STOP Your ANTs!

ANTs – other wise known as Automatic Negative Thoughts - can take a toll on our productivity and our morale. When you find one, look around because where there’s one, there’re usually many more.

While most of us generate negative thoughts at least sometimes, the important thing is to take immediate control of the situation and turn it around – drive the negativity away. First, recognize the negative thought for what it is. Then replace it with practical assessment to replenish your positive attitude and direction.

Admittedly it is not quite as easy as those last two sentences seem to make it, but in reality, it is as basic as that. The hard part is bringing the mind to recognize when one of those ANTs tries to march in and figuring out how to deal with it before it eats all the picnic cake. Here are two suggestions.

Byron Katie, author of Loving What Is, suggests we ask ourselves four questions:

1. Is that (thought) true?
2. Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
3. How do you react when you believe that thought? And very significantly -
4. Who would you be without that thought?

Bob Stahl, Ph.D. and Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D, co-authors of The Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Workbook, go a step further and suggest a reflection approach they call STOP:

S – Stop a moment

T – Take a breath

O – Observe how and what you are feeling

P – Proceed

Whether you question or reflect, the important thing, ultimately, is to realize your ANTs are not YOU!

August Issue 2010

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Happenings

Business Alliance After Hours

Join fellow Business Alliance members and other Club members for a little after work relaxation and networking at Live! at the Loft. Good company, drink specials, a delicious array of complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a little live entertainment make for a great evening gathering!

Business Alliance Open Table

Join other Business Alliance Partners and Associates for a casual lunch and free ranging conversations in the Main Dining Room at the Capital City Club.

Navigation Series: Hitting the Target: Tricks & Tips for Small Business Marketing and Joint Ventures

We are entering the home stretch for the 2010 Navigation Series with session facilitation for our last two classes provided by David Walker who currently heads up an Adult Degree Completion Program at Peace College for students looking to achieve their BA degree in Business and Leadership.

October’s Navigation Class will include an invigorating panel discussion focusing on small business marketing and joint venturing. David Walker will lead an interactive team discussion among invited local entrepreneurs and class attendees to engage in a “How To” review of best practices in the Triangle’s market place.

Joining this session will be :

• Dr. Peter Cornwell. PhD, a top rated Management Information Systems Professor and consultant who understands Social Networking
• Dr. Shirley McLaughlin, PhD, one of the most highly sought after Marketing Professors in the Triangle

From our own ranks, you’ll have a chance to hear the inside scoop on what’s working (and what’s not) in our local marketing and joint venture world from

• Jeffrey Raxlin, J.D. – Owner of PPC Financial Group, LLC. and a great networker and speaker on Alliances.
• Craig Mathews, MBA – Owner of Big Think and Chief Thinkologist and an excellent source for entrepreneurs who are looking to get things moving ASAP.
• Adam Saad – Owner of Rush Hour Karting and savvy marketer in the Triangle. Adam has learned what it takes to get the message out and how important it is to small business sustainability.
• Scott Cohen, CPA, MAcc, MBA – Multi-Unit Franchise Owner, Principal in Hanson & Cohen CPA PLLC who has experienced what it takes to market businesses – many of them.

David and his team of entrepreneurs are planning to provide participants with a plethora of tricks and tips regarding these very special topics. Please come prepared to interact with the panel and get tools that you can take back with you to your business to implement immediately!

November’s Navigation Class

Facilitator Bio: David Walker has enjoyed a variety of business experiences so far in his career, from eleven years working for Navistar Financial Corporation to being one of five people initially recruited to start up a North American captive finance corporation for AB Volvo and helping repair Daimler Chrysler’s captive finance company to being an award winning multiple unit franchise owner with The Entrepreneur’s Source where he helped others achieve their dream of self employment. David has spent a significant portion of his career recruiting and motivating teams of employees toward a common set of goals.

David’s lifelong passion has always been in the field of education. He holds a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Economics from Illinois State University. He earned his MBA with a concentration in Finance from The University of Dayton. Currently, he is an Economics PhD. candidate with North Carolina State University. He has taught multiple business related courses at both the Graduate & Undergraduate level.

David has been the Dean and Campus Director for a start-up, proprietary university in the Raleigh, NC area. He currently heads up an Adult Degree Completion Program at Peace College for students looking to achieve their BA degree in Business and Leadership.

Finally, David also works as an independent consultant where he facilitates for companies and universities in the areas of Leadership, Empowerment and Team Building.

BA Member Announcements & Celebrations

(Please send submissions to bag_editor@yahoo.com)

Jan Delory, President of Sales Vantage Point was chosen to be an expert panelist at the September meeting of the American Marketing Association’s Raleigh Chapter. This panel will discuss the role of sales and marketing and ways they can work together to achieve the desired outcome.

Jan brings years of expertise from her corporate background in assisting companies exceed revenue goals and from her consulting practice founded in 2002 that guides small and mid-sized businesses through strategies for growth. www.salesvantagepoint.com  919-225-4816 

Debra Macon Simonette, President of Creative Gifting, Inc., passed the certification examination administered by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) to receive the Certified Advertising Specialist industry certification.  

The Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) is one of two promotional products industry’s only professional designations. Individuals with CAS certification are recognized as industry leaders—those who have attained a superior standard of professionalism, knowledge and experience. Achieving CAS status requires years of experience in the industry, completion of rigorous course curriculum and industry contributions. 

Making the commitment to pursue a CAS certification is a benchmark of the effort individuals are willing to make to ensure their future business success and the overall professionalism of the industry,” said Steve Slagle, CAE, PPAI president and CEO. 

"It is an honor to represent the promotional products industry. The knowledge I have gained will only help to ensure my commitment to my clients and their needs," said Simonette.  www.creativegifting.com  (919) 303-6198 

Leslie Flowers, President of Leslie Flowers Enterprises is sponsoring a day long seminar November 12 at the Cardinal Club focusing on self image for women. Flowers says, “Anyone can hire a wardrobe specialist or life coach, but that can be expensive, and rarely do you get everything you need in one place. It's so exciting to bring these experts together so women can not only feel successful, but also look the part, while saving time and money." The event also will feature an accessory exchange, ongoing support program and signature custom designed jewelry by Rebecca Kuprowicz of Jewelry designs by Rebecca.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Women's Center of Wake County. Leslie Flowers 919 271 4948 leslie@pathsofchange.com  

Daniel Trimpey, Preseident of Page Progressive, would like to announce the launch of the redesigned University Presbyterian Church of Chapel Hill website. Check it out!
 

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Celebrations

Debra Simonette, CAS and president of Creative Gifting, Inc., reports her company has reached another business milestone with the celebration of ten years in business.  Debra would like to thank all who have supported our efforts to make gift giving a unique experience from the gift giver to the recipient!"

New Members

• Mark Bloom,  Business Success Strategists 
  www.BusinessSuccessStrategics.com  
  
• Scott Cohen, Hanson CPA, PLLC
  www.hansoncpa-pllc.com  
  
• Scott Davis,  Restoration Experts
  www.restorationexperts.com   
  
• Leslie Flowers,  Paths of Change
  www.pathsofchange.com 
  
• Bart Frank,  International Minute Press
  www.rtp.intlminutepress.com  
  
• Dan Gaugert,  Gaugert Financial
  www.gaugertfinancial.com   
  
• Morris Lewis,  Cost Control Alliance
  www.costcontrolalliance.com 
  
• Pam Mims,  P.L.M. Equipment Services, Inc
  www.emsarncva.com  
  
• Dicie Nathani, DC Holistic Vitality Center 
  www.holisticvitalitycenter.com  
  
• Sumeet Nathani,  Holistic Vitality Center 
  www.holisticvitalitycenter.com  
  
• Jerry Piercy,  The Growth Coach
  www.TheGrowthCoach.com/jpiercy 
  
• Pamela Wimbush, Cady Macaroni Kid
  www.northraleigh.macaronikid.com

Calling for All Community News!

(Please send submissions to bag_editor@yahoo.com)

If you are involved in community projects, we want to hear about them! Many of our members serve meals, help build Habitat homes, and volunteer their time to help others in need. Please share your experiences, or your company-related activity, with your fellow BA members.

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