CONNECTED Columbus Magazine - Summer 2022

Summer 2022 IN THIS ISSUE

LOCAL EVENTS: Fun in the Sun!

Columbus' African American History

Design Your Path to Freestyle Living

3 Steps to Finding Clarity In Your Business

Inaugural Issue

Networking Mindset Hack to Overcome Your Fears

TECHNOLOGY: NFTs, Intellectual Property, and Blockchain

LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Cover Photo: Bryce Collins Photography

OURWHY

Showcasethediversity, people,andbusinesses ofourcity

OURVISION

Maketheworldabetter place,onecommunityat atime

OURMISSION

Provideaccesstolocal resourcesforinspiration, information,and improvedlife.

OUR VALUES

WeareallCONNECTED, diversityisourstrength, andweareBETTER TOGETHER!

FOREWORD

We are excited to bring this magazine to our growing city, sharing the diverse businesses, people, and resources that are present right under our noses!

Much of today’s media is focused on creating drama and division because it creates “engagement.”

We believe that there is so much good happening every single day!

By focusing on positive and inspirational content, we can create more than just engagement

We can create unity and community!

CHRIS BORJA

This first issue includes articles across many topics ranging from the history of African Americans in Columbus, tech developments like the practical uses of NFTs, travel, cuisine, marketing tips, and things to do!

The center of the magazine contains a wealth of resources in the form of the CONNECTED Networking Group Ambassadors who are always happy to serve and make an impact

We also included a Business Directory as a resource for you and others needing any specific products or services

We hope you enjoy this inaugural issue, and that you share your honest feedback to make this a valuable addition to the city of Columbus!

Founder, CONNECTED Columbus Magazine

EDITORIAL BOARD THE

Chris Borja

Publisher

Belinda Borja

Publisher Sean Becker

Editor

Cyndy Keller

Editor

Kath Rin

Creative Director

James Minter

Advertising Executive

Noah Borja

Technical Director

CONTRIBUTORS

Adam Griggs

Brittany Dixon

Bryan Curtiss

Bryce Collins

Chris Borja

Dylan Scott Miller

Esther Salata

Gayle Hurst

James Minter

Jeff Elder

Karry Oberbrunner

Kathy Binner

Laron Henderson

Leslie Dahn

Logan Kaverman

Nickie Butcher

Renee Vidor

Rex Alba

Rhoda Israelov

Sunny Martin

Tammy Hudson

Local Events

ThingstodoaroundColumbus;BryanCutriss

Culture

Columbus’AfricanAmericanHistory;SunnyMartin

World Cuisine

FilipinoCuisineinWorldScene;RexAlba

Travel

UnexpectedEncounters;GayleHurst

Technology

Howauthors entrepreneurs andinfluencerscanuseblockchaintechnologyto protecttheirintellectualpropertyandgrowtheirbusiness;KaryOberbrunner

WhatIsanNFTandWhyDoICare?;DylanScottMiller

Marketing Strategies

3StepstoFindingClarityInYourBusiness;JeffElder

WHYUseDo-It-YourselfVideotoleverageyourbusiness?;TammyHudson SayHellotoBloggingforBusiness;Blogging-PayPerClip?;RhodaIsraelov

Sales and Marketing Entrepreneurship

PursuitofthePerfectBusiness;JamesMinter

Thestruggleisreal-youaretoo!;AdamGriggs CuttingThroughtheAdvertisingClutter;JamesMinter

Real Estate

BuildingYourFinancialFutureThroughRealEstate;NickieButcher

DesignYourPathtoFreestyleLiving;KathyBinner

TimeManagement;BrittanyDixon

WhatisHalotherapy?;LeslieDahn

3TipstoMakeANYDietWorkforYou!;LoganKaverman

Environmental

10TipsforMakingyourOutdoorSpaceEco-Friendly!;EstherSalata

Networking

IntrovertedNetworker;LaronHenderson

HowtoTakeControlOverComparisonandConnectLikeaPro;ReneeVidor NetworkingIsLikeCheatingAtPoker;ChrisBorja ALucrativeNetworkingSuccessFrom0-60MPHInSeconds;ChazFreutel

LOCAL EVENTS

by: Bryan Curtiss

Summer is full of public events both large and small From festivals and 5K’s to farmer’s markets and fairs, there is a lot to explore within a short commute from wherever you live After spending the last couple of summers social distancing, the 2022 edition is heralding the real return of normal summer activity

Here are some of the events to look forward to for the next three months. Don’t forget your sunglasses!

JULY

09

Summer Jam West

Westgate Park, Hilltop

www hilltopartscollective org

Summer Jam West is back in Westgate Park after a two-year hiatus, which saw more art installations pop up throughout the Hilltop The organization behind this West Columbus arts festival has rebranded itself as the Hilltop Arts Collective, furthering art initiatives along with the Hilltop

09-10

Photo from www fcfair org

County Fair

The Franklin County Fair returns with rides, fair food, and livestock competitions

21-30

Westerville Music and Arts Festival

Heritage Park - 60 N Cleveland Ave , Westerville www westervillechamber com/music-arts-festival

Lancaster Festival

Lancaster

www lancasterfestival org

This 10-day festival showcases the arts in Lancaster Live acts including Rick Springfield and Lady A will also be performing at the Festival this year

27-07

AUG

22-24

The Columbus Jazz & Ribfest Downtown Riverfront, Columbus www hotribscooljazz org

The Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest, run by the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, features barbeque masters from all over the country, plus live jazz music from local and national artists, along the Scioto River in downtown Columbus

30

The Ohio State Fair

www ohiostatefair com

For the first time since 2019, the Ohio State Fair is ready to entertain everyone with fun rides fabulous fair food, and live concerts

Whitehall Food Truck Festival

South Yearling Road Whitehall www whitehallfoodtruckfest com

AUGUST

05-06

Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival

Huber Park – 1640 Davidson Drive Reynoldsburg

www reytomatofest com

The Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival is a celebration of all things tomato, as Reynoldsburg is known for being the birthplace of the commercialized tomato There is live music, plus games and food

CONNECTED Columbus Magazine

05-07

Dublin Irish Festival

Coffman Park, Dublin

www dublinirishfestival org

The Dublin Irish Festival returns to Coffman Park just in time to celebrate its 35th Anniversary

13

African-American Wellness Walk

Livingston Park - 760 E. Livingston Ave , South Columbus

www aawellness org

The African-American Wellness Walk is back on August 13, with a 5K Walk and Run, free Health Screenings, Wellness Vendors, a Kids Area, and a Senior Pavilion

05-07

Pelotonia www pelotonia org

Pelotonia is back, as bicyclists raise money for cancer research with rides of various lengths, passing through Downtown Columbus, Olde Towne East, Bexley, Gahanna, and New Albany along the way

Bexley Smoke & Fire Festival

Schneider Park

2160 Astor Ave., Bexley

SEPTEMBER

02-05

03-05

The Smoke & Fire Festival is debuting in Bexley, featuring local grill and pit masters This new festival will be combined with the season finale of the Bexley Jazz in the Park Series, featuring music from Mason Bryant and the Bobby Floyd Trio

The Greek Festival

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral

555 N High St , Short North

Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival

Canal Winchester

www.cwlaborday.org

For over 100 years, the City of Canal Winchester has celebrated Labor Day

After a “Hometown Day” in place of the festival in 2021, the Labor Day Festival is back with food, rides, and live music On Monday afternoon, the Canal Winchester Labor Day Parade will march through the city’s historic downtown streets

Bexley 04

Bexley Labor Day Party and Brewfest

16-18

Arts in the Alley

Grove City Town Center

The streets of the Grove City Town Center District become an outdoor gallery with artists at an event that also features live music and food

Delaware County Fair & The Little Brown Jug

Delaware County Fairgrounds

05

Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival

Northam Park, Upper Arlington

www.upperarlingtonoh.gov/event/la bor-day-arts-festival

Over 200 artists transform the fields of Northam Park into an outdoor art gallery There will be children’s activities and live music at this daylong festival

July 2 | August 6 | September 3

Short North Arts District

www.shortnorth.org

July 30 | August 27 | September 24

Grandview Hop

www grandviewhop com

July 8 | August 12 | September 9

Franklinton Fridays

www.franklintonartsdistrict.com

17-24 R e c u r r i n g E v e n t s

www delawarecountyfair com

The Delaware County Fair takes place at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, featuring the Little Brown Jug harnessracing classic, the All-Horse Parade, motorsports, and livestock and 4-H competitions

Bryan Curtiss

July 22 | August 26 | September 23

Fourth Fridays State Street, between Home and Park Streets, Westerville

Photo from v s tgrovecityoh com

CULTURE

COLUMBUS’ AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

by: Sunny Martin

From slavery to Columbus they came, African Americans fleeing the South (mostly the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee) and settling in “free states” like Ohio. Columbus was a natural choice because it was one of the “underground railroad lines” for slaves traveling to other free states and to anti-slavery Canada

By the thirties, the East Side was the largest predominantly African American neighborhood in Columbus It rose from lawful and “de facto” segregation The East Side included African American communities like the impoverished “Blackberry Patch”, which in 1941 was torn down to make way for “Poindexter Village” the third public housing community ever built in the country Poindexter Village is now scheduled for demolition A second notable community is “The American Addition”, a community currently experiencing new housing starts. Also, two East Side streets, Long Street and Mount Vernon Avenue offered African Americans the most in the way of homes, commerce, and entertainment

The African Americans who chose, before and after slavery, to make Columbus their homes are those who shaped today’s predominantly African American neighborhoods

Freedom did not mean “equal opportunity” in Columbus While “downtown” and predominantly White neighborhoods welcomed African Americans as laborers, they did not welcome African Americans as neighbors Hence, African Americans mostly settled outside the city near factories, and railroad tracks, along the banks of the Scioto River, and in rural areas adjacent to downtown

In the beginning, African Americans were primarily employed as farmers and domestic servants for wealthy White residents Others worked as waiters, saloon bartenders, and deliverymen

African Americans worked on farms and in foundries, brickyards, lumber mills, and factories African Americans provided a lot of the labor that built structures throughout Columbus

By the fifties, African Americans of diverse cultural and educational backgrounds resided and worked on the East Side, particularly on Long Street and Mt Vernon Avenue The class of African American workers and residents included laborers to professionals. One could find African American physicians, dentists, educators, attorneys, nurses, policemen, firemen, barbers, artists, brick masons, musicians, carpenters, and beauticians African Americans built beautiful homes. Also, African Americans built, owned, and operated hotels, stores, churches, beauty shops, barber shops, real estate offices, insurance agencies, laundries, gas stations, hat shops,

restaurants, and separate and unequal “colored” schools African American entrepreneurs made African Americans less dependent upon Whites for employment and economic prosperity African Americans had pride in their neighborhoods and themselves

Some African American neighborhoods experienced economic prosperity well into the sixties and early seventies This prosperity not only resulted from the hard work and resourcefulness of African Americans but also because of the contributions of Whites, primarily Jews and Italians, who lived side-byside with African Americans and owned and operated businesses in African American neighborhoods The partnership between African Americans and Whites enhanced the vibrancy and appeal of African American neighborhoods

In the late sixties and early seventies events, old and new, combined to end the rising prosperity and forever change African American neighborhoods, especially the East Side of Columbus. While many events may have defined today’s African American neighborhoods, none played any larger roles than the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v Board of Education of Topeka; the completion of Interstate 71; and the civil rights movement.

The winds of change for the sixties first began in 1954, a decade earlier, when the U S Supreme Court decided the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, (1954). Hailed by some as the second coming of President Lincoln’s 1863 “Emancipation Proclamation”, the Court held that the racebased segregation of children into “separate but equal” public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment was unconstitutional.

The Brown decision was significant because it overturned the separate but equal doctrine established by the Court’s Plessy v Ferguson (1896) decision where it upheld the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in private businesses (particularly railroads), under the doctrine of "separate but equal" The Brown decision became the “tool” of integration and desegregation for the decades that followed

In the late fifties, the winds of change in Columbus, Ohio grew stronger when political leaders designed and constructed the “Interstate 71” freeway that separated “downtown” from the East Side by cutting off many of the streets that connected the central city to the East Side African American homes and businesses were among the many structures demolished to make way for the freeway

African Americans were displaced, and businesses and employment were lost forever. In 1962 the portion of the newly constructed Interstate 71 had reached Fifth Avenue in August, and it reached downtown in November Hence, began the “period of separation “and “disenfranchisement” of East Side African Americans that many feels continue to exist today

The late sixties ushered in a strong civil rights movement, a loud voice for equal rights and opportunities for African Americans Leaders of the civil rights movement demanded the yet unrealized rights of integration and desegregation ordered in Brown Where segregation once forced most African Americans to live and work only in predominantly African American neighborhoods, the force of the civil rights movement gave more African Americans the opportunity to live and work in predominantly White neighborhoods, including downtown Columbus

The combination of the enforcement of the Brown decision; the fleeting success of the civil rights movement; the unrest from the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King; and the isolation resulting from Interstate 71 had a profound and lasting impact on the East Side with integration and

"We are not makers of history. We are made by History "

- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

desegregation, African Americans moved from the East Side Some of our brightest and most talented African American residents and business owners left forever. Simultaneously, the partnerships between African Americans and Whites, particularly Jews, gradually fractured (partly because of race-based violence and rioting in the sixties) and then broke, resulting in most Whites closing their businesses and moving out forever The foregoing, along with the neglect of political leaders, would be the blueprint for the decline of the East Side for decades to come

Rather than be known for its resilient residents who have stayed and kept hope alive, the East Side once became known for its boarded-up and abandoned homes and businesses; blackon-black crime; “ corner stores” that sold outdated and unhealthy food and beer; a decaying infrastructure that deterred new development; and a population that had declined by two thirds in fifty years This is not the East Side that we see today

WORLD CUISINE

Today, the East Side of Columbus, Ohio is experiencing a great renaissance Life springs anew with colorful murals on abandoned buildings Music, once silenced, now again plays in the Lincoln Theater and continues to play in the King Art Complex

Newcomers have moved into new and old housing, and many have started businesses in projects like the Hamilton Park Place Condominiums, NOBO’s single-family homes and condominiums on North 21st Street, and the Gideon Gateway Building

The Whitney townhouses and the Affordable Housing Trust’s offices and apartments are under construction The Eastside is making a grand comeback!

Martin

FILIPINO CUISINE IN WORLD SCENE

by: Rex Alba

Filipinos are celebrated for our hard work ethic, resilience, and most recently, our food. our cuisine, a mouth-watering culmination of Chinese, Spanish, and other cultural influences, has expanded its worldwide influence, especially over the past decade

In the Philippines alone, traditionally-leaning chefs like Panlasang Pinoy, creators like Erwan Heusaff, celebrity moms and home cooks, and now, trending icons like Ninong Ry are creating new generations of love and appreciation for Filipino food Abroad, diaspora Filipino chefs seamlessly fuse our food with other countries, slowly but surely establishing our place in the global culinary landscape

For people who are used to assimilation, erasure, and silencing, this is our way of renegotiating and reinserting our place in the world So, kain tayo? Let’s eat! Here are only some of the most popular dishes among Filipinos around the world

Let’s start off with probably our most popular dish: ADOBO! Typically some sort of meat soaked in a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves, black peppercorns, and garlic, adobo can be enjoyed anywhere, from large gatherings to intimate family dinners What makes adobo so versatile is its deep flavor profile that can both invite in and comfort anyone Dare I say that adobo feels like the physical embodiment of some core Filipino values: strength, hospitality, and compassion Adobo is the type of dish that can invite in and comfort anyone that comes across it

Sunny

You can start off any day with adobo, but sometimes a classic breakfast food is just what one needs This is where our silogs come in SILOGs are Filipino breakfast meals consisting of garlic fried rice, fried eggs, and some sort of meat For example, tapa (dried marinated beef) and longganisa (pork sausage) are common meats that pair well with silog Western countries especially crave silog because it does not differ too far from their typical breakfast For instance, American breakfasts can include bacon, eggs, and hash browns Silog is exactly like that: except you switch out the bacon for tapa and hashbrowns for the garlic rice

While it is a safe introduction to Filipino cuisine, it sure is a scrumptious one! Once the day has started, a lively event is a perfect place to attend if you want a massive sea of Filipino foods on the table At the center of the feast stands – or rather lays – LECHON, a whole roast pig Besides the standout lechon, a Filipino party typically has all the fixings: rice, of course, PANCIT (Philippine noodles), the whatnot The most familiar food, though, to non-Filipinos, would probably be LUMPIA, our own version of egg rolls

On social media, you’ll see chefs and families creating the most beautiful budol fight spreads. Banana leaves decked out in rice, grilled pork belly, squid, fish, shrimp, crabs, and the most luscious mangoes, pickled julienned vegetable–also known as ATSARA, barbeque skewers, and more These meals are perfect to enjoy by the sea at El Nido, Palawan on your next summer adventure, or even right at the dinner table at your tita’s house in Houston, Texas Wherever you may be, we guarantee there is a Filipino willing to cook and share our culture with you

Of course, no meal is complete without dessert Luckily, we got you covered too HALO-HALO is clearly the favorite among nonlocals This summer favorite is a showstopper Shaved ice topped with syrups, beans, cheese, and even ice cream is sure to be your go-to this summer

Other Pinoy favorites include SINIGANG–a sour tamarind-based soup filled with vegetables and your choice of seafood or pork This is perfect for feeling under the weather or during monsoon season TINOLA is a ginger-based chicken soup with garlic and battle gourd–super yummy for a cold winter’s night outside of the Philippines! Try NILAGA or BULALO if you ’ re craving a beefier, heartier soup

ISAW At Filipino night markets, there is always an old woman vigorously waving a woven fan over tiny skewers of meat–intestines, pork, chicken, liver This inuman food has a rich and sad history of poverty In the Philippines, the poor eat every part of the meat because nothing can be afforded to waste.

Today, at places like Dollar Hits in Los Angeles, California, this way of eating is celebrated by Filipinos looking for a wave of nostalgia and Filipinos brave enough to share these foods with their non-Filipino friends, hoping that they may understand or even appreciate at least the taste. Sometimes, these vulnerabilities are success stories, but in others, they are not To be welcomed to the dinner table is an honor that should not be taken lightly

Especially in the United States, the reclamation of food is an important assertion of dominance and existence for all immigrants and indigenous peoples Whiteness seeks to erase identities that do not realign with the “status quo ” . Historically, too, Americans colonized Filipinos first and foremost through the kitchens–hence, the development of “dirty” kitchens in most Philippine homes

To deny the comfort of familiar taste is colonial It disrespects history and identity and urges people to forget, which is a perfect step to cultural genocide.

Among others, one of the best ways to support immigrant communities is to uplift our cuisines For most around the world, meals are a place where knowledge is passed down, trust is built, and love is shared Food is never just food

TRAVEL

So, we hope the next time you pass by your local Filipino kitchen, you’ll stop by, say kamusta, and eat with us And as you eat, be intentional about the steps it took to get here–the oceans we ’ ve crossed, and the vulnerability we are choosing to share when we say kain tayo? Let’s eat

Rex Alba

UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS

by: Gayle Hurst

The world is full of wonders, and some of the most incredible ones are hidden in plain sight As you explore different corners of the globe, keep an eye out for unexpected encounters with nature Often, these are the most memorable moments on a trip!

The Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies are an iconic part of the country's landscape and natural beauty To get to know them better, start with these tips:

The Alberta Rockies is the easternmost range in Alberta, and it has three distinct sections: Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and Yoho National Park These parks are all home to bears (including grizzlies), elk, bighorn sheep, deer and lots of hiking trails!

For more information about what to do in the Rockies' mountains and valleys once you're there (ahem), check out Banff's official website for more details on activities like canoeing across Lake Louise or hiking through wildflower meadows at Sunshine Meadows Provincial Park.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger National Park is South Africa's largest game reserve and home to the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino It also boasts a diverse array of other wild animals including cheetah, hippo, hyena, and crocodile

Kruger is an excellent place to see the migration of wildebeest and zebra a spectacular sight that occurs every year between July and October as these animals travel from Tanzania across southern Africa in search of greener pastures

Amazon Jungle

The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest, home to 20% of all known species and three million square miles of territory. It's also home to the world's largest river the Amazon River which originates in the Peruvian Andes and flows out into the Atlantic Ocean after traveling over 6,400 miles

The Amazon is also home to Angel Falls, one of Earth’s tallest waterfalls at 3,212 feet tall; this waterfall plunges off an edge that juts out from Venezuela’s Auyantepui mountain range. Lastly, you'll find that the entire basin of this river system covers some 7 million square miles!

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos Islands are a group of islands in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, with a population of around 25,000 It is not only a province of Ecuador but also one of its best-known tourist attractions It is home to unique species of flora and fauna that make it an ideal holiday destination for nature enthusiasts The islands were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979 because they possess “outstanding universal value” due to their biodiversity and

Patagonia, Argentina, and Chile

Patagonia is a region in the south of Argentina and Chile It is famous for its mountains and glaciers, as well as it's wildlife and natural beauty.

There are many different types of activities to do in Patagonia: you can hike through beautiful landscapes or ride horses along the coast You could also go fishing or kayaking, or visit a wildlife sanctuary where you can see some of South America’s most diverse species up close!

You don't need to be an expert adventurer to enjoy your trip to Patagonia - there are plenty of ways for beginners to get involved too! For example, if you want something relaxing then why not try white water rafting? Or if you'd prefer something more adventurous why not bungee jump from one of these stunning bridges high above the river below?

Taj Mahal, India

Green Lake, Austria

Green Lake is a lake in northern Austria It is the only natural lake in the Alpine region, making it a popular tourist attraction Surrounded by a nature reserve, it is also popular among hikers and fishers

Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal Located in Agra, India, it was declared a

Taj Jama Masjid: Built by Sultan Shah Jahan I (1628-58), who also built the Taj Mahal, this mosque was constructed with red sandstone and marble and has two large towers flanking its entrance It serves as an example of Indo-Islamic architecture that combines both Hindu and Muslim influences

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

Isle Royale National Park is located in Lake Superior, 50 miles from the Canadian border It is the largest island in Lake Superior and is home to a diverse array of wildlife

The park was established on April 3, 1940, by Franklin Roosevelt after several years of lobbying by conservationists concerned

Komodo Island, Indonesia

In the western part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Komodo Island is an island with a rich history and culture Home to Komodo National Park, which is a World Heritage Site, it also has one of the most unique inhabitants: the Komodo dragon The park protects this endangered species and its habitat while preserving natural resources for future generations

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

Uluru is a large sandstone rock formation in Australia It's situated in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is the world's largest national park In fact, it's so big that it has its own postal code!

Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu people, who have lived there for thousands of

What will you find on your next trip?

You might want to visit:

Barcelona, Spain The city has a rich history that dates back thousands of years It has a unique blend of cultures and architecture that can be found nowhere else on Earth And did we mention it's beautiful?

Los Angeles, California LA is full of culture and adventure from Hollywood to the beachside towns, there's something for everyone here! If you like hiking or swimming in natural waterfalls, this is the place for you!

It’s amazing, isn’t it? The world has so much to offer With the right mindset and a little bit of planning, you can have some truly unique travel experiences How will you spend your next vacation?

Hurst

Gayle

TECHNOLOGY

HOW AUTHORS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND INFLUENCERS CAN USE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GROW THEIR BUSINESS

by: Kary Oberbrunner

Every industry is going to be affected by blockchain, here’s what you need to know:

Many people think blockchain is just for cryptocurrency They think only people in specialized industries should care about it That’s what I thought at first too. But the more I learned about it, the more I realized that every industry is going to be affected by blockchain

Everyone should care about it, or as some experts believe, every person will soon care about it

Blockchain technology is part of Web3—the next generation of the Internet

Web3 is the next generation of the Internet, and builds on the prior generations of Web1 and Web 2 In Web 1, the first generation of the Internet, websites were static pages with text and maybe some clipart Whoever created those webpages generally had ownership of them, which is why I refer to the motto of Web1 as “they create, they own ”

With Web2, the Internet was revolutionized again with the emergence of social media platforms, cross-centralization, and richer sharing of pictures and data other than text In Web2, the motto is “ we create, they own ” Intellectual property rights, provenance, and proof of ownership were all made more complex and difficult to track with the advent of large social media platforms dominating information sharing

So what is blockchain?

Simply put, a blockchain is a decentralized ledger or database that keeps track of information These “informational” blocks are verified by many computers all over the world

When a block is full, another block is added, creating a “chain ” The big difference between blockchain and other ways of storing information is how the information is validated

No one or nothing can change the ledger It’s immutable. Each block is timestamped in the decentralized ledger that cannot be altered, changed, or manipulated To do so would require a 51% hack of all computers in the world, something that’s nearly impossible

In Web3, we not only have new assets like NFTs and new ways to experience the world like virtual reality we also have greater intellectual property protection with blockchain Blockchain existed in Web2, but it was smaller and more privatized. Now, in Web3, blockchains are larger, public, and decentralized As a result, they offer greater security for content creators and thought leaders With Web3, the motto is “ we create, we own ”

Blockchain technology helps authors, entrepreneurs, and influencers protect their intellectual property

For decades now all books on planet earth have benefited from an International Standard Book Number called an ISBN This number helps a book get discovered by libraries, bookstores, and readers.

Although this technology is helpful it’s also dated because it’s tied to Web2 We need to layer another technology on top of this that can be integrated with Web3.

One solution is ISBNFT, a technology that “mints'' intellectual property to the blockchain All businesses have intellectual property whether it’s in the form of logos, processes, PDFs, videos, files, or more Thanks to ISBNFT, anyone can now publish and protect their intellectual property with a few simple steps

Bottom line, people no longer need to file long, expensive, and cumbersome trademarks, patents, and copyrights.

ISBNFT is the official NFT registry By minting your intellectual property, into “non-fungible tokens” (NFTs) you can create, verify and validate your proof of ownership.

This provides creators with an additional level of security

ISBNFT is just the beginning. The metaverse is next.

“The metaverse” is a phrase that’s been grabbing a lot of headlines lately Facebook changed its name to “Meta” back in October 2021. Brands like Nike and Gucci are exploring metaverse marketing on platforms like Roblox But the metaverse isn’t just about social media or video games

It’s a Web3 technology that creates an immersive, interconnected experience online using virtual and augmented reality In the metaverse, digital assets like NFTs can be bought, sold, and even worn as clothing by an individual’s avatar

Right now, this technology is in its early stages But with major companies and brands entering this space, the sector is going to expand rapidly. This means that authors, entrepreneurs, and influencers need to stay up-to-date on what’s happening so they can leverage this technology, market their brands, and reach new audiences.

The bottom line is that the metaverse offers incredible new possibilities for connecting with audiences and readers Branding in the metaverse isn’t branding reinvented it is branding transformed It’s important to maintain the core elements that make your brand unique, or what makes you stand out from the crown.

What does your brand look like in 4D? How would someone feel interacting with your brand through a VR headset? And even what would your brand smell like as someone walks into your digital space to interact with you online?

With immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality and the metaverse, you can now reimagine new ways to invite people to experience what you have to offer

Kary Oberbrunner

WHAT IS AN NFT AND WHY DO I CARE?

by: Dylan Scott Miller

CryptoPunks?

Bored Apes Yacht Club?

Axie Infinity?

Do any of these names ring a bell? Do they grab your attention? Because they should Each and every one of these companies has sold NFTs to the tune of tens of billions of dollars. Now, that’s a market worth knowing about!

For perspective, Sherwin Williams had gros sales of around $20B in 2021 All three o these NFT companies had more sales tha Sherwin Williams–the name that comes to min when anyone needs to do a housing projec (which there were a lot of during the pandemic

If you don’t know about NFTs, then you need to It is too large and impactful an industry t ignore So buckle up as I explain the basics and hopefully, pique your interest in the world o NFTs, the metaverse, and crypto

What Is an NFT?

An NFT is a Non-Fungible Token, but what does that mean? To keep it simple, it means it is a completely unique item In the case of NFTs, these are digital items like images, videos, etc But can’t I just take a screenshot or download the same video? YES, yes you can! However, that doesn’t show that you are, in fact, the owner of that particular item

Think of going to an art museum All those pieces are incredibly unique, right? Unless someone makes a fake of that piece of art and sells it to a museum.

Oops

Now there are two pieces of that artwork floating around–how will we ever know which is the real one? We look at the fine details, the little hidden intricacies of the artwork, the artist's subtle signature, etc That’s how we know the real thing from the fake The same principle applies to NFTs. The data attached to NFTs will let you know who actually owns that particular NFT All others are fake

These bits of data are now forever linked as one unit on the blockchain And since more data has been added, previous information can no longer be altered. While this is a bit of an oversimplification of the process, this helps explain exactly how NFT ownership is tracked

How Can I Use NFTs For Myself or My Business?

This is what it is all about, right?

NFTs are seen by some as an opportunity to build a collection In the case of the Bored Apes Yacht Club, there are people who try to collect the more well-known NFTs for the sake of having ownership of these pieces of artwork

Others see NFTs as an opportunity to invest. NFTs fluctuate in price based on the perceived value around the asset, just like with any piece of art As the creator of the NFT becomes more well-known the NFT becomes more valuable in addition to a plethora of other factors. Buying, selling, and trading NFTs can be similar to investing in other pieces of artwork in this sense

So What Defines Who Owns an NFT?

Without going into all the intricate details, NFT exists on a blockchain, similar to a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin Blockchains exist as the modern equivalent of a ledger It tracks the movements of digital assets through a system.

There are different blockchains that have their own processes, but they all function in a similar fashion As digital assets, like cryptocurrencies and NFTs, are bought, sold, and traded they are marked on the blockchain Each piece of the blockchain is directly connected to the piece of information before and after it Furthermore, each step of the blockchain can only be read or interacted with in order This creates an order in which new data is added to the blockchain, and no information is removed.

If an NFT, for example, is created on the blockchain then it exists at point A of the blockchain When it is sold, that transaction happens at point B. After the transaction is complete, point C now carries with it the previous information from points A and B

Now, from a business standpoint, it offers the opportunity to create authentic and unique experiences for your clients The limits to how this can work rely solely on your ability to think creatively about the technology available and the value you can bring to your clients

For example, if you provide original and unique images to your clients, can you justify uploading them to the blockchain and selling them to your client as an NFT? If you design a logo for your client, can you create it as an NFT they can use as an asset if they wish? Can you create a marketing plan as an NFT? How about blogs, articles, or books?

"There are many opportunities worth exploring in the realm of NFTs, all it takes is understanding the technology and process and a bit of creativity! Hopefully, this article has helped provide some clarity on just that."

Dylan Scott Miller

MARKETING STRATEGIES

3 STEPS TO FINDING CLARITY IN YOUR BUSINESS

by: Jeff Elder

One of the questions I get is, “How do I find the clarity I need to move forward?” Too many people stay stuck because they lack clarity. Finding clarity in your business is all about asking the right questions In my experience, there are three core questions that, if answered, will provide the clarity you need to propel your business forward.

Here are the three questions that you need to answer 1 What’s your superpower?; 2 Whom do you serve?; 3 How do you deliver your solution? Let’s take a closer look at these questions

Get clear on who you serve

There’s a saying, “try to help everyone and you’ll end up helping no one I see this all the time with clients when I ask them who they serve They rattle off a list of so many types of people Life and business will be so much easier if you can just pick one type of client. Why? Because it’s easy to dig deep into the needs, wants, desires, goals, and challenges of one type of client than having to learn those things with multiple clients

When you get to know your ideal client on that deep of a level that is when you can serve them well. Serving one type of client also increases the amount of what you charge The reason for that is because you become the go-to expert for that particular audience You know them well You serve them well It’s also easier to deliver consistent results over and over again.

Get clear on how you deliver your solution

Your superpower answers the question of how you can uniquely help your clients and what your solution is for them Getting specific on whom you serve makes it easier to serve them and get consistent results for that audience Next, you need to know how you will deliver your solution to your unique audience

Get clear on your superpower

Before making any progress in your business, you need to be honest with yourself about what you ’ re good at and not. Unfortunately, I see too many business owners spinning their wheels and getting nowhere because they work outside their superpower

To identify your superpower: What problem do people have that you know you can solve because you deliver consistent results? How do others describe how you ’ ve helped them? Does what you do energize you or drain you?

By answering these questions, you’ll be on your way to discovering your superpower

Here are some things to consider as it relates to how you will deliver your solution Will you create a product? How about a coaching program?

Can you wrap up your solution and sell it as a course? Do you want to start a membership group and have people pay you monthly to have access to your solution? Perhaps it’s an online or brick-and-mortar store We live in an age of endless possibilities in terms of how we can deliver our solutions to our clients You just need to do what feels right to you and then go for it!

Let’s recap the three steps to finding clarity in your business First, you need to discover your superpower Next, stop trying to serve everyone and get specific about your who. Lastly, figure out how you will deliver your a solution to your specific audience

WHY USE DO-IT-YOURSELF VIDEO TO LEVERAGE YOUR BUSINESS?

by: Tammy Hudson

You’ve probably heard many times about how video is currently incredibly important in your marketing efforts Why is video so hot right now? Because it works! Video marketing is the quickest and most effective way to establish trust, communicate your brand and product, and give a huge return on investment (ROI)

Unfortunately, Video marketing is often considered yet another expense that most small businesses will need to stay competitive with larger companies

Luckily this is no longer the case With platforms like Engaged Pro Video, you can create your own marketing videos without spending a lot of time, money, or any editing experience.

Do-It-Yourself videos have a certain advantage –not only do they save you money, but they also offer a strong sense of authenticity.

A commercial is a commercial at the end of the day and people can see through most of it However, a DIY video is far more original and natural. If you have ever considered utilizing DIY video to leverage your business but don’t know where to begin, let me share with you the top 3 most impactful videos you should be using for your business

1. Video Testimonial

There is nothing more powerful than having someone talk about how your product or service changed their lives, exceeded expectations, or helped them in a big way Simply Have your customers share with you why they love your services or products. When people talk it adds value to you and your company It’s the social proof that other customers are looking for and will certainly take to heart

2. Brand Videos

This is a sure-fire way to establish yourself as an expert tip in your industry Create expert tips, FAQ’s, product demonstrations, About Me/Us, and more This gives the customer a look inside your business before they even meet you and shows them exactly what you do. Branded videos help with communicating messages, information, and your services, unlike any other way

3. Video Emails

Receiving a video email is not only impactful, but it shows the extra step you are willing to take to communicate effectively with your customer This is a great way to get a new customer familiar with you, what you do, and who you are from the very beginning

"Your superpower answers the question of how you can uniquely help your clients and what your solution is for them."

Here’s to having more clarity in your business and setting yourself up for greater success

Jeff Elder

Video emails are not only opened much more than traditional email (just words) but the message sent is understood and retained at a much higher rate. Video emails build trust and converts leads by getting you to face to face with a click of a button

Finally, make sure you share these videos on social media and on your website! Did you know that Google Favors Video Content? Videos keep users on your website or social media page longer and encourage your audience to visit different pages

By doing so, search engines like Google will pick up that your website is engaging and doing well. Because YouTube is owned by Google, your videos play a very important role in how you ’ re ranked in the search engines (Good time to get a You-Tube channel)

Video marketing continues to dominate the digital marketing scene With a constantly rising number of digital video viewers, employing videos in your marketing strategies is the ideal way to grow and leverage your business.

"There is nothing more powerful than having someone talk about how your product or service changed their lives, exceeded expectations, or helped them in a big way "

Tammy Hudson

SAY HELLO TO BLOGGING FOR BUSINESS!

by: Rhoda Israelov

Blogs (short for web logs), no longer new to the business marketplace, can play a key role in any savvy business marketing plan The goal - to "win search" by moving your business listing higher in ranking on the search engine pages That way, when potential customers (those you might never have met otherwise) are looking for your type of product or service, they see your blog, leading to your website When those web searchers read the very relevant information you've provided in your blog posts, at least some of them decide to stick around and do business with your company

About you:

As a business owner, you're always looking for new ways to introduce what you have to offer to new customers of the right kind (the kind of customer that has a need for, who will appreciate, and who can afford to pay for your services and products) That's exactly what having a corporate blog is designed to do. Having a business blog is your way of extending a personal invitation to online searchers to "come on in, meet us, and take a look at what we have to offer "

About blogging:

Your blog functions as a trade show booth Customers are at the "trade show" (online through a search engine), looking for some information or perhaps for a provider of a service or a product of the kind you offer. They arrive at your "booth", and when they read something that draws their interest (That's where the fresh and relevant content in your blog is so important ), they come inside the booth (meaning they "click-through" to your website), where you'll get the chance to find out more about them and help them find out more about you

Are you ready for business blogging?

You may have heard all the buzz about blogs, but you may be wondering if you need a new marketing initiative Your decision to start a corporate blog should be deliberate and strategic Here are two questions to ask yourself:

If you had only eight to ten words to describe why you're passionate about what you sell, what you know, or what you do, what would those words be?

(That's the message that needs to come across loud and clear in every blog post!)

Would you find you?

I challenge you to imagine someone seated at a home computer, navigating the Web on a laptopor a cell phone - at the corner coffee shop, or perhaps a business manager at work, searching for information about the kind of information, products, or services you have to offer.

(Remember, though, they've never heard your business name!)

About e-mail and blogging:

The email has been adopted by just about every business and organization to stay in touch with customers and constituents But you can't stay in touch with people you've never met and who don't know your name, and you can't email strangers without their permission (that would be illegal spamming!)

Blogging is the perfect complement to email as a marketing tool for the beginning of the customer relationship!

About Pay-per-Click online advertising:

There are basically two ways for your business to use the online search for customer acquisition: Pay-Per-Click advertising and blogs Blogging is part of organic search

A study by Marketing Sherpa found that as many as 99% of clicks on a search engine are on organic results, not on ads! Pay-Per-Click ads, designed to attract all the online searchers, end up winning only a very small percentage of search

Go ahead and try it, using the search terms you believe your potential customers would be likely to use - does your business show up?

"Your superpower answers the question of how you can uniquely help your clients and what your solution is for them."

BLOGGING - PAY PER CLIP?

Herbert Spencer, who died in 1903, was the engineer, philosopher, and psychologist who coined the phrase “survival of the fittest” (I’ll bet you thought Darwin made up that term – I know I thought so until I read the truth in The Book of General Ignorance.) An even more interesting detail I learned from the book is that Spencer was the inventor of paper clips, which were originally named Spencer’s Binding Pins

Most of us spend almost no time thinking about paper clips, but more than 11 billion of them are sold annually But since, as a professional writer, I do spend a lot of time thinking about marketing, and particularly blog marketing, I was struck by this amazing paper clip statistic: Of every 100,000 paper clips sold, only five are actually used to hold papers together! (Most paper clips end up like poker chips, pipe cleaners, safety pins, toothpicks, or just getting dropped, lost, or bent out of shape during awkward phone calls!)

A study by Marketing Sherpa found that as many as 99% of click-throughs on a search engine are on organic results, not on ads! Just as only a very small percentage of paper clips end up doing the job for which they were designed, Pay-Per-Click ads, designed to attract all the online searchers, end up winning only a very small percentage of search

Are you ready for business blogging?

The first step is to make sure your website is up to date, accessible, and refreshed Then add in your blog One thing I often find myself pointing out to business owners is that the navigation from the blog to the main website will be smoother and more direct if new "landing pages" are added to the website to match the different search term categories that attract searchers to the blog As a blogger, I become part of the company's marketing team, which, hopefully, includes a web designer and SEO expert

How much of your marketing time and budget should you invest?

Keep that 5/100,000 paper clip ratio in mind when it comes to prospects finding you through online search. There are basically two ways for your business to use the online search for customer acquisition: Pay-Per-Click advertising and blogs

Blogging is part of an “organic” search. In other words, the unpaid references that come up when a person types a keyword into a search engine, like Google or BING (The paidfor search results are part of the pay-per-click way to be found

Pay-per-click is okay, but here is something that is nothing short of profound

Make your decision a deliberate, well-informed, strategic one. Research what your competitors are doing Weigh all of the costs, both dollar costs for content writing, incremental SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and branding work related to the blog, and the time and opportunity costs. You need to set in place quality controls because your presence online represents your brand What Barbara Weaver Smith of Whale Hunters says about social media is oh-so-true about business blogging "Whether you participate, and how and when, are important strategic questions for your business "

As a professional writer focused solely on business blogging and composing website copy, all I can say is, "Amen!" 99,995 paper clips and 99 out of 100 clicks on blogs versus Pay-Per-Click ads. As Businessweek predicted all the way back in May, 2005, "Blogs will change your business!”

SALES AND MARKETING

PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT BUSINESS

by: James Minter

With over 21 million non-employer businesses, 5 million single established companies, and over 160,000 multi-established companies in the US (Business Registry), it might be a challenge to find the right business model that checks all the boxes regarding personal and professional goals as well as family time Entrepreneurs generally have three or four options to consider when pursuing a new business adventure - purchase an existing business, take over a family business, build their own business from the ground up, or buy a franchise

There are pros and cons for each business model with different levels of risk involved so how do you decide which business model to choose Is there a perfect business out there waiting for you? As with any potential lifechanging decision, weigh out the pros and cons of each business option Make a true comparison of a start-up vs buying an existing business vs buying a franchise Which model provides the best opportunity for you to accomplish your professional, personal, and financial goals? Which option provides the most family time Do you have an option to be a semi-absentee owner and manage operations for 20-25 hours per week?

Regardless of whether you buy an existing business, start your own business, or consider purchasing a franchise, it is highly recommended that you enlist legal counsel to review all legal documents and tax records to make sure everything is as advertised Two other great resources are the Small Business Administration – www.SBA.gov and Service Core of Retired Executives – www SCORE org These organizations provide lots of FREE resources and will assign a business mentor to you who can assist you with market research, business plans, finding funding, evaluating marketing and advertising goals, help with business name, domain name, business structure or restructuring, and provide ongoing support and training

What support systems do you have for customer support and operations? Are you able to evaluate the performance metrics of the business and review sales and revenue from documented records? These are just a few of the items to consider when looking to start or buy a business It’s helpful to have a business coach, consultant, or mentor by your side during the process

Market research and conversations with advisors will aide in the validation process throughout your journey in finding the perfect business Evaluate the competition, dive deep into the concept to see how it’s performing across the nation, every city is slightly different It’s good to have a passion for what you do just make sure it’s not the only factor you consider Running a profitable business that will help you reach your personal, professional, financial, and family goals is very important for long-term sustainability It ultimately determines the success of a business and whether or not it checks all the boxes in providing the lifestyle you desire.

James Minter

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL - YOU ARE TOO!

by: Adam Griggs

Do’s and Don’ts Coulda, Woulda, and Shoulda Regrets and reimaginations, rehash and reinvent

We spend so much time second-guessing ourselves and worrying about external outcomes or judgment that we are forgetting ourselves and our reasons for what we do

Getting into business is hard, building business is even harder and for so many of us keeping that momentum to stay in business seems even harder still

I get it, the struggle is real!

That statement seems to have never been so valid, with the constant changes in business, legal, environment, and technology. All of this paired with the new normal and navigating the uncertain seas of the “right way ” of doing business, seems more daunting than inviting

And yet….We find ourselves chasing the dream of business ownership even still

I’d like to let you in on a little secret You’re not alone

One simple word: Connection

Amidst the doomscrolling and negative news stories that seemed to pour out endlessly, drawing us into the black hole of fear and doubt, there was a small beacon of hope A light of consistent and positive messaging is being shared as a community of small business owners. It was that light, that confidence, and consistency that first drew us in and really dialed in on the connection

One of the most fundamental experiences I’ve ever had has been sharing in founding a community of contributors and leaders, creating and collaborating against the odds of a pandemic, supply and labor issues, inflation and skyrocketing costs I think we ’ re winning, and if you’ll humor me I’d like to share what I believe is the core reason why

Community is a hard thing to create, it sort of springs up around you and mirrors and moves with the energy of those around you People can seemingly always tell when you have ulterior motives, or when you are just going through the motions and doing what you are simply expected to do, all without any real passion or hope for the outcome beyond hitting that number, that milestone, or achieving that next accolade It gets lonely chasing validation through transactions, and yes business needs to create positive returns but to what cost?

When I was in school studying the psychology behind the human colloquium and the drive to find the meaning in decisions we held a discussion on the value of grief and perspective. Our teacher at the time shared with us a story, illustrated by a former student, about an interaction between Kermit the Frog and his now-passed creator Jim Henson Kermit found himself questioning his creator, feeling empty as if something was missing, and asked him why he never taught him to cry The message was powerful and hit me like a ton of bricks and resonates with me still today, you see without sharing the mishaps and

moments of drawdown we cannot truly learn from one another, we cannot find empathy and amidst it all, we have no way of truly enjoying those happy moments if there is no contrast. Without some of the bad, there cannot be good All of the best stories come with challenges, obstacles, and choices that are difficult but ultimately lead to success in the end.

It created a new level of connection and vulnerability that seemed to spring up all around us, seemingly out of nowhere

Somehow we had truly created a community

Business and life are meant to be a partnership, we all seek a balance that leads to a meaningful business lifestyle all our own.

Sharing in those struggles, giving in to new perspectives and shared opportunities allow others to feel committed to you while learning and building on their own internal passion for business.

The best return on investment is connection

We get asked often about the R O I on products and services

Have you ever really thought about what a “return on investment” really means to you and your business lifestyle?

During the past few years, we have watched amazing leaders spring up and take on the torch of hope and achievement

Sharing in the stories and messages are the committed members celebrating the wins in the moments that matter, together, building and bolstering connection

As the challenge to stay connected grew, the resilience and respect for the community strengthened and grew in response Leaders and advisors began sharing their stories, their moments, and believe it or not their obstacles and shortcomings

Seeing is believing after all, and if we were to only hear about the successes that come after the storm would the story be worth hearing and sharing with others at all let alone ourselves?

Sharing in the now, the moments of triumph paired with messages of resilience, adaptability, and overcoming obstacles more than resonated

The ability to leverage trust, the opportunity to give in to life and fulfillment while pursuing a passion, and more than that, the ability to create and be curious in business in a judgment-free zone The connection allows us the space to grow, learn, collaborate, and challenge ourselves to create a business lifestyle with meaning

From Shame-on to Game-on in business.

The struggle is real You are real Your dreams are real

We are all connected and it’s in those committed moments that we are simply one or two steps away from discovering our very own “possible”

Build your business lifestyle and don’t forget to take some friends with you, remember the best stories are those we can truly share together

Adam Griggs

"Getting into business is hard, building business is even harder and for so many of us keeping that momentum to stay in business seems even harder still."

CUTTING THROUGH THE ADVERTISING CLUTTER

by: James Minter

Business owners are constantly looking for effective ways to stand out from their competition Trying to get the word out about their products or services in a unique way on traditional and alternative media outlets. Many times, companies are working with limited resources or modest marketing and advertising budgets After surviving Covid-19, supply chain issues, and staff shortages, businesses are trying to get back to normal daily operations of engaging customers with marketing and advertising campaigns that promote their products and services Ideally, you want a branded message in front of your profile client or targeted audience, a minimum of twelve times per year but what is the best way to accomplish this?

Once established, your strategies may need to be adjusted to consistently reach your core audience

To effectively cut through the advertising clutter, your advertising campaigns need a balanced media mix and one that you can sustain for 6 to 16 weeks to accomplish your advertising and marketing goals Start with 2-3 media channels that you can dominate or be consistent with and then grow accordingly Your media mix is a comprehensive snapshot of all the media and promotional channels that you choose to advertise with to effectively reach your targeted audience with a professional message that stands out

When evaluating your profile client and targeted audience, do the research to better understand their behaviors and identify which media best serves your goals Make sure your message is consistent across all platforms and integrated with your website Identify media that will allow you to accomplish your goals and budget accordingly so you can support an extended campaign to promote your business One goal should be to become a top 3 choice for every potential customer considering your product or service in their moment of need.

The advertising landscape has drastically changed over the past decade with online banner ads, re-targeted ads, social influencers, new social media channels, and on-demand platforms As a result, when you establish your advertising goals, it requires a more sophisticated, more dynamic, and more holistic approach when addressing the 5m’s of advertising – mission, money, message, media, and measurement.

Consumers are more media savvy and therefore business owners need to identify the best outlets for reaching their audience

Knowing the key demographics of your target audience, their behaviors, and the preferred media outlets they engage with is a key to continued success Radio, network TV, cable, billboards, digital, print ads, social media, and dedicated promotions help build your brand and market share

If you ’ re working with an annual budget of $10K for marketing and advertising, don’t put all your eggs in one basket or blow your entire budget in 6 months. Allocate $150/mo for FB ads, $150/mo for digital/print media, $400/mo for wknd radio ads, $100/mo for local promotions, and $30/mo boost allowance for select online ads that perform well $830 X 12 = $9,960

Explore your options with local radio stations, network TV, cable, billboard companies, social media, online ads, and digital content providers Seek assistance from marketing and advertising agencies so you can make sure your message breaks through the advertising clutter

James Minter

REAL ESTATE

BUILDING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE THROUGH REAL ESTATE

by: Nickie Butcher

For many young adults, the idea of homeownership and building wealth seems scary and unattainable. Prices for almost all goods keep rising and the economic uncertainty in the world is becoming more prevalent, it’s no wonder why young adults feel this way but something needs to change There will always be opportunities to build a better future for yourself, you just need to get educated. Owning real estate is one of the best investments you can make

out a unit and building wealth through passive income This is just one of the many strategies for real estate investing.

Not everyone should buy a home, but if you can and have the desire to, why not? Things to consider when buying a house: can you afford it and are you comfortable with the decision? That is something only you can answer How long will you be in that area?

If you only plan on being in that area for a few years you may want to reconsider, unless you want to build your real estate portfolio, then you can keep that as a rental. Can you maintain the house? There will be upkeep costs throughout the years

One of the main concerns for young adults is the commitment to buying a house, some people see a 30-year mortgage and it terrifies them, but most homeowners only stay in their home for 7-10 years on average Plus, as I mentioned earlier, if you do have the desire to own real estate then you can make that property a rental.

Real estate is a great source to build your future and become financially free Did you know the average homeowner is about 40 times more wealthy than the average renter? When you rent, you are paying someone else’s mortgage down when you could be contributing that to your own wealth

Some real estate purchases can even have you living for free, or at least give you a huge discount on your monthly mortgage payment. Sounds like a dream, but it’s not, it’s called House Hacking House Hacking is where you can buy a multi-family property, a duplex for example, which is 2 units, you live on one side and rent out the other unit. This strategy will typically cover most, if not all of your mortgage, and the more units the better! House Hacking is a great strategy for firsttime home buyers because you can do this with as little as 3 5% down, you are starting your homeownership journey, and you are learning about real estate investing by renting

The main concern currently everyone has is the rising prices of real estate, they are waiting for the market to “crash” Keep in mind Columbus has many large corporations coming to the city which will bring many workers who will need housing, therefore driving up demand and prices. It all comes down to can you afford it and are you comfortable with the decision That is the most important factor

"There will always be opportunities to build a better future for yourself, you just need to get educated."

Nickie Butcher

LIFESTYLE

DESIGN YOUR PATH TO FREESTYLE LIVING

by: Kathy Binner

I was sitting at the red light saying a little prayer that the gas gauge would not suddenly register empty and that the engine would not sputter and choke to a stop “Turn green, turn green ” , I said to myself Not only was I almost out of gas, but I was going to be late to clock in. The gas gauge pointer was just above the big E I didn’t have time the night before to get gas – working two jobs was making me exhausted and it felt like this schedule was killing me Or at least killing my physical and mental health The only thing that kept me going was payday when the amounts on the two checks added together would pay the rent, the utilities, and the groceries

Don’t get me wrong, I liked my two jobs well enough One was in the office at an insurance agency and one was at the front desk of a local hotel checking in guests, hoping for promotion into hotel management I liked helping people and I liked the other staff It was just too many hours But I didn’t know how to stop.

After all, I needed the money I had no health insurance, and I was living payday to payday with no extra cash for emergencies I had a car that I couldn't keep running and even worse, I had no means to save toward retirement! But working hard was a virtue, wasn’t it?

How did they have the time, or the money, to walk in the park during everyone ’ s work day, to sit on a bench and not have a care in the world, to read the paper like the day is all their own, and to ride bikes on the beautiful bike paths that wind through the wooded park? Some folks were just lucky, I thought.

As I sat at the red light, I saw a young mom pushing her child in a stroller in the park on my right An older man was sitting on the park bench reading the paper, and a gal was speeding by on her bike Who were these people? Didn’t they have jobs?

I would love to be riding my bike. As a kid growing up out in the countryside, my friends and I would leave right after breakfast and ride our bikes on the country roads until dusk The rule was when the car ’ s headlights started coming on, it was time to be home. But now, I barely had time to sleep, shower, grab a bite, and get clocked in Sometimes, I would wake up and try to remember what job I was supposed to be dressing for And many times, I would drive too fast, and on empty, just to clock in on time.

There was no time to stop for gas this particular morning, or any morning for that matter Then at the end of the day, as a single mom, there was no one to pick up my daughter but me, and I needed to get home to get some sleep Bike riding wasn’t even on the list And apparently stopping for gas didn’t often make it on the list either

I felt guilty being away from my daughter for so many hours But what could I do? I knew I needed to make a change in my lifestyle or at least my work schedule But I told myself it wasn’t in the cards for me to have a life like that

Then something happened that changed my life forever. My mom sat me down and had a talk with me about 'getting on with it' meaning figuring out a way to make more money

I was crushed! Didn’t she see how hard I was working? Didn’t she see the hours I was putting in on these two jobs? She was even expecting me to work less! I had just received a promotion into management at my hotel job There was no way I could work fewer hours What could I do?

I needed to create passive income. Making money while you sleep has a beautiful ring to it, and that's the idea behind passive income

Most people think of income as something they have to do labor for, like going to work for a day and then getting paid

Passive income is money you earn even when you're not working It takes some investment of time, money, energy, or all three, but then the money just comes in, helping you pay off a student loan, dig out of credit card debt, save for retirement, or advance other personal finance goals

I decided to invest in real estate for my passive income. There are an endless variety of ways to invest in real estate, from taking out a home mortgage to building a property empire that spans the country

While the latter is probably out of reach for most of us, there’s no shortage of options Buying rental property is one of the oldest and most basic ways to invest in real estate I started by buying a condo for myself, then leveraging my equity to buy more investment properties

I was forever changed by the fact that I now had a plan for passive income and the freedom to live the lifestyle I always wanted. I could work fewer hours

I now saw myself in control, confident and a good provider for the first time ever! I saw myself as a business owner Much to my surprise, I received the Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award! and Then I received the Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Award

And that's why I knew I couldn't stop there I realized I needed to teach others how to do what I have done

I needed to make getting healthy and creating passive income even easier for others But how?

I wanted to help individuals and entrepreneurs just like you go from panic to passive income Plus have some fun getting healthy

This made me feel like there's so much more for me to do... I was just getting started!

For me, it all started with the concept of having total freedom having passive income and the ability to set the pace of my daily calendar and the overall direction of my life. I was done with racing between two jobs and being at the mercy of corporate owners and managers

What has changed for me, however, is the definition of total freedom. I learned early on that I didn’t just want freedom for the sake of freedom I wanted to do something with this newfound freedom I wanted to create things, challenge myself, and value exploring, growth, and learning

I want to be totally free with a goal, a project, a vision to pursue. Freedom is the opportunity to choose our own future, but we must choose

What I'd like you to take away from all this is no matter how tough things are, keep going, never stop learning and Simply Start to find Your Next Best Step to getting healthy, growing your passive income, and finally Freestyle Living!

And that girl on the bike today that’s me!

Kathy Binner

PRODUCTIVITY

TIME MANAGEMENT

by: Brittany Dixon

It’s a concept that most of us spend our entire adult lives trying to figure out. We all have the same 24 hours a day and 7 days a week It’s how we spend that time that makes a difference if we are hitting our goals and fulfilling our lives

I want to first introduce my Days By Design method This is a framework that I put together for myself, my students, and my clients to allow them to build businesses without burnout This method would also apply to someone who was in the workforce and not in entrepreneurship. You will want to come back to this framework each time you have shifts in your schedule and reevaluate these areas

Family

Weekly family board game night

Weekly family learning time

Financial

Saving % each month

Paying off debt

Fitness (Health, Exercise, Diet, Self Care)

Monthly spa day

Walking 3-5x per week

Friends (Relationships)

Monthly dinner with parents

Monthly dinner with siblings

Monthly girls night

Fun (Travel, Entertainment)

Plan 1 big trip per year

Plan 8 camping trips

Fulfillment (Personal Development & Growth)

Read 2 books per month (1 personal/1 business)

Listen to 1 podcast per week

Once you make a list of what is important to you, you need to block off time on your calendar for each of these things. Set those things on repeat and make sure you take the time to do them Putting the personal and lifestyle items on the calendar before business or work will ensure that you are taking care of yourself and not creating an environment for burnout.

Then I want to give you some actionable tips for adjusting your schedule when seasonal (or life shifts) happen

Lifestyle By Design

Most people design their days backward They fill the calendar with work and business appointments first, before blocking out time for family, self-care, personal development, relationships, and other lifestyle habits Doing this may seem like the way to go when you are building your professional career but it can be a recipe for disaster and burnout

I believe there are 6 Lifestyle Buckets that you should be blocking off time for. Make a list of 2-3 items in each of these categories that you want to be spending your time on Below are some examples:

Business (or Workforce) By Design

Now back to work How can we design our work schedule and calendar in a way that feels good? Where we have work/life balance

You will want to think about your big picture vision first You need a roadmap that you will follow in order to ensure you are reaching your goals and fulfilling what you want out of your life

What is your 3-year vision? Where do you want to go? What do you want your professional life to look like in 3 years If you own a business, what is your revenue, how many are on your team, and what products and services do you offer? If you work for someone, are you going for a promotion, will you be moving companies, and is your workday fulfilling?

What can you do in the next year, to help you get closer to your 3-year vision?

What projects or initiatives are you working on this year that you need to plan? How can you create a system to keep track of all of your tasks that need to be done for these projects?

Routines By Design

As humans, we thrive on routines Hints the reason for this article talking about tips for adjusting to the seasonal schedule shuffle

Here is an example list of routines that need to be set up as recurring events on your calendar Block out the time on a weekly basis so that you can be sure time is allotted to the things that are most important.

Morning routine

Evening routine

Journal time

Self-care time

Personal development time

Family activities

Vacations

Personal travel

Business travel

Weekly financial check-in

Administrative time

Weekly planning time

Fridays off

Weekends off

Ok, so you used the Days by Design method. You have crafted a schedule and calendar that fits your goals and lifestyle

When you are feeling overwhelmed with your schedule, look at these things:

Take a deep breath - grab a piece of paper and brain dump everything in your head

Review your calendar, does everything get you closer to your goals? Delete what doesn’t fit anymore

It’s ok to say no! Don’t feel guilty for protecting your boundaries and needs

Make sure you are adding buffer time before and after appointments - everything takes longer than it should to prepare for and wrap up

Color-code your calendar for personal vs business/professional You can plan your days better this way

Create a new schedule for that specific season - go through the Days by Design method and see what that looks like for this new season (For example during the summer - I cut out spa days because I do a lot of other self-care activities.)

Remember that this is a SEASON Things will go back to a normal rhythm

We all have the same 24 hours a day The way you design it and manage it will be the way you are able to reach big goals and dreams!!

And then, a seasonal shift, a lifestyle change, a drastic change or event happens, and everything that you just planned, changes.

I want to provide some actionable tips for shifting your schedule when things change This could be a shift to the summer schedule with the kids at home, the kids going back to school, a change to remote work, or anything else that disrupts the regular flow

"Putting the personal and lifestyle items on the calendar before business or work will ensure that you are taking care of yourself and not creating an environment for burnout."

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

WHAT IS HALOTHERAPY?

by: Leslie Dahn

Halotherapy (dry salt therapy) is where pharmaceutical-grade salt is ground and crushed into tiny microparticles These dry aerosol microparticles are then infused into the air of the salt cave

As individuals relax in the cave, the microparticles are inhaled, and the particles penetrate deep into the lungs to cleanse the respiratory system Salt particles are also absorbed by the body, aiding many skin conditions

Sinusitis

When suffering from sinusitis, the nasal passages are inflamed and swollen The salt particles open the passages, reduce infection, and reduce inflammation. This helps reduce the use of antibiotics for chronic sufferers of ear and sinus infections

Skin Issues

The salt particles help to reduce inflammation found in many skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne The salt is also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal so it cleanses the skin, allowing for more efficient healing

Detoxing

THE BENEFITS OF SALT THERAPY

Halotherapy is a holistic therapy, which is safe, and there are no side effects. Many people who visit our salt cave on a regular basis report finding relief from a variety of respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, common cold, bronchitis, COPD, and cystic fibrosis Dry salt therapy is very comforting to people who may have skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis The dry salt is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and helps with wound healing

We find that clients who do not suffer from any of the above-mentioned conditions find salt therapy very helpful for general wellness, as our lungs are so overwhelmed with a daily barrage of pollutants, bacteria, and allergens

Allergies and Asthma

Because the salt particles reduce inflammation, the nasal passage is thinned, allowing for improved drainage, opening the airways, and bringing relief to symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and runny nose

The dry salt is anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory These properties of salt help to release the toxic load in the body, allowing the body to release that which no longer serves it, and allowing the body to bring itself back in balance

Mental Wellness/Stress

Many of our clients love the fact that they can relax, breathe, and totally unplug from their daily stresses by visiting the salt cave This helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

Sleep

Our clients often mention how well they slept at night following their salt cave session Several folks who suffer from insomnia have reported that they slept well for even a few days after their salt session

FITNESS

3 TIPS TO MAKE ANY DIET WORK FOR YOU!

by: Logan Kaverman

Have you heard that fad diets and endless hours of cardio don’t help you lose fat? What if the truth is they do work?

I see a lot of coaches claiming that keto, weight watchers, low carb, or any other fad diet needs to be avoided like the plague. You yourself may have tried these diets and seen amazing results, or you may have tried them and fallen off after a few weeks or months This is why you hear all these fitness coaches saying, “fad diets don’t work”

But keto has been around since the 1920s. Now, back then it was to help reduce seizures in pediatric patients with epilepsy and the number of people using it for weight loss today is only increasing Weight Watchers (now WW) has been around since the 60s and has over $1 5 billion dollars in revenue, they wouldn’t have that revenue if it didn’t help SOME people lose weight Now, everyone is talking about their amazing results with the carnivore diet, the meat-only diet. Again, this diet has been around for millions of years but has grown in popularity not only to treat chronic diseases but for weight loss

However, the key thing is not to do just any diet, but the one that fits your lifestyle and helps promote healthy habits

You see, most people try to FORCE these diets into their life, rather than letting the diet FIT into their life If you ’ re anything like my clients, you have kids, you work, you own a business, you ’ re BUSY

My point is, If they didn’t work at all, if they didn’t serve some purpose or help some people, they wouldn’t be around at all They would have fizzled out and ceased to exist

In my almost decade of coaching (9 years to be exact), helping men and women lose hundreds (probably thousands at this point) of pounds and inches collectively I have seen time and time again that every diet CAN work

But not every diet will work for YOU The truth is, you can get amazing results within your first 4 weeks, losing fat and a few inches

How much time do you REALISTICALLY have each week? Consistency is the key to any longterm success A lot of people try to force their plan into their life (like mentioned above) and it only lasts for 1, 2, MAYBE 3 weeks. Look at your schedule, look at how much time you are WILLING to dedicate to your goals If you only have 1 hour a week, you can reach your goals, there are plenty of people that do so Your plan will just look different than someone with 5 hours a week

Depending on how many hours a week you have will determine how MUCH fuel you need. Someone working out 1 day a week will need to eat completely different that someone working out 5 days a week Again, both work, you just need to pick the right plan for YOUR goals and time

Here are some tips when choosing the right plan FOR you: 1 2 3

Depending on your time and how much fuel you need will determine your diet. Once you determine your time and the amount of food you need to eat, you can construct a diet plan that will fit seamlessly into your life and time, making staying on track MUCH easier

Now, if you follow these 3 things You know how much time you have, how much you need to eat, and what you need to eat for those goals There is no reason you can’t see amazing results in your first 4 weeks On average people in our 4-week Fit and Lean program lose 4-5lbs in their first 4 weeks, some even lose up to 10lbs This is why we can guarantee results in these 4 weeks because we follow these 3 rules

ENVIRONMENTAL

10 TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE ECO-FRIENDLY!

by: Esther Salata

Ever wonder how to be more sustainable in your yard and garden? In this post, I’ll go over 10 tips to make your yard a more eco-friendly place. Please note, that there are many more than 10 things you can do in your yard to make it more sustainable, these are just a few

1 Use natural pest control! Pesticides have long been known to have detrimental effects on both the environment and public health Using alternatives to the traditional chemically-laced products can help minimize your impact on the environment We suggest using Benesafe Solutions to combat fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes around your house It’s natural plant-based the formula makes it safe for pets, people, bees, birds, and the surrounding wildlife

BONUS: Benesafe is a local business here in Columbus!

2. Plant native plants. Provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds, and other animals Native plants are beneficial to have around your house because they are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. They usually do not require extra watering or maintenance

4 Rain Barrels are awesome. Not only do they look cool next to your house, but they are also very beneficial Harvesting rainwater is one of the simplest ways to make your yard green Harvested rainwater is used to water yards and gardens, thus reducing the amount of outdoor household water usage It also captures stormwater runoff from roofs and gutters, which prevents pollution from entering the water supply

5 Use alternative ways to power tools! Consider replacing your gas-powered lawn tools with battery or solar-powered models If there is an option to use a different method of powering your tool, invest in it!

3. Compost those scraps! Growing up, we always had a compost bin in the yard You can buy one, build one, or get one for free through your local solid waste district The compost keeps kitchen scraps out of landfills and enriches the soil. Not only does it reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, but compost also improves drainage, water retention, and soil texture Veggie and fruit scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, and yard waste are all fair game.

6. Hang a bird feeder in your yard. Not only is bird watching a fun pastime, birds also provide a natural way to control insects around your house

7. Hang a bat house on the side of your house or on a tree. One little brown bat can eat up to 1000 mosquito-sized insects per night Talk about natural insect control! Bats are one of my favorite animals 9 Pick up your dog poop! A common misconception or excuse people use is that poop is natural fertilizer (this is not true)

Dog waste is actually so high in nitrogen and phosphorus that it can have the opposite effect of fertilizer However, it’s worse than just nitrogen and phosphorus; dog waste is even more full of disease-causing bacteria and parasites than other types of waste

These bacteria and parasites are harmful to humans and spread disease to other dogs If you don’t pick up after your dog, you are putting other people and other dogs at risk of getting sick. It can even burn your lawn if you don’t pick it up Waste also causes all sorts of issues for local watersheds, but that’s a blog post for another day!

10 Instead of using concrete, consider a pervious concrete pavement. Pervious pavement or porous concrete allows runoff to seep into the ground, reducing stormwater runoff If you are looking to lay a slab of concrete around your house, consider using previous concrete instead of the traditional kind

Take steps today to make a more eco-friendly yard, the birds, bees, and wildlife will thank you!

Esther Salata

NETWORKING

Ok, I’m going in!

Wait a minute!

I can’t do it!

Anxiety got a grip!

I peek inside

As I slowly pull the door handle

Feels like it weighs 1,000 tons!

INTROVERTED NETWORKER

by: Laron Henderson

Ok, I’m going in, a 5-minute countdown!

Breathing heavily letting out a long sigh

Turn this frown upside down!

Go inside with eyes that light up the room

Smile just as bright

My hands shaking nervously

Like I need the strength of Incredible Hulk to open

You’ve been through this before

You already know what’s in store!

Everyone wishing to make a sale

Different event, same stale conversation

“Who are you, what do you do”

“This is who I am and what I do”

Listening to each sales pitch, while mine dismissed

You know the one you rehearsed for hours

Staring in the reflection in the mirror

Practicing your pitch to perfection!

These things, always make me so nervous

I’m just so introverted

How am I’m going to network?

They say it determines your net worth!

Alas, I just collected another business card

Just to rest on my desk, never to be called

Why do I keep falling for this?

It’s just to hard!

Putting myself through such misery

You’ve heard it all before, but maybe, just maybe this one won’t be difficult

Maybe it’ll just be a little bit different

Get over your sense of fear, you don’t want to keep being stuck for years

You want to grow your business, don’t you?

Well get out there and give it your best shot!

I know, I’ll just go in and be a wall flower!

Na, I can’t do that, I must devour my fear!

Who knows, maybe you’ll make a new friend!

Get over my past failures!

Remember the confidence you had staring in the mirror! Be the reflection of the man you saw! Don’t b

Itching from perspiration

Uncontrollably shaking

Tip toeing in, one step at a time! Secretly hoping no one notices me!

Smiling on the outside

Silently screaming inside

“Hi, my name is”

As someone approached me

I reply the same my name is Laron!

Nice to meet you, my eyes rolling inside! Here comes the sales presentation

Whispering to myself

I go to do mine, but the hesitation is just too great Then a guy named Chris comes on the mic!

“I’m here to help you make a new friend tonight!”

Wow, my nerves turn into excitement!

“We not going to talk about business but find out what someone ’ s interested in!”

Geez, that won’t be so hard!

“Do it in 5 mins! Go!”

This is going better than I hoped!

I no longer want to hang myself by a rope!

I can actually talk, not make a fool of myself! That helps out a lot!

This is a new tool I can use!

Let’s see how this goes

Maybe I can meet a new friend or two!

Something I’ve never been able to do previously! I made a connection with a guy who’s similar to me! We talked about building gaming PC’s!

My expectations are exceeded!

I can also make recommendations for his business!

Just by talking about similar interests! This event was heaven-sent! For the first time, I felt alive in my entrepreneurship! Now I see in this networking thing, I can succeed!

Laron Henderson

HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OVER COMPARISON AND CONNECT LIKE A PRO

by: Renee Vidor

Why the heck am I here?!”

The question echoed loudly in my mind with every hand I awkwardly shook in the crowded room feeling like a loser A friend had talked me into going to a networking event so I could meet new people and grow my business but I wanted nothing more than to shrink into a corner and say nothing at all Or, better yet, leave

I wasn’t alone. Ironically, I later learned that some people I was comparing myself to at that event were actually uncomfortable as well and were comparing themselves with me, too! It’s natural for humans to allow Comparison to take control over their minds, but we can change!

I eventually learned how to take back control over comparison in my life so I could connect like a pro and you can, too, with this simple 3step process that I call the ‘WIN Method”:

#1. “W” - Weigh Your Cost.

At the time, I was an independent contractor for a health and wellness direct sales company Even though I had confidence in the products I sold, I lacked confidence in myself

Everywhere I turned I saw people who looked successful, sounded professional, and who I just knew were making great money and appeared to have it all together

Then there was me: A young mom who had no clue how to dress for success (what does ‘business casual’ mean, anyway?), who sounded like an idiot with each elevator pitch I attempted to deliver, and who barely made any sense at all, let alone dollars There’s no way I could measure up to these confident professionals, so why even try?

That evening I left without any great connections While I’d love to blame it on everyone else for being ‘ so much better than me ’ , the truth is, I was so self-absorbed and busy comparing myself to others that there was no way for me to create space for genuine connection

Ask yourself what it’s costing you when you allow Comparison to put your focus on yourself Most likely it’s costing you potential relationships like friendships and business clients, which means it’s also costing you joy and even chances for financial increase It also is giving you the negative outcome of stress and anxiety (we get enough of this already!). As you continue to weigh the cost, you’ll find there are not really any positive outcomes that could come from handing Comparison control over your mind

#2. “I” - Innovate Your Identity.

When your goal is to establish and cultivate a genuine connection with other people, in order to be successful, you first need to know who you really are You see, no one can connect with a fake person wearing a mask of accolades, job titles, or roles They want to see that you ’ re a real human being that is imperfect and relatable.

They also will be attracted to the ways that you ’ ve been gifted to serve others Though these gifts are part of your unique personality, most people fail to truly get to know themselves well enough to take inventory of the amazing person they were created to be because they’re too busy looking around at everyone else Perhaps consider investing in yourself through a coach who can help you determine the truth about who you really are and what you have to offer others as you seek out authentic connections

Another simple navigation step is to offer genuine compliments In fact, if you sense that icky feeling of comparison or competition, you can lessen the intimidation by genuinely (and appropriately) complimenting them about the very aspect that makes you feel threatened

This tip can result in a sense of freedom for you and encouragement for your new connection. Remember when doing this to always lift others up yet never put yourself or someone else down

Comparison cannot be eradicated. It will continue to attempt to take control of your thoughts and it’s inevitable that you will not win every single battle for control But take it from me, a recovering Comparaholic: The more you practice this 3-step WIN Method while being who you were created to be and get to know and serve the individuals you are designed to have an authentic connection with, you’ll naturally begin connecting like a pro in whatever situation you find yourself in

That voice still reverberates in my head to this day, but it asks a different question:

#3. “N” - Navigate Your Journey.

Once you know who you are and your Innovated Identity, you’ll have a better understanding of what you ’ re looking for and the kinds of connections that make sense to pursue (not only for your benefit but the benefit you’ll be able to bring to others as well) One way to navigate with these people is to learn about them and find common ground Ask questions or conversation starters such as, “What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?”, “Tell me more about the important people in your life”, and, “What are some of the struggles you ’ ve been encountering recently?” (and then see how you might be able to add value or serve them

“Who can I connect with and serve?”

"No one can connect with a fake person wearing a mask of accolades, job titles, or roles. They want to see that you ’ re a real human being that is imperfect and relatable "

Renee Vidor

NETWORKING IS LIKE CHEATING AT POKER

by: Chris Borja

Many people conduct their business networking like they are playing poker, a winlose proposition

Proper networking is a lot more like “cheating” at the game of poker!

Let me explain

Imagine for a second, a table of five poker players They all confidently lean over their chips, doing their best to look as unemotional as possible They glance across the table at each of the other players, reading them to get a feel for how strong their cards are

The first objective in the game of poker is to have the best hand

The second objective is to maximize the winnings from that hand. The key to Poker is betting, because the game, at its heart, is a game of chip management This often involves elements of “bluffing ”

Someone with a good hand may pretend not to have a good hand, and those with a poor hand will oftentimes pretend or try to give off signs that they do have a good hand !

The reason why this is the case is that in the game of poker, there is only one winner in the end ONE person wins the whole pot, and everyone else loses! It’s a win-lose proposition

Here is how networking is different from that scenario. When done properly, it should be a win-win proposition all the time!

Imagine another poker table with five different players

At this new table, the players didn’t know the #1 rule (only ONE winner), they forgot that you ’ re not allowed to look at one another’s cards, and they weren’t aware of the rule that says you aren’t allowed to exchange cards!

So they proceed to look at their five cards and realize that they’re each missing a few select cards to complete a higher hand Because they don’t realize they can’t exchange cards they all decide to put their cards face up

Rather than wearing dark sunglasses and trying to fool each other into thinking they have a better hand, they look at each other's cards and each other and exchange cards to improve their hands Can you already see a big difference?

You see, what is happening is that they are collaborating instead of competing with one another.

Good networking is collaborating It’s about sharing and exchanging resources It’s about helping other players to get a better hand It’s not about who has the highest hand, it's about the fact that everyone is a resource to someone else

By collaborating, everyone improves their hand

An additional benefit is that they are working to serve one another. They will have better relationships than those that are competing, the ones who have bad feelings because only one can ever come out the winner

In this situation, everyone comes out a winner because they all had a better hand after trading with one another than they did when they started.

Let’s transition this over into the business world

Instead of everyone looking out for their own business, their own needs, and their own priorities, what would happen if they focused on those in their community?

In the game of poker, the worst hand is to have one of each different type of card, each in a different suit But each one of those cards, while worthless to that player, may be the final piece of the puzzle for other players to complete their three-of-a-kind, flush, or even a royal flush Working together everyone can and will benefit

When we are out networking, we all have those cards that may not seem as important to us in that they may not be our clients or customers But they may be good clients or customers who can make a huge difference for somebody else; who knows it might be their next multimillion-dollar contract!

Now let’s imagine for example that you did help somebody else to complete their royal flush Can you imagine how thankful they would be for you having shared that resource with them? Can you imagine what they could possibly do for you in showing appreciation? Do you think they could ever forget about you for the rest of their life?

What will likely happen is they will look for any and every opportunity to reciprocate that favor Actively looking for ways to be able to share their resources with you to help you to have a better hand

So the next time you go out and network think about how true networking is like cheating at cards

Chris Borja

A LUCRATIVE NETWORKING SUCCESS FROM 0-60MPH IN SECONDS…

by: Chaz Freutel

You have probably attended many networking events But did you ever get a multi-million business from one of them? I did. Here’s my story:

Because I coach soccer in the evenings, I typically don’t attend many evening events But one night in April 2019, I had an opening I attended a DANG (Dublin Area Networking Group) networking event hosted by Chris Borja at The Dublin Entrepreneurial Center (affectionately known as the DEC)

As usual, I knew many of the attendees but at least half were new faces I don’t remember how many I connected with on LinkedIn that evening, but I’ll never forget a certain young OSU sophomore who also was a graduate of Olentangy Liberty High School. Little did I know we would become future partners and operate four-car businesses

Ani Venkatakrishnan owned a car detail business His first client recommended he attend a DANG event to help build new connections. Ani’s passion was contagious. I immediately clicked with him through our shared interest in cars We scheduled a time for him to come to my home and detail a family Corvette I inherited I watched and listened for

Some months later, my brother, Doug, and I traveled south to visit family We hatched an exciting idea: find a couple of older, used cars we would enjoy working on, then flip them and keep working our way up to cars we really wanted Since we grew up in a Corvette family and raced at the former Powell Speedway (yes, Powell used to have a racetrack), it made sense.

After finding our first set of cars, I reconnected with Ani Would he be willing to help detail our cars when we wanted to resell them? He agreed He also told me he had filed with the state of Ohio to obtain a dealer license That was great news because he could also help us secure our next cars

exciting idea: find a couple of older, used cars we would enjoy working on, then flip them and keep working our way up to cars we really wanted Since we grew up in a Corvette family and raced at the former Powell Speedway (yes, Powell used to have a racetrack), it made sense

immediately introduced us to a close friend d car buff, Sath Lingan, a Dublin Scioto High hool, and OSU grad Sath had been in the car siness longer and had previously partnered with other DEC tenant to rent exotic cars and arted a previous dealership

Things started to speed up, then! Doug and I helped raise an initial $173K in early 2020 to get Ani’s dealership started And Lux Auto Depot in Powell, Ohio, was born Lux will sell approximately 390 cars and trucks through 2022, with total revenue of over $7MM

In mid-2020 we launched We Buy Cars America (WBCA) for wholesaling vehicles Since May 2021 Doug and I have raised over $8MM for WBCA and will finish 2022 with well over $80MM in sales We also have an exotic car rental business, mainly in Florida, which will bring in over $6MM in 2022 And we just launched We Find Cars America to help car shoppers find the right car they’re searching for, even if not currently in Lux inventory

That’s $100MM in projected aggregate revenue in 2022 all starting from a connection at a networking event Thank You, Chris Borja, DANG (now Connected Networking Group), and all those great connections I’ve had the pleasure to meet!

Chaz Freutel

CONNECTED UPCOMING EVENTS

If you are looking to expand your network, but cold-calling and cold-pitching your products or services isn’t your thing, you’ll love the community that we ’ ve created! Come and join us for a warm and engaging evening of networking with the CONNECTED Networking Group!

Want to meet and network with local business and community leaders in a whole new way? Join us for a delicious meal and a fun meeting with other community members and our online participants too!

One of the secrets to building relationships and creating networking success is the “One to One Coffee Meeting!” But many find themselves challenged with coordinating schedules, locations, and being consistent at this activity That’s why the CONNECTED CAFÉ was created! Join like-minded business owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and service-oriented people for Coffee Meetings from the comfort of your home or office!

Build your network fun and productive way! Whether you are a new or seasoned networker, you'll feel welcome from the time you arrive and leave energized with all of your new connections!

There are plenty of networking events during the early morning hours, lunch hour, and even after-hours! But until now, there’s never been anything for the Night Owls! The CONNECTED Networking Group is pleased to bring you a unique night of fun with Night Owl Networking

TESTIMONIALS

I attended my first CONNECTED gathering in 2017. I have met so many wonderful people that I now call friends. It was here that I learned that networking isn't about selling to the folks in the room, but building relationships that are supportive

This is the best business networking group to join whether you have a business, looking to grow a business, are wanting to build confidence in yourself as a business owner, or just wanting to gain better business relationships.

First off, the CONNECTED community is AMAZING, I'm fresh out of highschool and felt very welcome at the events. Everyone gets to speak their piece, not only that but I learn so much from the group and its members, I'd highly recommend to anyone to attend an event

I have met so many people as a result of this group, and have experienced personal and business growth as a result. Even for this natural introvert, the Connected events are both fun and helpful, and Chris and his team are always intentional about creating space for making new connections.

I recently joined this group. Today I participated in their Connected Café, their virtual networking meeting It was an wonderful experience and I can't wait for the next one.

This group transformed my life personally and in business by providing numerous opportunities to grow physically, mentally, successfully in business growth and even spiritually amongst the believers!

Susan Zartman

Danielle Bernock

Timothy Rohr

India Riley

Lisa Stroth

Ronnie Robinson, Jr.

THE FOUNDERS

Belinda Borja Chris Borja

Belinda is co-founder of CONNECTED Networking Group and Borja Virtual!

She has helped grow a community of over 8,500 business leaders with her desire to support others in achieving their goals

As a Co-Founder of Borja Virtual, she helped non-profit organizations and conference organizers generate over $2,000,000 through their events in the last 2 years alone

Belinda’s most recent venture is in her role as VR Fitness Queen where she helps people who don’t enjoy traditional exercise to get in shape with an Oculus headset and a supportive community

Chris is an award-winning Speaker, Trainer, and Consultant on the topic of Business Networking

He is the Founder of Become a Better Networker, LLC, Founder of the CONNECTED Networking Group, CEO of Borja Virtual, and the Author of the upcoming book, “Networking Essentials for Success: A 7-Step Journey to Achieve your Goals Through Authentic Relationships and Connected Communities”

For the first 37 years of his life, Chris suffered from extreme shyness, introversion, and a fear of social settings

Now that he has overcome those challenges, Chris is on a mission to create better networkers, stronger businesses, and connected communities in the real and virtual world!

THE LEADERSHIP TEAM

James Minter

CommunityLeader

CONNECTEDNetworkingGroup

Columbus,OH

Ivra Basset

CommunityLeader

CONNECTEDNetworkingGroup

Cleveland,OH

Jeffrey Schultheis

CommunityLeader

CONNECTEDNetworkingGroup

Mansfield,OH

Ronnie Robinson Jr.

CommunityLeader

CONNECTEDNetworkingGroup

Tampa,FL

Cyndy Keller

CommunityLeader

CONNECTEDNetworkingGroup

CarsonCity,NV

THE 2022 CONNECTED AMBASSADORS

Owner, CLARAfi

We are a software platform creating an ecosystem of communication between small business owners and their advisors Set Track Manage Goals and Collaborate in realtime

520-409-0548 adam@clarafi io www clarafi io

AVP Operations, Riverside Bank of Dublin

Amanda s banking career spans over 20 years with experience in retail mortgage treasury management and operations

614-482-1300 astarkey@riverside bank www riverside bank

Owner, The Crystal Ballroom Dance Center

The Crystal Ballroom Columbus offers a variety of styles of dance Connect with the music people and the entire dance community through private lessons classes parties & events

614-505-8698 info@crystalballroomcolumbus com www crystalballroomcolumbus com

Owner, Stoltz Memorials

Helping Ohio families honor the memory of their loved ones with memorial packages that will leave a lasting legacy Specializing in upright stones & memorial benches

614-414-3411 stoltzmemorialsllc@gmail com www stoltzmemorials com

My mission is to help our planet by repurposing cans and containers through our handpoured candle collection line! A portion of each sale goes back to animal rescue groups

614-600-7729 rrcandles2@gmail com www rrcandles com

Fast Pace was born at the intersection of style and comfortability Fitness is a gateway to feeling good Fast Pace is a gateway to looking good while creating a healthy lifestyle

937-212-4397 briannalowe957@gmail com www.thepaceclothing.com

I am a Podcaster Business Strategist and Productivity Coach I help highly driven visionary entrepreneurs be more Productive and Profitable with my Program Hustle to Flow and my VIP Intensives

740-506-4033 brittany@bcohq co www bcohq co

614-256-9953 carinadayvo@gmail com www linkedin com/in/carinadayvo

over 40 in their wellness to finding the healthy, vibrant woman hiding under the tired, stressed out, emotionally drained, “uniform” she’s used to wearing

Adam Griggs

Amanda Starkey

Amy Ross

Ashlin Stoltz

Brenda Refice

THE 2022 CONNECTED AMBASSADORS

Through Powerful Prophetic Consultations and Dynamic Coaching I strengthen encourage and comfort Kingdom Leaders in FUN CREATIVE and UNIQUE ways so they can consistently thrive in their lives

614-579-8923

com

Realtor with over 10 years of experience at Red 1 Realty Using Center for Managing Change’s (CMC’s) unique Business Triad© you can get a clear read on your situation and work to bring it under control

740-417-3665 eric4short@gmail.com www.eric4short.com

614-226-1333 payment@ctrchg com www ctrchg com

We create an experience that takes you away from the predictable, and into the exciting We'll help you find unexpected encounters and personal experiences that would never have been discovered

181-093-77740 iptalytravel@gmail com www iptalyluxurytravel com

We create an experience that takes you away from the predictable, and into the exciting We'll help you find unexpected encounters and personal experiences that would never have been discovered

614-517-4251

henry.grad.duren@gmail.com www.hdshottaproductions.com

Pulse is a powerful CRM and marketing automation tool that brings consistency and real-time reporting to businesses which helps companies grow smarter and faster

800-719-4281

jason@pointspeakmarketing com www.thepulsespot.com

Wellness Educator Life Coach, Juice Plus+ and Tower Gardens

Henry partners with Juice Plus+ and Tower Gardens to educate, empower, and equip people of all ages, to make informed decisions about eating food for function and take their health to the next level

614-906-1519

henrylee juiceplus@gmail com www henrylee juiceplus com/us/en

India is a business banker who specializes in helping businesses accelerate cash flow grow revenue and provide tools and resources to protect your business from fraud

614-900-0191 rileyindia@icloud com www pnc com

Owner of Buckeye Media Services a multimedia marketing and advertising agency Franchise broker & consultant for FranNet Columbuswww FranNetColumbus com

614-374-3341 jamesm@buckeyemediaservices com www buckeyemediaservices com

Jeff is a coach and speaker who helps Christian coaches gain clarity and focus around their business so they can maximize their income, freedom, and impact

jeff@jeffreyelder com

www jeffreyelder com

I have been in the promotional marketing business for over 20 years and my mission is to help you stand out, get noticed and make a lasting impression so that your clients customers and prospects contact "you" when they need your product or service

614-760-0026

jeffwass@yahoo com

www jawenterprises net

Caregiver USA offers a wide range of in-home healthcare services to best suit you and your family's needs

614-408-9939

info@caregiverusa com

www caregiverusa com

Eric Milisavljevich Realtor, Red 1 Realty

Gary Monti CEO, Center for Change

Gayle Hurst Owner, IPTALY Luxury Travel

Henry Ga-Fai Lee

India Riley Business Banker, PNC Bank Business Banker

C. Minter CEO/Owner , Buckeye Media Services / FranNet Columbus

Jason Case Founder, Pulse Technology

Jeff Elder

Henry Duren III Hdshottaproductions

Eric J. Watts

THE 2022 CONNECTED AMBASSADORS

We are a business consulting and IT infrastructure services company focusing on business continuity and security

joe@missionctrl us www missionctrl us

Loquantor, Inc

Businesses struggle with their communication systems Loquantur is a platform that empowers clients

614-582-1061 sales@loquantur com www calendly com/loquantur/initialconsultation

A fun social booth where you add entertainment to your private party, corporate event, school, wedding, fundraiser etc We capture the memories of your event for you to remember forever

614-636-5663

booking@theesocialbooth com

www theesocialbooth com

614-656-2173

info@celebratingone.org

www.celebratingone.org

We offer high quality consumable products Green, clean, vegan, etc Household, personal care, plant based vitamins & supplements, skincare & cosmetics, sports nutrition and water & air purification

513-400-8402

lehmanteam5k@gmail com

www amway com/en US/myshop/all thingsnew

Keith Sharick assists home Buyers and Sellers across central Ohio His business focuses on ensuring a positive experience for his clients and not just a positive transaction

614-390-9317

keithsharick howardhanna com www keithsharick howardhanna com

Fitness and Nutrition Coach, Adapt Fitness and Nutrition

Make Your Life Entertaining is the next generation in entertainment software where you can curate your entertainment experience with just a few taps It’s free easy-to-use and when you ’ re looking for things to do places to go and food to eat “Just MYLE It!”

614-494-0090

kevin lloyd@myle com

www myle com

Leslie is a seasoned entrepreneur She owns and operates Tranquility Salt Cave for 5 5 years, helping clients to cleanse their respiratory system and to relax and breathe

614-859-3419

energyandwellness@yahoo com

www tranquilitysaltcave com

PAINT WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU WANT - The place to create!

Paint on CANVAS, CERAMICS, WOOD, AND MORE!

614-929-5417

lisa.lofland@brushcrazy.com or lori giffin@brushcrazy com www brushcrazy com

Logan is a fitness and nutrition coach that helps clients achieve pain-free results through movement, nutrition, and lifestyle changes

567-259-9015

logan@adaptfitnesstraining.com www.adaptfitnesstraining.com

I am a Woman of God, Veteran, Online Notary, Author, Public Speaker, Life Coach and Nonprofit Consultant I am also a Widow, Mother, Grandmother and 2x Breast Cancer Survivor

614-805-1253

Mary@thecoccares.org

www.thecoccares.org

Mat, a CMA and a licensed CPA, founded F&M CPA LLC to help individuals and small businesses owners save money on taxes and maintain accurate accounting books and records

614-214-2760

mpiamonte@fmcpallc com

www fmcpallc com

Promoting empathy through human connection and celebration

Jon Pantone Founder, Thee Social Booth

Jurgita Fumo Founder, Celebrating One

Karl & Jen Lehman Owners, All Things New

Keith Sharick

Realtor, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

Kevin Lloyd Founder, MYLE

Leslie Dahn Owner, Tranquility Salt Cave

Lisa Lofland and Lori Giffin Owners, Brush Crazy

Logan Kaverman

Mary Jenkins Executive Director, Cancer Option Collaborative (The COC)

Mat Marlon Piamonte, CPA, CMA Owner/Principal & CEO, F&M CPA LLC

Joe Kim President, Mission Control US, LLC

John Farhat

Owner / Founder,

THE 2022 CONNECTED AMBASSADORS

We help Individuals Families and Businesses attain better value while also possibly lowering their monthly expenses on the services they already have and use every single day

740-877-6066

michaelgriffin66@yahoo com

mikegriffin acnibo com

We offer world-class digital marketing services to our clients Our services focus on increasing website traffic, boosting product sales, and aiding business growth

michael@marketsmartmediagroup com www marketsmartmediagroup com

Mr Biz® is a strategic business partner who helps business owners run their companies more profitably & more efficiently 3x bestselling author, an awardwinning radio host & 6x World Record holder

614-962-7CFO ken@mrbizsolutions com www mrbizsolutions com

Nevin is Chairman of Small Biz Cares and serves on the BBB Board Nevin has been recognized as a Columbus CEO Future 50 member and a Smart50 awardee He has an MBA from OSU

614-484-7329

nevin bansal@smallbizcares org www smallbizcares org

Owner, M G Remodeling

Nickie helps clients buy sell and invest in Real Estate Nickie educates her clients on the process from start to finish and uses her marketing and negotiation skills to achieve her clients' goals

937-838-0284

nickie@yoderbarnhartteam com www nickiebutcher howardhanna com

At the Say It For You blogging and content writing company Rhoda and her team of writers create content for blogs brochures and websites for B2B and B2C clients

317-250-3569

Rhoda@sayitforyou.net www.sayitforyou.net

Noé has 10 years of experience in renovations of kitchen, basements, bathrooms, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electric, deck, patios, paint and more 614-715-0817 noe@mg-remodeling com www.mg-remodeling.com

We design websites that drive relevant traffic, increase on-site engagement and generate higher conversions Let's work together to grow your business

614-915-4563 pat@otwebdesigns com www otwebdesigns com

LLC

Philip is a Certified Professional Photo Organizer and owner of PSG Photo Solutions LLC He enjoys helping people get their printed photos, digital images, and family movies back into their lives

617-706-1785

philip@psgphotosolutions.com www psgphotosolutions com

Dublin Nutrition

Roland Manny, Nutritional Entrepreneur and life coach His knowledge and passion for nutrition coupled with his ability to help people shift their thinking has made him an international success

Ronaldmanny360@gmail com

The Brenner Real Estate Team serves clients in residential commercial luxury investment land new builds development and vacation rentals

740-816-9339

sara@brenner realestate

www brenner realestate

We are two servant hearted best friends who are Automobile Sales Professionals Our main focus is on giving our customers an enjoyable and respectful buying experience

847-456-6051

shakenbakeauto1130@gmail com

www facebook com/ShakeNBakeAuto

Mr Biz® Ken Wentworth Founder, Mr Biz Solutions

Nevin Bansal Executive Director, Small Biz Cares

Nickie Butcher Realtor, Howard Hanna Real Estate

Noe Mendiola

Patrick Tuure CEO Out There Web Designs

Philip Griffith Owner, PSG Photo Solutions,

Rhoda Israelov Owner/President, Say It For You

Roland Manny

Owner,

Sara Marie Brenner Broker Brenner Real Estate Team @ Red One Realty

Scott Musil Sales Professional, Shake n Bake Auto

Michael Griffin Independent Business Owner, ACN

Michael Mott

Owner, Market Smart Media Group

THE 2022 CONNECTED AMBASSADORS

Stephanie is proud to work at Syntero, a leading behavioral health care organization that has provided compassionate professional expert counseling and community-based services in Central Ohio for more than 40 years

614-301-5645 sjursek@syntero org www syntero org

We focus on estate planning, estate administration (probate) business law, and real estate We are also in the process of starting a title company named Capstone Title & Closing, LLC

614-321-2422 steve@reese legal www reese legal

Susan has experienced life transformation through healthier living She has a passion for helping others do the same through providing coaching, systems, and accountability

937-409-0554 zmusique@sbcglobal net www gethealthywithz com

Financial power couple specializing in investments, insurance, debt elimination and mortgages Complimentary financial analysis available to best serve you NMLS: 2190809 OH License#: MLO-OH 2190809

419-296-9185 walls.taylorf@primerica.com www primerica com/taylorfwalls

Founder / President, Cannabis Safety First

Founder, African United Foundation, Inc

I am a mother of 3 adult children and I have been married to my husband Drew for 31 years I love Jesus, my family and all animals I have been in real estate for over 15 years

614-288-1009

terri lawson@e-merge com www theresalawson e-merge com

As a Safety and Security Specialist Tim founded Cannabis Safety First to provide services to the Ohio Medical Cannabis Program

614-736-1861

timj cannabisafetyfirst@gmail com www cannabissafetyfirst com

African United Foundation supports tuition payments for traditional and vocational education for African children and adults

614-260-0007 williamnkemson@yahoo com www facebook com/africanunitedf oundationinc

Susan Zartman Owner/Coach, Get Healthy with Z

Taylor & Brooke Walls Financial Services Representatives, Primerica Financial Services

Terri Lawson Realtor, E-Merge Realty

William Esemu Nkemson

Tim Johnson

Stephanie Jursek Dublin Older Adult Program Specialist, Syntero, Inc

Steve Reese

Owner, Reese Law Firm, LLC

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

BUSINESS DIRECTORY