Print For Love and Money -BT

Delta Print and Packaging managing director Terry Cross has inspired much admiration for his company's success and contribution to west Belfast.

With 269 employees after its latest expansion, the 33-year-old company will be one of the constituency's biggest employers.

Belfast Lord Mayor Mairtin O Muilleoir, also owner of the west Belfast-based Belfast Media Group, said he had visited the factory last year with fellow councillor Gavin Robinson, when the two presented the entrepreneur with a Belfast Ambassador award.

Mr O Muilleoir said he believed a love of the printing trade had helped make Mr Cross a success. "Terry has ink on his fingerprints and has had, all his life," he said.
"He started out making dance tickets and is now the foremost print and packaging manufacturer in all Europe. Terry loves the smell of paper and ink and he loves printing presses."

Good business sense had helped make him a success, Mr O Muilleoir said.
"He is impish, but he is also canny. To be able to succeed in business for five decades takes a really special spirit," he added.
"It has taken real stickability and ability to weather the economic storms."

Going after big clients overseas had been a big part of his success. "The success of Delta Print & Packaging has emphasised the importance of big corporate US orders with companies like Proctor & Gamble, KFC and McDonald's to keep jobs in the city of Belfast," he said.

Delta also has nine factories in China and two in India, but the fact that Belfast has been chosen for the latest investment has won praise from the First Ministers.

Mr Cross also ventured into a new area in 2000, when he bought a chateau and estate in Bordeaux, replanting its vineyard with the aim of restoring the reputation of the Chateau de La Ligne.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/success-down-to-a-love-of-the-printing-trade-mayor-30125650.html

5 Things to Do in NC this Weekend - AOL Travel

When considering last-minute weekend getaways, put North Carolina at the top of your list! There is so much to choose from in this beautiful state that is known for its beaches, mountains and true southern hospitality. Whether you're searching for a beach vacation, a city escape, or a mountain getaway, there's something for every taste and budget. We've detailed a few of our favorite suggestions and travel tips for your last-minute weekend getaway to North Carolina:

Places to Visit

Go Upscale in ... Charlotte
Want an upscale North Carolina getaway? One of North Carolina's most cosmopolitan cities, Charlotte boasts excellent shopping like the South Park Mall, fine dining like Noble's and BLT Steak and the area's first Ritz-Carlton property. Head downtown, where major bank Wachovia is headquartered, or journey to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Be a Mountain Mama in ... Asheville
If it's a mountain North Carolina getaway you're after, look no further than historic Asheville. A visit during fall foliage season or the holidays is a must to view Biltmore Estate in all of its natural splendor. Consider a stay at the Grove Park Inn, where President Obama recently visited, or tour one of the area's many local breweries.

Experience Southern Hospitality in ... Winston-Salem
Cheer on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at a game, tour the area's scenic downtown art district, or take a day trip to nearby High Point to visit what is known as the "furniture capital of the United States." Be sure to dine at Little Richard's Barbeque for a taste of traditional North Carolina barbecue, made with a tangy, vinegar-based sauce and pulled pork, or Village Tavern, a popular local bistro where you can enjoy the local flavor on your North Carolina getaway.

Embrace Your College Pride In ... Chapel Hill
Home to North Carolina's largest university, Chapel Hill boasts fun for college students and tourists alike on a North Carolina getaway. Stroll down Franklin Street, home to one of the East Coast's largest yearly Halloween parties. Have a coffee or meal at Top of The Hill, a popular local hangout, or check out A Southern Season for a gift to bring back home -- it's been hailed by the New York Times as a 'visual and gustatory delight'.

Mix City and Country in ... Wilmington
Don't have quite enough time to escape to the Outer Banks on your North Carolina week getaway? Never fear - the beach town of Wilmington offers a combination city and beach escape. Spend your weekend taking long walks on the beach, shopping at trendy boutiques like Monkees, or enjoying fresh seafood at Dock Street Oyster Bar.

Getting to North Carolina

Before you can enjoy a last minute weekend getaway to North Carolina, you must determine how you'll arrive. Logic dictates this situation, and the most popular options are by car or by plane. The state has major international airports in Raleigh and Charlotte, with additional transport options via air Greensboro and Asheville. To access the Outer Banks, driving or flying into Norfolk, VA is likely your best bet. Once inside the state, a car rental is likely necessary - most areas of the state lack developed public transport systems.


http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/11/15/five-great-cities-for-a-last-minute-weekend-getaway-to-north-car/


#telepathicgraphics #printraleigh

Bye Bye Barcelona - Air Crash Detectives - Lyrics

I said, bye bye, Barcelona, I will see you again

It's sure nice to know you, I know we'll be friends and

Viva Catalonia

Ever fallen for a place, where, you feel right at home

You're walking on the water, Mediterranean

She will always help me, when I need her,  I know she would

I think she understands me, makes me feel so good [ inside ]

I was rambling on the Ramblas, 

I found a panacea
A brush stroke on the canvas

I said a prayer of penance, at Sagrada Familia

I will always come to see her
With her panoramic views

I said, bye bye, Barcelona, I will see you again

It's sure nice to know you, I know we'll be friends and

Viva Catalonia

You always need a place to go, for a holiday

Lose those things inside your head, that never made much sense, anyway

I am standing on the Block of Discord
And you know its' really freaks me out, but I like it, I really really like it

I am heading for the beaches, I envy beauty

I will always come to see her
With her panoramic views

I said, bye bye, Barcelona, I will see you again

It's sure nice to know you, I know we'll be friends and

Viva Catalonia

www.reverbnation.com/aircrashdetectives 

 https://soundcloud.com/aircrashdetectives

#telepathicgraphics #printraleigh

4 Key Ways To Ramp Up Your Sales - SRG

One of the single biggest opportunities to improve sales results is to increase the ramp-up time of new sales reps. If you think about it, every new sales rep creates a new potential revenue stream and the faster you can get sales results flowing the better from a return on investment perspective.
Here are a few key ways sales organizations can accelerate sales ramp-up times:

1. Hire the right salespeople: This involves continually seeking new sales talent and not just reacting to open positions that need to be filled. The best sales organizations are always recruiting and have clearly identified the background, experience level, skills, knowledge, and competencies they are looking for.
2. Make sure you have the following areas clearly defined so that sales people do not muddle along trying to figure things out that should have already been addressed by management. These include having a:
• Clearly documented sales process
• Well defined lead generation process
• Compensation plans that align with your sales objectives
• Clear expectations of what you want the new sales rep to accomplish (both in terms of results and activities)
3. Determine exactly what knowledge, skills, and technology the sales rep will need to be effective and make sure that there are training plans in place to cover each of these areas. This is crucial because a sales person will struggle without these basics.
4. Make sure that the training is reinforced with ongoing skill building sessions and sales coaching. This will help ensure that the training sticks and that your sales reps are implementing these skills when they interact with customers.

By adhering to these best practices, sales organizations will develop a better, more effective on-boarding process and realize better results sooner.
To learn more, please email us at info@salesreadinessgroup.com.

http://www.salesreadinessgroup.com/articles-blog/bid/303399/Four-Key-Ways-to-Accelerate-Sales-Ramp-Up-Time

Main Street IS Back - Michael Alter

Small Business Owners Say Main Street Is Back. Here's Why BY Michael Alter

While they haven't struggled more than some social media startups, small companies are clawing their way back to profitability.

230 SHARES

When Candy Crush lands a valuation of more than $7 billion, WhatsApp sells for $19 billion, and Pinterest wants to charge up to $2 million for ads, you have to wonder if things are really that bad for small businesses. 
However, these stories don't reflect what’s actually happening on Main Street. Small businesses--i.e., those with 10 employees or fewer--have clawed their way to profitability and revenue growth without the help of venture capitalists. And while the small companies on Main Street have struggled to keep up with Wall Street (and its social media startup darlings), March may signal a turnaround for these owners in 2014.
Despite uncertainty over health care, the minimum wage, overtime, and the situation in the Ukraine, optimism among these companies held strong at 69 percent, according to the March 2014 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard.
Optimism among small business owners has also remained around the 70 percent point since the beginning of this year--important to note since this group tends to act on its instinct. While hiring was down by 0.1 percent in March, the survey found that nearly 9 in 10, or 87 percent of small businesses, expect the first quarter to be the same or better than a year ago.
Three times as many small business owners also expect to have better results than last year compared with those who saw a slowdown in business. They cited stability in the economy, the rising stock market, and continued hiring nationwide as reasons to raise their expectations.
You won’t hear much on the news about the growth of a dry cleaner’s down the street or a boutique hiring associates to sell children’s clothing, but these are great success stories, too. And there are far more of them than there are billion dollar IPOs.
These companies are telling us that regardless of the challenges they’ve faced, they see opportunities ahead. News of their successes probably won’t blow up on Twitter anytime soon, but to me it’s a story worth sharing.

 http://www.inc.com/michael-alter/march-surepayroll-small-business-scorecard.html

7 Smart Strategies To Sales - TBJ

The best marketers and salespeople are willing to pay the price to get ahead. In my seminars, I talk about how to achieve success with relationship marketing. Here are some traits that I've found top professionals practice regardless of their industry.
These seven advanced-level strategies will give you a decisive advantage in achieving your goals.

1. Study the market

This is critical for relationship farming. Know what is working today, where pain exists, and how you can best implement solutions. Don't assume. You need to have what Air Force pilots call situational awareness. Know what’s going on around you by reading, attending seminars and webinars, and listening more than talking. This practice is ongoing. Curtail TV and feed your brain with an information-rich diet of podcasts, articles and videos that can generate more sales.

2. Study people

Learn specifics about important people. You have to do your homework (think LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ and Facebook). Know the likes and dislikes of key people. Harvey Mackay's “Mackay 66” makes a lot of sense here. It takes time, effort and a well-oiled and finely-tuned system. Don't just think you'll do it from memory. You're good, but not that good! Think relationship farming. Plant seeds. Cultivate. Nurture relationships. Maintain consistent application of sound relationship marketing principles to succeed.

3. Stay away from stupid

Don't do what doesn't work! Always be aware of potential dangers, and be ready to take advantage of serendipitous opportunities.

4. Strengthen your smart persistence

Smart persistence means applying brainpower to your determination to get the best results. You're in this one for the long term, relationship farmer. Don't give up when a couple of thunderstorms knock down a fence in the back 40. Don't quit because wolves destroyed some crops in the south valley. Know when to stay in the game — and when to say good-bye. Well-meaning and otherwise outstanding salespeople sometimes make the mistake of staying with something that won't ever work. When someone is just pulling your chain and will never contribute value to the relationship, wish them well and say, “Adios, muchacho.” Don't waste time with someone who doesn't embrace value-for-value living. Focus on those who are most open to a relationship with you. This is where you have to do your homework beforehand for qualification.

5. Build relationships for the long term

Connections are critical. Know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. Make sure your network is expanding, growing and vibrant. You're a relationship farmer who is tilling, sowing and planting every day. Develop muscular systems that can handle the rough and tumble of the real world.

6. Constantly focus on increasing your connections and knowledge base

Your knowledge base will lead to further connections when you apply it right. Use the power of social media to connect with your connections' connections. It's not just who you know, but who your connections know. Devour information about new technologies, which can give you a quantum leap over the competition. I'm constantly working with new tools to get more done in less time. Currently, I'm working on a new technology that gives an extra edge in communication.

7. Apologize quickly when you blow it

Hey, you're human. You are going to make mistakes now and then. When you blow it — and even the best will from time to time — take responsibility and correct your behavior quickly by apologizing, making amends, and resolving to change for the better next time. This saves a lot of anguish and helps you pick yourself up quickly and move on to the next victory. It also helps nurture precious relationships.
Relationship marketing takes time, money and energy to deploy effectively. The best salespeople use these and other tools and techniques to achieve the best. Be willing to pay the price and you'll have a bountiful harvest as a relationship farmer.

Terry Brock gives real-world, practical tips on how to generate revenue and increase productivity. He's the former Chief Enterprise Blogger for Skype, former Editor-in-Chief for AT&T's top-rated blog, and is co-author of the best-selling McGraw-Hill book about social media, "Klout Matters." He's also an international Speaker Hall of Fame inductee and travels around the world helping business leaders connect with their customers building relationships and increasing business. 

 http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/marketing/2014/03/7-smart-strategies-the-best-salespeople-use.html?page=all

A Brief History of March Madness - IHSA

Every year, as winter wanes, a curious ailment spreads across the country. The thump of basketballs, the squeak of sneakers, and the roar of the crowd are sure signals that basketball fever is with us. It's a condition called "March Madness," and it afflicts millions of people with no known cure. Where did this malady originate?

A Tradition is Born

"March Madness" was born in Illinois. The annual tournament of high school boys basketball teams, sponsored by the Illinois High School Association, grew from a small invitational affair in 1908 to a statewide institution with over 900 schools competing by the late 1930's. A field of teams known as the "Sweet Sixteen" routinely drew sellout crowds to the University of Illinois' Huff Gymnasium. In a time before television, before the college game became popular with the average fan, before professional leagues had established a foothold in the nation's large cities, basketball fever had already reached epidemic proportions in the Land of Lincoln.

Giving It a Name

Henry V. Porter, assistant executive secretary of the Illinois High School Association, was so impressed by the phenomenon that he wrote an essay to commemorate it. Entitled "March Madness," it first appeared in the Illinois Interscholastic, the IHSA's magazine, in 1939. The term struck a chord with newspapermen, who used it throughout their pages. During the tournament's "Golden Era" of the 1940's and 1950's, "March Madness" became the popular name of the event. It was an era of some of Illinois' most legendary teams, including the undefeated 1944 Taylorville squad and Mt. Vernon's unstoppable back-to-back champions of 1949 and 1950. But the one champion remembered more than any other is tiny Hebron, a school of only 98 students, which won the tournament in 1952.

Making It Official

The IHSA tournaments continued to grow and develop. In 1963, the tournament moved to the huge new Assembly Hall on the campus of the University of Illinois and fans witnessed the most famous finish in history, when Chicago Carver beat Centralia on a last-second shot by a substitute named Anthony Smedley. "March Madness" grew as well. Beginning in 1973, the IHSA began using the term officially in its programs and on its merchandise. In 1977, the organization enlisted veteran Chicago sportswriter and Big Ten basketball referee Jim Enright to write the official history of the boys basketball tournament. The result was March Madness: The Story of High School Basketball in Illinois. As media technology advanced, the IHSA and KOST Broadcast Sales of Chicago produced March Madness: The Official Video History of the IHSA Basketball Tournament in 1989. Both the book and video were sold nationwide. During this period, the Illinois High School Association received trademark status for the term "March Madness" and registered the trademark "America's Original March Madness." The spirit of March Madness has subsequently spread from coast to coast, as other companies and organizations, including state high school associations and manufacturers, have been licensed by the IHSA to use these trademarks.

March Madness Today

Today's March Madness is different from the original version. Nowadays an "Elite Eight" of teams advances to the state finals, but there are eight tournaments — Class 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A versions, from the smallest schools to the largest, for both boys and girls, played in Peoria and Normal. "The Happening," a thrilling contest featuring the state's best three-point shooters and dunkers, is now a part of these tournaments as well. And starting in 1996, the "March Madness Experience," an exhibition hall full of fun, games, and good times, has allowed fans of Illinois high school basketball to join in the action.
The popularity of these events now allows the IHSA to provide more than just good entertainment for its fans. A significant portion of the fees generated from the licensing of the unified marks "March Madness" and "America's Original March Madness" are used to fund college scholarships for Illinois high school boys and girls.

The Origin of the Term "March Madness"

"March Madness," the term used to describe the excitement surrounding the Illinois state high school basketball tournaments, first appeared in print almost sixty years ago. It was coined by Henry V. Porter, who started his career as a teacher and coach at Athens High School in central Illinois. In 1924, Porter led the Athens boys basketball team to a second-place finish in the state tournament. He later served as assistant executive secretary of the Illinois High School Athletic Association (from 1929 to 1940) and executive secretary of the National Federation of State High School Associations (from 1940 to 1958).
Porter, who edited the IHSA's journal, coined "March Madness" in an essay that appeared in the Illinois High School Athlete in March of 1939. Soon thereafter the nation was plunged into World War II. The drama of March Madness provided a unifying force that brought the entire state together, and Porter again commemorated the event, this time with a poem, "Basketball Ides of March," which appeared in the Illinois Interscholastic in March of 1942.

March Madness

Homo of the Hardwood Court is a hardy specie. There are millions of him. He exists through summer and fall, shows signs of animation through the winter and lives to the utmost during March when a hundred thousand pairs of rubber soled shoes slap the hardwood in a whirlwind of stops and pivots and dashes on the trail to the state basketball championships. He is a glutton for punishment. When the March madness is on him, midnight jaunts of a hundred miles on successive nights make him even more alert the next day. He will polish his pants on sixteen inches of bleacher seat through two games or three and take offense if asked to leave during the intermission between sessions. He is happy only when the floor shimmers with reflections of fast moving streaks of color, when the players swarm at each end and the air is full of leather. For the duration of the endemic he is a statistical expert who knows the record of each contender, a game strategist who spots the weak points in a given system of offense or defense, a rules technician who instructs the officials without cost or request. Every canine has his day and this is Homo's month.
He is a doodler who, while conversing, scribbles free throw lanes with a hundred radiating alleys. In May the three symbols of the New York Fair will take on their intended meaning but in March the helicline is a ramp to the balcony, the trylon is the pyramid of hundreds of teams being narrowed down to the one at the state championship pinnacle and the perisphere has the traditional four panel basketball markings.
In everyday life he is a sane and serious individual trying to earn enough to pay his taxes. But he does a Jekyll-Hyde act when the spell is on him. He likes his coffee black and his basketball highly spiced. He despises the stall — unless his team is ahead. It is a major crime for the official to call a foul on the dribbler — unless the opponent was dribbling. His moods are as changeable as the March wind. He flies into a frenzy at some trivial happening on the court and before his vocal expression of disapproval is half completed he howls in delight at the humorous twist of a comment from a bleacher wit. He is part of the mass mind and is subject to its whims. He berates the center for attempting a long shot and lauds him when it goes in the basket. He is consistent only in his inconsistencies.
The thud of the ball on the floor, the slap of hands on leather, the swish of the net are music in his ears. He is a connoisseur in matters pertaining to team coordination and artistry in action. The shifting zone, the screen and the spot pass are an open book to him. He speaks the language.
He is biased, noisy, fidgety, boastful and unreasonable — but we love him for his imperfections. His lack of inhibitions adds a spontaneity that colors the tournaments. Without darkness there would be no light. A little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel.
The writer's temperature is rising. The thing is catching. It's got me! Gimme that playing schedule!

Basketball Ides of March

The gym lights gleam like a beacon beam
And a million motors hum
In a good will flight on a Friday night;
For basketball beckons, "Come!"
A sharp-shooting mite is king tonight.
The Madness of March is running.
The winged feet fly, the ball sails high
And field goal hunters are gunning.

The colors clash as silk suits flash
And race on a shimmering floor.
Repressions die, and partisans vie
In a goal acclaiming roar.
On a Championship Trail toward a holy grail,
All fans are birds of a feather.
It's fiesta night and cares lie light
When the air is full of leather.

Since time began, the instincts of man
Prove cave and current men kin.
On tournament night the sage and the wight
Are relatives under the skin.
It's festival time, sans reason or rhyme
But with nation-wide appeal.
In a cyclone of hate, our ship of state
Rides high on an even keel.

With war nerves tense, the final defense
Is the courage, strength and will
In a million lives where freedom thrives
And liberty lingers still.
Now eagles fly and heroes die
Beneath some foreign arch
Let their sons tread where hate is dead
In a happy Madness of March.

 http://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivities/MarchMadnessExperience/MarchMadnessHistory.aspx

#printraleigh

Why Print Should Be Part Of Your Media Strategy - PrintPower

There’s no doubt that the world today is defined by information. Whether it’s news, opinions, interviews or advertising, it’s information (and marketing content) that provides the direction and structure to our lives. Magazines, newspapers, television, online, mobile and social media are all now vital components of any advertising campaign.
With such a range of technology and (print) channels at a brand’s disposal, how can you ensure that you’re getting maximum reach, exposure, ROI and connections for your marketing spend? In short: what’s the world’s most effective media mix?

	Feel the difference There are as many benefits to print as pages in a magazine. Perhaps the most important is tangibility. With all good publications there’s a feeling of substance, of stimulating the senses, that the thing in their hands has been crafted by experts in their fields. Then there are the practical advantages such as accessibility and portability. Among the reasons why many people prefer print is to do with the feel of the paper, the way they can fold a leaflet, or cut out and keep vouchers for easy use. The quality of the paper and the high image resolution also play their part, as well as the ability to be put down and picked up again easily. Just pick up a copy of Wallpaper* or Monocle magazine to feel how luxurious a magazine can be. Reading print demands the full attention of the reader and provides the means to escape today’s ‘always-on’ culture. The lack of distractions when reading print allows the reader to focus fully on the editorial and advertising content, the ultimate print moment coming when the reader is fully engrossed in a substantial article in a newspaper or magazine.
	Add print, add power In many ways, print is the ideal marketing medium: it’s available in both large and small numbers, can be accessed easily, and is engaging, versatile and creative. Each of the six types of print media has their own unique quality and role in their readers’ lives. For newspapers, they become part of their readers’ day as they educate and inform with credibility and trust, while consumer and customer magazines create engagement through entertaining content. Direct mail uses its ability to gain access to people’s homes and lives to deliver a targeted sales message, while door drops have an enviable reach and ROI. Finally, catalogues provide inspiration for customers before leading them online to make the purchase. On their own, each channel fulfils a vital marketing role. When combined with other media, they are a highly effective force for any campaign, for any brand.
	Making the connection The key to successful marketing is engagement, drawing your customer in through attention-grabbing content before rewarding them with a worthwhile offer or service. Print media works because it understands the needs of the customer. By picking up the print medium, they’re investing time and attention, actively seeking entertainment and information rather than allowing it to wash over them. Print media offers a host of content areas: news, information, education, inspiration, special offers and entertainment, all of which generate engagement between the reader and the advertised brands. Indeed, advertisements are as much a part of the reading experience as the editorial content, with magazines and newspapers providing exactly the right context for a relevant brand campaign. Whether it’s a retailer in a door-drop leaflet, an art auction in a catalogue, spring fashion in a consumer magazine, a car advertisement in a newspaper, or an article about energy savings in a customer magazine, all branded content is print-appropriate and gives a boost to any campaign.
	The concentration gap Recent neurological research has identified differences in ways people process information presented in print and on screen. These studies have found that readers of print maintain their capacity to read longer articles since the reading situation doesn’t offer so many distractions. This capacity – called deep reading – also cultivates deep thinking. On the digital side, it’s also argued that people who read a lot of online material become used to bite-sized pieces of information and are distracted easily, losing the capacity to focus for a long period on a single subject.
	Building the relationship Print media has a close relationship with its readers. Indeed, print is often called the ‘me-medium’, as it can become an integral part of its reader’s world. But this relationship extends beyond the initial read-through. Because print is easily put down and picked up, it sticks around in the household or workplace, read again and again by others that come across it.  People also have certain reading rituals, so they will return to a publication a number of times to take in all the information it has, information that’s both authoritative and reliable. Whether lean-back or lean-forward, print has the capability to build a relationship with the reader because of its content. This content is planned and created by experienced editors, who provide information and features that are both relevant and interesting for readers.
	Mass and one-to-one contact Print media exists in many forms: from mass media (hundreds to millions of copies) to one-to-one (the personalised version). In between, there are formats such as the personalised newspaper or magazine – titles that have content tailored to the specific reader. Modern digital presses offer marketers, media and advertising professionals the ability to print entire publications based on the profile and needs of their consumers. This personalisation adds to the effectiveness of the print medium as consumers prefer a tailor-made approach to the generic. Such flexibility and adaptability allows the marketer and brand owner to choose exactly the right print media for their brand.
	Media-mix integration An effective marketing campaign works best when print is used with other media as one element of an integrated solution. Adding magazines to a mix of TV and internet increases brand favourability by 44% and purchase intention by 15%. (Dynamic Logic, 2009). The combination of online and newspapers also increases effectiveness, with brand engagement 26% higher than using just print or online (FT, 2011). Print media can now offer quick and simple ways to access digital content using ‘bridging technologies’ such as QR codes, Augmented Reality and near-field communication. These innovations form a bridge between print media and a brand’s online space, inviting consumer reaction, feedback and purchase, all via a smartphone. Such innovations increase the effectiveness of print media, as well as enhancing the consumer experience. Newspapers are still the number one medium for shaping public opinion. Their credibility, knowledge, values and information-gathering skills remain a formidable force on the high street, and with titles now separated into sections with more lifestyle content, their potential for brands has increased further – online and offline. Add Print, Add Power, has never been so apt. But the success of newspapers largely boils down to a single truth: they are effective in shaping opinion. They possess a large amount of power when it comes to public perception. Used well, that power can completely transform your brand. Why? Here are seven very good reasons.  http://www.printpower.eu/en/why-print-media/why-print-media/why-should-sprint-media-be-part-of-your-media-strategy

Stop Worrying About Making the Right Decision - Ed Batista HBR

Much of my work as a coach involves helping people wrestle with an important decision. Some of these decisions feel particularly big because they involve selecting one option to the exclusion of all others when the cost of being “wrong” can be substantial: If I’m at a crossroads in my career, which path should I follow? If I’m considering job offers, which one should I accept? If I’m being asked to relocate, should I move to a new city or stay put?

Difficult decisions like this remind me of a comment made by Scott McNealy — a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and its CEO for 22 years — during a lecture I attended while I was in business school at Stanford: He was asked how he made decisions and responded by saying, in effect, It’s important to make good decisions. But I spend much less time and energy worrying about “making the right decision” and much more time and energy ensuring that any decision I make turns out right.
I’m paraphrasing, but my memory of this comment is vivid, and his point was crystal clear. Before we make any decision — particularly one that will be difficult to undo — we’re understandably anxious and focused on identifying the “best” option because of the risk of being “wrong.” But a by-product of that mindset is that we overemphasize the moment of choice and lose sight of everything that follows. Merely selecting the “best” option doesn’t guarantee that things will turn out well in the long run, just as making a sub-optimal choice doesn’t doom us to failure or unhappiness. It’s what happens next (and in the days, months, and years that follow) that ultimately determines whether a given decision was “right.”

Another aspect of this dynamic is that our focus on making the “right” decision can easily lead to paralysis, because the options we’re choosing among are so difficult to rank in the first place. How can we definitively determine in advance what career path will be “best,” or what job offer we should accept, or whether we should move across the country or stay put? Obviously, we can’t. There are far too many variables. But the more we yearn for an objective algorithm to rank our options and make the decision for us, the more we distance ourselves from the subjective factors — our intuition, our emotions, our gut — that will ultimately pull us in one direction or another. And so we get stuck, waiting for a sign — something — to point the way.

I believe the path to getting unstuck when faced with a daunting, possibly paralyzing decision is embedded in McNealy’s comment, and it involves a fundamental re-orientation of our mindset: Focusing on the choice minimizes the effort that will inevitably be required to make any option succeed and diminishes our sense of agency and ownership. In contrast, focusing on the effort that will be required after our decision not only helps us see the means by which any choice might succeed, it also restores our sense of agency and reminds us that while randomness plays a role in every outcome, our locus of control resides in our day-to-day activities more than in our one-time decisions.

So while I support using available data to rank our options in some rough sense, ultimately we’re best served by avoiding paralysis-by-analysis and moving foward by:

1. paying close attention to the feelings and emotions that accompany the decision we’re facing,
2. assessing how motivated we are to work toward the success of any given option, and
3. recognizing that no matter what option we choose, our efforts to support its success will be more important than the initial guesswork that led to our choice.

This view is consistent with the work of Stanford professor Baba Shiv, an expert in the neuroscience of decision-making. Shiv notes that in the case of complex decisions, rational analysis will get us closer to a decision but won’t result in a definitive choice because our options involve trading one set of appealing outcomes for another, and the complexity of each scenario makes it impossible to determine in advance which outcome will be optimal.

Two key findings have emerged from Shiv’s research: First, successful decisions are those in which the decision-maker remains committed to their choice. And second, emotions play a critical role in determining a successful outcome to a trade-off decision. As Shiv told Stanford Business magazine, emotions are “mental shortcuts that help us resolve trade-off conflicts and…happily commit to a decision.” Going further, Shiv noted, “When you feel a trade-off conflict, it just behooves you to focus on your gut.”

This isn’t to say that we should simply allow our emotions to choose for us. We’ve all made “emotional” decisions that we later came to regret. But current neuroscience research makes clear that emotions are an important input into decision-making by ruling out the options most likely to lead to a negative outcome and focusing our attention on the options likely to lead to a positive outcome. More specifically, research by Florida State professor Roy Baumeister and others suggests that good decision-making is tied to our ability to anticipate future emotional states: “It is not what a person feels right now, but what he or she anticipates feeling as the result of a particular behavior that can be a powerful and effective guide to choosing well.”

So when we’re stuck or even paralyzed by a decision, we need more than rational analysis. We need to vividly envision ourselves in a future scenario, get in touch with the emotions this generates and assess how those feelings influence our level of commitment to that particular choice. We can’t always make the right decision, but we can make every decision right.

 http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/11/stop-worrying-about-making-the-right-decision/

#telepathicgraphics

St Patrick's Day Humor - Beaver Island Realty

A group of Americans was touring Ireland.
One of the women in the group was a real curmudgeon, constantly complaining.
The bus seats are uncomfortable. The food is terrible.
It's too hot. It's too cold. The accommodations are awful.
The group arrived at the site of the famous Blarney Stone.
"Good luck will be followin' ya all your days if you kiss the Blarney Stone,"the guide said.
"Unfortunately, it's being cleaned today and so no one will be able to kiss it.
Perhaps we can come back tomorrow."
"We can't be here tomorrow," the nasty woman shouted.
"We have some other boring tour to go on.
So I guess we can't kiss the stupid stone."
"Well now," the guide said, "it is said that if you kiss someone who has kissed the stone, you'll have the same good fortune."
"And I suppose you've kissed the stone," the woman scoffed.
"No, ma'am," the frustrated guide said, "but I've sat on it."

*  * *  * *  * *  * *  *

Gardening made easy!
An old man living alone in South Armagh,
whose only son was in Long Kesh Prison,
didn't have anyone to dig his garden for his potatoes.
So he wrote to his son about his predicament.
The son sent the reply, "For HEAVENS SAKE,
don't dig the garden up, that's where I buried
the guns!!!!!"
At 3 AM the next morning, a dozen British soldiers
turned up and dug the garden for 3 hours,
but didn't find any guns.
Confused, the man wrote to his son telling him
what had happened, asking him what he should do now?
The son sent the reply: "NOW plant the potatoes!"

*  * *  * *  * *  * *  *

When Clinton visited the Pope, he noticed a red
phone on a small table in the corner of the office.

After several minutes of conversation, Clinton asked
the Pope what the red phone was.

The Holy Father told him that it was a very special
phone with a direct line to God. However, the Pope
told Clinton he rarely used it because it cost
$20,000 a minute from the Vatican.

Clinton accepted this explanation without another thought.

Later, when Clinton visited Ireland, he saw another
red phone in the Archbishop’s office. Being curious,
Clinton asked the Archbishop what it was used for.

The Archbishop told Clinton it was a direct line to God,
and he used it whenever he had a puzzling question or concern.

Clinton asked if the calls were quite expensive since
the Pope had to pay $20,000 a minute when he used
his red phone in the Vatican.

"Oh no," replied the Archbishop, "In Ireland it’s a local call."

http://www.beaverislandrealty.com/html/some_humor.htm

#telepathicgraphics

Top 50 Beers - GreatBrewers

The "Top 50" pages dynamically display the most popular brewers, beers, and places on GreatBrewers.com based on the number of fans (logged in users only) of each. To learn more, check out the Manage Your Favorites tutorial.

	Beer	Brewed By	Self-Defined Style	Strength (ABV)	Fans	Like/Unlike
	Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA	Dogfish Head	Imperial IPA	9.0% ABV	1,299
	Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA	Dogfish Head	India Pale Ale	6.0% ABV	1,145
	Guinness Draught	Guinness	Draught Stout	4.1% ABV	1,014
	Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale	Stone Brewing Co.	American IPA	7.2% ABV	892
	Sierra Nevada Pale Ale	Sierra Nevada	American Pale Ale	5.6% ABV	829
	Rogue Dead Guy Ale	Rogue	Maibock	6.5% ABV	742
	New Belgium Fat Tire	New Belgium	Amber Ale	5.2% ABV	734
	Samuel Adams Octoberfest	Samuel Adams	Oktoberfest Märzen	5.4% ABV	709
	Magic Hat #9	Magic Hat	Not Quite Pale Ale	5.1% ABV	664
	Stone IPA	Stone Brewing Co.	American IPA	6.9% ABV	651
	Samuel Adams Boston Lager	Samuel Adams	Vienna Lager	4.9% ABV	643
	Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA	Dogfish Head	Double Imperial IPA	18.0% ABV	632
	Stone Ruination IPA	Stone Brewing Co.	American Double IPA	7.7% ABV	614
	Lagunitas IPA	Lagunitas	India Pale Ale	6.2% ABV	613
	Blue Moon Belgian White	Blue Moon	Belgian White	5.4% ABV	572
	Yuengling Traditional Lager	Yuengling	Original Amber Lager	4.4% ABV	568
	Sierra Nevada Torpedo	Sierra Nevada	Extra IPA	7.2% ABV	564
	Bell's Two Hearted Ale	Bell's Brewery, Inc.	India Pale Ale	7.0% ABV	544
	Chimay Blue (Grande Réserve)	Chimay	Grande Réserve	9.0% ABV	539
	Newcastle Brown Ale	Newcastle	Brown Ale	4.7% ABV	536
	Dogfish Head Punkin Ale	Dogfish Head	Pumpkin Ale	7.0% ABV	535
	Left Hand Milk Stout	Left Hand Brewing	Milk Stout	6.0% ABV	530
	Victory Hop Devil	Victory	American IPA	6.7% ABV	520
	Allagash White	Allagash	Belgian Wheat Beer	5.0% ABV	518
	Ommegang Three Philosophers	Ommegang	Belgian-Style Qaudrupel with Kriek	9.8% ABV	506
	Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale	Oskar Blues	American Pale Ale	6.5% ABV	480
	Founders Breakfast Stout	Founders	Breakfast Stout	8.3% ABV	477
	Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale	Sierra Nevada	India Pale Ale	6.8% ABV	476
	Samuel Adams Summer Ale	Samuel Adams	American Wheat Ale	5.3% ABV	476
	Anchor Steam	Anchor	Steam Beer	4.9% ABV	474
	Duvel Golden Ale	Duvel	Belgain Strong Golden Ale	8.5% ABV	474
	Delirium Tremens	Delirium	Belgian Strong Pale Ale	8.5% ABV	462
	Stella Artois Lager	Stella Artois	Lager	5.2% ABV	446
	Green Flash West Coast I.P.A.	Green Flash	West Coast-Style India Pale Ale	7.0% ABV	431
	Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout	Samuel Smith	Oatmeal Stout	5.1% ABV	425
	Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale (IBA)	Dogfish Head	IBA	7.2% ABV	423
	Brooklyn Lager	Brooklyn	American Amber Lager	5.2% ABV	419
	Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA	Bear Republic	India Pale Ale	7.0% ABV	416
	Dogfish Head Midas Touch	Dogfish Head	Ancient Ale	9.0% ABV	415
	Hoegaarden White	Hoegaarden	Belgian White Beer	5.0% ABV	412
	Samuel Adams Winter Lager	Samuel Adams	Holiday Beer	5.8% ABV	410
	Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout	Brooklyn	Imperial Stout	10.1% ABV	397
	Unibroue La Fin du Monde	Unibroue	String Triple-Style	9.0% ABV	390
	Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale	Lagunitas	American Wheat Beer	7.7% ABV	390
	Young's Double Chocolate Stout	Young's	Sweet Stout	5.2% ABV	386
	Victory Golden Monkey	Victory	Belgian-Style Tripel	9.5% ABV	383
	North Coast Old Rasputin	North Coast	Russian Imperial Stout	9.0% ABV	381
	Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre	Dogfish Head	Mahogany Ale	8.0% ABV	374
	Troegs Nugget Nectar	Tröegs	Imperial Amber Ale	7.5% ABV	365
	Ommegang Abbey Ale	Ommegang	Belgian-style Abbey Dubbel	8.5% ABV	361

http://greatbrewers.com/top-50/beers