Purple heart donations are a way of helping out military veterans and saying thanks. The Purple Heart is on of the best known military decorations, it is awarded to personnel who are wounded or killed by the enemy whilst on active duty. Holders of this decoration have shed blood in the defense of their country.

The charitable organization that receives these donations has many programs to help veterans and their families. They provide support to help claim things like benefits, pensions, medical care and compensation. There is also assistance available for help with employment, training and education. There are also a number of programs for younger people, and programs to encourage patriotism and citizenship.

One of the easiest ways to make is donation is with cash. They can accept card payments over the internet or the telephone, either as a one off gift or as a regular payment. They can take checks, either for yourself or as a memorial. It is possible to include this charity in a will, or as part of estate planning. If this option is chosen then the charity can give some advice or a personal financial planner can also give suitable advice.

A popular method of helping is to give clothing and household goods that are no longer needed. The items need to be in good repair or working order so that they may be of benefit to someone else. They may be able to arrange for unwanted goods to be picked up if there is enough. These goods are not given to veterans, but are sold to thrift shops. The money raised this way is then given to the support programs.

An unusual method of making a donation is to give your old car, truck or boat. The charity is able to accept any vehicle, even if it is not currently running. They are also have free towing and 24 hour towing. The donor must have the title to the vehicle. There must be no outstanding liens on the vehicle.

Donations to this charity are tax deductible. All items may be claimed at a “Fair Market Value”. This value is up to the donor to substantiate. For a motor vehicle this value is capped at $500 – unless the selling price is higher. The charity will try to get the maximum amount they can for any donated vehicle. People who donate a car or other vehicle will receive a receipt that is IRS tax-deductible.

There are many ways that corporations can contribute to the organization. Sponsoring a support program or scholarship is a popular corporate opportunity. Many corporations also encourage employee donations by having a matching gift type program. Corporations can also help by sponsoring items in the gift-in-kind wish-list sponsoring items like transport vehicles, or wheel chairs for veterans. Of course, traditional cash donations are also welcome!
Internet Marketing

Making donations is a great way to payback military veterans, and encourage those ideals in the youth of today. Getting a tax donation can also be more beneficial than trying to sell any goods, especially for busy people who don’t have the time to deal with the hassles of selling. Making a donation to a worthy cause also makes a person feel good.
<>

Value Based Networking is about creating the networks that can power your future, lead you through tough times and sustain you confidence to stay focused on the opportunities. If you’re serious about Value Based Networking and want to keep yourself on track, ask yourself the following three questions from time to time:

Are you keeping your VBN contact system up to date?

In our last article we mentioned the importance of using a Value Based Networking System to keep track of your contacts. Are you really using it? Every time you spoke to someone in the past two weeks, whether they were a client, or a friend or even a family member did you remember to write a note in your Value Based Networking system about the content of your conversation?

I was talking to a friend a while back and he mentioned that he and his son had spent 2 weeks hiking in July at the 85th parallel in the Arctic. Another friend told me he had recently purchased his first plane. After these conversations I went to my Value Based Networking system and made a note, “Arctic hiking with son” and “New airplane, October 2009.” I might not talk to either of these friends for months, but when I do I’ll be asking, “Any trips planned?”

Remember, we’re all inundated with information. Once you write it down in your Value Based Networking system and know where you can find it, you’ll always have something to say to anyone in your Value Based Network.

What’s your rate of return on your investment in your network?

As you go through life you build a network of people, whether you’re conscious of it or not. Think of the hours you spend daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, getting to know people.

I know that I spend at least 25 to 30 hours a week with customers, prospects, vendors, staff, associates and friends. If I multiply that by 52 weeks it comes to between 1,300 and 1,500 hours a year that I invest in getting to know people.

If I don’t follow through, if I don’t write it down someplace where I can find it, what becomes of that investment when I forget what was said? Because it will happen – six months later I will have forgotten what was said and then my investment is lost.

If you are young you’ll have to take my word for it, but the fact is most of us are hard-pressed to remember people’s names, never mind recalling where and when you last met them and what charity they proudly and actively support.

What if you only do a little networking each week? Say you meet with or talk to only two people a week…that’s still 104 people in a year. And that’s only the beginning; you do that year in and year out and over time there are thousands of conversations you barely remember. You must organize the information you gather in those conversations so that it works for you. Otherwise you are wasting the time you invested.

Are you showing up prepared?

A wise man (Woody Allen) once said, “Ninety percent of success is showing up.” This is a great quote, but it’s missing one critical word. The statement should read: Ninety percent of success is showing up prepared. Preparation is key to successful Value Based Networking. Most people are either underprepared or unprepared. There’s no such thing as being over-prepared.

This is where your Value Based Networking System comes in. If you are looking to connect, whether the first time or subsequently, preparation is the best way. For first time meetings, do your homework. Use the Internet and social media sites like LinkedIn to discover information about the person, the company they work for, what they’re working on. Add that information to your Value Based Networking System. Then, when you meet with them you are in a position to ask them about what interests them. Are you willing to devote the time that it takes to uncover things you may have in common with a prime connection?

By asking yourselves these three questions from time and time, you’ll give yourself a reality check to ensure that you are on the right path to creating your power network.

If you are a real people person, networking is likely something you enjoy. But for many owners and professionals, it’s hard work because it takes them out of their comfort zone. The good news is that effective networking, just like sales, requires skills that can be learned and mastered – even if you are not naturally outgoing.

If networking is one of your strategies for developing new relationships and potential business, then here are some Do’s and Don’ts to make yours more effective:

Do Have a Plan. There are a variety of ways to network. You can join business associations, chambers or groups, get involved with community organizations or your local rotary, attend social or business events, participate in workshops or seminars, go to expos and tradeshows or take a class (hobby, fitness or personal development). All of these provide access to ‘new’ people and a way to stay connected; but they are only beneficial if they provide access to the people you want or need to meet. Be clear on what you want then take the time to research options, talk to like-minded business owners and ask questions. Then plan your networking and work your plan.

Do Set Goals. Specific, measurable networking goals help you monitor results, modify your approach, and keep you focused on priorities. Include goals around both activities (how much you will do) and results (outcomes you expect). Here are a few questions to consider as you establish your networking goals. How many events or seminars will you attend each month? How many groups will you formally join and participate in this year? How many new prospects do you want to meet each month or at each event? How many new alliance relationships do you want to build?

Do Prepare. Take a few minutes before you attend an event or meeting to prepare. What are my goals, who do I want to meet or reconnect with, how will I introduce myself, what relevant questions or comments do I want to use to initiate conversation, do I need a ‘commercial’ – if so, how long and what do I want to say? Also, remember to take business cards or other materials that are appropriate.

Do Take Notes & Get Contact Information. Business cards are an easy way to get contact information. Use the reverse side to make notes about the contact and any follow-up actions you commit to do. Keep a small notebook or use your smart phone to jot down notes or contact information for times when business cards aren’t available – they forgot them or don’t have them on them (we’ve all been there!). But do think quality, not quantity.

Do Listen. Listening is one of the key skills for building relationships in business and in life. If you go to events ready to talk, you miss the chance to learn, help, give back, uncover opportunities and build relationships. Do you listen to hear or listen to understand? Are you in the moment or are you thinking about the next person you want to meet? Master this skill and you will shine at networking.

Don’t Sell. While most people like to buy, nobody wants to be sold. Not on the phone, not at your business, and especially not at an event. Since ‘people buy from people they know and trust’ use your networking to build a foundation for future opportunities – be patient.

Do Take Initiative. Most of the people in the room are there with the same purpose you are – to meet new people, reconnect with those they previously met or learn something new. So don’t hang out in the corner or sit down at a table – mingle! Be willing to approach people, introduce yourself and simply break the ice by asking a question or comment. If you struggle with this, consider preparing a few relevant questions or comments on recent news before- hand. Here’s a few questions to get you thinking – Are you a member? How did you hear about the group? Have you heard the speaker before? Do you know anything about the topic being covered tonight? Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Do Create Win-Wins. Networking is not about collecting business cards, but rather about creating mutually beneficial relationships. In other words, helping others and getting help in return. While help may be in the form of customer referrals, it may also be new connections, resources, information or ideas. Networking should never be one-sided. Don’t go in with a ‘what’s in it for me’ attitude or people will peg you as a user. On the other hand, abundant giving without receiving will cause resentment. It’s all about balance – and creating win-win relationships. Seek out the right people so you can give with abundance and receive with abundance.

Do Get Involved. Did you ever notice how well you get to know people when you work together on a project or committee. It’s a natural. So don’t just show up at events, join a committee, serve on the board, or contribute your services to the organization to help them grow. It’s a great way to give-back to the community, build your reputation for dependability and expertise, get to know like-minded people and you may even develop some true friendships along the way.

Do Have a System For Follow-Up. A brief conversation at an event rarely produces an immediate customer, alliance, business associate or friend. It is merely the starting point or foundation to building the relationship. Too often these opportunities are lost simply because there is no follow-up. A good networking system should provide a method to:

1. add new contacts into a contact database such as Outlook, ACT, or Gmail
2. make a call or send a note or email – nice to meet you, invite for coffee/lunch
3. send helpful, not sales, information based on your discussion – link to a website, information on a class, or an article you read
4. connect them with a resource they need — the dentist, doctor, plumber or accountant they are currently looking for

Joan Nowak, Business Coach, Speaker and Trainer, inspires and helps small business owners create the changes needed in their business to achieve the income and lifestyle they want. Her 7P System brings together all the key elements of business success, and breaks them down into simple, easy to implement strategies — so clients achieve real results – more sales, profit, control and freedom – quickly and easily.

Do you consider good negotiation skills to be important? If you don’t, you should. Do you realize that you’re always negotiating? Anytime you exchange information that gives insight into the way you think and/or the position you hold pertaining to situations, in reality you ‘are’ negotiating. General Stanley McChrystal, British Petroleum (BP) CEO Tony Hayward, and BP’s Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg all forgot this valuable insight, and they paid the price for their forgetfulness.

You might not consider yourself as negotiating during a ‘normal exchange of information’, but the exchange of such information gives insight into your character and highlights your beliefs on stances that you’ve adopted, or might adopt on certain positions.

Consider statements recently made by McChrystal, Hayward, and Svanberg. You would think people with their level of experience and position would know, you’re always negotiating. Thus, McChrystal should have known better than to trust comments he made to a reporter, in thinking those comments would not be printed or find its way to ‘other’ outlets. Hayward should have thought about the ramifications of saying, “I want my life back”, after the accident caused by BP disrupted the lives of so many people in the United States. Svanberg should have given thought to how his statement of, “the little people” would cast him and BP as elitist, detached from those of less fortunes and the doubts people would have about BP being genuinely concerned about the oil spill. Even if you harbor such thoughts, you keep such views to yourself. Through your words and actions, you’re always negotiating.

In McChrystal’s case, since the Rolling Stone article in which he made his disparaging remarks has not “hit the stands”, a lot of the backlash that he experienced came about as the result of the perception his remarks cast. Those remarks painted a perception of him being a soldier that was ‘out of touch’ with the administration to which he serves.

From a negotiation perspective, there are times when it’s appropriate to allow people to draw their own conclusions from what you’ve said, without correcting them. In so doing, you still have to manage their perception of your thoughts, actions, and words. Once those thoughts transition into a negative sphere, in which they become detrimental to your position, it behooves you to correct their perception.

Even worse, when speaking, since people can ‘hear faster’ than one speaks, people will ‘grab’ sound bites. Thus, if you say something provocative, or something that is truly out of character with what’s considered the norm, you open yourself to possible retribution.

One thing that everyone should keep in mind is the fact that the more status you possess, the more media savvy you must become. In addition, one should remember that status is perceptional and thus one should always mind one’s tongue. One errant word can destroy a career, a future, a life. Therefore, as you go throughout your daily activities, remember, you’re always negotiating… and everything will be right with the world.

The Negotiation Tips Are…

· When negotiating, your spoken words express your attitudes. Watch the actions to which your words commit, in order to be framed in the most positive light.

· Like alarm clocks kill dreams, a lack of negotiation skills kill future opportunities. Be aware of the impact your words have on others. Become a better negotiator.

· If you use words appropriately during a negotiation, you won’t have to settle for what you get, you can get what you want.

To discover more negotiation tips, strategies, and tactics that you can use to increase your negotiation skills and boost your financial resources, along with every aspect of your life, please visit…

http://www.TheMasterNegotiator.com and sign up for the Free Negotiation Tips.

If you’d like to enhance your business operations by inquiring as to how you can have Greg Williams speak at your organization… send an e-mail to…

Most sales people are required to negotiate with their prospects and customers. But let’s face it, today’s consumer and corporate buyer is much more aggressive when negotiating the terms of a sale. Unfortunately, many sales people lack the same level of sophistication when negotiating with savvy purchasers. Here are sixteen fatal mistakes that many sales people make when they negotiate.

1. Believing that price is the primary reason why people make a buying decision. Although price is a factor in every sale, it is seldom the motivating factor behind a person’s final decision.

2. Not asking enough high-value questions. I’m still amazed how few sales people take the time to ask great questions during the sales process. This makes it more difficult for them to effectively position their offering.

3. Not gathering the RIGHT information. While it is essential to ask questions, it is equally important to ask the right questions so you can negotiate more effectively.

4. Trying to rush the negotiating process. Effective negotiators have the patience of Job. They can wait out delays and they never show anxiety when the process doesn’t move as quickly as they would like it to.

5. Failing to establish the value of their product, service or solution. Value is in the eyes of the beholder so determine what is important to each buyer or customer and position your product or service accordingly.

6. Allowing their ego to get in the way. Negotiating is part of business but I have seen people walk away from a good deal because their ego got in the way and clouded their judgment.

7. Fear of losing the sale. Remember, there will always be someone else to sell to. This fear is more prominent when a sales person’s pipeline is running on empty so avoid it by constantly adding new prospects to your pipeline.

8. Immediately offering a discount to close the deal. Remember, price is seldom the primary reason people make buying decision. Avoid the temptation to drop your price unless you have first considered other options.

9. Neglecting to negotiate with limited authority. Don’t hesitate to tell a prospect that you need to check with your boss before you agree to a concession. This gives you wiggle room and allows you to appear that you are working on behalf of your customer.

10. Lack of confidence. This is usually a result of lack of negotiating skills which is why it is important to practise negotiating as often as possible. It can also be caused when negotiating with someone who is perceived to have more power than you.

11. Believing that the buyer or customer has all the power. While I accept the fact that buyers have more leverage in today’s business climate, it is essential to realize that you can walk away from a deal if the other person get too aggressive or makes unrealistic demands.

12. Unable to walk away. Too many sales people find themselves in the position of accepting an offer only to discover later that the deal actually cost them money. If the sale doesn’t make good business sense be prepared to walk away from it, regardless of the time you have invested.

13. Making concessions too quickly. When you make people wait before you concede to something, you increase the value of that concession and you subconsciously tell them that if they keep asking for concessions, the negotiating process will take longer.

14. Failing to get a different perspective. I often talk to my business partner before making a final negotiating decision. This gives me a different perspective, and often, new ideas and strategies. Use your time out to review the deal with someone who is not attached to the outcome.

15. Negotiating with the wrong person or people. If you’re not talking to someone who can make a final buying decision then you are dealing with the wrong person.

16. Talking too much. I have watched dozens of sales people negotiate with themselves because they talked too much. The best negotiators listen more than they talk.

There you have it. Sixteen fatal mistakes, blunders and gaffes that sales people make when they negotiate. Avoid these errors and you will improve your results, increase your top line sales and your bottom line profits.