Facebook Privacy Settings

I know many of you use and enjoy Facebook. Here is a quick article about a new privacy setting issue. I suggest you read it(short) and then follow the steps. It is easy I just did it!

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=566253786&ids=0OdzcTcPcSdzkIdzwTcPkOdzoRb38Uc3wMc3oSdiMPc3wOdPsPdzkIcz8Md3oNdzoR&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-80

1. Log into Facebook.
2. In the top-right corner click on Account and go to Privacy Settings.
3. Click "customize settings" (toward the bottom-middle of your screen).
4. Look for the section titled "Things others share." The permission you accidentally gave Facebook to use facial recognition suggestions is located in the "Suggest photos of me to friends" option. Click on "Edit Settings" to change that.
5. Choose "Disabled" and then push "OK

Bring on Spring and the Twins!

There is something special about the snowmelt and the start of baseball. It is amazing to see sunlight both when we drive to and leave work; it brings certain level of energy to us all. This morning when I read the paper with the list of baseball games today, I just had a good feeling.

How special is spring? It is a time of new life. One can hear it in the birds and watch as trees bloom. I love to see the flowers slowly come up from the ground knowing that they will soon be an awesome flower in the summer. It is this new work in the spring that creates such an amazing sight. Just like the trees and flowers, I believe it is time for us to put something new in action. To bottle up all the extra energy we get from the sunlight and put to good use. It is time to start a new project that you been putting off during the winter. We need to dig into that list of “to do’s” and do one or two of them. I suggest choosing one extra thing from work and one from home. If you do, your summer flowers will look amazing. Take advantage of the springtime feeling and do something special today! Go Twins!

"Frugality" Here To Stay?

Is there a fundamental shift in the way we spend and save today? I just read a study that stated that after this recession ends Americans will spend about 86% of their pre-recession level. As I read this, I could not help but realize that this change is starting to take hold of the country and will cause some companies to grow and become great while other companies will miss the train and fall apart. No matter what, it is clear that there is a fundamental change occurring in how and why Americans are buying goods today.

The Facts: Personal debt had doubled in a decade and ended at $124,000 per household in July 2009. That is a large number, and it will take years to work down this debt. With this said, the only logical thought is that people's thriftiness and spending habits have changed. We will see new behaviors over the next few years. Are you ready for these changes? Are you changing? How about your business?

The impact of these changes will affect everything from the homes and cars we buy to how we spend money at the grocery store or for entertainment. One of the fundamental shifts we are currently seeing in the marketing world is that people are shifting their thought process away from wants to a focus unlike before on needs. Are you marketing to this shift? Does your company or product fill a need not a want? This is a very important question.

When people spend they are looking for value. Many businesses and individuals have made a decision to be more frugal relative to this economic crisis. People are looking for value either through specials, coupons or close outs. When the upturn of the economy starts, be it a few months or even five years, people will not return to old spending habits. The shock and scare of this crisis has developed habits that will stick!

Many of us have no recollection of the Great Depression, but history tells us that a crisis like the Great Depression does create change. Many of us remember seeing parents or grand parents who was affected by the times they had during the economic problems of their day. It develops almost overnight a fundamental shift in how people think and process value. It will be more important than ever that you find affective marketing practices that will fill the needs of customers. What is your business doing today to fill the need of your customers and to provide them value?

Do you use coupons?

Just reaching out to obtain some general feelings on coupons. Do you use them, how often, why?

What is your favorite offers and places? Thank you in advance!

When the storm hits!

Wow – The snowiest December ever!!! I am very glad I purchased a new snow blower at the end of the winter season last year.

I have been reading as of late about all this snow that fell last month. It is more apparent just by looking outside my window with the snow piles looking like a mountain. This is saying a lot. I have lived here in Minnesota for more than 30 years, and I have never seen it like this before in early January. It truly is one of the most impactful snow at one time.

So how do we deal with all this snow? It is amazing that some people find a way to just keep moving forward while others hide from it. Some people even thrive in it: plow drivers, tow trucks, emergency workers, and others who work hard to get us moving – We all owe them a huge thank you for everything they do.

Even in everyday life the effort required is more than relaxing days of the summer. Salespeople have cold cars and less parking places, merchants have to make up business lost, commute times are longer and more stressful. I could go on and on but even with this we all keep going. If you are someone who has pushed through this, I commend you for dealing with this; it is even more impressive if you could do it while still keeping a smile on your face.

Inside each successful business, you will find this same mindset when a storm hits - You have to have a plan. You have to be willing to trust those around you pushing your business through the storm. You have to find new ways to deal with all the new challenges (like the sales person dealing with all the ice on a road).

It is about setting up your business in case a storm hits – anyone can run a business in during a beautiful summer day. Will you be the one to keep going and going until you reach the end of the storm when all the snow has been push to the side and the mountains have been conquered? It is about reaching that desired goal and being ready for anything that might get in the way of stopping you. Does your business have a plan for the snowiest month of the year? Will your personal goals pull you through a storm? If not, now is the time to make some changes as we start the New Year. Make it happen…

In both our personal and work lives, let’s be thankful for the people who dig us out from the storm. Every day we need people that challenge us and clear a path for us. We need to listen to those around us and most importantly have the right people around us to move the snow when it hits.