2010 off to a slow start?

I don't want to admit it, but I'm behind this year. As the organizer of many-a-things, I am disappointed with how long it is taking me to get going this year on planning our first event. So....please accept my apologies.

In result, I figure that there should be some type of resolution for this situation, and that's where this blog comes into play. Resolutions are things that can be made at any time of year, because they are essential like a to-do list. So how do we make effective resolutions? ..Well, I'm glad you asked, as I write (or maybe a few minutes after I complete this blog) I will be writing a list of resolutions for TheCircleLA.

There are definitely some key tricks to writing good resolutions, so I thought I would share with you all; so that you can make 2010 your BEST year yet.

1. Figure out what you want to accomplish! - Ok, this may be self-explanatory but it has to be said. Take some time for yourself one day, sit down and really think about where you would like to be by the end of the year or even in the next three months.

Don't think about where you are today - that will just throw wrenches in your plan. Plan like everything is possible.

2. Be realistic - It may sound good to say you're going to make $250K this year, but are you really going to do that? Make sure that your resolutions are something that you can stick with and really give effort to. If you think that $100K is a reasonable number then go for it; only YOU know your limits. If your goal is too ridiculous in any area, you'll be more likely to forget it or give up.

3. Having measurable goals - Be sure that you are setting some expectation for yourself. Saying to yourself "I'm going to start a business this year" doesn't really say much at all. Remember, these are for yourself for the most part.

Put numbers and details on your goals like; I'm going to develop my business plan by February 28th or I'm going to find a business partner by March. Putting dates and numbers on your goals gives you some feasible motivation to work towards. You don't have to make it ridiculous, its not a competition.

4. Tell people about your plans - Does a tree make a sound when it falls in the woods if no one hears it? Tell someone about your goals/plans, this is probably someone close to you or maybe even a friend that you're writing resolutions with. That way, someone is a witness and possibly may ask you how your getting along at certain points. If you have someone to share it with, it's easier to keep your resolutions throughout the year.

5. Keep them visible - Have your resolutions handy. I generally have mine on a half sheet of paper in my planner. Sometimes when i'm flipping through to check something else I run across and re-read them. This is a great reminder of what you have to accomplish and keeps them in your head. It's not surprising that you won't have them memorized. Another good place is your wallet.

6. Check-in mid year! - Right before summer hits, check in with yourself. If you check-in mid year and you kind of put some of the items by the way side, you still have about 6 months to accomplish some of your goals. Most of our goals won't take a whole year to get to, but we give ourselves that much because we've gotta live life. This is a great time to check things off your list (my favorite) so you can see what you have left and how much progress you have made!

7. Celebrate yourself - There's never a bad time to celebrate. I generally see new year's as a time of celebrating the past year and really seeing all that I have accomplished. But along the way, have small celebrations when you accomplish each smaller goal so that you continue to feel good and have something to look forward to.

8. Keep it short! - Last but not least. Having 100 resolutions for the year is a little out of range. Create as many as you think is important to really get to that year. I generally have about 10 main goals for the year, other stuff comes up; both those 10 I make sure to keep top of mind.

Good luck and let's get going! TheCircleLA is going to try a lot of new things in the new year and we are excited to share our plans with you. See YOU in TheCircle!

Where will you be when the Gold bubble bursts?

Smart Holiday Advice from our Resident Expert

This expert article was contributed by:
By Brandale Randolph, Stock Broker
brandale2221@gmail.com

While, no one can predict the highest or lowest points on any roller coaster, while we are on it, pretty much everyone should realize when the ride is about to come to an end. But please, don't wait until it comes to a screeching halt before you get out. Jump while there is still a beaming smile on your face because the next big gold loop may dislodge all of the valuable contents from your pockets.

People who are not already in gold please look for the next big thing. Bananas, the Brazilian Real, coffee, sugar, algae, bees wax...whatever, just stay away from Gold. For the fortunate few who are already in gold stocks, ETFs, funds, etc, it's time to take your chips off the table for the following 3 reasons...

1) History repeats itself...

Just last year the was this amazing commodity that everyone wanted to buy. Investors scrambled to buy any and every kind of stock, option, business or toy related to it. Business channels dedicated hour long programs discussing the global impact once this particular commodity reached it's peak. Governments all over the world leveraged larged portions of their total GDP to buy large stakes in it. Then the hype really hit home when scammers and bucketshop commodity brokers started calling people like bill collectors every night begging them to invest in this next big thing that would make them millionaires.

Yes, I'm talking about oil. That didn't turn out so well did it? Don't think Russia, Dubai and Middle America made the billions. Now we have Gold. History is repeating itself.

Sound familiar? The bubble is beginning to burst and people still think that its not too late to jump in on the bandwagon. Sorry it is!

The bubble is beginning to burst and people still think that its not too late to jump in on the bandwagon. Sorry it is.

2) Gold Prices will go down when the dollar rebounds..

The value of gold and the value of the dollar are inversely related. When one goes up, one will go down and vice versa. Therefore as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates in order to curb inflation the dollar will go back up. In order words, if this continues the dollar to besotted cheaply borrowed will be worthless. The reason for the dollar drop was to stimulate the economy. In much that same way that too much water will kill your grass, too many cheap dollars floating around the globe will kill our economy.

3) Wall Street doesn't play fair...

"The purpose of Wall Street is to make fools of as many men as possible."
- Bernard Baruch

Conventional thinking leads most people to believe that sellers can't keep up with demand for gold. For coins maybe, but an overwhelming majority of global investments in Gold are in Gold options, futures, hedgefunds, ETFs, and stocks. these things TRADE actively on an open market called Wall Street. Truth is Wall Street affects the price more than John Q public and its desire for the rare coins it sees advertised on TV.

The markets are designed to take from the poor, misinformed 90% and give to the Wealthy 10%. The price dropped from a record high of $1226 to where it is today. Wall street as taken it's chips off the table. It's time for you to take yours.

People don't let what happened during the bursting of the tech bubble, the real estate bubble, the stock market bubble and the oil bubble happen to you and your family again. Take your gold chips off the table and run!

When the gold bubble bursts, remember you heard it here first... Tell your friends....

Gotta make that money, honey!

As we all know, the economy is still rebuilding and you may be looking for a job as we speak. Maybe you were laid off, fired or your company has indicated that you should probably start looking. Well...you're not the only one in this boat. Our resident HR expert has shared some insight on some things you may know and some things you may not already know about the hunt! The most important thing is to keep your head up, stay confident and try not to get too frustrated. Good Luck!

Contributed by: Joanne Coghill

www.ncogeto.com

Most people look for jobs the traditional way by searching the want-ads and using online job websites like Careerbuilder, Monster, and Craigslist. You'll email or send out loads of resumes which is not a bad strategy, however the employer can be overwhelmed by the amount of responses and may never see your resume since everyone else is doing this using this same method. Then you sit wondering what happened and getting frustrated with the lack of response.

The competition for jobs is extremely high due to the high unemployment rate. The employer is receiving an excess of responses that they can not review all resumes that coming in. It is important for the job seeker to think out of the box and stretch themselves on how they are networking and looking for a job.

Here are some suggestions to help you with your job search and build your network.

1. Mix it up! Check your local community newspaper or google to find local mixers, networking events, job fairs or workshops to meet people who can assist you in your job search as you build your network. Your church may also consider sponsoring a networking event or workshops to find those looking for a job, looking to change jobs or just to inquire and meet new people. You never know when you met someone and reach out who may know someone who is looking for employees. Bring your own business card (you can get free online business cards, you may have to pay for shipping) and exchange business cards so that you can follow up with everyone you meet at any of these events. Email or send them a note to follow up meeting them at the event. This is the start to building your network.

2. Using your networks - Another way to connect with your personal and business networks is to use online social and business networking sites. Some great sites to create accounts on are MySpace, Facebook, Plaxo, Twitter, Linked-in, Talkbiznow and Bebo. Create user accounts on these sites and let people know in each community what types of jobs you’re interested in finding. Again, you never know who can connect you to someone that has the perfect job for you.

*TheCircleLA TIP - You don't have to be a part of EVERY social network, just be sure that you use the ones you do use wisely and to their full potential. Pick 2-3 that you will focus on. Otherwise it gets confusing.

3. The Ol' fashioned way - To find new businesses listings that have or are about to open check in your local newspapers. You can find this under “fictitious business name” in the classified section. New businesses often need to hire new employees. Review these daily to you if there are new businesses opening that might be a good fit. Send them a note and a resume and follow it up with a phone call a few days later. Even if they’re not ready to hire, you’ll be first on their mind when they are ready.

4. What do YOU want to do? You may have a business that you want to work for. Call them up and ask if they are hiring. If they are not hiring ask them if they ever hire temps. During recession times many companies have have laid off their full time staff and they may be hiring temps to fill in where needed. You may get your foot in the door if they are open to hire you as a temp. Otherwise another options is to ask if they would be open o consider having a volunteer or an intern work for them for free. This would be another way to get your foot in the door on a trial basis. What do you have to lose? You have the time and they might be intrigued enough to take you up on your offer.

5. Tap Into the Community - There are many churches that are offering support for those who are unemployed. Talk to your church to see if they offer or willing to offer any type of support group and any help. Also check with your local community, check on line or in the neighborhood newspaper to see if there are support groups to assist those who are unemployed or looking for a job change.

6. Be proactive, assertive and friendly but not pushy or aggressive, when contacting a potential employer. People generally will find that when you are friendly, flexible, creative they are willing to talk to you and willing to go the extra mile.

7. Stay POSITIVE which will help reduce stress and keep you focused.

8. Start your mornings with daily prayer and meditation. This will help you focus throughout the day.

*TheCircleLA TIP - Revise your resume. No matter how good you think it is, look and look again. Make sure your experience stands out and highlight achievements in other positions. If you have gaps in your resume, be sure to continue to do any type of work, whether its networking, small projects, planning your own business. This shows that you're proactive and have been keeping your mind busy. Be smart with the time you have at hand.

*If you are interested in contributing to Netropolis, please contact us at TheCircleLA@Gmail.com

How do you ‘deal’ with today’s economy?

This expert article was contributed by:
By Brandale Randolph, Stock Broker
brandale2221@gmail.com

Giving the 300 lb. gorilla in the back of the room a banana....Despite the news our politicians and other economists have told you, we are not out of the woods yet. As a matter of a fact we have a long way to go before you can start spending money like it’s 2006. Why can’t we relax? The answer is right under our noses…Unemployment and underemployment.

For the purposes of data collecting, unemployment only counts the number of Americans who have actually filed for their unemployment benefits; there are still massive numbers that are not collecting unemployment as well. Therefore, the number of people actively seeking employment is far greater than what has been documented. We all have friends and family that we know who haven't given up just yet and may have started their own business or something of the sort but unless they have filed for unemployment, they are not included in the unemployment figures.

From recent CNN story,

“Unemployment Hits 10.2%”

There are also a hidden group of Americans known as the underemployed. It is extremely difficult to collect data on the vast number people who have found alternate employment but are earning as much as they were in previous years. According to several reports this number is close to 15% of all working aged Americans. So when we combine the unemployed with the underemployed, roughly 30% are being directly affected by this economic downtrend and sadly that percentage may continue to grow.

These two groups are very important because they are the ‘300 lb gorillas’ that are becoming more volatile as Wall Street cheers it's 10,000 point mark. Let’s ask three important questions to get to the heart of the problem?

1) Who is really left to buy brand new cars, TVs, retail apparel or disposable goods?

A majority of the Americans are worried that on any given day they may lose their primary source of income. Therefore, compared to last year and the year before, the American household spends less money on everything. Downsizing and saving has become a way of life. Companies are charging just a bit more for everything because people are buying much less. Therefore, the next free spending environment won't occur until we go back to being secure with our jobs.

2) Where can growth come from without creating new jobs to replace the 5 million jobs lost within the real estate sector?
A majority of the most recent boom in our economy is from real estate. With unemployment so high, a majority of potential buyers have been wiped out and are afraid to upgrade. Many people worked as real estate brokers, agents, loan processors, construction workers and the like and they are now un or underemployed. With the state of the economy, banks are also refusing to approve as many home loans as they did before. Real estate will return but the old notion of a home significantly appreciating each year has been destroyed.

3) Will starting my own business guarantee my success or prosperity?
The creation of small businesses by the un and underemployed has not driven a boom in our economy. In this environment the small business failure rate has quadrupled. This is not because of lack of planning or experience but plain and simply, there is not a lot of money circulating in our economy.

Despite these bleak times, there is great news and a solution for those reading this article, there are three critical things you can do to protect yourself from the dangers of this economy and unstable economic environment.

1) Network like you mean it!
Begin or continue to network with other people, whether you have job or not. Networking is important, so that if the prospect of unemployment lurks, you have created a network of possibilities to finding gainful employment again. People love to work with people they know outside of work. So go be networky!

2) Do what you love to do and brag about it.
Simple gestures such as baking for others, fixing a neighbors busted water heater or writing a blog article for a friend may spawn a new source of income down the line. Keep your options open and share your interests and expertise with others around you. Build your brand as an individual, you never know what opportunities will be available down the line.

3) Improve yourself!
Just looking at yourself and smiling and doing few good deeds for other will feed your soul food that it needs to carry you through the bad times. Keep your head up and do positive things with your time. There is never any time to lose. Use any time you have to improve your professional and social skills. Stay in tune with your industry so you don’t miss a beat when employment picks up again.

4) Save Money
Yes, you have to live and tomorrow is not promised but wouldn’t it be better to have a little something extra just in case. Not in case of a sale but in case of emergencies. Having a little cushion gives you a little peace of mind. For those that have a saving of some kind ask them and they will tell you, just knowing that the bills will be covered if things go wrong makes a world of difference. Save what you can, whether it be $10 or $100/week. You'll be happily surprised to see small dollar amounts adding up and available when you need them!

Even though unemployment is has become a 300 lb. gorilla looming over everyone’s backs, scaring our economy and many of us, don’t be shy, don’t be afraid to give it a banana (and face it head on).

Great places to work in LA...remotely!

Is your home the most productive environment for your work?

There are many of us that work remotely these days. If not all the time, at least part of the time. The question is where do you go when you don't want to physically work at home? It is often a too loud at coffee shops to conduct calls and if you don't have an in-home office setup then it may be distracting at home. Well we've done some research in ideal work solutions for you remote workers. Below is a top 10 list of great places to work in LA, when you're out of the office but need to be 'in the office'.


1.Blankspaces, Wilshire5405
Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
www.blankspaces.com

Blankspaces is a paid shared workspace for freelancers and professionals that work from home. They provide various options for workspace. You can rent a station, office, desk, etc. They have a pretty nice work environment. If you can't afford having your own office and need a place to be productive try Blankspaces. They have anything you need that would be in a regular office. Rates vary depending on what kind of space you reserve. Go to the website to check it out.


2.Cafe Corsa, Downtown, LA
2238 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90007-2049
(213) 746-2604

Tucked away in downtown Cafe Corsa is a great place if you need a little caffeine lift and a quiet and sane place to work. With free wi-fi and eclectic music and the owner is friendly. It's a small place, but it's perfect if you don't want to be distracted and have a lot of writing to do. The Latte's are exceptionally fantastic.


3.The Central LA Public Library, Downtown LA
630 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90071-2002
(213) 228-7000

If you don't have calls to make, this library is a beautiful place to work. With free wi-fi and a world of resources at your fingertips, I would work here all day if I didn't have calls to make. If you really need to get your head in the books, the massive Central Library is a great place to get work done.


4.Urth Cafe, Downtown LA
451 South Hewitt Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Urth cafe in downtown is exceptionally great. Free wi-fi and plenty of tabletops to work off of. I had a little bit of trouble connecting but they will provide you a wi-fi code with purchase, and how can you go to Urth without buying that Spanish Latte? Phone calls, go ahead, there are both an outside and inside seating area making it a perfect getaway to get your work done.


5.Lyric Hyperion Theatre Cafe, LA
2106 Hyperion Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 540-0935

In Silverlake, Hyperion is a pretty popular cafe where people come to work, play, eat and drink (coffee that is). If you're working through lunch, stop by here. This great cafe has free wifi and a large patio, allowing you to enjoy the freedoms of working from home and tan while you work.


6.Starbuck's Culver City
9718 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 204-1075

This is a great place to work and network. However, no free wi-fi here! If I was going to work at Starbucks however, this is the only one that I would go to.


7.Coffee Bean, Studio City
12930 Ventura Blvd
Studio City
818) 783-8068

The great thing about Coffee Bean is the free wi-fi, usually it's pretty loud and small in many coffee beans, this one has a great outdoor seating area where you can still access the free wi-fi. The baristas are pretty friendly as well.


8.Grounded Cafe, Sherman Oaks
14241 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 501-0600

This is a true Internet cafe. It lacks the luxuries of plush furniture but it gets the trick done. If you're a regular remote worker, working here is a good idea. Be careful parking on the street though, there are regular street sweepers here. Wi-fi code is available with a $3 dollar purchase and they have a frequent buyer card that comes in pretty handy. If you live in the S.O. try Grounded Cafe.



9. Americana's patio, Glendale
233 S Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA 91204-1309
(818) 637-8982

This patio is lovely especially during the weekday when no one is around. If you're staying past closing time, I may re-think it since there is quite a crowd around Americana in the afternoon, but if you have some time in the morning to get work done, the patio here is great and you can pick up wi-fi from various locations.


10. Starbuck's South Park, Downtown LA
1111 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles
(213) 749-1751

- AT&T customers come here. This quaint neighborhood in Downtown LA boasts this lovely Starbucks with some of the nicest patio furniture that we have seen at a Starbuck's. No free wi-fi again, but the crowd here is interesting and being steps away from Staples you can run into just about anyone.

Happy Working!

10 Critical Tips when Seeking a Job in Today’s Tough Job Market

Contributed by HR Professional Joanne Coghill

*If you'd like to contact Joanne Coghill, please contact TheCircleLA@Gmail.com

Let's get your week started off right. Whether you are looking for a new job or just looking for a job, you need to know the right way to approach it. Our very own TheCircleLA member 'HR professional', has put together a few tips on how to make your hunting experience a little easier in today's job jungle. Good Luck!

1) Most of the best jobs are not listed on the Internet or classified job postings sites. In today’s changing job market, job seekers must network and pursue those hidden opportunities. Market yourself and NETWORK. Expand your skills, broaden your areas of expertise, take additional courses, seminars, workshops and join a professional association.

2) Make every day count. Keep a positive attitude and make daily affirmations. Don’t get frustrated or disappointed but look at this as a building a new opportunity for your future. Don’t take anything personally. Make an effort to call at least three (3) people a day and build your network.

3) Plan! Define your goals and schedule steps in getting there to help you achieve success.

4) Your resume must clearly articulate your strengths and show your competitive advantages. Take time to review your skills and accomplishments. Ask someone to review your resume.

5) You can have a great advantage over other candidates by targeting and building relationships with hiring managers and decision-makers (CEO, COO, senior executives, department heads) instead of submitting directly to Human Resources or conventional job-posting boards.

6) Engage the assistance with a mentor or career coach who can help you with your job search and review your resume, possibly giving your other career options that you may not have considered.

7) Do your due diligence. Research the company so you understand their business needs, culture, company’s outstanding debts, financials, longevity and loyalty. Also, research target companies and industries.

8) Prepare for the interview:

a) Practice interview questions with someone, like your mentor or Career Coach. Give attention to questions that can be the most challenging.

b) Stay Positive!

c) Arrive 15 minutes early so you are calm and professionally ready to go.

d) Avoid discussing money until an offer is made.

e) Keep the interview focused on the job position and what you can offer the company (cost savings, cost effectiveness, unique new business ventures, additional revenues).

9) Close the interview with enthusiasm and discussion of the next steps. Immediately follow up with a thank you note.

10) References. Make sure you trust your references. Critical that you give references who will don’t say the wrong thing or too much information that could derail your candidacy.

Have a great week TheCircleLA! We are looking forward to seeing you on November 11th.

The 1-minute Pitch!

So you get to the networking event, you grab a drink and begin to mingle with folks. Most conversations at networking cocktails give very few minutes for you to make your official networking information. Do you have a 1-minute pitch?

Well if you don't have it down, then you should. Here are six simple steps to developing your 1-minute pitch, so that you're ready for any event in the future.

1) Give your name and your company's name (or your profession/industry if you're 'freelance').

2) "Set the stage", give a brief overview of all that your business has to offer. (We're talking a one sentenct " I do XX.")

3) Give the location of your business and the area that you cover. (Many times this is a region, I travel from East to West coast a lot, I work in the LA-area, I do business in California/So.Cal...whatever)

4) Highlight one part of your business (What part of your professional background do you want to focus on, picking one is more memorable than saying "I do everything")

5) "Call to action", talk about what type of business you are looking for by focusing your efforts. (If you're an actor its "I'm looking for more comedic roles" if you're a businessman "I'm picking up some technology work", yadda yadda.)

6) "Close" use your company's motto or tag line before you move forward. ("I'm lovin' it!")

This pitch really applies to any and every industry with slight adjustments here and there to really fit what you're trying to accomplish out of the event. Go with a goal and use that goal to pitch yourself more effectively.

To be most effective you'll want to revise your pitch every week or two to be sure that your messages are in line with what you are looking for as a professional. This may be a very small part of your networking experience, but your pitch is something that can leave a lasting impression. Be sure when you follow up you mention something memorable from your conversation.

While every conversation can't be a winner, you can use your one minute to make the most of it. First impressions are all it takes!