A Muslim pilgrim prays atop Mount Al-Noor during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca November 9, 2010
A general view shows the Saudi holy city of Mecca, as seen from the top of Noor mountain, late on November 13, 2010
An Indian Hajj pilgrim holds prayer beads prior to his departure for Mecca at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India on October 26, 2010
Saudi Arabian men ride on the newly-opened Holy Sites metro light rail in Mecca on November 2, 2010. The Chinese-built monorail project, will link Mecca with the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and will operate for the first time during the Hajj this month at 35 percent capacity to ferry Saudi nationals who will take part in the upcoming annual Muslim pilgrimage.
Saudi special forces show their skills during a military parade in preparation for the Hajj in the Saudi city of Mecca on November 10, 2010.
Thousands of tents housing Muslim pilgrims are crowded together in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010
Muslim pilgrims walk past construction outside the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Friday, Nov. 12, 2010.
Muslim pilgrims are seen on their way towards a rocky hill called Mount Arafat, on the Plain of Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.
An ambulance is parked among thousands of Muslim pilgrims praying near the Namira Mosque at Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca, on November 15, 2010. Pilgrims flooded into the Arafat plain from Mecca and Mina before dawn for a key ritual around the site where prophet Mohammed gave his farewell sermon on this day in the Islamic calendar 1,378 years ago. Pilgrims spend the day at Arafat in reflection and reading the Quran
Muslim pilgrims pray outside Namira mosque in Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.
Pilgrims fill the streets in prayer, near Namira mosque in Arafat, Saudi Arabia on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010
A Muslim man visits the Hiraa cave on Noor mountain late on November 13, 2010 during the annual Hajj. According to tradition, Islam's Prophet Mohammed received his first message to preach Islam while praying in the cave.
A Muslim pilgrim holds his daughter on Mount Arafat on the plains of Arafat, outside the holy city of Mecca on November 15, 2010.
Pilgrims pray on the side of Mount Arafat, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010
Pilgrims climb up Mount Arafat on the Plain of Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.A Muslim pilgrim reads the Koran at Mount Al-Noor during the annual Hajj on November 11, 2010
A Muslim pilgrim reads the Koran at Mount Al-Noor during the annual Hajj on November 11, 2010.
Muslims on the Hajj pilgrimage take a rest in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2010
His head resting on the Jabal al-Rahma pillar, a Muslim pilgrim prays atop Mount Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010.
Muslims touch and write on the Jabal al-Rahma pillar on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Nov. 15, 2010
Muslim pilgrims pray atop Mount Arafat, southeast of Mecca, on November 15, 2010. Pilgrims flooded into the Arafat plain from Mecca and Mina before dawn for a key ritual around the site where prophet Mohammed gave his farewell sermon on this day in the Islamic calendar 1,378 years ago.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Attitude Is Everything
By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it.
I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers.
While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied.
The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
You have 2 choices now:
1. save or delete this mail from your mail box.
2. forward it to your dear ones and choose to pass this on
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it.
I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers.
While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied.
The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
You have 2 choices now:
1. save or delete this mail from your mail box.
2. forward it to your dear ones and choose to pass this on
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Why Corporate Images are on Fire
For every major corporation that has reached the limelight of reached the limelight of public scrutiny for mismanagement of its financial affairs, hundreds more face crises of credibility. Why? A trend toward weak corporate name-identities has resulted in an alphabet soup of look-likes and sound alikes.
Overnight, things got suddenly changed, over-exposing of corporate credibility and governance, like Richter scales gone wild are thumping the global populace in sheer panic while shattering thousands of mega corporate name brands worldwide.
The good and sober companies of the world not only must weather these credibility quakes but also must project their clean image and stay protected during these monstrous shift of globs image and stay protected during these monstrous shifts of global image. Today, no matter how big or small the name-identity, it must face some of the principle Laws of Corporate Naming to cope with brand new challenges of corporate sobriety.
Laws of respectability
A corporate image and its name must offer a credible personality to its customers and shareholders alike; unless a corporate name is for a circus, the customers are seeking value and shareholders the protection of their assets, and neither is seeking a monkey show. A business name of any serious enterprise must have an alpha-character to qualify and gain respect projecting sound personality, honesty, integrity, reliability and stability. No room for randomly picked wild names like "Globe-a-Con,"Blacktower" "Tomorrow Inc." "Guarantee Inc" or just "Omelette".
Cute, pretentious or humorous names are out. Difficult and obscure names only confuse customers. Looks-alike or sound-alike names only kill marketing efforts. Twisted spellings hurt. search-ability. With major bankruptcies all over the other innocent businesses with similar names are getting trapped.
Currently amongst the modernized world the credibility of financial services has gone to the bottom, as false claims to exotic superiority failed to match the unexplainable performance. So are the related sectors, impacting doubts about every-thing, and also gone are the so-cherished and respected images of the past corporate identities of the past from hard core manufacturing to incred - ible services. Where and when will this train stop?
In the last decade, most banks simply adapted the init-ialization of their long twisted names and clearly short-changed them-selves by eliminating any distinct identity or a respectable image. The analysis of the top 1,000 banks of the world is nothing but the most thick, creamy alphabet soup one can dip into. Almost all of them suddenly decided in unison to simply just become initially named banks and now they are all just a bank, falling and crumbling under the stress tests.
If ever, and when the next round of a run on a major American or British bank will occur it will cause havoc for the other hundreds of innocent financial institutions which are still holding on to their very clean and sober affairs.
Whether the board likes it or not most corporate boardrooms are extremely scared to open a debate on this name image issue while this meltdown is taking this name identity crisis to the very top. A survey of major corporations around the world shows 87% of corporate names are seriously identical to other business names causing confusion and losing name-equity in the marketplace. The sooner they address this, the better.
Naseem Javed is author of "Naming for Power" and reconginsed as a world authority on building corporate image and creating global name indentities. Javed introduced the Laws of founded ABC Namebank, in Toronto and New York, a quarter century ago.
http://www.corporate-images.com/fckeditor_userfiles/file/AOR%20release-1.pdf
Overnight, things got suddenly changed, over-exposing of corporate credibility and governance, like Richter scales gone wild are thumping the global populace in sheer panic while shattering thousands of mega corporate name brands worldwide.
The good and sober companies of the world not only must weather these credibility quakes but also must project their clean image and stay protected during these monstrous shift of globs image and stay protected during these monstrous shifts of global image. Today, no matter how big or small the name-identity, it must face some of the principle Laws of Corporate Naming to cope with brand new challenges of corporate sobriety.
Laws of respectability
A corporate image and its name must offer a credible personality to its customers and shareholders alike; unless a corporate name is for a circus, the customers are seeking value and shareholders the protection of their assets, and neither is seeking a monkey show. A business name of any serious enterprise must have an alpha-character to qualify and gain respect projecting sound personality, honesty, integrity, reliability and stability. No room for randomly picked wild names like "Globe-a-Con,"Blacktower" "Tomorrow Inc." "Guarantee Inc" or just "Omelette".
Cute, pretentious or humorous names are out. Difficult and obscure names only confuse customers. Looks-alike or sound-alike names only kill marketing efforts. Twisted spellings hurt. search-ability. With major bankruptcies all over the other innocent businesses with similar names are getting trapped.
Currently amongst the modernized world the credibility of financial services has gone to the bottom, as false claims to exotic superiority failed to match the unexplainable performance. So are the related sectors, impacting doubts about every-thing, and also gone are the so-cherished and respected images of the past corporate identities of the past from hard core manufacturing to incred - ible services. Where and when will this train stop?
In the last decade, most banks simply adapted the init-ialization of their long twisted names and clearly short-changed them-selves by eliminating any distinct identity or a respectable image. The analysis of the top 1,000 banks of the world is nothing but the most thick, creamy alphabet soup one can dip into. Almost all of them suddenly decided in unison to simply just become initially named banks and now they are all just a bank, falling and crumbling under the stress tests.
If ever, and when the next round of a run on a major American or British bank will occur it will cause havoc for the other hundreds of innocent financial institutions which are still holding on to their very clean and sober affairs.
Whether the board likes it or not most corporate boardrooms are extremely scared to open a debate on this name image issue while this meltdown is taking this name identity crisis to the very top. A survey of major corporations around the world shows 87% of corporate names are seriously identical to other business names causing confusion and losing name-equity in the marketplace. The sooner they address this, the better.
Naseem Javed is author of "Naming for Power" and reconginsed as a world authority on building corporate image and creating global name indentities. Javed introduced the Laws of founded ABC Namebank, in Toronto and New York, a quarter century ago.
http://www.corporate-images.com/fckeditor_userfiles/file/AOR%20release-1.pdf
Closing at midnight tomorrow!
Hi,
That means you have just over 36 hours before Brendon Burchard closesExperts Academy
Get in here before it's too late.
If you've ever wanted to get your advice and how-to information out to the world, helping people and getting PAID at the same time, then you must watch this now.
Personally, I think Brendon is giving away the farm with this offer and that's why I've been telling you so much about it. His strategies WORK and the marketing campaigns he gives away as part of the course are worth the tuition alone.
Here's what his program includes:
That means you have just over 36 hours before Brendon Burchard closes
Get in here before it's too late.
If you've ever wanted to get your advice and how-to information out to the world, helping people and getting PAID at the same time, then you must watch this now.
Personally, I think Brendon is giving away the farm with this offer and that's why I've been telling you so much about it. His strategies WORK and the marketing campaigns he gives away as part of the course are worth the tuition alone.
Here's what his program includes:
- Experts Academy DVD Home Study Course (This is TWENTY dvds of step-by step training for each area you can get paid in as an expert: author, speaker, seminar leader, and online marketer)
- "Marketing Mastery for Experts" (a $4,997 program on how to market yourself intelligently)
- $10,000 Marketing Planning Session (people paid $10,000 to learn this stuff—it's how to plan your entire year of marketing, what to say, etc)
- Promotional Partnership Crash Course, another $5k program on getting JVs, affiliates, sponsors, etc.
- Over $9,000 of tickets to Brendon's private live events
It may be one of the best offers of the year when you consider the real value and Brendon's incredible ability to get results for himself and his clients.
Learn more here.
The time to learn how to be an "expert" in your niche is now—so many people are looking for great advice in order to get ahead...you have your work cut out for you. If you haven't yet made a sizable income through books, speeches, seminars, and online marketing, then perhaps it's time you join Brendon's program and join us in the new economy.
The deadline is tomorrow night at midnight. Please don't miss it. Brendon doesn't do "reopens" so this is the last chance.
To your success!
Brian Tracy
Learn more here.
The time to learn how to be an "expert" in your niche is now—so many people are looking for great advice in order to get ahead...you have your work cut out for you. If you haven't yet made a sizable income through books, speeches, seminars, and online marketing, then perhaps it's time you join Brendon's program and join us in the new economy.
The deadline is tomorrow night at midnight. Please don't miss it. Brendon doesn't do "reopens" so this is the last chance.
To your success!
Brian Tracy
No white elephant gifts this holiday season!
Dear Reader,
If you're tired of the bad ties and crazy socks you've received in Christmas's past—or if you're stressed out and have no idea when you're going to find time for your own Christmas shopping—I've got great news for you!
This year, you can give yourself and your loved ones a gift that is GUARANTEED to improve your professional or personal life—an invaluable gift you will use for the rest of your life!
Beginning this Friday, November 26th, I'm going to begin offering Brian Tracy'sHoliday Extravaganza 2010!
I don't want to release details just yet, but here's what you need to know: when you get in on my Holiday Extravaganza 2010, you're going to get amazing deals on not one, but TWO amazing packages, designed to take recipients (whether you buy for yourself or for your loved ones) to the next level.
This gift is better than most others (ESPECIALLY the bad ties and socks) because you can use it MORE than once to improve your life. In fact, you can use it again and again, as it helps you to reach new levels of success.
So watch your inbox for a special Black Friday message, which will provide you with all the details you need to get your shopping done early—and online (so you don't have to worry about beating the crowds!).
Happy Holidays!
Brian Tracy
If you're tired of the bad ties and crazy socks you've received in Christmas's past—or if you're stressed out and have no idea when you're going to find time for your own Christmas shopping—I've got great news for you!
This year, you can give yourself and your loved ones a gift that is GUARANTEED to improve your professional or personal life—an invaluable gift you will use for the rest of your life!
Beginning this Friday, November 26th, I'm going to begin offering Brian Tracy's
I don't want to release details just yet, but here's what you need to know: when you get in on my Holiday Extravaganza 2010, you're going to get amazing deals on not one, but TWO amazing packages, designed to take recipients (whether you buy for yourself or for your loved ones) to the next level.
This gift is better than most others (ESPECIALLY the bad ties and socks) because you can use it MORE than once to improve your life. In fact, you can use it again and again, as it helps you to reach new levels of success.
So watch your inbox for a special Black Friday message, which will provide you with all the details you need to get your shopping done early—and online (so you don't have to worry about beating the crowds!).
Happy Holidays!
Brian Tracy
Monday, November 15, 2010
Building CSR into Your Brand Fabric
Until quite recently, companies considered themselves to be good citizens if they paid their taxes, complied with the law and maybe supported a few good causes. They seldom paused to consider their wider relationship with society, nor were they expected to.
Be`Cause (its`s) Branding!
For a brand to find success and growth in today`s marketplace, it must become a relevant part of a customer`s life. Brands can do this by responding to trends, understanding customer concerns, and joining with customers and employees to meet real societal needs - Cause branding.
"Brand A was there for us when the earthquake hit us. Brand Y financially supports programs to improve child education. Brand X is giving back to the community and investing in our future. I will support Brand X and tell my friends and family to do the same."
Cause branding is the public face of a comprehensive CSR program. Its is a strategy to unite a brand`s core value (s) with a consumer passion and the right cause partner to raise awareness and funds to positively impact to positively impact a societal need. It is a continuous 365-day - a - year association with a cause via internal and external programs. A true cause branding program is about one issue, be it health, the environment, literacy, youth education or any other societal need. It is a true branding endeavor to align a cause and a brand`s support of that cause in the consumers mind. While CSR can work to establish a brand as a good corporate citizen, cause branding forges a true emotional connection between a brand and its customers to support a cause that reflects the brand`s core values and the passions of customers and consumers. so overloaded with content, yet at the same time so fragmented, that a consumer who needs and most likely is looking for a specific product, can`t find it. In a growing marketplace that features declining rates of traditional media consumption a brand must embrace new strategies to break through the clutter and differentiate itself in the eyes of a consumer.
Embracing cause branding makes good business sense. Nothing builds brand loyaity among today`s increasingly hard-to-please consumers like a company`s proven commitment to a worthy cause. Other things being equal, many consumers would rather do business with a company that stands for something beyond profits. Your cause branding activities highlights your company`s reputation within your target market. It can positively differentiate your company from your competitors and provide an edge that delivers other tangible benefits, including increased sales, visibility, customer loyalty, enhanced company image and positive media coverage.
Today consumers expect if not demand, that multinationals and bid local companies play an active role in enhancing quality of life in local communities. This change is occurring because in many eyes ths government bureaucracy is seen as too big and slow, and not tuned in or responsive to needs of people. The seemingly never-ending stories of corruption, regardless of what party is in power have also worked to disillusion the public. It is only a matter of time until the scandal and indictments against government officials commence. Increasingly, business is seen as the entity most able to deliver services during a crisis. This shift is occurring because business and brands are closer and more responsive of multinationals, big locals and high worth individuals to the earthquake of 2005 was not a singular event but shining example of the growing role companies overtly plays in responding to local needs A brand with a focused cause branding strategy, aligned with a specific cause that is relevant to consumers, can easily stake a claim in the minds of consumers, "Brand A was there for us when the earthquake hit us. Brand Y financially supports programs to improve child education. Brand X is giving back to the community and investing in our future. I will support Brand X and tell my friends and family to do the same." This is the potential impact on reputation that a focused cause branding program can have,. By leveraging media channels to raise awareness of a cause branding program a brand can activate the coveted word-of-mouth endorsement all brands seek to enhance corporate reputation.
Developed and executed correctly, cause branding is a strategy to differentiate a brand from its competitors and positively impact a brand`s corporate reputation. Thus the objective of a cause branding program is to positively enhance corporate reputation with the intent to gain favor in the minds of consumers. The outcome of that favor is brand advocacy by consumers and its cause partner with the desired outcome being a services or products.
How to get started?
Any brand can establish a cause branding program as it progresses. A brand follows this path as it matures from local check writing and traditional philanthropy to cause marketing promotions and, ultimately, to committed, long-term support of a cause and nonprofit partner with a sustained cause branding program. A true cause branding program is national is scope and executed across all marketing platforms.
The objective of a successful cause branding effort is to effect real change to improve the society, the common thread is the cause, which must be relevant to three key audiences.
Brand Partner - The cause must align with a brand`s values and/or its products and services. The program must embody a core value to be authentic and embraced by both internal and external audiences.
Cause Partner - The cause partner should have natural affiliation with the brand.
Consumer Partner - The cause must be relevant to a brand`s core customer segment.
The Cause Commitment - must resonate with core customers to build a foundation for growth and to activate those individuals who will become vocal advocates for the brand and the cause. The cause must also be relevant to a brand`s target consumers to attract new customers to the brand and drive ever-increasing participation and fundraising for the cause.
While it may seem daunting to begin utilizing cause branding in your business, you will soon find that it becomes second nature. Not only will you increase your profits, but you will be giving back to the society. You will quickly discover that a well implemented cause related branding plan is truly a win-win situation!
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