Today's Black Executive - October 2019

BECOME A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

ENTREPRENEUR TECHNOLOGY

$5.99 US - $6.99 CANADA

FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION KEY TASK

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Chapter Three Tip Sheet: Focus Your Attention How Do I Concentrate While I’m Working On Key Tasks?

By Laura Stack, MBA, CSP

1. Explore the possibility of telecommuting if you can't escape the distractions in your office.

2. Don't allow people to hold conversations outside your cubicle or office door.

Politely but firmly shoo them away so you can get your work done, and don’t worry about what they think.

3. Stop multitasking. It just dilutes your attention and fools you into thinking you’re productive, when you're really just busy.

4. If you break down a large task into subtasks in order to overcome procrastination, make sure you set deadlines and internal milestones for each of the subtasks, and track them carefully.

5. Rather than let perfectionism paralyze you, get to work and figure out the details as you go along.

6. If you ever find yourself thinking you can't possibly accomplish a task, challenge that negative self-talk instantly with the facts.

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Chapter Three Tip Sheet: Focus Your Attention How Do I Concentrate While I’m Working On Key Tasks? Continued‌

By Laura Stack, MBA, CSP

7. Turn off your electronic devices before you attend client meetings. It's too easy to let electronics distract you when you absolutely need to focus on face time.

8. If you don't already have a voice recorder app on your smartphone, get one so you can capture ideas as they occur to you.

9. When working, listen only to music you're thoroughly familiar with.

Otherwise, you'll focus too much on the music and not your work.

10. You needn't become a social pariah just because you'd rather work than socialize. Consider arranging social outings outside of work hours so you can stay in touch with your coworkers.

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“I love playing with Norman because he allows musicians to bring their experience to the table and be their musical selves.”

Ignatius Mason

2020 GRAMMY NOMINEE

By Tonya Elaine “Mr. Weeks has been on the forefront of Gospel Music for 50 years.” Russell Lyles “Norman is an incredible keyboard player, teacher, and producer!” Tom Newman

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I recently had the great honor of sitting down and sharing a meal with, age defying songwriter and musical genius an icon of legendary status Norman Weeks a 2020 Nominee for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Even though I’m certain that Dr. Norman Weeks is apprised of his own status and accomplishments I felt it necessary to commemorate and thank him for providing us with this exclusive interview.

I want you to know as a reader that this is not his first Grammy nomination. Dr. Weeks was nominated in 1986. As I interviewed him, I realized that I am in the midst of greatness. His accomplishments are astonishing to hear and to read.

Norman Weeks, is currently working on his 6th jazz cd and in 2016 fifth jazz cd featuring members of the former company named Philadelphia International Records and paying tribute to writers McFadden and Whitehead and Eric Benet. Norman has 40 videos and 5 CDs that are presently being played in 26 different countries.

In 2012 Norman played at the White House for the White House Day of Prayer for our Nation. He recorded his fourth jazz cd in 2010 entitled “Normans Dream” where he paid tribute to Sam and Dave, Earl Hagen (writer of the song The Fishing Pond which is the theme song to the Andy Griffith Show). Dr. Weeks back in 2009 recorded his third jazz cd entitled “Raising the Standards” where he paid tribute to Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, The Carpenters, and the Righteous Brothers.

Norman Weeks also recorded in 2007 a second jazz cd entitled “The Spirit of Jazz II” and in 2006 recorded his first jazz CD entitled “The Spirit of Jazz.”

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NORMAN WEEKS “Kindhearted, unselfish, and a gifted professional artist and musical instructor.

-Trinita Lattimore

Other highlights for Dr. Weeks is that in 2001 he served as the State Minister of Music for the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship under the leadership of the late Bishop Ricardo Brent. Norman had the honor of being the Lead Musician for the Community Action Group where he was the first African American to play for former President Bush's Faith Base Initiative.

Listen, the list could go on and on this musical legend has taught music in DC Public Schools, Pastored, studied Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary, and in 1986 Norman Weeks was nominated for his first Grammy as a writer for the gospel play entitled, The Prophecy Fulfilled.

Please join us here at Today’s Black Executive Magazine as we celebrate the Man and Legend Norman Weeks.

The 2020 62nd Annual Grammy Awards awards will be broadcast live from LA's Staples Center on Sunday, Jan. 26th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

“Mr. Norman Weeks can make a Piano sing. He’s been mastering his skill for many years… kudos to him any Certificate of Recognition would be in order…”

Robin Bailey Contact Mr. Norman Weeks - Email: Llkeys@aol.com or (301) 512-3157

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Merriweather Global Ministries Proud to Partner to Stop The Violence!

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As a small business owner, you face many challenges.

From stiff competition for customers to getting your name out there in a crowded marketplace and of course, balancing your budget, there's always something new that needs your attention.

Investing in technology can help alleviate many of the concerns your small business faces, but if not approached properly, a tech investment can open your company up to an entirely new set of problems. With that in mind, this article takes a strategic look at some of the most common technology problems small business owners face and provides you with tips to tackle them, and get back to running and growing your business to be everything you imagined.

Challenge 1: Finding the right technology The technology offerings available in today's market have grown exponentially. That's good news for your business but it can also make finding the right solution for your needs more challenging.

3 TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM

By TG

To solve this problem, focus on tried-and-true methods.

Read reviews, pay attention to professional reports and listen to what experts are saying on social media. You can also speak to current and former colleagues to learn more about what types of systems they utilize.

And if you need comprehensive support beyond those options, you can also partner with a technology advisor to outfit your business with the appropriate solutions. The right partner prioritizes and determines the necessary solutions that build a foundation for current growth and future innovation. Dell Small Business advisors, for example, are available to answer your questions and offer you advice, no matter the size of your company. Engage the team in a live chat on Dell's Small Business website to find the right solution for your needs.

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Challenge 2: Solving the money issue The financial implication of every decision is always a focal point for any small business, but this is especially true when it comes to your technology spend.

After all, as technology improves, businesses need to know they are purchasing tech that will support their needs for as long as possible, helping them to remain relevant. In fact, a recent study from SMB Group found 72 percent of respondents felt that using new technology effectively is key to the company's survival and growth.

Partnering with an established small business advisor - as discussed above - can deliver on this need, but you can also ensure you're using the latest tech by opting to utilize leasing solutions. Instead of buying in particular cases, leasing allows you to maintain the competitive advantage cutting-edge technology provides you at a fraction of the cost. And, when your lease ends, it's easy to move on to the next solution.

Challenge 3: Integrating a new solution with your existing systems When you add a new employee to your staff there's always a certain gelling period. The same is true with new technology. It isn't always a given that a new solution will integrate with your older existing systems.

Therefore, this digital transformation challenge is one many small businesses face. According to the same SMB Group study, only 21 percent of small businesses strongly agree that they have a well-defined strategy for digital transformation. To help simplify transformation in your company, Dell business laptops, such as Latitude and Vostro, include a variety of connection ports, enabling them to work with more of your existing systems and streamline your company's integration needs as much as possible.

Finding solutions to your small business's technology needs today In today's highly competitive market, your small business can't afford to ignore any potential advantage. While many of these are tied to technology, you don't have to let concern over making the wrong decision bar you from exploring your options. Apply the tips above and don't be afraid to seek professional advice.

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Become a Virtual Assistant

By Tenkva Many companies hire virtual assistants to help with daily tasks.

Search online want ads for virtual assistant openings. Or, pitch your services to online business owners to get started.

My friend Kayla is a freelance virtual assistant, and she earns $10,000 per month. She’s even started an online course called $10k VA to help others do the same.

Business owners need you They need your help to manage the day-to-day details that they don't have the time, knowledge, or desire to do.

They want to hire you because they don't want to worry about overseeing every single thing you do. They need someone they can trust to get the job done. Although some training will be needed in most cases (as every client is different), getting paid to learn is one of my favorite things about being a VA. Over the course of $10K VA, you'll learn how to find jobs that pay you what you deserve and clients who treat you with respect.

TENKVA.COM

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SIMPLISAFE.COM Photo Credit/Google Photos 18

Brand Your Business with Toll Free Number By voxbaysolutions

With any business, branding is a major factor for success. Because brand name sells itself. The thing common with all brands, irrespective of industry, is observed from the quality of customer serv...

With any business, branding is a major factor for success. Because brand name sells itself. The thing common with all brands, irrespective of industry, is observed from the quality of customer service they deliver.

And the first point of customer service is delivered from the point a customer contacts your business.

One thing every big brand has in common is providing their customers with the facility to contact them without having to worry about the hefty call charges which come along with them. Big brands want to reach out to customers in the smoothest way possible. And thus, having their own business toll free number is one important aspect they never want to miss out. Toll Free Forwarding service has advanced call management features, like call routing based on your business hours and hours of your business, and personalization of your greetings and touch-tone call menus. You can record calls, receive voicemail over email, and view realtime information about calls made to your phone numbers via our cloud-based service.

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Brand Your Business with Toll Free Number By voxbaysolutions continued…

What is Toll Free number?

•A toll-free telephone number or free phone number is a telephone number that is billed for all arriving calls instead of incurring charges to the originating telephone subscriber.

For the calling party, a call to a toll-free number from a landline is free of charge.

•Let’s understand how these toll-free numbers are good for business who are looking to brand and promote these numbers.

•National Presence •Toll free number allows a business to establish a national presence. These numbers allow a business to have one number across the country. The area code of incoming calls helps route the call to the right branch. Having the same number provides authenticity and reliability in the eyes of customers.

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Brand Your Business with Toll Free Number continued‌ By voxbaysolutions

Portability A big advantage of the toll free number is that it is portable. Once a business buys a toll free number, it becomes the owner of that toll free number. Just like cell-phone numbers, a toll free number can be ported to a different carrier. Once purchased a toll free number becomes a part of the business assets.

Flexible Routing to Remote Locations At times, businesses require call routing to remote locations. This is easily done with tollfree numbers. A business can route calls made at their toll-free number to any remote landline or mobile number. Most vendors provide routing service free of cost.

Your Number Is Your Marketing Tool A toll-free number can be more than just a number. With vanity numbers in play, one can use toll-free as a marketing tool of their business. This can be done in multiple ways.

Netflix used a toll-free number to share clues for the upcoming season of stranger things.

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Brand Your Business with Toll Free Number continued‌ Improved Customer Satisfaction Toll-free numbers provide improved customer satisfaction. When customers don’t have to pay for queries regarding the business, they feel valued. This adds loyalty in customer relations, increasing customer retention rates.

Easy Setup and Maintenance The time required to set up a toll-free number is usually in hours. Once set up, a toll-free number is quite easy to maintain. With an uptime of more than 99.9%, a toll-free number hardly ever face issues. Especially cloud-based toll-free numbers. Since these are managed at data centers, every care is taken to ensure continuous operation.

Reduced Expenditure The biggest advantage for businesses looking to become brands lies in how they can save from using toll-free numbers. After all, feasibility is the heart and soul of any service. Toll-free numbers greatly reduce the requirement of agents in the business. Incorporated with Interactive Voice Response, toll-free numbers are quite capable of handling all inbound calls.

Since IVR can solve most queries by itself, a business gets to employ its manpower only when an operator indulgence becomes a must.

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Photo Credit/Google Photos

Make More Money Now By Increasing Your Income

By T. Williams

FLIP MERCHANDISE Can you recognize a good deal when you see one? Then, consider buying merchandise to resell on eBay. Or, try other sites like Amazon. Garage sales and thrift stores are full of obscure items. Often, people don’t know how valuable they are. Therefore, they sell them for less than what they’re worth. As a result, you can buy them for a discount and make a large profit.

Take advantage of these amazing deals. Use them to earn some money by reselling the items online.

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Start Selling Crafts Online Today

If you like to make things with your hands, then this might be up your alley. Etsy is a good place to sell those handmade crafts you’re so good at making.

My wife buys all sorts of things on Etsy such as customized stickers and shirts, etc.

This is a great way to sell physical products. To make the most money, follow these two tips: Make your product unique find a DIY craft marketplace that reaches your ideal buyer.

WELLKEPTWALLET.COM/SELLING-CRAFTS-ONLINE 27

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How Women Business Owners Cracked The Glass Ceiling

By S. Storm

(BPT) - Today there are nearly 12 million women-owned small businesses in the United

States that generate almost $1.7 trillion in revenues. But 30 years ago, it wasn't the same story - these business owners' financial futures could have been out of their hands due to sexist lending practices, incomplete government data and limited advocacy on their behalf.

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Photo Credit/Google Photos In 1988, women owned just 4.1 million businesses in the U.S - which may have been partially because acquiring financing was so difficult. Up until 1988, lenders could require women business owners seeking financing to have a male cosigner. This shocking and unfair practice made it difficult for women business owners to get the funding they needed to grow - limiting their ability to do everything from open a new location to make payroll or even just refinance other debt.

That all changed with the passage of H.R. 5050, also known as the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988. This legislation is considered a landmark for women in business, changing the landscape of business financing for women in the United States forever.

H.R. 5050 went on to shape the future of women and business in three critical ways:

It banned lenders from requiring a male cosigner.

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How Women Business Owners Cracked The Glass Ceiling continued‌

By S. Storm

One of the many witnesses to the H.R. 5050 hearings was a woman who didn't have a husband, father or brother available - so she had to ask her 17-year-old son to cosign a business loan for her, which sadly was not an unusual story. By making this practice illegal, the bill helped level the playing field for women in business.

It created the National Women's Business Council.

This council was established as an independent and nonpartisan federal advisory council.

Today, it advises on issues of impact and interest to women business owners by providing data and research to the White House, Congress, the Small Business Administration and the public.

Merriweather Global Ministries It required the U.S. census to track women-owned C-corporations when reporting data.

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In the 1980s, the Small Business Administration released a report that claimed

almost all women-owned businesses were home-based and had sales of under $10,000 per year - largely because data to the contrary wasn't available. Knowing this to be a factually misleading report, the National Association of Women Business Owners' thenpresident, Gillian Rudd, held a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to publicly call out the misguided report, which kicked off the call for H.R. 5050. With the belief that knowledge is power, this bill mandated that the government collect more complete information on the state of women-owned businesses.

Together, these pillars helped pave the road for women business owners - and over the past 15 years alone, women-owned enterprises have grown 1.5 times faster than other small enterprises. Access to capital is crucial for any business, and this legislation helped evolve long-outdated practices and beliefs that unfairly favored men. In recent years, online lending platforms like Funding Circle are helping to create opportunities for all.

There still may be miles to go in continuing to equalize credit opportunity for everyone, but this significant step in women's business history is surely worthy of celebration.

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