Posted by Elena del Valle on October 7, 2011
Have a Nice Conflict book cover
Photos: News & Experts
For most of us conflict is part of daily life. At home and at work, with friend and colleagues most people an constantly exposed to conflicts or potential conflicts. Recent research, according to Tim Scudder, CPA, suggests that the top reason people leave their jobs is because of a poor relationship with their immediate supervisors.
Scudder, chief executive officer, Michael Patterson, Ed.D., vice president of business development, and Kent Mitchell, vice president of communications, of Personal Strengths Publishing, Inc., an international firm that prepares companies and their executives to better deal with conflict in the workplace, believe it is possible to prevent conflict.
Anticipate, prevent, identify, manage and resolve are the five steps they propose to prevent conflict. It is their opinion that conflict can become an opportunity to resolve long-standing issues and lead to more fulfilling and productive lives.
Tim Scudder, coauthor, Have a Nice Conflict
In Have a Nice Conflict: A Story of Finding Success and Satisfaction in the Most Unlikely Places (Personal Strengths Publishing, $19.95), a book they coauthored and published this year, they present a fictional conflict case study to address the conflict process.
“Unresolved or poorly managed conflict costs companies is ways they can’t even calculate,” said Scudder. “Lost institutional memory, low productivity, bad morale, high turnover all cost real companies real dollars. On the other hand, well-managed conflict can not only prevent all those losses, but it can also promote higher productivity and a stronger bottom line. So, the end result will not only be fewer conflicts, but also nicer ones with positive results.”
The 233-page hardcover book is divided into ten chapters. The three authors illustrate conflict issues by presenting Relationship Awareness Theory through the conflicts faced by John Doyle, a fictional character. They believe the character’s approach to conflict leads to positive results that resolve problems and “enhance the relationships of the people involved.”
Michael Patterson, Ed.D., coauthor, Have a Nice Conflict
Some of the suggestions shared in John’s Notebook at the end of the book include seeking to work well with others, helping to make people feel worthwhile, meeting others where they are and building the relationship whenever possible.
Click to buy Have a Nice Conflict
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Posted by Elena del Valle on October 5, 2011
By Jennifer Dublino, chief operating officer, Scent Marketing Institute
Jennifer Dublino, chief operating officer, Scent Marketing Institute
Photo: Scent Marketing Institute
Go to any Latin American country or Latino community in the U.S. and you will find that you are immersed in a multi-sensory experience. Colors seem more vibrant, music more dramatic, tastes more distinctive and the smells more heady.
I was born in Miami, and while not a Latina myself, grew up immersed in a delicious mix of various South and Central American and Caribbean cultures, with Cuban being predominant. Along with their close family ties and warmth, one of the things I love about Latinos is their passion for fully experiencing the world through the senses.
While each of the senses, to one extent or another, influences our behavior and mood, scent is the most powerful of our five senses after sight. Yet, when it comes to marketing, scent is often neglected in favor of solely visual and audio messages. When brands want to appeal to the large and growing Hispanic market in the US, this narrow use of the senses can be a big mistake.
Read the entire article Scent Marketing Connects to Hispanics on a Deep Cultural Level
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 3, 2011
2010 college population – click to enlarge
Marketers and businesses targeting college youth should be aware that the demographic profile of college students is shifting. For many this is not surprisingly given the 2010 United States Census results. Last year there were 320,000 fewer non Hispanic whites in college compared to the year before. At the same time, the number of Hispanics in college for the same period increased by more than the decrease of non Hispanic whites.
There are approximately 12.2 million students attending higher educational institutions in the United States according to the Census. Of those about 1.8 million are Hispanics attending for profit and non profit institutions.
In 2009, there were 2,286,261 Hispanic undergraduate and graduate students at non profit institutions in the United States and Puerto Rico. By 2010 that number had increased to 2,476,417 resulting in an increase of 190,156, according to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). That organization’s source of data is Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Pew Hispanic Center Reports, The Condition of Education 2011, and the Digest of Education Statistics 2010.
Antonio Flores, Ph.D., president and CEO, HACU
“We have seen a steady increase in the number of Hispanics entering higher education over the last several decades. The only surprising thing about this year’s increase is its size. Such a large one year increase in Hispanic enrollments underlines the importance of acting now to assure college and career readiness for this population which already makes up half of those entering the American workforce today but are still handicapped by low college attendance and completion rates,” said Antonio Flores, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, HACU.
The Census data reflects 350,000 new Hispanic students attending college, a 24 percent increase between 2009 and 2010. That number is higher than the 190,156 increase above because it includes for profit and non profit organizations.
The largest increase of students in non-profit institutions from 2009 to 2010 was in California (71,952), Texas (52,464), New Mexico (5,538), New Jersey (5,428), and Florida (5,372). Hispanic student percentage distribution of fall 2009 enrollment: New Mexico, 42.4 percent; California, 30.3 percent; Texas, 29.7 percent; and Florida, 20.9 percent.
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 30, 2011
The Pursuit of Happiness book cover
Are wealthy people happier than poor and middle class people? Is a person’s state of happiness a reflection of his or her income? In other words, must income be tied to happiness? What is the relationship between the two? Is it more important to reduce misery or to improve a person’s emotional well being? Is well being tomorrow a good reason to sacrifice happiness today? Everyday people and veteran researchers continue to seek the answers to these questions, especially in the past decade.
This has prompted a burgeoning collaboration between economists and psychologists. Some countries have begun to examine and measure economic happiness issues and address their possible public policy implications. The Brazilian, British and French governments have established programs to measure happiness in relation to their country’s progress. From a big picture perspective this is a novel and controversial approach.
Should nations dedicate resources toward improving their citizens state of contentment or their economic well being? And in making those decisions is it better to focus on tomorrow’s or today’s welfare? Carol Graham, a researcher of “happiness economics” with a decade long track record, examines these issues in The Pursuit of Happiness: An Economy of Well-Being (Brookings Institution Press, $24.95), a 164-page hardcover book published this year.
The book is divided into five chapters: Happiness: A New Science, What We Mean by Happiness: A “Theory” of Agency and Well-Being, Happiness Around the World: What We Know, Adaptation and Other Puzzles, and GNH versus GNP?
Her international research and that of her colleagues has led her to what she calls the paradox of happy peasants and frustrated achievers, she explains in the first chapter. Around the globe she has found that poor people are on average less happy than wealthy people but very poor people often are very happy; poor people often say they are happier than the slightly wealthier among them and even the very rich.
In the absence of abject poverty (and in some cases excess wealth), health concerns, uncertainty, divorce, inflation and unemployment, it seems people across the world are amazingly resilient and adaptable; able to find a constant level of contentment (as defined by them in open ended survey responses), according to Graham.
She indicates that much evidence establishes that happy people are healthier and perform better in the labor market and may have a greater ability to lead purposeful lives than less happy people. Some happiness may be ideal, leading to contentment and purposefulness while too much happiness may lead to complacency, low performance at work.
Graham is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development and Charles Robinson Chair in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution. She is also College Park Professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. Her previous books include Happiness around the World: The Paradox of Happy Peasants and Miserable Millionaires, and Happiness and Hardship: Opportunity and Insecurity in New Market Economies.
Click to buy The Pursuit of Happiness
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Posted by Elena del Valle on September 28, 2011
By Lloyd Chapman
President
American Small Business League
Lloyd Chapman, president, American Small Business League
Photo: American Small Business League
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. There are more than 27 million of them and the latest U.S. Census Bureau data tells us that they create 90 percent of all net new jobs. Small businesses are responsible for half the private sector workforce, half of gross domestic product and more than 90 percent of U.S. exports. Also, 98 percent of U.S. companies have less than 100 employees. Yet policymakers either fail to realize this or flat out ignore it. Since 2009, small businesses have received a very small portion of stimulus dollars, while billions have gone to big banks and large corporations.
In 1953 Congress passed the Small Business Act, requiring a percentage of federal contracts to be awarded to small businesses (Currently set at 23 percent). This was a unique approach to economic stimulus. Congress basically decided to use the federal government, being the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, to stimulate the economy by directing infrastructure spending to the nation’s chief job creators.
Click to read the entire article Small businesses can fix economy if Washington lets them
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 26, 2011
Victor Siegel, CEO, VerveLife
Photo: VerveLife
A podcast interview with Victor Siegel, chief executive officer, VerveLife is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, he discusses the role of music in a marketing strategy with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Victor recently acquired AppliedSB hoping to create one of the leading technology-driven music marketing firms in the United States. Victor is responsible for all facets of VerveLife’s business operations such as long-term planning, financial management, marketing, product development, creative and acquisition strategy.
The newly-formed organization will be among the first to offer clients a full suite of music marketing strategy, technology and services and a catalog of four million tracks from major labels and significant independents in the United States.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Victor Siegel” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2011 section of the podcast archive.
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 23, 2011
It’s Not About You book cover
Photo: Higher Level Group
Bob Burg, sales executive, and John David Mann, who likes to write about business and leadership, co-authored The Go Giver and Go-Givers Sell More in the past. This week, their new book, It’s Not About You: A Little Story About What Matters Most in Business (Portfolio Penguin, $23.95), written as an inspirational fable designed to share wisdom about leadership and subtle influence, was published.
The 144-page softcover book is divided into 14 chapters: The Offer, The Question, The Top Floor, Influence, The Heart of the Operation, The Language of Strength, The Work, Being Muddy, Birth and Death, An Imprint on the Soul, Robbie, Chaos, The Speech, and The Chair; an end section with words of wisdom. An example is of those listed is “The best way to increase your influence is to give it away.”
Click to buy It’s Not About You
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Posted by Elena del Valle on September 21, 2011
By Neil Tortorella
Neil Tortorella
Photo: Courtesy of Neil Tortorella
Press and public relations (P.R.) can be two of the most powerful tools in a business’ marketing toolbox. When managed correctly, they add significant credibility for both the business and its key employees. Plus, p.r. is often less expensive than advertising and can be more believable. From the audience’s point-of-view, a well-placed story, article or interview can be seen as a third party endorsement of the company and/or its leaders.
A public relations program should begin with a simple question – What are you trying to accomplish? When the answer is sharply focused, sensible, strategic and attainable goals can be developed. Just like your business’ overall marketing efforts it all starts with a plan. What steps must you take to get there? Becoming a household name overnight probably isn’t likely, although it can happen. Targeting some local, regional or niche recognition might be a little more achievable.
Click to read the entire article The Potent Power of Press Relations
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 19, 2011
Getloaded.com Spanish language website – click to enlarge
Photos: Formula PR Inc.
In the United States, 8.9 million people are employed in trucking-related jobs; of those nearly 3.5 million are truck drivers, according to Truckinginfo.net, an online portal for the trucking industry established in 1995. The portal’s Trucking Statistics page indicates there are 15.5 million trucks in the United States; one of every nine of the truckers is independent and the majority are owner operators.
Executives at Getloaded, an internet freight matching service, and PM Publicidad Partners, an advertising and marketing services company, believe there are many bilingual and Spanish dominant people among the 370,000 Hispanic truckers nationwide. This past July, they launched Getloaded.com/espanol, a Spanish language version of the main Getloaded website, hoping to capture their attention.
“Getloaded prides itself on innovation and we’re excited to expand our services to include a Spanish-language, cutting edge platform to better support our clients as they seek to grow their business and avoid ‘deadhead’ miles,” said Jon Stier, director of sales and marketing, Getloaded.
Jon Stier, director of sales and marketing, Getloaded
According to promotional materials, users of the new website will have access to the full functionality of Getloaded, including unlimited load searching and truck posting, freight holder credit scores, immediate notification when loads match their search criteria, and routing and toll information. Ten percent of the employees at Getloaded are Hispanic.
Eduardo Perez, president, PM Publicidad
“From the research results, we have concluded that while the majority of Hispanic truckers are bilingual, they seek and prefer resources in Spanish,” said. Eduardo Perez, president, PM Publicidad. “The project was a transcreation of the English site with the aim to make it relevant for the Hispanic consumer. It was important to us and Getloaded that it wasn’t simply a translation of the English version.”
In making the decision to transcreate all 30 pages of their website into Spanish they relied on the Newport Communication 2005 Latino Truckers Survey which estimated that Hispanics represent approximately 25 percent of the owner and operator trucking segment in the United States. Also, PM Publicidad conducted ethnographic interviews and a quantitative survey to learn more about the profile of the Hispanic trucker.
Posted by Elena del Valle on September 16, 2011
Fast Media, Media Fast book cover
In the United States, the average household consumes eight hours or more a day of television plus web surfing, texting, social media and email, according to a recently published book*. Thomas W. Cooper, Ph.D., a specialist in media and culture, thinks people today rely too much on outside influences they receive from media and marketing messages. He advises reconnecting with others and being aware of media overload. In his most recent book, *Fast Media, Media Fast: How to clear your mind and invigorate your life in an age of media overload* (Gaeta Press, $19.95), published this year, he discusses media responsibility.
The idea, he explains in the Introduction, is to be an active participant instead of a viewer; to be a creator rather than a consumer. By abstaining from consuming media he seeks a rebirth of sorts that may allow him to get in touch with his creative side again. He invites readers to consider the idea of a temporary media fast as he has been doing periodically since 1989. At the end of the fast he, and those readers who follow his example, can choose how much media to introduce back into his life, how often, of what kind, for what purpose and so on.
The 225-page paperback book is divided into ten chapters and four parts: Taking a Personal Media Fast or Diet, Learning from the Fast, Group Fasting and The Ultimate Choice. It also includes two appendices, Personal Fasting and Group Fasting.
Cooper is professor of Visual and Media Arts at Boston’s Emerson College. Before joining the faculty at Emerson, Cooper taught at Harvard University and University of Hawaii. He is also speechwriter for Jochen Zeitz, chief executive officer, Puma. Cooper, a resident of Swampscott, Massachusetts, is the author or co-author of six previous books and one hundred academic and professional articles on media ethics and related topics.
Click to buy Fast Media, Media Fast
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