VMH Magazine - August/September 2015

VMH

Sandra Bland

What Really Happened to Her?

A VIKKI M. HANKINS MAGAZINE!

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Seek Solitude

HAIR +: WORLD LAUDED Hairdresser &

Not Just Meditation

Educator

SHARON BLAIN

Branding=Reputation Does it Matter for Small Business? g! n i h T ight

R e h t ing

Do y b tory

en

os R s i r Har

is H g n Maki

August/September 2015

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Ryan Prentiss Photography ryanpren ss.com 22 | FINESUCCESSMAG.COM

ryanprentiss.com

A GIRL SHOULD BE TWO THINGS ____________________

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Photo Credit: istock © soup__studio

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Overcoming the Frustration of Finding Quality/Fashionable Shoes - Patryce Curtis “Experiencing continued frustration about the lack of larger shoe sizes, one woman decided to do something about. ’Women should not only look good but feel good in their shoes as well.’”

By Morgan Amos!

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“I not only wanted to help women look their best but wanted CoolStylz to be a Boutique with a Purpose.” !

Founded by Jacquel Tucker, CoolStylz boutique uses a great portion of it’s sales to fulfill a need amongst rural communities in Jamaica.

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Learning to Seek Solitude, Not Just Meditation, For Important Decisions It relieves stress. It helps prepare us mentally for a dreaded encounter or a high stakes meeting.

It tunes out the incessant distractions.

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By Edward G. Brown!

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The 5th Annual Dare 2 Aspire Conference - “Getting to Strong” Dare 2 Aspire was created from a desire to see everyday people fulfill their God given purpose in life. Join us for candid discussions on starting and growing your small business. The event was an opportunity to hear and learn from experienced and proven business leaders.

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By Vikki Hankins!

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Eating fish twice a week is a great way to improve your heart health!

If fish isn’t already a regular part of your diet, do your heart a favor and try a serving once a week, preferably twice. - American Heart Association 4

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Sandra Bland, What Really Happened to Her? Sandra Bland was found dead in a jail cell after a minor traffic stop, after moving to Texas from Chicago to start a new job. After her arrest, she was later found dead in her jail cell. Police said that she had hanged herself.

By Garry Jones!

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Harris Rosen Making History Through Respect, Purpose and Doing the Right Thing

by Vikki Hankins Harris Rosen is an American Jewish businessman and investor. He founded Rosen Hotels & Resorts in 1974, and serves as the company's President and Chief Operating Officer. Rosen began his career at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City as a convention salesman. He continued with the Hilton Hotel Corporation occupying various management positions in some of the larger Hilton hotels.

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The Shifting Sands of Employee Motivation According to 10 years of Gallup Poll data, a full 80% of the workforce is at least somewhat engaged. Leaders and supervisors now must focus on practices that 1) get employees to competence and Autonomy quickly, 2) aid employee efforts to achieve Mastery and 3) continuously instill a sense of Purpose in the work being done.

By William M. Dann!

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“Get going. Move forward. Aim High. Plan a takeoff. Don't just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won't happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.”

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-Donald Trump Harris Rosen Rosen Hotels & Resorts 5

Publisher!

VMH Vikki M. Hankins Editor-in-Chief Vikki Hankins Assistant Director Garry Jones!

Journalist/Contributors Vikki Hankins Morgan Amos Garry Jones

SHARON BLAIN

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World Acclaimed Long Hair Educational Specialist at:

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Club Intrigue: On the Road !

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Contributors (Visiting) Edward G. Brown William M. Dann

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Photography Vikki Hankins Garry Jones Alisha Davis Sherman Hankins

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Media Assistant Alisha Davis

Cover Photographer: Garry Jones Cover Fashion: Teyxo Fashions

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Follow Us

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“I know women have a lot of questions about their feet. So, I wanted to include a component we call Podiatrist Corner.”!

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By Morgan Amos

Attempting to find a quality pair of shoes can sometimes be difficult, especially if you wear a larger shoe size. Looking to help eliminate the stress of searching for a nice, comfortable, and affordable pair of shoes is Patryce Curtis. Curtis is the founder of the online company Superb Couture Footwear.

With no knowledge about the footwear industry, Curtis decided to take a risk and create her own company, which she explained was completely out of necessity. “I was always frustrated with going into the store and never finding my size,” she said.

Curtis, who wears between a 10 or 11 size shoe, started her business in December of last year from the ground up, having no prior knowledge of how to gain entry into the business, as well as no inside contacts who she could rely on for assistance. She conducted a lot of online research over the course of several months and even attended classes.

“I researched what was required to start an online footwear business, went to different development centers and attended the classes they had where I learned how to start your business, setting up your structure, whether you want to be a proprietorship or a corporation, and I also took a marketing class where I learned how to market your business, as well as identifying your customer base,” she said. Curtis also had the opportunity to speak directly with a business development center director in Atlanta regarding information about having your own business.

Every piece of information Curtis obtained was insightful. So much so, that it helped her to better define her target audience, which she decided would be women who wear larger shoe sizes, and range from ages 25 to 54. While she’s not opposed to creating a shoe line for men and children, she shared that it will definitely happen at a later date, and knows and understands that in order to keep her business thriving that she will have to offer her product to different populations. Curtis promises her customers quality footwear, but even with this, some may still wonder what distinguishes her line from others in this industry. But worry not, because Curtis has the answer. “I didn’t just want to sell footwear,” she said. “I wanted to have that educational component, and I know women have a lot of questions about their feet. So, I

Patryce Curtis - Owner Superb Couture Footwear

Photo Courtesy: Patryce Curtis

wanted to include a component we call Podiatrist Corner,” she explained. The Podiatrist Corner as Curtis explained, is a variety of information regarding anything you may want to find out about your feet, and they also have a podiatrist on hand to answer any questions you may have.

“I know from my research, there is no other online retailer that I know of that has that component, and I think that’s what makes us unique, makes us stand out” she expressed. Taking uniqueness one step further, Curtis has also included a line of foot care products consisting of foot creams, scrubs, and a scrubber.

She has a lot of ideas on how she can continue and 8

said that she definitely looks forward to not only having a men and children’s line, but she also looks to open up another online store approximately five years from now.

“I would like to have my own shoe line and really design a shoe that’s fashionable and healthy for the feet. Also, sometimes we have a shoe and we don’t know what outfit to wear with it, and I struggle with that myself sometimes.

I want to be able to help women and show them,” she said. She also would like to highlight some new designers on her site as well, along with working with a non-profit organization that works with helping individuals with their foot care. Curtis prides herself on making sure her shoes are quality material and shared that even if you have to spend a little extra on your shoes, it’s worth it because caring for your feet is important. “We look for leather, suede, we look for those materials we know are of good quality, and so we screen them and if we feel like they are not of good quality, we don’t sell them. We want to let women know that if you wear a quality product, and even if you pay a bit more for it now, it will benefit you in the end,” she said.

But just as Curtis has a love for her shoe business, she also has a love and passion for research and evaluations. In fact, she’s a consultant in this field and has over 15 years of experience. “I enjoy what I do,” she said.

“I love science, I love health, and it was a natural evolution for me and something I love to do. It was something I knew I could do.” As a research and

evaluator, Curtis helps people evaluate their business or program by collecting data to see if their business or program is successful within its overall goal or intent, and if it’s not successful how she can work with these individuals in getting their business or program where it needs to be.

However, as much as she enjoys this line of work (she’s working full-time both as a research and evaluator and with Superb Couture Footwear), she is passionate about developing more as an entrepreneur with her business, and encourages everyone to follow their dreams.

“I love helping other people achieve their goals. You should follow your dreams, and you have to eliminate that fear that sometimes holds us back from accomplishing what we want to do,” she expressed. “Especially women because we always have so many responsibilities that we feel like it’s not enough time to do what we want. You have to make time for those things you want to do.”

As for someone interested in starting their own business, Curtis left this advice, “It’s not going to happen overnight. It takes perseverance, dedication, and you have to take that first step. When I first started my business, I knew nothing about the footwear industry; Superb Couture Footwear is an online retailer focusing on women, and we want to educate and inspire women to be all they can be, and somehow telling my story can inspire women to go out and live their dream. Visit: www.superbfootwear.com to learn more.

SUPERB COUTURE FOOTWEAR Shoes that make a statement.

Premiere Designer Shoes www.superbfootwear.com

www.superbfootwear.com

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am e r ur D o Y ving i L Yo u e r A

Photo: @istock

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A PURPOSED BOUTIQUE

!! !CoolStylz is an online boutique with a mission in mind.

By Vikki Hankins

Founded by Jacquel Tucker, the boutique uses a great portion of it’s sales to fulfill a need amongst rural communities in Jamaica. After growing up with very humble beginnings, Tucker found a away to give back.

Here’s what she had to say:

!VMH: Thank you for speaking with VMH Magazine.

Tell me a little about yourself and why the interest in fashion.

!JT: I am from a rural community in Jamaica and was

awarded an academic scholarship to the University of Maine in the early 90s. As a result of this and so many other opportunities that I have been given, I am currently the Director of Sales at a Hotel in Buckhead, the Owner of CoolStylz and Founder of The Jamaica Project USA. Fashion has always been a big part of my life, personally and professionally. I have always loved classy trendy fashion with clean lines.

!VMH: So you have this online fashion boutique called CoolStylz, by the way I love your logo; what is CoolStylz?

!JT: Thank You! CoolStylz in an online Boutique Store

with fun, fresh fashions for the cool, classy woman. I found myself shopping at brick and mortar stores less over time especially because of the Atlanta traffic. Let’s face it, we are all way busier than we would like.

CoolStylz provides women with the opportunity to shop unique fashions online at their own leisure in whatever atmosphere that is convenient for them.

!VMH: There are a number of online clothing boutiques

throughout the country; what makes your boutique different from others?

!JT: We are a boutique with a purpose. Another big

reason for creating this online store is that I wanted to use some of the profits to make a difference by giving back to rural communities in the island of Jamaica. In the process we want to inspire women to feel their best whether purchasing their clothes from our Online Boutique or CoolStylz donating clothing to women in rural communities in Jamaica.

course, our other goal is to help women look their best in a cool, classy way and inspire confidence in women.

!VMH: What is The Jamaica Project USA? !JT: My husband Shun Tucker and I started The Jamaica

Project USA which is a cause dedicated to providing basic necessities to rural communities in Jamaica while sharing the love of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to provide educational resources to the younger generation, offer career counseling and job placement assistance to young adults, provide basic healthcare to the community and overall assistance to the elderly who are no longer able to work. Email us at wecare@thejamaicaprojectusa.com to get involved in impacting lives or visit us at www.thejamaicaprojectusa.org.

!VMH:

Why the interest in helping families without clean water, foods with nutritional value, and educational tools?

!JT: These are conditions I can relate to. I grew up in a

very rural community called Higgins Land in St. Ann Jamaica. Not much has changed with the living conditions in this community and so many others there.

We are all called to a higher purpose and God’s purpose for my life is using my relationships and resources to give back to these communities that so desperately need it.

!VMH: Regarding CoolStylz, what are the general sizes of your garments and which products do you offer? !JT: We carry sizes small – xlarge in dresses, tops, skirts, pants, rompers and jumpsuits. We also carry fashion accessories such as earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

Gift certificates are also available for purchase.

!VMH: Can we expect fashion shows and/or charitable events from CoolStylz? !JT: Certainly. In the future we will be hosting fashion shows/mixers/networking events in support of The Jamaica Project USA. We hope to have our first by the end of this year so like our Facebook page CoolStylz Online Boutique or join our CoolStylz Club at www.coolstylz.com to receive updates on events, sales & new inventory.

!VMH: What is your ultimate goal for CoolStylz? !JT: CoolStylz is the vehicle behind The Jamaica Project USA so the success of CoolStylz translates into success as well for this charitable cause. We will be able to give back even more to rural communities in Jamaica. Of

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CareGivers 911

Taking Care of Those Taking Care of Others

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Photos Courtesy of CareGivers911

CareGivers 911, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by Aliyah "Mama Pain" Najm to provide programs, services, and an outlet to those who take care of others (also known as "caregivers"). Our mission is to assist, inspire, encourage, motivate and educate individuals responsible for the care of individuals with terminal or life-long illnesses.

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CareGivers 911’s goal is to provide support and assistance to those who are serving as caregivers for family members, friends, or someone else. A caregiver is an individual, more than likely a family member or friend, who is unpaid and taking care of a disabled individual by providing help for that individual with their activities of daily living. To learn more of support CareGivers911 visit: caregivers911.org

CareGivers911 Team

CEO/Founder, Aliyah 'Mama Pain' Najm & Son ’T-Pain’

CareGivers911 Support

Seek Solitude, Not Just Meditation, For Important Decisions

By Edward G. Brown

Author, Edward G. Brown

As a devoted practitioner of meditation, I understand how it brilliantly serves the purposes of relaxation and renewal, and it has the advantage of being practicable anytime and anywhere. It relieves stress. It helps prepare us mentally for a dreaded encounter or a high stakes meeting. It tunes out the incessant distractions. Tethered to always-on devices, addicted to social media, and ensconced in ever less private workspaces, we find ourselves battling to keep our minds on our chosen topic.

Meditation helps us stay in the moment.

But there’s another equally powerful practice that should more often go hand in hand with meditation. I’m talking about seeking solitude.

Solitude could use some better PR. These days most people seem to dread being alone. Maybe they worry they will appear friendless. Maybe they conflate alone with loneliness. Or maybe they are simply habituated to the distraction of others.

So they flee from solitude when they would do well to seek it out. Sometimes there is simply no substitute for being alone with one’s thoughts. For secluding oneself for the sole purpose of arriving at an important decision undisturbed by the endless stream of arbitrary, uninvited data that assails us in our hyper-connected lives.

The last thing you want to do in those situations is exactly what many do. Frustrated by the dilemma or

embarrassed by their indecision, they just pick a course.

Go with their gut. Throw a Hail Mary pass as far down the field as they can and then turn back to the distraction of the moment.

Lord knows I sympathize. As a business founder, teacher, consultant, author, and father, I’m continually looked to for decisions big and small. The temptation is to deliver one on demand – not to dither but come out confidently with a firm, “THIS is what we’ll do.”

That is fine for a lot of day to day decisions. But more significant decisions simply can’t be made without withdrawing from the fray. Is it time to quit your job?

Should you blow the whistle on some malfeasance? Is it time to fire this person? Is this relationship a healthy one? Surgery or not?

When you face decisions like that, “being in the moment” doesn’t help you delve into these questions. Instead you want to deliberately and systematically set aside the present moment to think through future matters (the potential outcomes of your possible decision) and past matters (your experience in similar situations and how they turned out). Can I bear losing my work friends if I blow the whistle? Have I given this person, who supports a young family, all the chances I can to succeed here?

What if the surgery leaves me worse off? Am I the flawed one in this relationship? !14

You need to confront yourself. Just the two of you, alone, where you can focal lock – that is, train your mind on the big decision. Once secluded, you can perform what I call “Meditative Relaxercising” practices to keep your mind relaxed. I don’t think of solitude as a vacuum but as a sumptuous place where I can bring together my training in meditation, yoga, and mental hygiene. I’ve written about having survived a desperate period of claustrophobic confinement by drawing on hatha yoga – a holistic form of yoga that encompasses discipline, posture, purification, gestures, breathing, and meditation – and Ujjayi breathing, a type of Pranayama breathing that brings bliss. I embrace my Quiet Time as a poet embraces a muse.

And isn’t that what these momentous decisions need? A little bliss and a generous muse? You don’t want your solitude to be just a silent, sterile place where you coolly select one option or the other. You want it to enrich your options.

When you marry meditation to solitude, you free your mind to consider solutions that you hadn’t entertained before.

Look, I’m not saying every important decision requires a half day off or a solitary hike or a retreat to Walden Pond.

Maybe you are confronted by consequential decisions all day long, and you’d soon run out of PTO before you ever took a vacation. In such cases, you still don’t want to Hail Mary your decision, nor count on a meditative mind to provide the answer. But what you can do is use the Psychological Martial Arts that I wrote about in my book to still the outside world and create the illusion of seclusion, so that you can focus on the questions at hand.

By all means, cultivate your meditative practices. But don’t short yourself or those around you when you have momentous decisions to make. Embrace solitude with meditation and let them lead you.

Edward G. Brown is the author of The Time Bandit Solution: Recovering Stolen Time You Never Knew You Had and co-founder of the #1 firm in culture change management consulting and training for the financial services industry, Cohen Brown Management Group. For more information, please visit, www.timebanditsolution.com <http:// www.timebanditsolution.com> and www.cohenbrown.com <http://www.cohenbrown.com> and connect with Mr. Brown on Twitter, @EdwardGBrown.

Teyxo Fashions

Custom Made Elegance www.teyxo.com

5th Annual Dare 2 Aspire Conference For Women & Momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s In Business

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Photography Highlights by VMH Magazine

Healthy Menu

Tosi Ufodike (Event Organizer) & Khadiyah (Speaker)

Tosi Ufodike w/Elayna Fernandez-The Positive Mom

R&B Artist, Syleena Johnson Delivers Powerful Speech

Having Fun Modeling

Actress Victoria Rowell Shares Historical Insight

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Talking with Tami' Giving Advice

Erin & Jenny of Hold Your Haunches as Seen on Shark Tank Panelist Discuss a Number of Topics on Business

ABC Vision

Light Jazz

By Vikki Hankins

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Branding is a necessary part of Publisher, Vikki Hankins any business. It differentiates you, your products, and/or services from the next product or service.

Branding builds a certain expectation of a company. If people know you are reliable, professional and punctual, generally they come to form an expectation; if you build a strong fullproof brand your serPhotography by Garry Jones! vice/products or even Dress by: Teyxo Fashions ‘you’ will be selected over the next. With that said, branding ties directly into sales and marketing.

!So how does a small business or person build a brand? I

!4 !5

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did it and so can you! I created my own unique brand.

And, although I run a very, very small business I take great pride in my work and the brand I have created. Over the years I have compiled a list of branding techniques that I continue to draw upon to help build and grow my brand.

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Care: I care about the well-being of any business owner that reaches out to me. I think genuine care is the catalyst to brand building. Usually people can discern whether you’re out for a quick buck or if you’re truly working to strengthen and maintain a company or product.

Love What You Do: I love my work! There are times when I’m completely consumed with my work because of my passion, joy, and fulfillment of a finished product. If you love what you do, everything that follows ‘flows’. There is no strain in what you do for others. There’s been several times when clients, or even strangers clearly see my love for my work.

Professionalism: I cannot emphasize this enough.

I pride on professionalism; treating customers with dignity and respect. Old fashioned principles help in this area. If a customer only has $50 for a $5000 service, do not demoralize them. There is a way to share your price expectation without crushing selfesteem. Such things as punctuality, returning phone calls, answering emails, interacting with people all play a role in professionalism. When answering phones or returning calls, put some ‘joy’ in your voice and pay attention to what’s being

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said. I am a talker so this is a challenge for me, but to offer a service, at some point I have to “be quiet” and listen.

Quality: My skills have developed over the years and continue to develop as I learn more about me and my natural abilities, but each phase of my growth came with quality. I produce quality products for my level and my lane. I don’t place Sony, Lionsgate, or Warner Bros. expectations on myself; I work with what I have.

Graphics/Logos: It is important to identify yourself via graphics. One of the things that I found difficult over the years was for me to get to a place of using one graphic/logo that identifies my work.

This challenge stemmed from the never-ending development of my company name. I went from one name to the next as I added more services and met a few bumps about ‘names’. It took quite some time but my company has finally decided to just one company identity and one identifying logo.

Belief/Tenacity: I was once told that I am tenacious. Not being exactly sure what the term “tenacious” meant, I turned to Webster’s dictionary. If you are uncertain of the meaning of certain words do not be ashamed to look them up. The person that told me this was quite correct. I have never stopped believing in my business. When I started on this road, I continued to plow at it, even though I was immensely discouraged at times. I never gave up. I always believe in my abilities!

Research: The very first thing I try to do for my business is research. Research allows a business owner to appropriately set ‘real’ expectations, understand cost, determine target markets, and understand the needs for services. It also allows you to learn from others who have come before you. Research, understanding the numbers, and knowing your areas of improvement is vital to the strength of your company.

Trademark/Copyright: It is a horrible feeling to have your work pulled from beneath you. In order to protect your business name/identity it is important to copyright or trademark your company name and/or logo.

!These are just a few techniques I have used

to help build and grow my brand. If one stops branding, your sales may be impacted. When I look at companies such as Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola, I value the method they use to maintain consumers. Have you noticed that as times have changed their logos continue to evolve? Their corporate branding is ever-growing, ever evolving. We can learn a few things from these major brands!

Publisher/Con

DOES IT MATTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS?

Photographer:

TEYXO FASHIONS! Designer: Lara Roxana Popa

Dress by Teyxo Fashion

Photography: Garry Jones

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RELEASE !

HEALING !

AND FINDING !! !

PURPOSE ! !

Are You Living Your Purpose? !! !

Discovering Power

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Purpose & Fulfillment in a Road Travelled

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NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!! !

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SALMON Health Benefits

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Eating fish twice a week is a great way to improve your heart health! !If fish isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already a regular part of your diet, do your heart a favor and try a serving once a week, preferably twice. - American Heart Association !The evidence across different studies showed that fish consumption lowers the risk of death from heart disease by 36%. The benefit was related to the level of intake of omega-3 fatty acids, and thus benefits are greater for oily fish (e.g. salmon, bluefish), which are higher in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, than lean fish (haddock, cod). - Harvard School of Public Health

!Salmon health benefits: !

1. Packed with Nutrients

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2. Great for Bones 3. Prevents Cardiovascular Diseases 4. Help Improves Sleep Pattern 5. Boosts Brain Function 6. Great For The Eyes 7. Improves Mood

!Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation of the arteries and the digestive system, reduce chances of colon, prostate, and kidney cancers. Furthermore, salmon can improve skin texture, add some sparkle to your eyes, skin, hair and nails and help in the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon.

!The fatter the salmon, the more nutritious and healthy it is. It is a good protein supplement for older or sick

people as well, since it is easy to digest. In some parts of the world, it is cheaper than other sources of animal proteins like red meat and poultry. - Organic Facts

!References: !American Heart Association

Harvard School of Public Health OrganicFacts Seafood Health Facts

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SHARON BLAIN !

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World Acclaimed Long Hair Educational Specialist, Presented by Club Intrigue!

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Photography by Vikki Hankins!

Sharon Blain - World Famous Hairdresser

Hair Models for Sharon Blain As a world acclaimed long hair educational stylist, member of Hair Expo Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hall of Fame and a four-time winner of the Educator of the Year award, Sharonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outstanding talent in extreme styling and hairdressing education will help elevate your skill-set as a salon stylist.

Her exceptional and diverse styling covers a wide spectrum from bridal updos to red carpet hair and avant-garde editorial styling. Sharon has spent decades toiling her craft as a lead educator and is a passionate leader who will inspire and motivate you to up your styling game.

Sharon Blain working on a creation at Club Intrigue w/ Julie Hagney

Blain Engages Audience 24

Blainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Audience

Sandra Bland, Mental Illness, & Law Enforcement Travesty

By Garry Jones

Many people have called for me to weigh in on the Sandra Bland case because I worked in Law Enforcement, and, on occasion speak on the subject, mental illness.

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My sentiments: It's obvious that the officer conducted himself in an unprofessional way. Law Enforcement is held to a higher standard than the public. During my career in law enforcement, we were taught that we were going to encounter uncomfortable incidents while performing our job. As a matter of fact, we had to take part in training scenarios of incidents we would meet on the job.

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Take for an example, there are going to be instances where people are going to raise their voices, say something you don’t agree with, call you Uncle Toms, but in each scenario law enforcement have to decide how to handle the situation. Are you going to lower your professional standards when the public lower their standards who are calling you names or, are you going to rise above and quell the situation. Obviously every situation is different. If you don’t have great communication skills and know how to interact with the public 90 percent of the time you are going to fail at your job and possibly put yourself in danger or put the public in danger.

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During my tenure when I was working in Law Enforcement I conducted hundreds of intake screenings. Intake screenings are the questions officers ask detainees to accumulate facts to accommodate the need of the person. The questions include a person’s address, medical history, mental and physical health, your next of kin in case of an emergency and etc.; I’m very familiar with the psychological evaluation during this process. These forms are filled out by the officer and it is imperative that you document the correct information. The data is just as dependable as the person who is handing it to you. In Sandra Bland’s case there were some discrepancies on her mental health and this could have some serious legal ramification to the staff who obtains this vital information.

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In most cases the questions that are asked during the psychological evaluation are, have you ever suffered from mental illness, have you ever tried to commit suicide, if so when did you attempt do so, do you need to see a psychiatrist? If you answer yes to one of these questions, then there are protocols we must take to give the proper assessment. Given Sandra Bland’s case, she was already upset about what had transpired with her and the officer prior to her being brought to the police station to be arrested; this interaction definitely aggravated her mental state.

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When I was employed with Law Enforcement I met people who had suffered with mental illness. Once the person answered yes to one of the psychological questions, I would contact the psychiatrist on duty. If a psychiatrist was not available to further evaluate, I would not place the inmate in a jail cell by them-

selves considering the information that was conveyed to me. I would make sure the inmate was monitored every 30 minutes, I would retrieve all bed sheets and anything in the cell that wasn’t tied down or posed a threat.

Is it far fetched to believe that Sandra was killed by someone in the jail? No, it’s not, these activities take place sometimes.

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Now allow me to give my opinion. I think she committed suicide, but not with a trash bag. There was something in that cell she that didn’t belong inside. I believe staff went inside and cut her down and took the illegal item out and used the plastic bag for the cover up. Some people are saying she had so much to live for and she did. Sandra was looking forward to her new job and within a span of hours things spiraled out of control. Couple this with being slammed to the ground and locked up for something so minor; I believe she went into a deep depression. If it is true about her suffering from mental illness such as post traumatic stress disorder, major depression and bipolar, I’m not surprised that she committed suicide.

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In conclusion, Sandra Blend’s death was a travesty, a death that should not have taken place. I hear some people saying, ‘she should have complied with the officer's instructions to put out her cigarette.’

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Sandra had the right to smoke in her car, Sandra had a right to ask questions, and mind you the officer never told Sandra she was being arrested until Sandra asked the question. Once the officer informed her she was being arrested Sandra complied with his instructions. I don’t think Sandra was a menace to the police officer to the point he had to slam her to the ground. He allowed his emotions and ego to get the best of him and he eventually caused Sandra’s death.

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One may say the police officer didn’t directly cause her death, but in my opinion he indirectly caused her death. When Sandra was stopped by the officer she was 48 hours from starting a new job. She was ready to embark on a new career until the officer escalated what is perceived to be a disagreement.

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Although Sandra suffered from mental illness and epilepsy her condition was exacerbated after being slammed to the ground.

Sandra went from one of the happiest young women in the world, to the most miserable young lady all with 15 minutes and when she was at her lowest she committed suicide. This is a prime example of someone who may have suffered from bipolar disease.

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Harris Rosen Rosen Hotels & Resorts 18 | FINESUCCESSMAG.COM Photo Courtesy: Harris Rosen

Harris Rosen Making History Through Purpose, Respect & Doing the Right Thing

By Vikki Hankins

Harris Rosen has led a purpose-filled life; one that radiates

his service, he began his hospitality career at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. He worked for Hilton Hotels in various management positions for several years and then accepted a management position in Acapulco, Mexico. After approximately one and a half years in Mexico, he heard about a major development that the Disney Company was contemplating in Orlando, Florida. He went to Burbank, California (Disney headquarters) and applied for a job in the hotel division and was hired. On his way from New York City to California to begin his assignment with Disney, while driving in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, he was almost killed when his car veered off a mountain road. A tree stump saved his life by preventing the car from tumbling all the way down the mountain. At the time, Rosen wondered if that was just good fortune. He chooses to believe not. “I believe that my life has been guided by divine intervention.”

determination, generosity and success. Although he is the owner of Rosen Hotels & Resorts – a multimillion dollar, family-oriented hospitality kingdom – Harris has not lost sight of the road paved for his life or his “obligation.” As someone with resources, he is doing the right thing. He feels it is the duty of those who are fortunate to empower those who are less fortunate.

In a very touching, heartfelt tone, Rosen says, “I wake up on occasion wondering if this is all a dream. How unlikely it is “People blessed as I have been, and I suspect there are that someone whose grandparents came from the Ukraine millions of us, need to provide a helping hand to those who and Austria and settled in very poor part of New York City, (in need some assistance. I believe it is our obligation. We have a neighborhood often referred to as Hell’s Kitchen), would to do that. We cannot sit back and enjoy the fruits of our find himself in the position I’m in today. But this is America. labor alone. We have to share our good fortune. We have to This is really the land of opportunity. I do believe we are an extend a helping hand. About twenty-five years ago, I made exceptional nation and that opportunities exist for everyone the decision to help those who needed a helping hand,” who works hard, respects other people and has a dream. It is shares Rosen with heartfelt passion. also important to always be honest and to always do the right thing.” If practiced together, Harris believes, “You have a real Since then Rosen’s philanthropic endeavors have extended chance to one day realize your dreams.” to one of America’s neighbors – Haiti. In addition, he has during the past 20 years maintained a multi-million dollar commitment to Tangelo Park – an underserved neighborhood located here in Central Florida where he provides free preschool for all of the 2-, 3- and 4-year olds in the neighborhood. He also provides a full all-expense paid education for those who are accepted to vocational school, community college, junior college, or any 4-year public college in Florida. In addition, he has contributed approximately $5.5 million to design and build a new Jewish Community Center in Central Florida. The aforementioned initiatives represent only a fraction of the many gifts the Harris Rosen Foundation has provided to those who have needed a helping hand in Central Florida. In 2008, Forbes magazine listed Harris as the 30th most generous philanthropist in America for having provided more than $30 million to a number of initiatives.

“Why can’t people blessed like me help those who are less fortunate,” Rosen asks rhetorically. Undoubtedly, if the “well off” adopted Rosen’s actions, the world would most assuredly be a better place.

A Road Paved for Rosen’s Life – Divine Intervention?

Born and raised in New York City’s Lower East Side, Rosen was the first in his family to attend and graduate from college.

He graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Hospitality Management. Upon graduation, Harris entered the United States Army where he served for a little over three years as an officer in Europe and in Asia. After completing 19 | FINESUCCESSMAG.COM

Harris Rosen and Oprah Winfrey at a formal gala in Washington, D.C. Oprah presented Harris with the President’s Award from the U.S. Dream Academy for his Tangelo Park Program , which provides college scholarships to high school students in a disadvantaged neighborhood.

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Rosen’s two Grandfathers, Harry Rosenofsky from Ukraine and Samuel Rosenhaus from Austria/Hungary came to America to seek a new life for themselves and their families.

In Ellis Island, during the processing procedure, Harry’s name and Samuel’s last names were both shortened to Rosen. After several years of struggle, they both sent for their families and each had another child. Sam had a daughter Lena and Harry a son Jack. In high school, Lena and Jack met, fell in love and got married. A Rosen married a Rosen, and as they say, the rest is history.

thoughts to myself.

Rosen’s two Grandfathers, Harry Rosenofsky from Ukraine and Samuel Rosenhaus from Austria/Hungary came to America to seek a new life for themselves and their families.

In Ellis Island, during the processing procedure, Harry’s name and Samuel’s last names were both shortened to Rosen. After several years of struggle, they both sent for their families and each had another child. Sam had a daughter Lena and Harry a son Jack. In high school, Lena and Jack met, fell in love and got married. A Rosen married a Rosen, and as they say, the rest is history.

Deonza Bullard, a supervisor at Rosen Plaza, shares her feelings on working for Rosen Hotels & Resorts; its healthcare program and the respect shown to her as an associate.

“I do believe that our company is a very Democratic organization, but at some point in time as Harry Truman said, ‘The buck stops here.’ That’s the kind of organization we’ve created. We don’t have shareholders and we don’t have a board of directors. Everyone who works for us knows that they are free to express themselves and we make decisions based upon what we believe is best for our guests and our associates.

“A lot of other companies don’t have a medical center with a gym or do not offer health insurance or the other benefits Mr. Rosen offers. He really wants us to be healthy and is concerned about our wellness. He is very, very friendly; he treats us like family. If he thinks you have a cold, he asks about it and is truly concerned,” said Bullard.

Time to Work for Himself Always Do the Right Thing Harris states: “If I was going to be happy and fulfilled, I had to consider being in business for myself.”

“I did my basic training at Fort Bragg, N.C. and early on had to learn to keep my feelings to myself. I was and perhaps still am somewhat opinionated. I had ideas about certain subjects. While going through basic training, I quickly discovered that the best course of action for me was not to express them.

“While in the army, I did not feel comfortable taking orders from people who outranked me and who, on occasion, I believed were not making a correct decision. However, even if you disagreed politely, it was not acceptable. I somewhat managed to do well in the military by learning to keep my

Rosen, 74, states that “For 39 years, we have been guided by a very simple thought…Always try to do the right thing.

It’s not at all complicated.” Elaborating on right and wrong and the subject of ethics, Rosen shared his experience and the thoughts that followed after receiving an invitation to speak at a prestigious university on the subject of ethical behavior.

Here’s what he said to the professor who invited him to give a lecture to a group of business majors.

“I believe that speaking to a group of intelligent young men and women in their 20s and 30s about ethics seems a bit absurd. I believe that by the time one is 10 years old, one should have a pretty good understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong. When you make Harris on the lawn of his a decision and you know it’s not right…you know Orlando Comfort Inn, in your heart it’s not right. I don’t believe you mid-1980s should create a special class teaching students what’s right and what’s wrong.” Needless to say Rosen declined the invitation to speak.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts is well-known for the emphasis it places on good health. Rosen’s inhouse healthcare program and the Rosen Medical Center - where all of the associates and their dependents go - focus on wellness, healing, prevention, low premiums, and minimal co-payments for office visits and prescriptions. It encourages them to stay well and to take care of themselves and their family members. “We have been doing this for 25 years and the results suggest that we have done a pretty good job,” said Rosen.

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Good Health & Wellness at Rosen’s Rosen believes that if his program was extended to the nation at large, we could save as a nation a minimum of $500 billion a year in healthcare costs while providing every American with outstanding healthcare. He strongly believes that everyone in America deserves healthcare. Rosen has been visited by congressmen, senators and governors who have been interested in touring the Rosen Medical Center to observe for themselves what he has created.

Philosophically, he agrees with President Obama that everyone in America should have healthcare. He believes, however, that every employer, not the government, should provide health coverage for their associates. To encourage companies to provide healthcare, Rosen believes the government should provide a tax credit up to a certain amount to cover the cost of healthcare. This would encourage employers to provide excellent health coverage for all of their employees.

At this moment, approximately 40 people work at the Rosen Medical Center; 6 of whom are healthcare providers. When an associate visits the Rosen Medical Center, they are on the clock, so while they wait for their appointment, they are being paid. The company provides transportation if an associate doesn’t have a car. Over the past 25 years, the company estimates that it has saved $240 million by having its selfinsured healthcare program and the Rosen Medical Center.

Says Rosen, “If you smoke you can’t work for us. If you want to stop smoking, we pay for any cessation program you wish to engage in. If you need to lose weight – WeightWatchers is free. We have a nutritionist on staff to assist. We believe that everyone in America should have healthcare coverage.

However, we believe that the Rosen way may be a little bit better than the government’s way.”

Clearly Harris Rosen is opinionated, courageous, yet mildtempered. He opens one’s mind to endless possibilities, sets an ultimate example of “doing the right thing” and is living proof of a purposed, path-paved life and knows that he has been blessed beyond anything he ever imagined. Have you determined your path?

By Vikki Hankins editor@finesuccessmag.com For more information on Rosen Hotels & Resorts visit, www.rosenhotels.com References: www.rosenhotels.com

21 | FINESUCCESSMAG.COM Originally Published 12/2013

Working in the garden in the mid 1970s

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Blessed beyond anything he ever imaginedâ&#x20AC;Ś

Harris standing in front of Rosen Shingle Creek 23 | FINESUCCESSMAG.COM

The Shifting Sands of Employee Motivation !! !!

I recently attended a speech by best-selling author

By William M. Dann

Daniel Pink[1] in which he summarized research on shifts in employee motivators. The old “if-then motivators” of giving bonuses for the achievement of goals no longer work. Work has become too complex and is changing too rapidly for such simple formulas to be relevant and to motivate performance.

!The New Motivators !Pink described the motivators in today’s knowledge

economy as being Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose.

Autonomy is the ability to define one’s own work; the tasks, the required time, the best technique and the best team required. Mastery means being afforded the time to make progress on improving one’s own work. Purpose entails knowing that the work being done has meaning or adds value in today’s world.

!The Challenge !When these new motivators are in play, employees become “engaged”. Active engagement entails commitment to the organization’s goals and values, motivation to contribute to the organization’s success and a sense that doing so enhances their own well-being. In short, there is alignment between the goals of the employee and those of the organization.

!Old incentives and management were focused on gaining compliance. New incentives and management must shift to increasing engagement if an organization is to remain competitive and retain talent in today’s world.

The important and obvious question is: How?

!The New Management !According to 10 years of Gallup Poll data, a full 80% of

the workforce is at least somewhat engaged. Leaders and supervisors now must focus on practices that 1) get employees to competence and Autonomy quickly, 2) aid employee efforts to achieve Mastery and 3) continuously instill a sense of Purpose in the work being done.

!I propose that supervisors consider themselves “partners” that facilitate their employees achieving high per-

formance, i.e. Mastery. The acid test for any manager?

If your employees do not improve their performance during a given period, then you have failed to add value to the organization during that period and are a cost without benefit.

!The road to adding value to your employees is paved

with regular, frequent and meaningful conversations about performance, problems, ideas for improvement, and how as a supervisor you can support achieving employee goals. Feedback is critical both to development of Mastery and to instilling/maintaining a sense of Purpose in work.

!These frequent interactions need to replace the annual

evaluation that is based on a judgment rather than partnership paradigm. In an age in which feedback is instant in almost all aspects of our life (e.g. ask a question of Google, instant answer; send a Tweet and the world responds), more frequent dialogue between supervisor and employee is essential.

!I recommend that in each of these meetings, supervisors

define steps they can take to help engaged employees achieve their goals. Those steps might include: • Giving clearer direction re. needed outcomes, priorities, purpose of position • More clearly defining what good performance would look like in for a given responsibility • Providing more feedback on performance • Granting more authority or autonomy for decision-making, problem solving, altering methods employed • Making decisions needed by employees more rapidly • Assuring that employees have the resources needed to succeed • Giving more credit/appreciation for the results delivered, i.e. strengthening a sense of Purpose

!Added to these seven steps to increase engagement

should be a discussion of employee ideas of how to improve performance in their work area and how management can support those ideas.

!Managers tell me that regularly addressing these topics

can totally shift the organizational culture and the supervisor-employee relationship. It shifts the emphasis from manager to facilitator, from judge to partner. Such a shift is rewarding both for supervisor and employee and has huge potential for performance improvement.

!How to Handle the Disengaged !What do you do about those (<20%) who are not engaged? The “actively disengaged” have what is called a “Won’t Do” problem (i.e., they understand the assignment and have the skills, knowledge and authority to do

it, they just won’t). For such individuals, best practices would involve diagnosing the problem early and then employing aggressive progressive discipline and/or career counseling to try and turn it around or remove the problem.

!There are some instances in which “Won’t Do” employees can be turned around. Factors outside of work have de-motivated them about life, and a good supervisor can encourage success at work as a means to build toward success in life. However, many “Won’t Do” problems are difficult to reverse.

!More problematic is that “Won’t Do” problems are difficult to spot. “Won’t Do” employees cite numerous factors, none of which can be substantiated, that are causing

their sub-par performance, i.e. they seek to define the problem as “Can’t Do” (i.e., the employee is eager but does not have appropriate training, skills or authority to do the work). They often appear busy, even joyful. But, they have a toxic impact on fellow workers. “Won’t Do” employees seek to give the supervisor responsibility for the problem. But, at the end of the day, data on their performance reveals the truth and that truth is that despite looking engaged, they are not producing real products.

!A major motivator for writing my recent book, Creating

High Performers, was to aid supervisors that find themselves wrapped around the axle by disengaged workers.

Such workers sow seeds of self-doubt in the supervisor and continuous thinking re. “What have I done wrong?” or “what could I have done or what can I do now to right the situation?”

!Summary !Actively partner with your engaged

A WOMEN'S ONLINE BOUTIQUE STORE WITH A PURPOSE

employees through frequent conversations that search for ways to support employee goals of excelling in the organization. For those that don’t respond, examine carefully their production, not effort, statistics, confront them regarding the failing partnership and hold them responsible to confront the source of “won’t do” problems. In short, decrease the time you are spending spinning the wheels with “won’t do” problems and commit time to maximizing performance of those who are truly engaged.

![1] Pink, Daniel, To Sell is Human,

Riverhead Books, 2012, Drive, Riverhead, 2011, A Whole New Mind, Riverhead, 2006 William Dann spent 13 years as a CEO before launching his consulting business, Professional Growth Systems, LLC, in 1981 – an organization that has served over 200 organizations in the US and abroad, using proprietary solutions to accelerate performance with as little time and resources as possible.

Additionally, Dann has taught for several years at the graduate level at Boston University and is also the founder of BoardGrowth.com, a website devoted to advancing the effectiveness of governing boards.Learn more at www.professionalgrowthsystems.com

! !

CLASSY & FABULOUS! ! !

-COCO CHANEL

Photo Credit: istock

“It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.”

Moliere

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