Utah Valley Business Blog » UVBB

The Business Igniter: S.T.O.R.M. (Part II)

Kip Kint — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:25:42 +0000

As I said last week, few things in this world have the raw power & energy of a storm. You can create your own personal S.T.O.R.M. of Success by doing the following:

Stop
Take Inventory
Organize
Reflect
Move It

In last week’s post I wrote about the first step of S.T.O.R.M. which is to STOP. Today I will address the next step which is to…

TAKE INVENTORY!

Take Inventory of where you have been, where you are, and where you want to be - Take Inventory of your resources, talents, abilities, relationships, and all that you have to help you reach your goals. Know that your ultimate Success Story starts with a Personal Inventory.

You must know yourself and what matters most to you, and it is crucial to Take Inventory of all your resources that can help you get what you want.

I suggest you make it a somewhat formal Inventory, meaning don’t just think about your Inventory, but rather WRITE your Inventory down. It’s makes the process far more powerful. If you want to be even more creative with the way you Take Inventory try creating a Mind Map instead of just writing it down in a linear fashion (although this works fine, too). Mind Maps look kind of like this:

This particular Mind Map was created using Mind Manager 8 from mindjet.com. They happen to offer a 30-day free trial if you want to give it a go.

So, remember, to build your S.T.O.R.M. of Success, first STOP, then TAKE INVENTORY. Be sure to tune in next week when I will be writing about the next step of S.T.O.R.M. - Organize!

To Your Success!

-Kip Kint, Success Coach & President, Mission Ignition

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ProPay Premieres eAuction Account and Full Pricing Schedule for eBay Power Sellers

Cary Snowden — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:34:29 +0000

ProPay provides simple, safe, and affordable electronic payment processing options for advanced eBay sellers with the announcement of its competitively priced eAuction Account.

Orem, Utah—October 20, 2008—ProPay, a comprehensive provider of simple, safe and affordable merchant payment solutions, today announced that eBay silver, gold, platinum, and titanium PowerSellers can now sign up for ProPay’s eAuction Account. The eAuction Account is integrated with the eBay checkout process and gives sellers the ability to accept credit and debit cards quickly and easily for their eBay auctions.

ProPay confirmed the eAuction Account is available for an annual fee of $24.00. This fee will be reimbursed in the form of a $24.00 processing credit to those eBay sellers who process over $3,000 with ProPay during the first 6 months following their account activation.

In addition, ProPay announced transaction fees as low as 2.4 percent. The transaction fees are determined by the seller’s eBay PowerSeller tier: For Visa, MasterCard, and Discover, the fees are:

Silver – 2.7% and $0.30 USD per transaction
Gold – 2.4% and $0.30 USD per transaction
Platinum – 2.4% and $0.30 USD per transaction
Titanium level sellers are encouraged to contact ProPay directly to set up custom transaction fees by calling (888) 227-9856

Sellers will also be able to accept American Express. The transaction fees for processing American Express will be slightly higher than those listed above.

The account does not have fees that most merchant accounts charge, including bank transfer fees, monthly gateway fees, online statement fees, cancellation fees, monthly processing minimum fees, or transaction downgrade fees. *

The transaction fees are flat so they do not change, regardless of the type of credit or debit card (rewards, corporate, etc.) used. With ProPay, eBay sellers can know exactly what the transaction fees will be each time.

ProPay’s eAuction Account is the first of two accounts ProPay will provide to the eBay seller community, ProPay executives said. In January 2009, the company will be launching the eAuction Pro Account that is integrated with eBay Checkout and provides several other credit and debit card processing options, such as an online virtual terminal and touch-tone phone processing. The eAuction Pro Account will also support shopping carts for personal websites, the new ProPay secure card reader, and a direct API.

“Today’s announcement is an important step in our efforts to provide attractive, comprehensive, and technologically advanced payment options for eBay’s PowerSellers,” said Greg Pesci, ProPay Executive Vice President of Business Strategy. “We look forward to growing our working relationship with these advanced eBay PowerSellers, and we welcome the chance to premier several additional cutting-edge services in the seasons to come.”

To set up a ProPay eAuction Account today, sellers can visit www.propay.com/ebay.

About ProPay
Since 1997, ProPay has led the market in providing simple, safe and affordable credit card processing and electronic payment services for businesses ranging from the small, home-based entrepreneur to multi-billion-dollar enterprises.

ProPay understands the unique needs of these businesses and has created merchant services specifically for them. With ProPay, merchants can set up an account online and begin accepting credit cards without buying special equipment and making long-term commitments or investments. ProPay leads out in educating merchants of every size about how to reduce or eliminate the risk of touching or holding sensitive cardholder data. The company also leads the payments market in the development of end-to-end data security solutions and alternative payment options that can significantly reduce risk and operating costs.

ProPay is a privately held company, headquartered in Orem, Utah. For information, visit www.propay.com.

* Please see the Payment Services Agreement at www.propay.com/ebay for complete information on pricing and fees.

PR Contacts:
Cheryl Snapp Conner or Don Osmond
Snapp Conner PR
801 994-9625
Cheryl (at) snappconner.com or don (at) snappconner.com

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Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum

Cary Snowden — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:02:24 +0000

The Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum will host an event this Thursday, October 9, featuring Dennis Woods from vSpring.

The forum will provide insights on building world class management teams from Dennis’ understanding of which human resource practices offer the greatest return on shareholder value.

Dennis leads vSpring’s human capital practice. Prior to joining vSpring, Dennis built an executive search practice in technology and finance at The Diestel Group, a boutique executive search firm. He worked nationally and was instrumental in helping organizations expand their operations and succeed by attracting and retaining world-class talent.

To register for the forum, visit: http://www.uvef.net/

Details:

Title: Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum
Location: Novell Cafeteria
Register: Click here
Description: Glean insights on building world class management teams and learn from Dennis’ understanding of which human resource practices offer the greatest return on shareholder value.
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2008-10-09
End Time: 13:30

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The Business Igniter: The Power of Responsibility

Kip Kint — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:30:19 +0000

I received the following in e-mail some time ago. I found it to be profound, insightful, and above all…true! I have had this discussion many times with my own coaching clients. Sometimes in business we get so caught up in daily operations, so consumed with the bottom line, that we forget what really matters and what it means to be truly responsible, or in other words… Response-Able.

Nothing will bring greater and more lasting success than to be a responsible person with solid character.

This particular piece comes from Michael Josephson and CharacterCounts.org. I encourage you to take notes on any insights you may have, and more particularly how you might apply it in your own life.

It’s been said that the line between childhood and adulthood is crossed when we move from saying, “It got lost” to “I lost it.” Indeed, being accountable - and understanding and accepting the role our choices play in the things that happen - are crucial signs of emotional and moral maturity. That’s why responsibility is one of the main pillars of good character.

Many people have been seduced by the Peter Pan philosophy of refusing to grow up and avoiding the burdens implied in being accountable. Yes, responsibility sometimes requires us to do things that are unpleasant or even frightening. It asks us to carry our own weight, prepare and set goals, and exercise the discipline to reach our aspirations.

But the benefits of accepting responsibility far outweigh the short-lived advantages of refusing to do so. No one makes his or her life better by avoiding responsibility. In fact, irresponsibility is a form of self-imposed servitude - to circumstances and to other people.

Responsibility is about our ability to respond to circumstances and to choose the attitudes, actions, and reactions that shape our lives. It is a concept of power that puts us in the driver’s seat. The grand panorama of the potential of our lives can only be appreciated when we begin to be accountable and self-reliant.
Responsible people not only depend on themselves, but show others that they can be depended on. This breeds trust, and trust is a key that opens many doors.

If you want more control over your life and the pleasures, prerogatives, and power of freedom and independence, all you have to do is be responsible.

-Michael Josephson

I also watched this little “poem/movie” from Michael Josephson and found it quite inspirational. Take a moment and watch it, I think you will find it well worth your time: What Will Matter Movie

To your success!
-Kip Kint, Success Coach & President, Mission Ignition

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The Art of Professionalism

Allison Yeager — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:29:19 +0000

It may have been said about catching flies, but did you know that honey is more effective than vinegar at catching business? I’m occasionally surprised at the way professional adults sometimes conduct themselves when confronted with a challenging situation. The art of professionalism is a hard one to get, even for the best of us, and can be particularly troublesome when circumstances make tactful respect a hard pill to swallow.

We are all too busy. We have planners and iPhones with jam-packed schedules, wireless gadgets attached to our heads, and too many emails to reasonably read in one day. We have collectively grown to think that anything beeping at us requires immediate attention. With so many distractions, we have more to deal with than we should, and often our nerves at their wit’s end. The results can sometimes be a snap at the wrong person; a mistreated customer or colleague, or ineffective communications that get you nowhere.

Here are a few simple tips to help you maintain a ‘nicest guy on the business block’ reputation while maintaining your professionalism and business goals…

Don’t send an email to ask the recipient to call you. Pick up the phone yourself. We all have too many phone calls to return and too many emails to check. If you need to talk to someone, seek them out.
Be specific in email subject lines. A simple two-to-five word answer is ideal: “Need to reschedule”, “new marketing project plans”, or “details on Friday’s lunch meeting”. Don’t type your entire message in the subject line, but give enough that a quick glance gives the basic details. If your readers have to scroll to see the whole thing, it’s too long and will never be read.
Unless you work in an industry where your timing can be life-saving or life-threatening, don’t answer your phone during a meeting with a vendor/client/employee/boss/… or anyone. It’s a quick way to make the person you are meeting with feel less important and appreciated. Always give your full attention to the person in front of you.
Want your voice mail returned? Leave details in your message about why you called, and provide enough detail that a response can be made without your involvement. You will be surprised at how many answers you get when there is an answer to be given. Voice mail that leaves only a simple request for a call back will always be placed at the bottom of the pile; ‘This is Bob with ABC Inc., call me back’ will usually not receive a response. Good voice mail is courteous and effective.
Don’t string anyone along. It doesn’t matter if your answer is ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘please don’t ever call me again’. Be upfront (respectfully, of course) about your intentions. Everyone else’s time is just as important as yours. Don’t waste it.

When we neglect to give others the consideration they deserve, we position ourselves in the most unflattering light imaginable. No one can imagine willingly turning away business, but we risk offending, or at the very least annoying, potential clients and other business associates when we lack professionalism.

Do everything you can to obey the golden rule and start enjoying the fierce loyalty and respect you will receive from everyone you encounter when your approach is professional and respectful.

Update: The folks at SnappConner PR have republished this article with permission. Check it out on their blog at http://snappconner.com/2008/10/03/the-art-of-professionalism/

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Winner: Best Business Blog!

Cary Snowden — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:27:43 +0000

BusinessQ magazine recently conducted a survey in which they asked their readers to name the ‘Best Of’ Utah Valley. We are pleased to announce that our own Utah Valley Business Blog was named as the ‘Best Business Blog’. The survey results are posted in the Fall 2008 edition of BusinessQ, hitting the streets as you read this.

You’ll find Utah Valley Business Blog mentioned on page 41 under the Style and Design category.

Coming in at number two in this year’s Best Business Blog contest is Kelly Anderson’s startupprincess.com. Startup Princess is a site dedicated to providing support and information for women entrepreneurs. The site includes opportunities for participants to network together, share experiences, and mentor others. The site is currently getting over 2,000 unique visitors each day, and the Startup Princess organization boasts over 300 network members.

The number three winner in this year’s Best Business Blog category is Paul Allen at paulallen.net. Paul jokingly refers to himself as ‘Paul Allen the lesser’ so readers don’t confuse him with Paul Allen of Microsoft fame, but don’t let that fool you; Paul has the kind of experience that makes him worth following. Paul is the founder of Ancestry.com and has recently made headlines with his We’re Related application on Facebook (reaching over two million users this week). Paul shares interesting business ideas and technology insights on his blog.

Want to stay in touch with the Utah Valley Business community? Subscribe to any or all of these three blogs (yes, we are pitching our own, too!) and get involved.

If you know of other Utah Valley Business Blogs that deserve a mention, we would love to hear from you about it. Please make a comment on this post.

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The Business Igniter: Networking

Kip Kint — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:59:46 +0000

Networking is a vital part of marketing most businesses. I’m sure you have heard it many times; “People do business with people they know, like, and trust.” This has been proven true time and time-again. The question for most of us is “how?”. The answer is that you need to create opportunities for people to get to know you, like you, and trust you. The best way to do this is to spend some time in a personal networking environment.

I strongly recommend you make a networking a regular part of your marketing efforts. You should attend at least one networking event every single week, and in most cases more often than that. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few excellent networking recommendations:

BNI
Visit a local BNI chapter near you and see how this highly professional and effective referral-based organization works. Chapter meetings are held weekly, usually in the early morning (i.e. 7:30 – 9:00 AM), and only one person per profession can occupy an official seat in the chapter at a time. We have three chapters here in Utah Valley, one that meets in Springville, one in Orem, and another in American Fork. Visit www.bni.com for more information.

Corporate Alliance
If you do business in Utah Valley then you must visit a Corporate Alliance Jumpstart. Lunchtime meetings are held once each month with choices of dates through an entire week from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The philosophy behind Corporate Alliance is “Just Because”. While quite different than BNI’s focus on directly referring business to fellow chapter members, the idea here is to build relationships without the expectation of receiving business from the time invested. However, it has long been proven that as you build solid and lasting business relationships it will only benefit both parties in the long run. Visit www.corporatealliance.net for more information.

Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce
Yet a third, and still different networking organization, the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce is one of the finest in the country. You can visit them on the web at www.thechamber.com (of all the Chambers in the nation how did they get that cool URL?). The Chamber provides a variety of opportunities to network and connect with other business leaders and the community. I recently attended a very enjoyable and successful “Speed Dating” event for getting to know other business leaders. It was a lot of fun and very productive.

Facebook
Social networking online is fast becoming a great way to stay in touch with business associates. Sure, a lot of social networks are oriented to the fun and frivolous; however a growing number of business people are finding ways to leverage online connections to find new contacts, rekindle older relationships, and spawn new business opportunities. The fastest growing segment of Facebook users is adult business people. Give it a try; you will be surprised at the number of business professionals you will connect with. Visit www.facebook.com for more information.

Don’t forget to join the Utah Valley Business Group on Facebook; our companion initiative in social networking.

One last recommendation… Educate yourself and become the best networker you can be. I have two book recommendations: Read The Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships by Jeffrey Gitomer, and City of Influence: A Business Tale from Corporate Alliance. These two books can be of tremendous help in your quest to build better relationships and positively impact your business through networking.

To Your Success,

Kip Kint
Business Success Coach
Mission Ignition

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