SNAPSHOT: Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania

SnapShot with Stefanie Gorder

SnapShot is a monthly column offering a collection of travel & networking concepts to destinations and activities worldwide.
Expose yourself to travel!

~ Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania ~
an emotional travel journey of self-discovery


Last fall, Pittsburgh hosted the National Tour Association Convention. This convention draws thousands of travel professionals from all over North America into one location to conduct a myriad of opportunities for business. A key feature for tour operators (companies that package travel) is participation in a familiarization trip. These “fam” trips allow an area to be showcased in the effort to convince an operator to create a tour that features their region. The team from the Laurel Highlands showed us a destination worthy of business and pleasure. What I didn’t expect was to feel both joy and sadness in this beautiful setting.

The first day of our adventure, I met up with my fellow woNTA’s (women of NTA). Shelley from Canada and Julia from North Carolina whom I consider “soul sisters” but also two strong women who make me laugh really hard about our misadventures. The first night of networking was meeting our tour director Linda Mauzy, the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau Group Marketing Manager who was to show off the best her region offered. Looking back, I think my downfall that evening was in getting caught up in the networking aspects (well, and the martini’s). The evening started innocently enough. Linda arranged for tour suppliers in the area to come out and meet the traveling delegates. Getting to know people in advance of seeing their product is a win-win situation. Later as Shelley, Julia and I met up in the lounge; the hours passed by too quickly as we started the dramatic process of catching up on each other lives. Up too early the next morning, we found that Linda really would keep a tight schedule regardless of our recently acquired self-induced health issues. She had us in and out of attractions and there would be no time for napping on the motorcoach. For the next few days, we were entertained and engaged in the local history and legends as the most remarkable regional representative kept our little group of travel professionals whipped into shape. Allow me to take you through my travel journey of self discovery in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. From the highs to the lows that forever altered our thoughts and made the Laurel Highlands a travel memory to last a lifetime.

Flight 93 National Memorial & Flight 93 Memorial Chapel
Ever have one of those moments when you know if you try to speak the words won’t come out right and there are so many twisted emotions you can no longer think straight or take a breath? The power of certain destinations or memories so vivid that you lose track of the moment and actually feel every ounce of your environment. There is no preparation for feeling empty sadness and no one could have prepared me for the power of my feelings at this venue. On September 11, 2001 I had awoken early and watched the dramatic television clips unfold before my eyes with the feeling of dread. Years later, standing at the site of the Flight 93 National Memorial on an overcast day fitting for the memories, I stood in silence with tears streaming for this horrendous loss of lives on an empty field before me. The silence was deafening and my colleagues could not see each other through the blur of tears. The empty seats recognizing each tragic death individually was so overwhelming I could hardly concentrate on the presenter describing the exact details of the day. All I could think about was what I could see but not hear. The silence between the spoken words. The solid and blank stares towards the field. A feeling of emptiness inside the soul. The sacred ground which honors the 40 heroes who changed history and the eeriness mixed with a peaceful quiet. I didn’t hear birds, I didn’t see the typical joy from the sights at a national memorial and I didn’t rejoice in the fact I was in Shanksville, Pennsylvania observing the silence. I was deeply saddened and thankful for those who will not let us forget these tragic events that changed us.

The Temporary Memorial is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year. Be prepared for the constant breeze as the memorial is an open field. It is a place for reflection and expressions of respect for which these heroes deserve. The crash site itself is only open to Flight 93 families. Be sure to also stop by the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel, another tribute to the heroes. And bring plenty of Kleenex!

Quecreek Mine Rescue Site
A short distance away from the crash site of United Flight 93 is another story of hope, struggle and survival; this one ending on a happy note. Since the late 1800’s the mining industry in Somerset County has been a tradition carried through generations of families. If the opportunity to meet Bill and Lori Arnold arises, accept it with gratitude and your life will forever be changed. Bill and Lori own Dormel Farms, which in July of 2002 was the site of the largest mine rescue effort in nearly three decades. For five days their community was watched by the world as they helped save the lives of nine others. The story they share at the site is a testimonial to the determination to make a difference. This was not their intention when the phone rang late one night with news of 50 to 60 million gallons of water pouring into Quecreek Mine and trapping nine men working 240 feet below their farm.

The drive up looks innocent enough with the surroundings featuring large pastures in this quaint country setting of rural Pennsylvania. At the park, a 7 foot cast bronze coal miner honors miners everywhere. Inside the Dormel Enterprise Building, the actual rescue capsule that pulled the men out of Quecreek Mine is on display. Also view maps and other artifacts surrounding the rescue efforts. For our group, Lori took the stage and in a calm and clear voice told the unique story of the rescue where all miners in Quecreek were fortunate to get out with the help of an amazing community. The headline “9 of 9” was the front page on many newspapers across the world and the story is worthy of repeating. As I sat motionless listening to Lori Arnold describe her personal story, I again felt that sharp gasp of breath that is followed by overflowing tear ducts. Sometimes the best stories are connected with emotional outburst that we have no control over. Two for two that day.

The area is open for individuals and groups although calling ahead is highly recommended. The memorial site is open daily from dawn to dusk. For more information about the incredible mine rescue and the construction of their visitor center, see: http://www.quecreekrescue.org

Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect
Visiting Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands is spectacular during any season for the natural and man-made scenery. Many of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs were inspired by the region’s setting. From the architectural masterpieces of the incredible Fallingwater to opening Kentuck Knob years later and only six miles away, this region now boasts three Wright-designed homes. All available for tours and now the 1957 Usonian home, The Duncan House accepts overnight guests. Frank Lloyd Wright was born in 1867 and remembered as a renowned American architect, interior designer, writer and educator. He designed more than a thousand projects all with engaging structure using the environment. In 1991 Wright was recognized by the American Institute of Architects as “the greatest American architect of all time”.

"Buildings like people must first be sincere, must be true,
and then withal as gracious and lovable as may be." -Frank Lloyd Wright
Today recognized as his finest work, Fallingwater is a mountain retreat built over a waterfall for the Edgar Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh. It is superior in design and our interpreter integrated both Wright’s style with incredible commentary as we toured. Once finished, Fallingwater became famous and today is a National Historic Landmark. It is the only major Wright designed home to open to the public with all furnishings, artwork and setting intact. For more about Fallingwater, link to http://www.fallingwater.org.

After having fallen in love with the Kaufmann’s home, Bernardine and I.N. Hagan asked Wright to design a home for them. Kentuck Knob is a small one story Usonian house (meaning affordable for the common people) and a signature design of Wright’s. With the appearance of jutting out below the crest of the hills, Kentuck Knob appears almost a part of the surrounding Laurel Highland mountains. The Hagan’s sold the home in 1986 to Lord Palumbo of England who opened the home for tours in 1996.


Fallingwater photo by Harold Corsini courtesy of
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

McDonald’s Big Mac© Museum Restaurant
Did you know there was a museum built exclusively for McDonald’s Big Mac©? On our final day together, Linda announced due to timing we would not be able to visit the museum which is located inside an actual restaurant. The huge gasp of dismay from our professional group is still somewhat of a mystery to me since many on the bus were vegetarians. We quickly formed a Big Mac© democracy and decided the alternative to no visit was to take over the motorcoach and convince the driver to stop. After all, we came all this way and needed the reward of seeing the enormous Big Mac© that everyone in the region had been mentioning. To be perfectly honest, had no one mentioned the Museum we might have been able to complete our adventure without this visit. The call of an afternoon snack of those tasty French fries was too much and we ousted the dissenting voice of reason. Linda Mauzy had no control over us as we in a rambunctious, yet relatively peaceful coup encouraged our driver to take us to the McDonald’s Big Mac© Museum (well, that and promises of treats!). Once inside, we were stunned at the size of the Big Mac© monument and our laughter took on a childlike sound. Content with fries and ice cream dribbled down our faces, we departed happily and loudly reciting the Big Mac© jingle … "twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun©".

The beauty of the Laurel Highlands combined with rich historical events and power evoking struggles make this destination worthy for all age groups. At Fort Necessity National Battlefield, step back into the time of George Washington and see his original saddle pistols and memoirs on display at Fort Ligonier. At the Johnston Flood Museum browse the museum and watch an Academy Award documentary of the 1889 flood. Children will love the Heritage Discovery Center where they can become immigrants from Ellis Island in an interactive museum showcasing the challenges, life and times of this melting pot community. For a visit completely different, visit Saint Vincent Gristmill where Benedictine Monks have been grinding grains to flour since 1854.

Take the headaches out of planning … call an expert!

Being in the travel business allows for meeting the best experts in destinations through networking. Linda Mauzy is one of the most professional members of the travel industry I have encountered in my twenty-five years. I want to publicly thank her for hosting our FAM tour which at times was uncontrollable yet always entertaining. We were enlightened and have a love for the Laurel Highlands due to her passion for the destination. THANKS LINDA! I suggest becoming a fan of the Laurel Highlands on Facebook and then head there to explore the regional wonders!

Planning a business meeting or vacation to the Laurel Highlands? Contact:

Association: Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
Contact: Linda Mauzy, Group Marketing Manager
Email: lmauzy@laurelhighlands.org
Address: 120 East Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658
Phone: 800.333.5661
Web: http://www.laurelhighlands.org/
Travel Guide: http://laurelhighlands.org/pdf/LH_TG_2009_b.pdf

Link here for events in the Laurel Highlands:http://laurelhighlands.org/groups/specialEvents.cfm

Need a quality scheduled tour in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands? Contact:

Company: TravelStarz
Contact: Becky Wiegand, Owner
Email: TravelStarz46614@aol.com
Address: 19551 Gilmer St., South Bend, IN 46614
Phone: 574.291.1731
Web: http://www.travelstarzonline.com/

SnapShot is a monthly column offering a collection of travel & networking concepts to destinations and activities worldwide. Expose yourself to travel!

For more information, please visit Stefanie's TNNW Bio.

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SNAPSHOT: Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania

TNNW UPDATES! [You must read this], August, 2009, Week 4

SUPERCHARGED NETWORKING : TURNING CONTACTS INTO BUSINESS.

AUGUST, 2009, Week 4
UPDATE ISSUE 9 (New Format)
Get your free subscription to the TNNW Weekly Newsletter: http://twitlik.com/OK

TNNW UPDATES! [A "must read"]: August, 2009, Week 4

Brand New Stuff, and Renewing Old Promises:

THE NATIONAL NEWSPICKER will be making its arrival. It will have the capability of making you into a current events genius (and give you the appearance of being the smartest guy/ gal in the room) in return for an investment of just 20 minutes per day of your precious time. It will be in a simple, bookmark-sized widget (or is it gadget?) format. It is a prioritized compilation of the top news articles from in excess of 20 publications, and it will be continuously updated throughout the day.

THE NEW WEBSITE AND BLOG FORMAT with navigation tools so easy that your pet ferret will be able to use them will be going live. Unlike Internet Explorer 8 (which is a piece of crap) we will actually improve the quality of your media experience, and your ability to MONETIZE your KNOWLEDGE. On a somber note, we are coordinating among three different platforms: Blogger, Wordpress and the HTML Website. The dicey part is going to be making the final product [cue harp music] as seamless and glitch-free as possible. The nucleus (George W. would likely have pronounced it "nuke-you-lus") of the whole thing will be the website itself (http://www.TheNationalNetworker.com). When we cut the ribbon, you will be able to get to every part and page of the site with the simple tabs on the website. So far, the thing (we actually call it that) is looking smashing, indeed.

THE NEW SPECIAL ITEMS are making their quiet debut (that's French!) in the Newsletter this week. When you get to these items, look for the BLUE THING at top of each one. You may ask yourself (in a schizophrenic moment of insecurity), "What's that BLUE THING doing here?"

TWITTER AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA. If you aren't doing it yet, join us (follow us) on Twitter, at http://twitter.com/TNNW_BUZZWORKS. We are very active on social media, and even some anti-social media, as may be required in the circumstances. And while you're at it, become a fan and supporter (we're leaving out an obvious joke here) of THE NATIONAL NETWORKER on our fan page in FACEBOOK. Also, start to follow TNNW's Featured Market Research, Polls, Statistics, Analyses and Implications Expert Scott Gingold on Twitter (he conducts fascinating and informative mini-surveys every day) on Twitter, at http://twitter.com/powerfeedback . We are delighted to have Scott on board.

PRESS AND NEWS RELEASES. In these times, a properly-crafted, optimized and submitted press or news release (we prefer "news release") can literally create a sensation overnight. Dollar for dollar, it is, by far, the most cost-effective form of media domination, penetration and infiltration. There are very fewer investments which you can make which yield such amazing and immediate results. Visit: http://tnnw1.blogspot.com , take a peek, and then come back here to read the Newsletter Articles.





GET THE DAILY EMAIL FEED OR THE RSS FEED for TNNW. We publish items of great interest every day, including special articles, offers to Subscribers and Members, and announcements of news and significant events. Don't miss out. Click on http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com/ , and sign yourself up for the free DAILY EMAIL or RSS service. Please do it now! Then, come back and read the Newsletter Articles.

TNNW -- LEADING THE CHARGE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PDDS*

*Note: You must read the Newsletter to learn about PDDS, this horrific affliction, and some amazing scientific breakthroughs being financed and sponsored by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER COMPANIES which may lead to a treatment, or perhaps even a cure within our lifetime.

With our Commitment of Yet Even Greater Things to Come,

Adam J. Kovitz and Douglas Castle (who is not quite as important as Adam J. Kovitz)




*******
Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW). All rights reserved.

To subscribe for your free TNNW Newsletter, go to http://www.thenationalnetworker.com/ For the complete National Networker (TNNW) Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com/

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TNNW UPDATES! [You must read this], August, 2009, Week 4

A NOTE FROM THE CHAIRMAN: The Double-Edged Sword of Being Connected

Recently Twitter announced that it will be making a new feature available to the public - Geolocation.

Think of it as GPS meets Twitter...soon, in the "classic" 140 characters or less, you can also (through an opt-in process) allow your followers to know your precise latitude and longitude coordinates.

Would anyone really opt-in for such a service?

On the bright side, it is just one more low-cost tool in our new arsenal to turn each and every one of us into our own reality show (I hear they're quite popular these days); our own media channel where we can share our innermost thoughts, images and whereabouts - all in real-time. Recently, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart satirized how social media, especially Twitter, is changing our very reality...click here to view this great segment.

Yet what I find amazing is how quickly and eagerly we are to put ourselves under such a microscope. Why complain about Big Brother when WE HAVE BECOME BIG BROTHER?

Moving on...

This week we are proud to welcome Scott Gingold, CEO and Founder of Powerfeedback as well as Confidential Counselor. Scott's company Powerfeedback, a market research organization has partnered with TNNW to bring you weekly surveys (yeah...that stuff we've been promising for the past several weeks). Each week of our newsletter, we will have not only the latest survey (will take you less than 30 seconds to complete it) but the results of it from the week before as well!

In this issue, we unveil our inaugural TNNW survey on Perceived Data Deficiency Syndrome ("PDDS"). Let your voice be heard by clicking here.

In other news...since next week is the 5th Sunday of the month, we will be taking a one-week hiatus and resuming our Newsletter on September 6th. Of course, if you subscribe to our daily email feed, you won't miss us much. You do subscribe to our daily email feed, don't you?

And going out with a big bang this summer, we are co-sponsoring my friend, Thomas Carmada's Ultimate Networking Event. If you're going to be in Philadelphia on August 25th, you don't want to miss it - this time it will be at Ladder 15 at 1528 Sansom Street (between 15th and 16th streets) in Center City from 6:00pm to 9:30pm. For more information, please click here.

As always, I look forward to Networking with you,

Adam

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A NOTE FROM THE CHAIRMAN: The Double-Edged Sword of Being Connected

TNNW SURVEYS, ANALYSES AND FINDINGS: Percieved Data Deficiency Syndrome (PDDS)?

Welcome to our inaugural weekly poll question! Every week we will post one thought provoking question for you to vote on. We will share the results with you every Sunday as we deliver the latest version of The National Networker (TNNW) Newsletter.

This new feature is being brought to you by The National Networker and Powerfeedback.


This week, under the topic of Perceived Data Deficiency Syndrome (PDDS), we ask:

"Everywhere we look there is a plethora of information available. Given this, we were wondering, do you regularly have enough information to effectively and fully do your job?"

Thanks in advance for your support and continuing to make our community even stronger and more valuable.

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TNNW SURVEYS, ANALYSES AND FINDINGS: Percieved Data Deficiency Syndrome (PDDS)?

SENDING SIGNALS: Powerful Subconscious and Subliminal Enhancements.

Powerful Subconscious and Subliminal Enhancements for your Presentations: Both Live and Recorded

SOME GENERAL INSIGHT INTO BENEFICIAL APPLICATIONS OF INCORPORATING ENTRAINMENT, BODY LANGUAGE, SUBLIMINAL MESSAGING AND POST-HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION IN YOUR PRESENTATIONS

-By Douglas Castle (http://aboutdouglascastleblogspot.com/)

THE MECHANISM: HOW THESE ENHANCEMENTS WORK

Every auditory or visual presentation, live or recorded, can be greatly enhanced in its impact and effectiveness through the deliberate and judicious utilization of entrainment, body language, word choices and cadence, subliminal messaging and post-hypnotic suggestions. These technologies are amazingly effective, and are indeed worth learning about and exploring. While they would seem to be “supernatural” or “magical,” they are, in fact, established science. Ironically, they are used by most individuals (unconsciously) to some extent every day in all of their communications – they are perfectly natural. The key to optimizing your utilization of these approaches is to use them deliberately. Be advised that these techniques should be carefully scripted into your presentations by a knowledgeable expert in the fields of non-verbal and subliminal communication. The author is highly knowledgeable in these areas, as both a practitioner and an instructor.

Significantly, some of these techniques can be employed in written presentations to make them more persuasive and memorable.

ENTRAINMENT

Entrainment involves the unconscious or deeply subconscious repetition, by the brain, of a pattern of sounds played to it, or seen by it through the visual organs. The brain has a fabulous propensity to mimic wave patterns (alpha, beta, theta and delta) presented to it for even brief periods of time. It is almost like a faithful soldier marching in perfect step to the beat of a battle drum. The brain does this automatically, without any conscious thought being required, and various states of emotion and thought, from agitation to deep sleep can be induced through this mimicry without any cooperation or instruction.

Certain types of musical scales can also have this effect, although they are heard and recorded by the subconscious as well as by the basic mechanism of the unconscious. For example, a pentatonic scale can induce a meditative alpha state; a whole-tone scale can induce a dreamlike, fantasy state; certain Middle Eastern scales can incite attentiveness and arouse curiosity, while certain harmonic and melodic minor scales can create a mood of either mystery or excitement. How many movies have you seen where the ambient music (the subtle music in the background) made your heart race with anticipation? In a conversation, if a metronome or similarly metered sound is placed in the background and the pace is picked up (measured in beats per minute), the listener will feel an intensified sensation of urgency to make a decision. This is science, and not speculation.

BODY LANGUAGE

Various body postures, physical gestures, facial expressions and even vocal intonation can greatly affect the audience’s perception of our self-confidence, our honesty, our enthusiasm and our passion. The most charismatic professional speakers are masterful in their use of body language, from preachers to politicians, from motivational experts to football coaches, and from martial artists to defense attorneys. Examples about that virtually everyone can relate to – cowardly glances down at the floor, broad hand gestures, a swaggering entrance or a skulking appearance…these visual cues create powerful impressions. When a speaker modulates his/her tone, tempo and voice pitch, it keeps the audience awake. I only wish that my college chemistry professors had not been podium-bound, monotonous readers or mumblers or dry factual material. More robust, demonstrative body language, movement and variation in terms of voice can make a relatively “dry” topic seem much more interesting – and more memorable. A well-cultivated telephone voice can often work persuasive wonders, as can a lecturer’s movements on the stage…movements which keep the audience’s eyes moving, and keep them psychically stimulated.

WORD CHOICES

These subtle techniques are incredibly compelling -- without even being noticed by your audience, they serve to 1) focus complete attention on you and your subject matter; 2) increase retention of the subject matter discussed; 3) persuasively reinforce your most important talking points and ideas; encourage further contact between your audience and your organization; enforce your credibility and integrity; and, general, to 4) make your audience more receptive in every aspect. The incorporation of these special technologies has been scientifically demonstrated to dramatically increase the effectiveness of both voice and video communications of virtually every type. They should be used expertly and ethically. Over-utilization of subliminal messaging or any of these other communications methodologies will impact your presentation and audience negatively, creating a kind of noise and distraction – this is the opposite of what you want.

APPLYING THIS KNOWLEDGE

The key is to integrate these technologies into your presentation in a manner that is completely undetectable by the audience on a conscious level. With experience, you learn to use the minimum effective dose in order to achieve an appreciable result without having your audience feel manipulated or distracted. These techniques, in conjunction with other subtle treatment modalities, have applications in pre-and post-operative patients, anesthesia, sports medicine, and a growing list of other areas. The most important thing to understand (and many people do not), is that you cannot truly "re-program" another human being through hypnosis, NLP or propaganda -- ultimately, every individual makes his or own choices, and every individual does what he or she thinks is "appropriate" in accordance with the context of his or her situation. All I can ever hope to do, is act as a facilitator to stimulate the imagination of my audience.

Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. Put away the pocket watch, the cape and the monocle -- those are strictly for old movie buffs. Yet I do miss Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price and the rest of crew...(sigh). Does anyone remember Bobby "Boris" Pickett and THE MONSTER MASH? Well --




Note: If, for any reason, a video player does not miraculously appear in the space above, simply click on this link and crank up your speakers. (Tell them Dougie sent you):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0R_oDEvYUY


For more details, please visit Douglas' TNNW Bio.

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SENDING SIGNALS: Powerful Subconscious and Subliminal Enhancements.

MOST MEMORABLE QUOTE OF THE WEEK...

"Marketing is what you must do in order to get to the people. News Releases and publicity are the things you have to do in order to get the people to come to you."


-- Douglas Castle

http://aboutDouglasCastle.blogspot.com

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MOST MEMORABLE QUOTE OF THE WEEK...

SALES AND MARKETING: Tackling Turbulence Head On

Sales and Marketing with Bill Doerr

15 Second Executive Summary

The economy is forcing business owners into 1 of 2 camps -- those who see the challenging economy and are doing nothing and those who see the same economy and choose to do something about it. The second group are more likely to survive and thrive than the first group. Why are some owners in the first group and not the second one?

They seem to have forgotten that success is, before all else, a choice. Some owners defer making any deliberate choices and will be forced to accept whatever consequences their choices suggest. Others, more proactive (and just as concerned) will do things that maintain or grow their business today and will cause them to be more successful when the economy turns around. Which group are you going to be in? The choice . . . is yours.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I have to comment on something I'm noticing with an increasing and alarming regularity.

It's a variation on the biological imperative to choose, when faced with a serious threat to your life, between 'flight' or 'fight'.

As we're now well into the second half of 2009, I'm observing that a number of smaller business owners are making a decision (intentionally or not) on how they're responding to the challenge of our rather turbulent economy.

Basically, there are two (2) camps of thinking that seem to be emerging:

1. owners who are 'staying the course' and 'doing nothing new' to market their business, and
2. owners who are choosing to 'do something' to market their business in this economy

Those who are choosing to 'hunker down' and 'stay the course' in the hope that they will 'survive the storm' are making a risky choice between action and in-action. If they have a lot of money in savings, they may be able to afford to exercise that choice. But not all of us have that option. Even worse, many owners are exercising the 'do nothing new' option -- whether they can afford to or not.

Other owners who decide, as Hamlet once said, "To take arms against a sea of troubles and, by opposing, end them . . ." regardless of their resources, are far more likely to not only survive the economic turbulence we're in at the moment but thrive better than most when it ends, as well.

Quick diversion . . . when I was a pilot in training

there were certain times (during instrument flight training) that you learn you must 'trust the instruments, NOT your body'. Why? Absent visual cues (like the horizon) when you're 'in the clouds', your equilibrium becomes unreliable very quickly.

You 'feel' like you're listing to the right so you 'correct' to the left. That 'feels' correct -- to your body. In fact, you 'feel' you're flying 'straight'. But you're not. You're actually in a left bank and turning to the left rather than proceeding on a straight course.

Eventually, relying on your 'feelings' rather than your instruments, you'll find yourself in what is known to pilots as the 'graveyard spiral'. Your slight turn to the left actually reduces your aircraft's lift factor (it's aerodynamic stuff and I won't bore you with that!) so you begin to lose altitude. Whether you can read your instruments for instrument conditions or not, even beginning pilots learn to watch their altitude / altimeter.

When you notice you're losing altitude, the 'obvious' response is to "pull back on the stick or yoke'. When you're in level flight, that raises your plane's nose and makes your aircraft climb. Hence, you gain (back) altitude. But once you're in a turn, however slight, pulling back on the stick only tightens your turn. Ironically, that 'feels' the same (to your body) as when you're climbing -- you feel yourself being pushed down into your seat. But it's not gravity making you 'feel' that sensation; it's centrifugal force (you're in a turn, remember?). At this point, non-instrument trained, inexperienced pilots notice that they're losing altitude more rapidly. So they 'pull back on the stick' hoping to re-gain valuable altitude. But it seems to work in exactly the opposite manner. The more they 'correct' their altitude loss, the more altitude they're losing.

Eventually, this becomes a viscious cycle that makes the aircraft (and, the hapless pilot and any unfortunate passengers) enter such a tight turn that either the aircraft suffers structural damage and is lost or, the plane is flown all the way down into the ground (or, the sea as happened to John F. Kennedy, Jr off Martha's Vineyard, MA not too long ago).

OK, back to today's challenging economy . . .

If you, like most of us in entrepreneur-land, find this economy isn't the same as it was about a year ago, your response to it may not be all that different than the pilot who doesn't understand the 'best' course of action under changing flight conditions.

Today, while the tendency of many business owners and solopreneurs is to 'do nothing' different than they've done in the past, I submit that may be just as deadly as pilots who do the wrong thing at the wrong time in flight.

What is called for now is action, not IN-action. But appropriate action. And that would be . . . to proactively market your business in a manner that reflects:

1. a candid, honest understanding of your business -- strengths AND weaknesses,
2. the marketplace you seek to attract and serve, and
3. a proven and systematic plan for taking coordinated actions to market your business or practice services . . . effectively

Doing 'no thing' IS a decision. And, it may be the best decision you can make. At times. But it's usually not a deliberate decision as much as it's a defaultdecision because many of us are simply not being proactive about the 'sea of troubles' on the horizon that are waiting for anyone who's in business in 2009.

My Respectful Recommendation . . . Do Something . . . By Design, Not Default

As tempting as it is to 'do nothing' and 'hope this economic storm blows over' that strategy is just as deadly to your business as a 'graveyard spiral' is to an inexperienced pilot.

As difficult . . . scary . . . unsettling . . . makes-me-feel-like-throwing-up . . . as it may 'feel' to you . . . DO SOMETHING to market your business . . . by design, not accident.

Staying the course, given the current economy, is probably not the best course of action you can take these days. Remember the old saying, "Doing what you've always done isn't going to get you anything different". Today, that can also get you killed. Times have changed. We must change, too. Or, suffer the consequences.

Doing what you did to market your business in the past may need some adjustments to make your business remain successful in these turbulent days.

Yes, you risk making a mistake when you do something new. And none of us want to make mistakes. But remember that doing nothing is still a decision to do something -- 'nothing'. And doing 'nothing' has it's own consequences -- positive and negative. But they're not consequences you're creating. They're consequences you're being forced to accept because you're delegating your responsibility to make decisions and take actions for your own success.

No one has 'all the answers' to this economy or the best ways to respond to it for your business. But please . . . don't do no-thing because you didn't already consider doing some-thing else. At least make doing no-thing a deliberate and thoughtfully considered decision. It might be the correct course of action for you and your business. But for many, like Hamlet said, "taking arms against a sea of troubles . . ." will be far more likely to end them.

So . . . do your homework . . . seek the counsel of your trusted advisors . . . then do some-thing to market your business or practice. Yes, even if it is no-thing. But do it deliberately. You and your business will come through these challenging times and yes, you WILL be better for it when (not if) the economy eventually improves.

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Bill Doerr is CCO of SellMore Marketing. He helps professionals and other service providers to market their problem-solving expertise simply, effectively and affordably.

You can reach him at www.sellmoremarketing.com, by email atbilld@sellmoremarketing.com or by phone at 860-798-6964.

For more please see Bill's TNNW Bio.

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SALES AND MARKETING: Tackling Turbulence Head On

Thierry Mazué: A real entrepreneur!

By Thierry Mazué

One of my favorite distractions during the summer holidays is to go to Spain which is very close to where I stay in august (Perpignan).

The precious region called Catalunya (located in the north of Spain, main city: Barcelona).

I went to Girona, a very old city, a fantastic cathedral built in 1733, the very first caballistic school of Europe, a some great shops! After walking for a couple of hours in the oldest part of town, we needed to find a restaurant for lunch.

Chance, magic, luck - call it whatever you want - some encounters must happen.

I've met Sebastian Oliva Pla, owner of the Mar Plaça (literraly Sea Plazza).

The gentleman kindly welcomed us, and quickly told us: "I am going to tell you everything we propose." He then started the most brilliant presentation of all the meals the restaurant was proposing, giving us all the details of the elaboration of the finest ones.

I can tell you : he was really proud of the quality of the products he was offering, all being 1st class, top quality. Most fishes are fished in the area. Vegetables are brought to him by his friend that works at the regional market - always the very best quality.

He is not the cook. But he knows exactly how all the meals are cooked, from a filet of quail to lobsters, it has been an enchantment!

Some of his customers own 3 stars restaurants in France and Belgium and come to him to enjoy fishes cooked by the chef, Sebastian's wife. A young couple was having lunch for the second time in the week.

Based on people's reactions during his presentation, Sebastian will set up a menu for you, combining meals on the fly. And no, it's going to be too much if you take this first course and this plate...

I've had the privilege to meet an expert, capable to communicate his passion about what he does (and has been doing very successfuly for over 20 years) for a living.

For more information, please visit Thierry's TNNW Bio.

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Thierry Mazué: A real entrepreneur!