GBDN BLOG!

Dick Bruso is an accomplished speaker and branding expert, Dick presents entertaining high-content keynote speeches and workshops on creative branding, media relations, and strategic networking. He has helped create and implement powerful branding, marketing, media, and relationship-building strategies to position his clients to be “heard above the noise” in the marketplace.

He is an active member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), NSA/Colorado, and the Colorado Society of Association Executives (CSAE). Dick served as president of the NSA/Colorado Chapter for 2005-2006, and was a member of the NSA National PR Advisory Task Force and the Biola University Studio Task Force. He is, also, the recipient of both the 2007 Sabah Award for outstanding long-term contributions to NSA/Colorado and the CSAE 2003 Associate of the Year award. Dick currently serves as the Chair of the NSA Writers & Publishers PEG.

When: Saturday, July 24, 2010

Where:

NSA Georgia Chapter Meetings are held at

PIAG
5020 Highlands Parkway
Smyrna, GA  30082

PIAG is located approximately 2 miles outside I-285, off S. Cobb Drive (exit 15)

Time & Fees:

There are four parts to NSA Georgia Saturdays:

• Registration and networking starts at 8:30 AM
• Morning meetings begin at 9:00 and end at 12:15
  Annual membership prepays morning meeting fees.
  Guests pay $25 for the first visit, $50 for subsequent visits.
• Networking lunch is available from 12:15 to 1 o’clock
  Lunch is available to everyone for $10 with advance reservation.
• Afternoon workshops begin at 1:00 and end at 3:00 PM
  Afternoon workshops are $30 for members, $40 for guests.

For more information: Go the NSA-Georgia website.

Over 2,000 people have participated in David Cooper’s Customized Questions to INCREASE Your Income Training.  His word-for-word question templates are used with great success in over 100 different industries. They get immediate results!

This 4-hour session has been discounted from $47 to just $10.00!!!! This is an early bird special that ENDS WEDNESDAY JULY 7TH AT 5:00PM. Then the price goes to $47.00.

When: Thursday, July 8th,  2010

Where: Marriott Northwest, 200 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339

Ticket registration is: http://davidcooper.com/AtlantaSuccessSeminar.php Click on the video to see a message from David Cooper.

Host: Michael Moore, Executive Producer 404-667-4762 Sellbyphone@hotmail.com

Motivational Speaker Les Brown and Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond to Highlight DeKalb Chamber Everest Awards and Business Expo

Plans are underway for the DeKalb Chamber’s Inaugural Everest Awards and Business Expo set to take place on Friday, July 23, 2010 at the Emory University Conference Center. Taking its names from  the highest mountain on Earth above sea level, the event is dedicated to the recognition of small business and corporate diversity and responsibility. Operating in a trade show atmosphere, the one-day business networking extravaganza and conference will feature many of DeKalb County’s top small businesses and corporations as exhibitors and is sure to attract a wide diverse group of attendees. This event promises to provide a great opportunity to expose businesses to hundreds of potential clients and generate quality business leads. The highlight of the one day event will feature keynote remarks from Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond and renowned motivational speaker, author, and trainer Les Brown who will keynote the awards luncheon and expo respectfully.

“This years Everest Awards and Expo event is the perfect marketing channel for organizations offering business opportunities, franchises, advice or support services and investment opportunities.” commented DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Darryl Ford.  “It’s more than a celebration of success, it’s an awe-inspiring sensation recognizing accomplishments of those that contribute to enhancing the quality of life in DeKalb County in the midst of an economic downturn” added Ford, the Owner and General Manager of Stone Mountain Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Stone Mountain.

The event will begin at 11:30 with the luncheon and culminate with the expo that afternoon. Expo attendance is free to the public while luncheon costs are $75 for members and $90 for non-members. Sponsorship opportunities still remain as well. As  bonus, event sponsors will be treated to a private workshop and training by Brown the night before. Event registration and sponsorship details can be found by visiting www.dekalbchamber.org or calling Kim Davis Mitchell at 404-378-8000 ext 223.

About the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1938, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce is a membership based organization created to foster business development in DeKalb County. The mission of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce is to support, promote, and sustain business development in DeKalb County

David Cohen is owner and founder of Equation Arts. David is a savvy “Brand Therapist” who knows how to help you tell your story, promote your business, and get your business noticed. He discusses another tool to help you grow relationships and your profitability – mastermind groups.

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

The art of story telling has been around since ancient times and is still an innovative tool you can use to sell, promote, and make your business memorable.

Doug Stevenson is a master story teller. (Be sure to see his interview on the front page). He has developed the Story Theater Method to achieve maximum effect in telling your stories. Even better Doug is conducting a workshop in Atlanta. Here are the details:

Strategic Storytelling for Business, Training & Sales,                featuring The Story Theater Method with Doug Stevenson

A Presentation and Interactive Workshop Hosted by ASTD– Atlanta

• When you make a presentation, does your content stick?

• Do you engage attention in a way that compels attention and influences behavior?

• Would you like to be more comfortable telling stories?

LOCATION & TIMES

• Venue: to be determined, Atlanta, GA

• Monday, Dec. 6, 2010: Chapter Meeting: 5-8 pm. Doug presents an hour-long program.

• Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010: Doug’s Strategic Storytelling Workshop: 9 am-5 pm

Workshop includes cont. breakfast & lunch; and copy of book: Doug Stevenson’s StoryTheater Method.

Workshop Elements—Learn to:

• Choose your stories
• Craft your stories for impact
• Make one memorable point
• Use subtle acting techniques
• Add humor to your story
• Be engaging and memorable
• Perform a 2-character conversation
• Hold your audience’s attention
• Be amazing

Doug Stevenson is an entrepreneur, speaker, trainer and speaking coach. He is the creator of The Story Theater Method for strategic storytelling in business. He has delivered keynotes and workshops in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. His clients include Oracle, Aetna, Lockheed Martin and more.

For more information about Doug Stevenson, visit: www.storytelling-in-business.com

TUITION:

Meeting: ASTD and NSA members: $15, non-members: $35

Workshop: ASTD and NSA members: $199; non-members: $249

After Nov. 1, add $50 to above workshop prices.

REGISTRATION and QUESTIONS

• www.astdatlanta.org

• Call 404-760-2809

• Email info@astdatlanta.org

• For more information about Doug Stevenson and Story Theater Int’l., call 719-573-6195 or

email Deborah@DougStevenson.com Deborah Merriman, VP of Everything

Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater International Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Speaker’s Coach                                        1-800-573-6196 / 1-719-573-6195 / fax: 1-719-574-2605 / cell: 1-719-310-8586

2504 Shalimar Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80915

www.storytelling-in-business.com

Sign up for free Story Theater Newsletter at http://storytelling-in-business.com/newsletter

Author of:

Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater Method     (Previously titled: Never Be Boring Again)                                                                                                                         And Creator of:

The 21-Step How to Write and Deliver a Dynamite Speech System

Keynotes and Training on:                                                                                    Advanced Presentation Skills, Strategic Storytelling in Business                   Change, Sales, Leadership, and Motivation

Martha Lanier, Owner of Ignite Your Potential discusses master mind groups. Martha talks about how she learned about master mind groups, types of members, confidentiality, and exit strategies.

Entrepreneurs need funding for launching a company and lots of funding to keep in going. Many of us begin our business with our own money, others borrow from friends, families, and neighbors. Still others are able to obtain commercial loans.

While I have written a book entitled: Finding Your Bootstraps: 11 Ways to Overcome Victim Thinking, (forgive my overt self-promotion), this book has nothing to do with business, (except for the section on finding your passion) however the term “bootstrapping” does.

There is an interesting post on Entrepreneur.com entitled “Six Sources of Bootstrap Financing.” This article can be found at:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/money/financing/selffinancingandbootstrapping/article80204.html

Sramana Mitra, a strategy consultant has a a follow-up article citing an example of someone who used bootstrapping successfully. This article on Christian Chabot, CEO and co-founder of Tablueau Software can be read at:

http://www.sramanamitra.com/2010/03/03/how-to-get-a-20-million-pre-money-valuation-for-series-a-tableau-software-ceo-christian-chabot-part-1/

As the old saying goes: There’s more than one way to skin a cat (apologies to cat lovers everywhere).  If you’re running your business on a shoe string, or  just starting out or if funds are running low, bootstrapping might just be a shoe in for you (sorry, couldn’t resist).

Kenny Zail of Kenny Zail & Associates discusses the benefits of mastermind groups.

As a business owner, have you ever wanted your own board of directors?

Or if you already have a board of directors, perhaps you’ve thought about installing a visionary board.

A Mastermind group can serve the purpose of both.

If you’re not familiar with mastermind groups, how they work and their benefits, then this section of the GBDN website is for you. Or if you’re already familiar with masterminds and just want some additional information or to see how other groups work, you’ll benefit as well.

You’ll be hearing from business people just like you who are or have been members of mastermind groups.

You’ll learn how to form one or how to join one. You’ll get ideas on when to meet, how often to meet, the ideal number of members and much more.

Visit this section of GBDN often as we’ll be adding new interviews periodically and thank you for visiting GBDN.