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Since December
is typically a quiet month for Advisory Boards, we usually take
off for some R & R in warmer climes. But this
year we have a lot going on, as we prepare new
marketing materials and put the finishing touches to our marketing
system for franchisees and Flight Instructors.
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We’ve also enjoyed several
holiday parties—not only a lot of fun, but
wonderful opportunities to get to know friends and clients at
a deeper level.
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Many of our Advisory
Board members are using this often-slower time in their businesses,
to look back and review 2008, then
look ahead and plan for next year. We recommend
you do the same. You can also sign up for the January
retreat with Barbara
Brannen and Terri
Starck, where you’ll walk away with a
complete strategic plan for 2009 and an easy reference
tool to keep you on track all year.
We wish you a safe and joyous holiday
season!
Dave and Victoria!
P.S. Check out Holiday
Gift Ideas from Make-it-Fly® |
| Steve
Replin
Replin & Rhoades, LLC
Steve Replin is in show business,
or as close to show business as any of us ever come.
His law practice, Replin & Rhoades, LLC, focuses on an exciting
area: intellectual property law, entertainment law and business
law. This means he gets to represent filmmakers, writers, artists,
musicians and other creative types.
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| Replin & Rhoades was formed on January 1,
2008, but Steve and his partner have been practicing attorneys
for a number of years.
Q: What do you find most fulfilling
about running your business?
SR: The thing that
I like most about my business is bringing my abilities and enthusiasm
to helping new, small, startup, existing and growing or shrinking
businesses accomplish their purposes in the best way. Midsized
and small business women and men are my most exciting clients.
I can bring my creativity to bear in order to assist all of my
clients in their growth plans. My financing experience brings
a certain additional benefit to my clients who are seeking capital
to grow.
Q: What motivated you to start
this business?
SR: I have a love
of creative arts (film, writing, art, dance, music and so on),
and by working with creative artists in all of these endeavors
and others not mentioned, I surround myself with the positive
energy and enthusiasm that is brought with each of these clients.
My understanding and experience in the business world will certainly
be a large asset to my clients who are in need of business advice
and direction in addition to legal assistance.
Q: What book has been most helpful
to you in your business?
SR: A
New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.
Q: Who has influenced you most
in your life?
SR: My
father has imbued me with a love of entrepreneurialism, which
makes me an enthusiastic supporter of my clients and a creative
asset to their growth and development.
Q: What has proved to be your most
successful marketing strategy?
SR: When I have
the opportunity to describe my benefits to potential clients,
it’s easy to show them the value in hiring us to get them
started (or continuing) down the best path towards their success.
I have the benefit of a small sized firm (three attorneys); the
boutique nature of what I do works to the significant benefit
of my clients; the personal service that I can offer is outstanding
as we are small and nimble with three lawyers; and my significantly
lower fees than most other large law firm lawyers make me a good
and logical choice for a business person who doesn’t need
or want to spend a fortune on legal fees in order to get good
and creative legal help.
Q: What have been the greatest
challenges you have had to overcome, or are currently facing,
in your business?
SR: The
biggest challenge and opportunity in my practice is in explaining
the necessity for good planning to business clients who don’t
understand the value of proper entity formation, explaining the
value of trademark and branding protection, showing clients the
need for strong and protective contract drafting, showing clients
that not having all transactions and interactions with third parties
properly documented can destroy and kill a business.
Clients would rather put money into product development, marketing,
production, hiring, real estate and other events, than spending
the funds needed to establish a strong base for their business
and to make sure that the foundation is set for a strong and profitable
business in the near future.
I am continually challenged in trying to show my new and prospective
clients that monies spent on legal fees now will pay big dividends
in the future.
Q: How are you benefiting from
participating in a Make-it-Fly® board?
SR: The
advisory board has provided me with excellent feedback each time
I decide to pursue another approach to my business and clients.
The members of my board are sincere, experienced in their own
areas and especially interested in the well-being of their fellow
advisory board members. In addition, I have gotten some leads
from the group as well.
Q: What would you
say to other business owners who are contemplating getting involved
in a Make-it-Fly® board?
SR: It’s
just like spending the money to hire a lawyer to help you start
your business with protection, strength and a firm foundation
upon which to grow. Even though you may not see the immediate
value today, you know instinctively that it’s the right
thing to do for the growth of your business. The price for either
of the boards can easily be offset with just one referral or one
good idea given from your fellow board members.
Steve Replin can be reached by
phone at: 303-322-7919, or visit his web site at: www.replinrhoades.com
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|
 Dave’s
Networking Tip:
Be
careful what you say,
especially when talking to someone you’ve just met.
Pay close attention and listen to what she or
he is saying. Think before you speak. When you do speak,
make sure what you say isn’t self-focused, but designed
to build up the other person. |
|
Look Back
and Learn
Important Lessons from Your Past
By Victoria Munro
Each December, I like to carve out time, amid holiday festivities,
to look back and review the year and my life to date. In this
way, I learn valuable lessons and
may avoid some costly mistakes in the future.
In the process of starting and running nine businesses, I’ve
made many mistakes, I’ve done some things right and I’ve
learned a lot. Listed below are seven
key lessons I’ve learned. I trust they will
provide some useful insights.
| 1. |
Relationships
are priceless. Treasure and honor them.
Money may come and go, and though it’s an important
and essential aspect of life, money alone won’t bring
lasting fulfillment. Meaningful relationships will.
As my children grew up and left the nest, I encouraged
them to seek out and surround themselves with supportive
friends they enjoyed and respected. “Make this a priority,”
I urged them. “You will need these friends and they
will need you. Be there for them, give more than you get
and, when you have a need, they’ll be there for you.”
|
| 2. |
Take
time out often to reflect—just to
think. In our busy, fast-paced lives it’s easy to
postpone or neglect taking time to step back and reflect
on the big picture or even the situation at hand. It’s
tempting to push ahead, doing whatever it takes to make
the business succeed, sometimes without stopping to define
exactly what ‘success’ means to us.
Looking back, I see that during hectic, stressful times,
I often made poor decisions. Taking time to step back, analyze
the situation, consider all possible options and their potential
consequences could have led to wiser choices. Think about
what you really want in life. Write out your personal definition
of ‘success.’ |
| 3. |
Failure
isn’t fatal. It’s a reminder that
we’re human and an opportunity to learn. We all makes
mistakes. We do and say things we regret. It’s far better
to take a reasonable risk and fail, than never step outside
your comfort zone. When I blow it, I follow three rules: |
 |
Look
objectively at what happened and what I can learn from it.
Then, make changes to avoid repeating it. |
|
List all the
positives—you can always find some. |
|
Allow no beating
myself up with negative self-talk. |
| 4. |
Know
and be true to yourself.
Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on further
improving your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses.
Be clear about what is and isn’t important to you. Identify
your core values and commit to never
compromising these. |
| 5. |
Keep
on learning. Education doesn’t finish
when we graduate from college. Continue learning: read or
listen to books, attend seminars, seek out and spend time
with others you can learn from. Find a mentor or hire a coach.
Develop a curious, questioning mind. I didn’t attend
high school or college—I started a business instead—but
I love to learn. |
| 6. |
Life
isn't fair. Sometimes bad things happen to
good people. In life and in business, everything doesn’t
always go according to plan—it’s a journey over
mountaintops, through valleys, and across flatlands and gentle
hills. None are permanent and, when you’re walking through
a valley, that’s good to remember. I’ve also found
a healthy sense of humor to be a great remedy in tough times.
Learn to laugh a lot! |
| 7. |
Be quick to forgive.
even if you need to forgive someone a hundred times a day.
In business and in life, people hurt people. Decide to never
hold a grudge. And, remember to forgive yourself too! |
As 2008 draws to a
close, may I suggest that you take time to reflect
on what you’ve learned, what you did right and what you’d
like to do differently in 2009?
Click
here for the printable version.
Click
here to read more articles like this one.
Forward
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|
Victoria’s
Marketing Advice
Ask You Raving Fans for
Help
Most people want to help others. So, when
you’re designing a new brochure, ad or a marketing
piece of any kind, ask your loyal customers for their
help and advice. Tell them you want complete honesty—assure
them they won’t hurt your feelings. Thank them for
their input and keep them in the loop, showing them the
final product. |
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|
The Riverfront specializes in well
crafted, richly satisfying occasions that balance
aesthetics, personality and party. The site is versatile, accommodating
groups from fifteen to five hundred. Features include: two dance
floors with professional sound and lighting, a fireplace nook,
three bars, outdoor patio, and gazebo. Our personal chef, custom
menus, and full suite of inclusions rank us paramount in our industry.
Call 303.865.8500
today
and schedule your holiday event!
www.riverfront-center.com
Learn Professional Sales Writing Secrets –
For Free!
Would you benefit from having sales materials
that are written with a professional polish?
Your solution is Casey On Copywriting,
a free
e-newsletter that teaches you:
| |
• Persuasive sales writing techniques
• Powerful headline writing skills
• Proven brochure writing formulas
• And much more! |
| Get all the
details at www.caseydemchak.com |
|
 |
Holiday Gift Ideas from
Make-it-Fly®
For your family, friends, clients
and yourself!
Victoria’s
new book, The Small Biz Balancing
Act: Secrets to Restoring Passion and Play in Your Business
and Life. Click
here to read a chapter and order your copies
now!
|
Live by Design in
2009 January Small Biz Retreat
A day away to plan (and play)
with Barbara Brannen
We know your time is precious and
it’s tough to get away for a whole day, but
this retreat will be a great investment—it
could change your life and business. You’ll
leave this practical, interactive and very fun day
with a complete strategic
plan for your business and your life in 2009.
Click
here to sign up now!
|
 |
|
|
READING
THIS AD? THEN WHY NOT PUT YOURS HERE TOO? The
In-Flight Refueling Ezine reaches more than 2,700
entrepreneurs, small-biz owners, consultants and marketers. Reserve
your advertising spot today in the next In-Flight Refueling
Ezine,
http://www.make-it-fly.com/ezineads.html.
Paid Advertising Disclaimer: Make-it-Fly®
LLC does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability
of any of the paid advertisements above or the quality of any
products, services, information, or other materials displayed,
purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection
with any ad. It's common sense to do your own due diligence before
purchasing any product.
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The
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101
Each
Make-it-Fly® Advisory Board 101 program
consists of 12 non-competing business owners who meet once a month
for three consecutive months. In the spirit of giving, they offer
each other solutions, ideas, resources and encouragement. Dave
and Victoria facilitate each group and share powerful tools to
assist business owners in reaching their goals and living more
balanced lives.
If you have experienced a Make-it-Fly®
program, please share the following openings with other business
owners who need support. Call Dave for more information at 720-962-8888.
Programs are held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Current program openings in Denver:
- Fridays - January 9, February 6, March 6, 2009
Full
- Tuesdays - January 20, February 17,
March 17, 2009
- Thursdays - January 29, February 26, March 26, 2009 One
seat
- Fridays - February 13, March 13, April 10, 2009
- Tuesday - March 3, April 7, May 5
Click
here to sign up for Advisory
Boards.
Or call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Alumni
Boards are groups of 12-14 small business owners who have
participated in at least one Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and wish to continue the support and accountability
with a group of like-minded, giving business associates. Members
meet once a month for a three-hour meeting.
If you completed the initial Make-it-Fly®
Advisory Board 101 and are interested in more information on Alumni
Boards, call Dave at 720-962-8888.
Make-it-Fly®
Café 
High altitude networking, where exceptional people help each
other.
Next
Café:
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009
Time: 4:30 to
7:30 p.m.
Location: The
Riverfront
2852 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton (One block west of Santa Fe)
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Click
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email newsletters.
Contact
Make-it-Fly® - Dave and Victoria:
email: info@make-it-fly.com
voice: 720-962-8888
web: www.Make-it-Fly.com
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Permission:
Please email or call Victoria if you'd like to reprint any information
contained in this newsletter. Thanks! © Copyright 2008. All
rights reserved.
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Make-it-Fly®
LLC
720-962-8888
355 South Teller Street, Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80226, USA
http://www.make-it-fly.com
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