling story. “I’m trying to under- stand through the writing that sometimes peo- ple ask me when they’ve read my book and say ‘This is what happens when good people remain silent’.” - Tonisha L. Johnson

NOVEMBER 2012 WWW.TOMIMAGAZINE.COM 36

Made with