Sunday, April 17, 2011

PINK FIRE - "Outfitting Business"

What to wear, what to wear... Oh My!  Picking out the right outfit is time consuming when where you are going is important to you.  Slanging hangers to and fro, finding out what size you really are when grunting and pulling and buttoning take place (large or small), and ensuring that you feel as good as you look, this is what matters most, feeling as good as you look.  Do clothes define you, well they damn sure make a difference in who approaches you and how they do so... or not.  In the book, Ladies Are Hustlers Too, I had the honor of being one of several literary guest authors and my chapter, chapter 2 was righfully so entitled:  Image Is Everything.  With a modeling (runway) background, and having a knack for fashion, I always knew to "invest into my look and the investment will yield a profitable return", without all the philisophical mumbo jumbo, it means you get free stuff for being beautiful, yes, even from women.  So all I had to do was look my best and receive the rest.  Being, looking, feeling and acting beautiful has awarded me "in" a many of doors.  I had to get comfortable with this due to my mother forever warning me as I have matured into womanhood, "Beauty is a handicap".  I ride a short PINK bus whereever I go, so yes, Mother was right. 

Beauty is a dual if not multi curse/blessing.  You will be hated for it and loved for it, others will expect it and disrespect it, some will award you, others will demote you, etc.  Beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, it is the actual eye. 

PERCEPTION
What women go through to be beautiful is ridiculous, yet the rituals persist.  Will your beauty attract a man or the eye of the man?  Yes, but will it keep him?  No.  Beauty only gets you so far, therefore outfitting it may be a bit more time cosuming because with looks either you have them or you don't.  Face it, looks (outside) are genetically distributed and have no true value in who gets them and who does not.  It can be some or one in an entire family at any given point.  What are you going to offer besides beauty (inside & out)?

When in doubt, dress it up.  I went to college with a young lady who walked around the campus as though the beauty queen contest was started by her, and her alone.  She was not the prettiest bulb on the tree, but she had this attitude about her that made you look, and no it was not an immature game, it was the real deal.  She was sexy in her mind, therefore her actions and ways were too.  She knew her genetics were not all the way in her favor, but she carried herself in such a way that her "looks" were nice in those clothes, in that walk, in her talk, and her character.  You see it all the time, beautiful people with ugly attitudes who become uglier than the ugliest of people and ugly people who you want to personally wrap up and send to a few people as gifts of apprecation.  There must be more to it, and it must take place in the imagination.  My son always asks, when he sees an ugly man with a beautiful woman, "Mommy why is she with him?"  I say because she imagines better things of him.  To him, the looks do not add up, therefore the intentions do not either.  Think about it when it comes to choosing an outfit.

Ugly person A is wearing a very nice outfit, is nice, and carries themselves with class.

Pretty person A is wearing some ragedy clothes and smells weird.

Now UA is going to get more respect than PA, PA still will get more attention of attraction, but the comfort level goes to UA due to the outfit and imaging factor.

What is the point?
The point is to pick your thoughts like your outfits.  No matter how beautiful you are or the circumstance, no matter how ugly you are or the situation, you can still pick your outfit, likewise, pick your thoughts.  Your thoughts are to be chosen, not running for office.  Your words carry you around.  Your actions lead up to how your funeral and what comes thereafter will be.  Your intentions show you the truth about yourself. 

As in chosing your clothes, pick your thoughts, as in chosing your travels pick your words, as in chosing your legacy pick your actions always accessorize with your intentions - Dr. O.K.

In business you must truly pick your thoughts, words, and actions and always mind your intentions.  This takes training some will be endurance, some cardio, some yoga, some weights, some dieting, some nutrition, nevertheless, work it out.  Picking your outfits at times may be stressful, fun, therapudic and the same goes for your thougths, but I bet you will look amazing when it is all said & done.   

PINK FIRE is wearing our best O.U.T.F.I.T.: ORGANIZE.UTILIZE.TRANSFORM.FUEL.INSPIRE.TEACH

Friday, April 15, 2011

PINK FIRE - "Business IS Personal"

"This is business, don't take it personal", the lamest most unfulfilling statement made in the world of entrepreneurship.  A business has soul as much as a human, and the spirit of business is alive and kicking, so move or get bruised.  Anyone who has started a company from the ground up, feels the pulse of their business and watches it grow into life as time goes on.  A business plan is always mentioned to be a "living" document, meaning it is ever changing and growing.  Businesses die, they grow up, they live, they speak, they change, they expand, they move, just like us humans, so I will say it again, a business has soul as much as a human, and the spirit of business is alive and kicking.

Business IS personal.  A good associate of mine, Hotep authored a book entitled:  The Hustler's 10 Commandments and on commandment number 6, he states, "Business IS Personal".  Now Hotep's reasoning for stating this as one of his commandments are of his own, I would like to add my personal flare to the flame.  How many people can truly do business (at most for the long haul) with someone they despise, or do not feel totally comfortable with?  When people are in business with those they do not fully have a personal connection with, they have a broken tie hanging in the balance.  Now imagine that someone takes a contract and breaks it, or doesn't pay you what you deserve, you will take that very personal.  Watch this, I bet you won't go to an event they invite you to nor root them on when they have something good happen to them  (unless you are going to get your money of course).  Face it, Business IS Personal and when you build slight personal bonds when doing business, they do not have to be matrimonial, however slight bonds does in fact aid in the business arena. 

Taking It Personal

  • When your so-called business partner does deals and has endeavors going on that you just so happen to find out about and they think you are going to continue in such a fashion.
  • When your client tells you they will pay you and never intend to do so and their actions follow suit.
  • When your staff complain behind your back and knock the effects of production down to a bare non-existence. 
  • When your friends and family put you down or only deal with you because of what you are and are not doing to, with, and for them (when dealing in your business).
  • When you are working with those who allow their own desires and passion to overpower your sense of humanity. 
  • When someone says they cannot/will not pay you, but you find them purchasing something new or doing a new business endeavor around the same amount you could be compensated for.
  • When someone has a product or service of yours and doesn't give you a copy of it because they choose otherwise, but still network with your business associates and staff members.
  • When no one will assist you financially, resourcefully, yet tell you how talented you are and we love this one:  no one is giving funding right now.
  • When people show up late or are no shows to meetings (especially when they are truly life-changing). 
  • When people would rather go party and waste time at non-relevant events and endeavors than to strategize and organize a great project or production.
  • When people with money, know you need assistance and call you just to shoot the breeze.
  • When people micromanage you.
  • When people misoverstand that you are focused on business, certain business, and then get an attitude with you because you do not have time for their nonsense.
  • When people do not utilize common universal sense to effectively communicate (there are truly no excuses in THE INFORMATION AGE with text, email, skype, YouTube, morris code, phone, Internet, snail mail, two-way, drums, pigeons, hawks, etc., etc., etc.)
  • When people act like they can and want to do business, keep in touch with you and nothing comes of it within a year or in some cases years.  (having business meeting after meeting and no progress)
  • When people say they are going to do something and do not, then run off and leave you high and dry.
  • When staff members do not take the initiative, perform research, and most importantly treat business like it is their own.
  • When businesses treat consumers and staff like peons.
  • When networking, and someone is focused on the wrong thing (your body/sex) so much the opportunity is missed because of biological challenges.
  • When you offer assistance/service to someone and they take you for granted.
  • When people sale you something useless and then want to keep doing business with you.
  • When people do not follow up!

Surely there are more reasons to state that business IS personal such as when you cannot trust someone with your bank account, your child, your clothes, please do not expect to trust them with your company and business dealings.  Watch people, how they treat themselves, how they work with others and surely they will eventually do and treat you in the same manner.  When you cannot trust someone personally, you cannot trust them professionally and vice/versa.

It is very important and down right intuitive to watch how people treat and deal in their personal lives as they will mimic this same behavior, in ways in their professional lives.  People who put business over their family for a moment are just focused.  People who put business over their family always are disconnected and must consider a balance or tipping the scale, or getting rid of it all together. 

Watch people in business and see if it matches them in their personal lives, it is said time and time again, "I keep my personal life very separate from my professional one."  This sounds all fine and well pure, however there is no way in our new age society where it takes who you know and often how they know you to simply get your foot in the door.  You who say you keep your business life separate may do so in some ways, confidentiality and alter egos do exist, however, the concept is all the same

The reflection of your professionalism is directly from how you deal personally and in some case do not deal personally (meaning you may be abusive at home and know it is wrong so you get to the office/work and act like you are the nicest person possible).  I mean are you going to swear and drink and smoke in front of your boss or at the business meeting?  No, so yes, here you are not bringing your "personal" life to the business world.  Are you going to ask your husband/wife/child to confirm dinner via email, no, we should sometimes, but this is keeping your business acumen out of the way of home.  Sure, there must be some type of balance somewhere.  There will be months where all you can do is business and others where the family stays on top, but they will coincide and it will come up in your professional life, what effects you in your personal one.  These Siamese twins are different yet stuck together for medical purposes.  Face it, or in this context head or body it. 

When you see a male/female "acting" business-like during the day and all Vegas-risque' at night, they are living a double life and that is fine, however it will catch up and it will need to be brought into perspective as it can only last so long before it wears them out or someone finds out.  The faithful husband/wife, poses to be more loyal to their employers, the dedicated worker doesn't mind putting in a little extra when dealing in personal relationships, the slacker is a slacker no matter where they are and if they are slacking at the job and performing like a champ at home, they may want to consider a stay-at-home position.  This looks bad in business to see, experience and deal with slackers, so send them home to be the champ they are when they are not at work.  Yes, remember take this personal.

Business is personal and is a living entity, with a soul, a pulse, and growth, so to the owners, raise your business how you expect it to grow and it will always flourish after this manner (even when it closes down).  Staff members, ask your employer to make you partner, but first, act partnerish and when they do not, make arrangements to go where your value out does their passion and desire. 

- The Personal Biz

Thursday, April 7, 2011

PINK FIRE–“The Mother Business”

Single mothers are all over the world, doing what they do best, holding things together.  Imagine single mothers who own and operate their own business, this is a reality show worth watching and I am certainly the star of it.  There’s the guilt, the time, the accomplishments, the rewards, the praise, the wonder, and the amazement all in a bundle of such a feat.  Am I teaching my son anything by me being a female business owner?  What assistance is there specifically for women business owners who are raising families alone?  Sure, there probably are organizations who support such a cause, but I mean who specializes in it?  What programs are loudly announced for your single parent self to be an entrepreneur?  Well creating ways out of no ways is my way.  The Omai Way is not a street, or a lane, it is an entire community.  This community gets their key specific needs taken care of at all times.  Yes, a perfect world it is.  Being an affiliate of “The Mother Business” is not a pretty badge.  It is scruffy and sticks when it wants to and falls at other times, but nevertheless, it does speak a title into existence:  I gave birth to a child, I gave birth to a business and I am going to raise it, the end dot

We love our children and some of us have a business that may honestly need more attention than a child would seem to so the on search for balance is not the tight rope, but like a noose.  We never want to be hanging in there, don’t you cringe when people tell you that as the noose grows tighter around your neck, “Hang in there.”  A perfect response is, “No, cut me down.”   Freedom is important when you are going through challenges.  A key to freedom I teach is:  Completion.  Have you ever gotten started with the million dollar idea or endeavor and could not finish.  Come on, I am not the only one.  Or how about when you are working and working and see so much progress you feel guilty that you are needing people to watch your child for you while you go make it happen?  Yes, guilt, business women with children will feel guilty to go get that great big contract when a little one wants your small attention.  What do we do?  Well first and foremost we are a mother, but our motherhood does advance into the business world and your child will welcome their virtual sibling with open arms when they are included. 

Inclusitivity
Here are some simple points to including your children (no matter the age) in your daily activities. 

Hire them.  Yes, my 10 year old gets paid 3 dollars to calculate my financials from time to time, $5 to keep my home office clean, $5 to read business documents to me out loud to ensure they are expressive, simple and edited verbally, $3 to rub my feet while I work, and much more.  This can go on their resume, and yes, children can have resumes.  Do not leave educational institutions in charge of the financial aspect of your children’s lives.  They don’t even get paid enough themselves.  No, we are not overworking our children, but we do need to keep them involved.  Take them out for the company appreciation dinners as a reward.  Promote them and treat them like partners, not employees and they will respect what you do even when they do not like it.

Educate them.  Teach them about your business by having them read your articles which are published about you.  Watch your commercials and company videos.  Show them how to do something specific in your business as you are doing it.  Yes, you may have to slow down taking speed off of your production, however the quality you are pushing out is tremendous and multi-fold. 

Vacation them.  You need a vacation and they will too.  Tell them, “This is trip (or meal, or gift, etc.) is paid for my company just for us.”  Show them that your company is providing them with stability and fun.  When children see that your company is their friend, like a big brother or sister, they will not mind as much, the attention you share with it because it is apart of their lives too. 

Visit them.  Take your company to their events, schools, and activities.  Become a sponsor where applicable.  Most certainly participate in career day at their school (if you cannot go, send a representative on your behalf with a treat from Mommy).  Do business in their room.  This means, your computer business, take it in their room while they watch television and play.  This shows your presence, yes your attention is more impactful, however, your presence is so appreciated.  If they are too loud, find something you can do in their room or that they can do in your office which is comfortable for you.  Phone calls are a different story, sure you need to be able to deal with clients and other businesses professionally, but when you can do something where the phone is not involved by all means do it near your child (even at the park).

Service them.  What can your company do for your child?  They can be your charitable client.  Create ways to make your child feel and know they are important by doing something with and for them through your products and services.  Use your child in commercials and marketing material where applicable (shy children make good background extras).  Let your child be your logo as much as possible.  Parents mustn’t play favorites, so don’t do so with a business to child sibling relationship either.
Keep up the great work Moms!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

PINK FIRE - "Fueling Her Up"

Fuel is our entire connotation here at Pink FireSee my fire, provide the fuel the end dot

How many times have you just wished that someone would see you, the real you?  We know that when is more important than how and when is always now.  Not because it rhymes, but because it makes sense.  When is always now!  WHEN someone sees your fire and really respects it, they will automatically provide the fuel.  You are in motion, you are going to need to maintain it and those who are not willing to be apart of that maintenance are not necessary to your journey.  Business is personal.  You do need to know how to separate your emotions and feelings from your thought process and actions, but business is personal.  The personal aspect of business is when someone sees your light and tries to A.  dim it with their self in mind, B. keep it covered through shades and masks, C. see it and ignore it, D. let it flow and get you some fuel to keep it upWe are D-ing it all the way!  We do not want to give attention to the other letters whatsoever, but we know they are surely possible, let us not make them probable though. 

When someone sees your fire and the fire is meaningful, purposeful, and life-giving, they will be happy to get the fuel.  This means you having your transportation device (you & your business) in top shape.  We are not speaking of cosmetics, but the integral parts moreover.  The Pink Fire Foundation requires all applicants and members to have completed 9 points in our FEMI-9 Program.  FEMI-9 is necessary in the world of business and the only way you are going to be able to enter the dance at all.  FEMI-9 is your world-class ticket into the business world, look out, you are in!

Fueling Her Up is about you having yourself ready for the fuel.  It was said one day, "Don't shine your light, that can be blinding and distracting, aim your light, this allows you to target what needs to be exposed and how, while everything else remains as is, for now.  Shining means you have your bells and whistles looking good for the noise, but aiming means that there can be no sound at all and your point is still made exactly the way it needs to be made.  Fueling Her Up is about an aim and we will give you the 9 points to get your handle steady.  FEMI-9, Female Entrepreneur Money Institution is in essence, a bank (fuel reserve) like most foundations.  This "reserve" fuels women owned & operated businesses who have completed these 9 points:

POINT 1 - Business Plan www.sba.gov
POINT 2 - Secretary of State filing (incorporated/charter) www.sos.gov
POINT 3 - Tax-ID (federal EIN) www.irs.gov
POINT 4 - DUNNS www.dnb.com
POINT 6 - Have a business checking account (get credit card processing please!)
POINT 7 - Have a company presence:  website/logo/staff/promotional materials/client database
POINT 8 - Be 1,000% ready to file any trademarks, copyrights, patents, licenses.
POINT 9 - Sign up for The Pink Fire lottery
*Here you are required to:  Apply the fuel.  Become an alumni.  Share the wealth.
Here are some fuel injections which have caused me to run with a clean system:
"Don't run for office, let them elect you."
"You pick your clothes, likewise, pick your thoughts"
"What's your mentality?  Pray. Free. Beautiful!"
"The soulutions never leave, but the questions will always come"
"The Universe is like water, it moves and flows on your behalf, dive in"
"There's no need for plan b because you have a diverse plan a"
"Stop, Drop & Write"
"We must rethink our misguided thoughts considering material wealth as being equated with sin. We must drive out our subconsciously rooted thoughts of poverty, condemnation and despair. God acts in concordance with our conscience; If our thoughts are filled with poverty and despair, God cannot bless us with material blessing."
"Have more jamais vu experiences (leave de ja vu be)"

Stay fueled!

Monday, April 4, 2011

PINK FIRE - "Time's Sake"

How is not important, it is when and when is always now!  Welcome to Pink Fire.  This blog is going to give you multimedia tips from the Author of READ MY BOOK! an inspirational self-education guide to multimedia, by Omai Karathrobei Kofi.  Our organization knows full well that everyone in business will never run out of the need for financing, that's for sure.  Pink Fire Foundation is here as a filling station as we are the only institution where women in motion of their business are able to come to for financial support whether in start-up or in current operation through a lottery system.  *No prior credit, experience, and "who you know", it is all about timing with us.  Timing tells us more than ever that a woman who has done all of the leg work to owning an operating a business is truly worth the investment, because it takes sincerity, dedication and application of quality time when done properly, and that is good enough for us to support her. 

Being in motion does take a good vehicle, dependable engine, and some great wheels, but how are you going to get anywhere without your fuel?  Everything in motion takes fuel, including you, and in the business sector anorexia is a plague.  The one area we don't need Dr. Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Challenge is in our finances.  One thing we do need however is a great relationship with Father Time.  Think about it, when your timing belt goes out on your vehicle, you can have full tank of gas, and not be able to move.  So we have some "Time's Sake" task for you to do while you are in business to keep the engine fresh and on point. 

Pink Fire Philosophy
Those who are in need, will receive what they are willing to retrieve.  You have to do the work and the Universe will cause everything to come into alignment with you.  Here our descriptive philosophy is to:

THINK PINK
                                                                       SPEAK RED
                                                                       ACT BLACK
                                                                      WEAR WHITE
                                                                     HONOR GOLD
                                                                    CREATE PURPLE

Think it, speak it, act it, wear it, honor it, and create it.  Let us try that again:  your thoughts are spoken to become actions which become your environment covering you which you must respect and get into alignment with as you keep the flow revolutionized, evolutionized, solutionized and revitalized.  Think.  Speak. Act. Wear. Honor. Create.  The colours are a whole other topic, but they represent the Pink Fire Foundation in a spectacular way.

Sure, Pink Fire is for those in need of money, however, we would like you to learn to maintain, not have money.  Maintenance is in your thoughts, language, and actions of money.  Getting rid of stinking thinking is going to set you apart from other entrepreneurs and get you to unprecedented levels within your goals and aspirations in business.  Maintenance also comes from keeping your business on point in the public eye as much as in your back office.  Risk takers are those brave enough to admit, they don't know what in the world they are doing, all they know to do is to do something and do it for something.  Pink Fire is comprised with many risk takers who, on your behalf, are willing to get the fuel so your motion is necessarily steady and forward.  Here are some practical points to apply in business:

Pink Fire "Time's Sake"

Daily AccomplishmentsKeep a record via audio of your daily accomplishments.  Why audio?  So you can remain on the go and replay the sound of your own voice announcing your accomplishments.  Hearing from others is wonderful, encouraging and empowering, but hearing from yourself is enlightening, cleansing, and free.  Get you a voice recorder anywhere from $10 (used) - $100 (new).

Weekly UpdatesKeep a record via documentation of your weekly updates, i.e. a calendar.  Let people know what you are doing and how they can partner, assist and join you.  Some of you may love Twitter, others like Facebook, maybe you just want to text it.  Either way, communicate weekly updates to your staff and the public where applicable.  Have a set of businesses who are your confided resource partners and keep them posted of what you are doing and of where you are going.  Email them your weekly updates, you never know what a blessing you could be to them.  Get you an intern or volunteer to keep up with this. 

Monthly MeetingsKeep a record via live video of your monthly meetings.  Start your company documentary.  Come on, with all of the reality shows and televised media at our finger tips including Youtube, the possibilities of video are endless and lucrative.  $ponsors may want to join in on the fun?  These meetings may not discuss trade secrets or confidential points of business, rather allow you to mingle in person with your staff and public where applicable.  You may want to take all of the footage at the end of the year and make you and hour "special" and let the world know what you are doing?  This way, when you get media air time, you have done a lot of the leg work and have greater control over what is aired.  Get you some college students or a family video person to take care of this for you, pay for his gas, or something nice; the *barter system works really well you know it is a multimillion dollar business too...   
Quarterly AppreciationKeep a record of tangible appreciation to the public.  Word of mouth advertising is free gift yet brings in a high-dollar return.  Get survey information from those receiving your tangible appreciation and post it online.  When people are tangibly appreciated, your marketing budget gets to unbutton their waistline and relax.  People who feel appreciated do more without wanting more.  Pink Fire Foundation is greatly supported by The Appreciation Company and looking at their name, we know what they do.  They began The Appreciation Movement where consumers and staff are rewarded for keeping Big Business functional and making company brand's expand in our world.  Get you an appreciation departmentwww.2468consumer.com    

Annual CelebrationKeep a record of a public display which has an inclusive array of your year open to the world.  Hard work does pay off and rewarding yourself and those around you is not only healthy, it is vital to survival.  This celebration does not have to be lavish and luxurious (unless you have it like that), but it does need to happen.  At a park, at a museum, at a house, on a boat, it doesn't matter.  Celebration is something which heals, reveals, and motivates.  You may choose to feed the homeless, clean up the city or just jam it out at the end of the year, but get in the habit of gracing each year with your celebration and you will notice that the expectations of the years following stay steady and become more and more necessary while you inspire and leave your legacy.  Get you a good connection with a hotel, park, convention hall or something; *barter...

... Be like time, keep it moving!

       Omai Kofi
       "Dr. O.K."
Founder and President
 Pink Fire Foundation
  "Fueling Her Up"
  www.pinkfire.org
  ok@pinkfire.org
 (800) 254 - PINK

PINK FIRE "Blazing The World, Fueling Our Nation"