The Army has a new slogan: Army Strong.

Army StrongThis replaces the Army of One nonsense we have endured for the last 5 years. Your Business Blogger/Old Soldier is delighted with the new verbiage.

Robert Burns, the AP Military Writer reports,

Army officials said the switch did not mean the "Army of One" slogan was a loser, but many have criticized it.

Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute research group, said the previous slogan seemed to promote the notion that you could join the Army and preserve your individuality.

"If you want to be an 'Army of One' you probably want to join the Hell's Angels, not the U.S. Army," he said.

The new war chant is a better descriptor; more authentic as the academics say. And is guaranteed to win advertising awards as it should.

The Washington Post reports on the $200 million a year ad campaign where the,

New York advertising firm McCann Erickson designed the campaign after winning the two-year Army contract, which can be renewed for three additional years.

The ads were tested on hundreds of soldiers, although studies show that it is difficult for the military to gain an accurate measure of the effectiveness of advertising, which is relatively expensive compared with other recruiting tools such as educational benefits and bonuses.

All of marketing, including military, should be measured against a matrix of benchmarks for grading a return on investment.

[Goodness, look-it all those buzz phrases strung together. How impressive!...I'll have to raise my fees.]

The measure of success in this marketing campaign with the new catch-phrase is in the number of recruits as compared to a like-time frame with the old slogan.

I am not persuaded that the Army Strong campaign will increase the recruiting numbers of the Army.

Heartbeat of AmericaThe Army Strong marketing mirrors the marketing done by Chevrolet with the Heart Beat of America branding from 1987 to 1994.

The genius of Sean K. Fitzpatrick was recognized by a number of awards for Chevrolet's Heartbeat of America advertising effort.

Interestly, singer songwriter Robin Batteau wrote and sang both Chevrolet's "Heartbeat of America" and "Be All You Can Be" for the US Army.

Steve Coomes, writes in Pizza Marketplace Image isn’t everything,

The Heartbeat of America, Chevrolet.

It’s not only one of the most memorable ad slogans of the 1980s, it was an advertising industry award winner.

And yet it failed miserably....

"That’s a perfect example of image advertising," said Cavalloro, whose company, Performance Marketing, is based in Algonac, Mich. "Image advertising is the type of advertising that focuses more on the aesthetics and the artistic quality of an ad. It doesn’t get the reader to take action."

(Marketing: Pizza, Chevy, Army. Ain't America great or what.)

As it happens, I drove a Chevy Celebrity during the Heartbeat heyday. Not by choice. It was a company car. It was not, shall I say, reliable transportation.

So, Heartbeat of America won awards and cost millions of dollars. But Chevrolet sales dropped 17 percent in Heartbeat's first year.

Great slogan. Crappy cars.

My concern is that advertising history will be repeated: The Pentagon will have terrific, award winning eye-wash. But that the results of the slogan's effectiveness will be poor. Recruitment will remain a challenge.

Not because of a poor product. The Army output is outstanding. No. Recruitment will remain problematic -- not because the Army is a difficult lifestyle. Or there is a war and you might die. Not because the Army is too hard.

No. Recruitment will falter because the Army is now seen as being too easy. Too soft.

Even girls can do it.

Women Loving WeaponsRecruitment will be troublesome because the Army is using double standards -- different standards for men and women. For example,

Army men must do 75 push-ups...and run two miles in 13 minutes. Women soldiers must do 46 push-ups...and run two miles in 15:35.

The Army has soft, gentle, kinder standards for females. Double standards. New slogans will not fix this policy.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Management Training Tip: When recruiting new talent, don't make the job sound easy. Make the job a challenge.

See the Chevy icon in...China.

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Washington
Post
Radio Charmaine will be on the air in the Washington, DC market to debate with Ann Crittenden. Washington Post Radio.

Ann prefers gigantic government programs and high taxes to endow her feminist-socialist agenda.

Charmaine, of course, will be on the side of sweetness and light and reason and low taxes and capitalism with the right to life, liberty and property rights. (Which is what the Founding Fathers meant in the pursuit of happiness.)

They will be debating motherhood.

Hit time is 11:20 am Eastern. Tune in and let us know what you think. 1500 on the AM dial, 107.7 FM.

Posted at 6:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Your Business Blogger
at Stern School of Business
New York University Your Business Blogger was honored to lecture up and coming entrepreneurs at the Stern School of Business at New York University at the Entrepreneurial Exchange Group. The teenage Dreamer accompanied me as my intern for the day in the Big Apple.

The school sponsors this group of overachievers.

I spoke on,

1) business plans,
2) management tactics and
3) cultural challenges.

Following is the Cliff Notes version.

1) Business Plans. In any business plan the first place, the first tab investors turn to is not the numbers; not the marketing -- the first section in the plan wise men look to is the team bio's -- the leaders that will run the new enterprise. The biggest variable in the success of a business is the caliber of the management team. Who is the team? What have they done?

The best indication of future performance, is past performance.

Assemble and list your board of directors and advisors soonest in your business start-up. These mentors provide the young venture with contacts, consulting and access to capital.

A seasoned board will act to minimize risk, provide talent and keep the business capitalized.

2) Management Tactics. Your Business Blogger reviewed the most common management problems and offered basic tips. We spent some time on discipline in business, not just the prompt obedience to orders, immediate compliance, but something more. I prefer using the Army's definition of discipline which includes the initiation of appropriate action in the absence of orders.

Manage your team to always have (demand!) completed staff work. Begin by thinking of your desk as a pyramid: paper does not rest on your desk, but instead slides off -- back to the staff member who brought the piece of paper or action to you the manager.

The Dreamer at Stern Business School,
New York University
Jean Arp Seuil Configuration3) Cultural challenges. A number of students had questions about family businesses in the People's Republic of China, East Asia and the Pacific Rim. We discussed the differences in managing across cultures and managing in the Chinese business culture. See Differing Weights and MacDonald's in China. Search this site for East Asia.

The students were most attentive and asked pointed, assertive questions. Capitalism is safe for another generation.

But I'm not sure about art.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Management Training Tip: Find a mentor. Today. And if you can't find one, rent one.

Posted at 7:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The family is the foundation of the city and what we might call the ‘seedbed’ of the polity.

Cicero, De Officiis

CiceroThis article intends to examine the ontological status of the individual and the family in society and address the question of how political theory has viewed the family as a societal institution throughout history.

In order to give an over-arching account of the sweep of trends in political thought on the family, this examination will trace the broad contours of shifts in philosophic approaches, rather than examining any one period or thinker in depth.

Contrary to what one might expect, the progression of political thought did not move in a linear progression from a more collectivist, familial-oriented emphasis to a postmodern radical individualism. Although it is true that, in general, historically the family was accepted as a foundational institution more than it is today when even the very definition of a “family” is under review, the legitimacy of the family as an institution has never gone entirely unchallenged. For example, Plato viewed the family as a threat to the unity of the polis, while Aristotle viewed the family as a societal necessity.

Thank you (foot)notes:

This work was originally published by Charmaine at the University of Virginia.

Management Training Tip: Every manager should be able to reconstruct, rebuild and restart his business unit, if the building burns down; the essence of ISO 9000. Start with the family album. Your highest priority.

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Your Business Blogger and Charmaine and the Penta-Posse were honored to attend a private screening of The Nativity Story Saturday morning before last, in Northern Virginia. This is an unpaid review. We even bought our own popcorn.

(Multi-plex Theaters: the movies are a front; The real money is in the concession stands.)

Pope Benedict XVI turned down an invitation to attend the premiere on Sunday, November 26th, even though


Joseph and Mary and
baby Jesus it was screened in his backyard, The Vatican. The Nativity Story is a (true) story about an unmarried pregnant woman. The Catholic Church frowns on such conditions.

You would have thought that the Pope would have granted an indulgence for this one exception, this one out-of-wedlock birth.

Maybe just this one. Mary's. The Pope should have watched The Nativity Story.

For the Baby Jesus: Prophet, Prince and King.

I don't blame him, though, for being leary of a Hollywood interpretation of the Savior's birth. Given their track-record. But they played it straight, remained faithful to the original script, and have made a movie well worth seeing.

The movie opens on December 1st. Even though the Pope didn't see it; you should. Go see it this weekend and let us know what you think.

Charmaine didn't care for the Deep Space 9/Gabriel the archangel character. Too much a-blending of science fiction and theology. Not that Godless liberals could tell the difference.

The film gets its PG rating for the violence. Which really wasn't all that bad for our times, or for the turn of the last millennium. The movie opens with Roman soldiers drawing their short swords to chop up all the baby boys under two. No blood, no gore was depicted. (The Dude, pre-teen, was mildly disappointed.) But the scene was terrifying enough. Your women-folk will cry.

However, no actual babies or animals were harmed in the making of the film. Only in real life.

The Three Wise Men



Herod, right and his son. Really Bad Guys.

One of my favorite parts was where Herod's tax collectors would extract interest and penalties totaling one-third of a man's estate. Crucifixion compels compliance.

However.

However, we haven't seen a 1/3 tax rate since, well, Christ was born.

Goodness, tax collectors nowadays take 45% of our income each year.

Maybe the Romans were more civilized than we are today.

When you go to the movie, do get there on time, it starts fast with little credit rolling at the beginning.

And as Keith Appell from Creative Response Concepts says, "Prepare to be entertained."

My hero of the movie, and on this side of eternity, would be Joseph. His actions taking care of Mary, make him a better man than most. Especially for the shame he'd have to endure.

The other (anti) hero would be Herod, for keeping taxes low.

The Nativity, The Birth changed the world. The movie could change your life.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Publicity for the private screening was ably handled by Creative Response Concepts who invited Your Business Blogger, Kith and Kin to attend the screening for New Line Cinema.

For Cinephiles by a Cinephile has analysis and links.

UPDATE: Drudge reports The Nativity Story booted out of Chicago public festival.

By DON BABWIN, CHICAGO (AP) - A public Christmas festival is no place for the Christmas story, the city says. Officials have asked organizers of a downtown Christmas festival, the German Christkindlmarket, to reconsider using a movie studio as a sponsor because it is worried ads for its film "The Nativity Story" might offend non-Christians.

New Line Cinema, which said it was dropped, had planned to play a loop of the new film on televisions at the event. The decision had both the studio and a prominent Christian group shaking their heads.

"The last time I checked, the first six letters of Christmas still spell out Christ," said Paul Braoudakis, spokesman for the Barrington, Ill.-based Willow Creek Association, a group of more than 11,000 churches of various denominations. "It's tantamount to celebrating Lincoln's birthday without talking about Abraham Lincoln."

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Watch Charmaine's clip
on FOX Mitt Romney opposes homosexual marriage.

Charmaine has a short clip discussing Romney's Mormon faith on Special Report with Brit Hume on FOX. Watch it here.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Management Training Tip: In preparing your elevator speech use short, short talking points.

Posted at 9:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Rush Limbaugh, the program

Rush Limbaugh gave a red meat speech to a red state audience to a sold out crowd at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC last week. The 1,800 plus capacity was treated to a two hour stand up of vintage Rush.

Rush led off with Howell Heflin's old joke about Ted Kennedy's "off shore drilling." It is funny the first four times one hears it. But most still laughed.

His delivery and timing were that of a practiced professional -- Rush referred to his "notes" infrequently. Notes in quotes because it looked like he scratched out something on the back of a cocktail napkin.

His talk was done from memory.

And it was entertainment and education at its best. Charmaine and Your Business Blogger were honored to be in the class as the guests of Rebecca Hagelin, the VP of Communications for Heritage.

The real purpose of the evening's show was raising money for the Fisher House.

There is at least one Fisher House TM at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House TM program serves more than 8,500 families, and have made available more than two million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990.

Consider a contribution to the Fisher House. Denzel Washington donates as a trustee of the Fisher House.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Rush Limbaugh's speech transcript and audio available at Rush 24/7.

Management Training Tip: When your presentation is important, memorize it.

More on the Warner Theater at the jump.

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Marshall Manson
from the Edelman
public relations firmWal*Mart gets smart; adapts to the market.

In a recent statement, just in time for the Thanksgiving, W*M backed away from supporting the homosexual, bi-sexual, transsexual agenda. Wal*Mart stopped its cross dressing where Wal-Mart will not make corporate contributions to support or oppose highly controversial issues unless they directly relate to our ability to serve our customers.

Wal*Mart FactsWal-Mart does not have a position on same sex marriage and we do not give preference to gay or lesbian suppliers. Wal-Mart does have a strong commitment to diversity among our associates and against discrimination everywhere.

This homosexualist activism was a concern for traditional families because of the report, Wal-Mart Contributes $60,000 to Pro-Homosexual Employee Advocacy Group. The $60K supported a fringe homosexual -bi sexual- transsexual-transvestite-other gender denomination, Out & Equal summit in Chicago.

Marshall Manson, the blogosphere's Wal*Mart source, has been silent on this news release. Which means that the PR pro from Edelman is probably responsible.

And the Yoest family wants to publicly thank him. Alert Readers will recall that Your Business Blogger was an enthusiastic cheerleader for the Bentonville World Dominator. The Penta-Posse et. al. consumed $4,328.37 in consumable goods in the 12 trailing months at Sam's Club. And we miss shopping at the retail giant. And we missed the Everyday Low Prices.

Well Done Marshall. Breeders everywhere thank you.

But it would have been helpful if Wal*Mart released this statement before the Out and Equal homosexual summit, instead of after.

Queercents reports on an interview with Selisse Berry, who,

...[H]as been the queer voice of corporate America. Selisse is the founding Executive Director of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, a nonprofit organization focused on creating safe and equitable workplaces for LGBT employees. [Selisse says] There are so many great ideas generated at the Summit... the big topics centered around the rapidly expanding number of companies who are embracing LGBT equality, how to embrace LGBT equality on an international level, and the specific challenges of policy and training needed for transgender equality.

Out and Equal also demands that homosexuals serve openly in the armed services. Give the Gays Guns. Next, they will be eating meat and shopping at Wal*Mart.

Thank you (foot)notes:

But skepticism is still in order. Wal*Mart's Board of Directors is populated with leftist such as Aida M. Alvarez. Who was a member of the diversity advisory board for Deloitte & Touche LLP. (Emphasis mine) Also a former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and a member of President Clinton’s Cabinet from 1997 to 2001. Alvarez was hip deep in the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mess as a financial regulator from 1993 to 1997.

Wal*Mart can still screw up yet. Pray that capitalism prevails.

Alaska Pride has rationale on the boycott.

More at the jump

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Posted at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
at The Pew Forum on
Religion and Politics Charmaine was invited to give a presentation to The Pew Forum on Religion and Politics last week. She gave an analysis of the mid-term election from her perch as Vice President for Communications at the Family Research Council. She said,


"...In September we had a big event called the Washington Briefing...we moved it to the fall and made it a larger event than it's been in the past. We had nearly 2,000 attendees, over 200 media outlets, and quite a few prospective presidential candidates coming to talk to values voters. We called it the Values Voters Summit. It was our way of kicking off the election season and saying,


This is an important election. Values voters need to be paying attention, and these are the issues they need to be looking at, and here are some of the potential leaders."

Alert Readers will remember that a number of speakers at the FRC Summit have presidential ambitions and that,

A lot of people paid attention to the fact that Mitt Romney came and spoke and was warmly received, because they had been saying he wouldn't be accepted by the values voters.

The Pew Forum

Charmaine's photos courtesy The Pew Forum

Charmaine Yoest

Read the event transcript Religious Voters and the Midterm Elections.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Vince at WorldViews provided the link to Pew at How will the faithful vote in 2008?

Management Training Tip: Big Events can product a Peak Experience for your team.

Politics in public is a contact sport.

Facing South has a liberal perspective at How faith is impacting elections.

More at the jump.

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Posted at 7:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Mitt Romney, AP Charmaine did an interview on FOX tonight with Carl Cameron.

"Nobody really knows how Mormonism will play across the board from the big picture once he gets on the national stage and starts articulating his faith," said Charmaine Yoest, Vice President of Communications for the Family Research Council.

Charmaine says that Carl Cameron is quite likeable and personable in real life. Not that he's not on the flat screen.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Visit Mitt Romney's web site Elect Romney In 2008.

See FOX also.

Romney Wants Gay-Marriage Ban on Mass. Ballot

Posted at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Charmaine Yoest debates Giuliani's
Presidential positions
Credit: Peter Shinn The other night Charmaine debated Ed Rollins on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360. Ed was sounding like he was angling for a consulting gig on the Giuliani team.

It would be a short assignment.

Ed Rollins was the key strategist for Ronald Reagan.

During the debate Rollins claimed the Ronald Reagan high ground. Alert Readers will know that Charmaine also had the honor of working for President Reagan (in a more modest position).

Pro-choice Eliza, who blogs at Anderson Cooper 360 Review says,

Charmaine just flat out says Giuliani has no chance and then proceeds to twist the knife around a bit by proclaiming that with his views he should run against Hillary as a democrat.

Watch the short segment here and let me know what you think.

Ronald Reagan and Charmaine

Thank you (foot)notes: Charmaine worked in Presidential Personnel and was an intern for a real President.

Our friends at MediaMatters have input. And were very gracious to provide a link to our contact page.

Management Training Tip: You shouldn't marry a homosexual, but you might wish to hire one.

UPDATE: MediaMatters has analysis and a gotcha.

Posted at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Ruble Hord Ruble Hord has been the top sales guy for the Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company. He is also an early adopter in doing good and doing well.

(Yep, that's his real name: Ruble, as in Russian currency. And Hord rhymes with Lord, jokes Hord.)

He ran for elective office a few years ago. He spent $240,000. Of his own money. Real after-tax dollars.

He lost.

Sometime later, after his concession speech, I asked him about his public spirit, his private money.

Ruble, do you feel bad about spending that much money?

No, he says.

No? Here it comes, I thought, now he would turn philosophical.

He is almost smiling. No, There was no way I could lose...

Excuse me? I’m lost. This is not unusual.

I really thought I could win and serve, he explains. But in losing the race I might win…

Win?

…more business.

In the public-spirit spirit of John Wanamaker and Ben Franklin, Ruble Hord also demonstrated great dexterity in attempting to make a difference.

And, incidentally, make a buck.

I’m an insurance salesman, says Ruble who has his home phone number listed in the phone book. I want people to know about me.

They certainly do now, I venture.

The money spent was the cheapest marketing I could buy, says Ruble. Even in losing, all was not lost.

Even though he didn’t plan on losing the political race, he was still a winner. Ruble Hord is a master salesman and a master marketer.

Your Business Blogger has always thought that lawyers were natural political candidates because lawyers, well, knew law, I supposed.

But no. Lawyers, as small business owners being well ahead of the trend, would run for office. The political campaign is little different from a marketing campaign. Lawyers and insurance salesmen would either pick up votes.

Or clients.

Business owners have a passion for making a difference in their neighborhoods. Running for office might be another avenue to serve.

To serve the citizens. To serve your customers.

Management Training Tip: If you really want to learn how to sell intangibles -- to sell "air" -- take a seminar on political campaigns. This is the most challenging product to peddle: Yourself.

Thank you (foot)notes:Ruble Hord, served as Chair, 2006, for the Alexis de Tocqueville, Society. More at the jump.

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Scarlett JohanssenScarlett "I'm not promiscuous" Johanssen, tells Allure magazine that "I work really hard when I'm in a relationship to make it work in a monogamous way."

But then she adds:

I get tested for HIV twice a year. ... One has to be socially aware. It's part of being a decent human, to be tested for STDs. It's just disgusting behavior when people don't. It's so irresponsible

Twice a year?! Good for you for being so responsible, Scarlett. Hope that works out for you.

***
Previous post on Scarlett. . .

Posted at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Ed Rollins Ed Rollins was the Karl Rove-like political advisor for Ronald Reagan in 1984. Ed Rollins is a genius who knows how to win and win big.

Tonight Ed Rollins and I will discuss the possible presidential run of Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani III on Anderson Cooper on CNN . Hit time is 10:45pm Eastern Time.

So.

Bare Knuckles and
Back Rooms
by Ed RollinsTo give you some idea of how the debate might go, Alert Readers will remember Rollins was the campaign manager for pro-choicers Christine Todd Whitman in 1993 and Ross Perot in 1992.

I look forward to learning what Rollins thinks about pro-choice Rudy Giuliani and his formation of an exploratory committee to test the waters on entering the 2008 Presidential Campaign.

And be sure to check out the AndersonCooper360review Blog. Not bad analysis.

Posted at 8:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our business schools teach that structure follows strategy. And this big stuff is important to know.

gapingvoid.com
by Hugh MacLeod But what Your Business Blogger most often sees is where the boss misses the basic questions -- the easy stuff.

Such as,

What is the business owner's most common company-structure challenge?

In our egalitarian new-age of Aquarius where we are all equal to each other and the boss considers the individual input of each of her employees to be the equal of her own or anybody else.

After all, we are all family here.

This, of course, is nonsense.

(Unless you are all family.)

Anyway, companies should be designed on the old-fashioned hierarchical organizational chart so that praise can easily flow up. And the heart-burn can flow easily down.

Your Business Blogger is noticing a horrific pattern where the owner would have direct, non-stop communication with Every. Single. Employee.

This is a well-known time waster, that some business owners employ instead of managing the time of the employee. This abomination is known as an,

Open Door Policy

Which leaves the harried business owner at the mercy of his minions who'd stubble by to cry about a missing cat or babble about a boyfriend.

Not that I could ever tell the difference when I was a company President. That whining all sounded the same.

The business owner must remember that he is the center of the universe. And if he forgets, he must pay someone to remind him. These rented friends are called consultants.

And Your Rented Friend, Your Business Blogger, will remind you (you may not need to be taught, you might only need to be reminded) that You Are The Apex.

Now, yes, you are the center of the universe. But let us elevate you, the business owner, the harried manager away from the center of the circle to the top of the triangle.

The best management structure is a pyramid, not a wagon wheel.

The wagon wheel has you, the boss in the center with the many, many spokes coming directly to the hub. The spokes are the employees, each with a direct line to the boss. This is not good. Your management team -- usually made up of cronies and boot-lickers -- is bypassed and ignored. Why talk with the first line supervisor? When entry-level nobodies and interns can walk through The Big Guy's Open Door and shoot the breeze. As if all were equal.

As If.

The amateur boss soon becomes an armature spinning in circles.

But not now. Not after reading this article.

The best structure is a pyramid with the business owner at the tippy top with a few, no more than ten, direct reports. The employee wanting to bother and waste the time of the boss will have to crawl over layers of managers before getting to you, the owner.

Whose Door Is Always Open. Because Employees Are Our Most Important Asset.

(Yes, you can keep that silly policy, but with luck no one will get close enough to you to use it.)

So here's your 4 step by step guide to moving from the hub and spoke to the triangular pyramid, pointing, reaching to the sky.

First. Appoint a deputy. A second in command. A chief of staff whose job is the management of your most valuable resource: your discretionary management time. It could be your secretary. Right-hand man or Girl Friday -- your hatchet person.

Second. Put each business function in a box. Every action and process in to a discrete description. An organization chart box with hard edges with one single line going in. And if a manager, no more than 10 lines going out. Then,

Third. Put employees in a box and a label. Just as you would any commodity which/who could be easily replaced. Remember what that famous Frenchman Charles de Gaulle said, The graveyards are full of indispensable men.

And finally, Fourth. Close your door.

The best company structure is a pyramid shaped org chart. Get yourself at the top to be on top of your business.

Thank you (foot)notes: Management Training Tip: Time is your most valuable possession.

Posted at 9:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

...at eFIPO.

Posted at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Charmaine will be debating values voters on ABC's Good Morning America on Sunday morning, around 8 to 8:30, November 12th. Tune in GMA Weekend and let us know what you think.

Posted at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arlington National Cemetery, Section 64, #144

Posted at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Let us remember
the Transgender veterans
on Veteran's Day Charmaine will be jousting with the Gay/Lesbian/Bi-Sexual/Transgendered spokes person(?) from The Transgendered Educational Fund, a third way gendering group on 'FOX News Live' Weekend Edition.

Hit time is 1:20 Eastern Time on Fox News, Sunday, 12 November.

They will be debating values.

Yes, values. Opposite from Charmaine.

Transgender genders will sometimes, but not necessarily, amputate a perfectly normal (ahem, edited by the prudish spouse).

I believe it is in bad form to actually ask a Transgender if this elective surgery is part of his/her/its medical history.

You are right: Your Business Blogger should not be poking fun at anyone who would take a meat cleaver to his manhood. You see, these creatures are crazy, I believe.

There is a related grouping of homosexual-like -- let's not call them nut jobs -- unfortunates, who suffer from Body Integrity Identify Disorder (BIID).

From BIID.org,

Body Integrity Identity Disorder, or BIID, is a psychological condition in which the individual requests an elective amputation. Individuals with this condition experience the persistent desire to have their body physically match the idealized image they have of themselves. This desire forces individuals to deal with the paradox of losing one or more major limbs (i.e. arm[s] or leg[s]) to become whole. In their minds, "Less is more".

The psychiatric and psychologic communities suggest medication to deal with the non-disorder.

(I know you think I am making this all up. Like, What normal male would part with that particular body part?)

Suggestions for Mental Health Professionals Treating Clients/Patients suffering from Body Integrity Identity Disorder,

Understand that BIID is a distinct condition, and that while clients may have co-morbid conditions, BIID is not a sign of psychosis, nor of an Axis II disorder.

The condition is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; it is not considered a disease. "Nevertheless, some doctors are trying to add BIID to the official list of mental disorders in the manual's next edition," reports Whitney Archer in Salvo Magazine.

So this is what liberals have made our world into: A happily married normal mother of five children is forced into debating a trany of some stripe on...

Values.

Thank you (foot)notes:
This would normally be funny. But the debate is serious: The gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgendered advocacy groups are demanding that homosexuals and transgendered be permitted to serve openly in the military. Right next to your son serving in combat. This would be a challenge to unit cohesion.

Although a Roberta, who was once Bob, probably has the upper body strength to man-handle an 80 back pack in combat.

More (than you really want to know) at the jump.

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Posted at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Anderson Cooper Who won? Who lost? Really lost?

Charmaine will be debating the impact of the value voters and cultural conservatives on this week's election.

On Anderson Cooper 360 tonight live. Hit time is 10:20pm EST on CNN.

Tonight's Show,

Left, right and righteous. A "360°" special on what's next for Christian conservatives. Are they moving away from the GOP? Tune in tonight at 10 p.m. ET.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Check out Cooper's blog.

Anderson Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt.

More on Anderson Cooper 360 at the jump.

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Posted at 7:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Fox News here in Your Nation's Capital is taping a segment on women in the military. The interview will air on the 11th. Veterans' Day. I will be discussing the contribution of women in the uniformed services.

Location: MC RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND,
SOUTH CAROLINA (SC)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)
DoD photo by: SGT R. KLIKA
Date Shot: 20 Jun 1985Our women in uniform are serving with distinction and honor in our Armed Services. The nation is proud of our women in uniform for their outstanding contribution to the security of our nation. They have faithfully discharged their duty and oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. We are grateful for their service.

To defend out institutions and our way of life. Our women in the military have made sacrifices. And for too many, the supreme sacrifice.

Women have served with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan in the global war on terror. There is no debate, no question on the patriotism of our women in the military and their contribution to our national security.

Nothing that has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan changes the debate on women in combat. That women have been placed in combat.

The President, the Commander in Chief, has said that women willl not be in [land] combat.

Congress has decreed that women will not be in land combat.

Army rule and req have forbidden the placement of women in land combat.

The American people have demanded that women not be placed in land combat.

But.

Women are dying in combat.

Todate, 67 women in the service have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the Vietnam era only 17 women were killed. And most of those female casualties were nurses. We do not have to sacrifice our women in combat.

What has changed?

During the Clinton era army regulations were weakened to where women are now exposed to a substantial risk of capture. The end results of this change has been tragic. As we now have seen with the capture, torture and murder of our female soldiers.

We are proud of our women in the military. But we did not send them off to a war zone to be killed and captured in combat.

Double Standards involving Women (DSIW)

...here's what a 22-year-old man and woman must do to "max" (get a perfect score of 300) the physical fitness test in each service.

Marine men must do 20 pull-ups, 100 sit-ups and run three miles in 18 minutes. Women Marines must hold the flexed-arm hang for 70 seconds, do 100 sit-ups and run three miles in 21 minutes.

Army men must do 75 push-ups, 80 sit-ups and run two miles in 13 minutes. Women soldiers must do 46 push-ups, 80 sit-ups and run two miles in 15:35.

Women are held to lower physical standards than men. Lower physical standards can jeopardize mission accomplishment and evacuation of wounded fellow soldiers.

Only about 3% of military women test as well in physical training as the average male. Women have much to offer in knowledge, skills and abilities to our armed forces. Man-handling an 80 pound back isn't one of them.

If one of our soldiers is wounded, do we know that a female could move her buddy to safety?

This doubt, this hesitation on rescue is what destroys unit cohesion.

Women in combat does not improve the ability of our Army to fight and win.

Pullups. Men have to do them. Women don't. Double standards. For the feminists.

Thank you (foot)notes: Update: The interview was bumped. We'll let you know when segment is re-scheduled. Your Business Blogger serves as the Vice President of the Center for Military Readiness

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Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the president and do wonders for your performance,
One of Rumsfeld's Rules.

Rumsfeld is resigning. He doesn't know it, but he was one of my teachers.

Donald Rumsfeld and
Charmaine Yoest Your Business Blogger served a tour of duty in government years ago. Unlike most bureaucrats, I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't even pretend.

Not that anyone noticed anyway.

But when I was appointed, the first Rules I got from a friend were Rumsfeld's. I kept them in a notebook and referred to them daily.

Rumsfeld's Rules

Many of these rules, reflections and quotations came from my role as chairman of the “transition team” for President Ford and my service as White House chief of staff. Others came from experiences as a U.S. naval aviator, a member of Congress, ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, secretary of defense, presidential Middle East envoy, business executive, chairman of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Threat Commission,...Credit is given where known.

Serving in the White House
(for the White House chief of staff and senior staff)

Don't accept the post or stay unless you have an understanding with the president that you're free to tell him what you think “with the bark off” and you have the courage to do it.

Visit with your predecessors from previous administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs.

Don't begin to think you're the president. You're not. The Constitution provides for only one.

Know that the immediate staff and others in the administration will assume that your manner, tone and tempo reflect the president's.

I knew the following rule, and used it to confirm my usual dazed looked,

Learn to say “I don't know.” If used when appropriate, it will be often.

Rumsfeld says that bad news doesn't get better with age,

If you foul up, tell the president and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

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After an evening of lit drops, the Penta-Posse poses for their candidate, Michael Steele for Senator for Maryland.

Research shows that a bumper sticker has an in-kind equivalent value of $250 to the political candidate. Smart campaigners will also put the bumper sticker on the driver's side front bumper to greet on-coming traffic.

The Roe-Effect will take effect sooner or later.

Lord willing, tomorrow.

The Steele Family

From Steele's web site, His Agenda for Economic Empowerment,

Economic empowerment creates opportunities poverty will never let you see. Whether you are an employee looking for a better job, or a business owner working to expand your company, you must be empowered to turn your hopes into action, and turn opportunity into ownership. The Steele Agenda for Economic Empowerment contains policies devoted to increasing homeownership, business ownership, and the prosperity of Maryland families.

Vandalized Stop Sign
in the Nuclear-Free Hippie Zone
Tacoma Park, Maryland

Steele has an uphill battle in the Commie counties close to DC and Baltimore.

Maryland is a Blue State full of Red Diaper babies.

Save for mine.

More from the Steele website,

Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele was the first African-American ever elected to statewide office in Maryland. Michael made history once again in October 2005, when he announced his candidacy for the state's open seat in the United States Senate.

Since taking office as Lieutenant Governor with Governor Robert Ehrlich in 2003, Michael has produced real solutions to the real problems facing Marylanders. The Lt. Governor has lead the fight to improve access to better-performing schools; worked alongside law enforcement officials to reduce crime and secure communities; strengthened the state's minority business program to foster greater entrepreneurship; and worked with Maryland conservationists to protect the environment for future generations.

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Morgan Fairchild Marketing is composed of Reach, Frequency and Awareness. And the fastest venue to reach large numbers of ears and eyeballs is to mention your business on radio and TV.

Everyone who pines to be on radio or TV wants to "be something" or "do something." But usually if you want to do something for your company, you must be somebody. And shamelessly self-promote.

Just like Carly Fiorina from Hewlett Packard...

uhmm...nevermind...

The large number of talk/debate shows, pod-casts, radio and TV have created an exploding demand for on-air experts. Talented talking heads.

Tammy Haddad is the executive producer of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews and was recently quoted in The Wall Street Journal about her expertise in picking talent.

A few months ago, Charmaine and I visited Tammy in her beautiful Georgetown home in Your Nation's Capital. She put up a tent in her back yard and had a few of her closest A listers over for an off the record party. OTR. Which means I couldn't talk about what Micheal Barone said about CNN nor who Chris Matthews was talking to. Contacts connected. Deals got done. (All I got done there was to get confused.)

Hint: When talking to Morgan Fairchild look at her eyes, gentlemen, her eyes.

Tammy had advice for 'talking head' wanna be's. (And who wouldn't wanna be?)

Jeffery Zaslow wrote America's Next Top Pundit, What does it take to be a talking head for The Wall Street Journal and explains,

Every morning, Tammy Haddad...hears from more than 100 aspiring commentators. They each explain why they'd be the perfect guest to spout off on the issues of the day. "We call them 'street meat,' " says Ms. Haddad. "They're always available, walking the streets, waiting for your call on their cellphones."They are the minor-league pundits ...using 21st-century stunts to troll for airtime. ... And many are turning to media advisers ... where they learn new rules of engagement, ...The ploys can work, as networks like CNN regularly survey the field, looking for new contributors.

...A-list pundits make thousands of dollars per show. In lieu of payment B-listers receive coffee mugs with a show's logo.

We have a shelf full of logo'ed coffee mugs...in the basement.

But you, the business leader need to be on radio and TV to flog, to promote your product and service.

How to start:

The Virginia
Piedmont
Technology
Council 1) Get under an umbrella. Join a group of recognized experts. Get yourself invited to serve on a board of directors or advisors or committees of your local favorite non-profit and business association. Then volunteer to be the spokesman. Join and volunteer for your local chamber of commerce.

The Business Monthly:
The business newspaper for
Howard & Anne Arundel Counties
and BWI Business District in Maryland2) Write a article for your local business monthly magazine or newspaper. And interview key business leaders in town. You then might get asked to comment on-air. For instance, I recently did a series on Rotorary and its corporate governance.

3) Start with local and not so local radio talk shows on weekends. For example, go smooze job coach expert Sue Tovey at Catapult Your Career.

4) Become a deep expert in a narrow field, then mission creep away from your expertise. What box do you fill, what do you wish your business to be known for? Make like a hedgehog: know a lot about a single topic. Generalists don't get called.

5) Write a blog and a book. Then your publicist will flog you and the book. So that your name will show up in a Google search. A lot. Your book won't sell much and will soon go out of print. But your authorship and introduction is forever. Ladies and Gentlemen, Here's Small business owner Mr. Big Ideas, author of Small Business Trends. (Book titles cannot be copywrite protected; apologies to Anita Campbell.)

6) Find a friend. Network. The WSJ speaks of "three dozen donuts" delivered to bookers to be remembered. Hokie, yes, but memorable. Remember not all advertising must be good to be remembered. Just remembered.

(I wish someone would send me three dozen donuts.)

Professional Public Relations should be a component of your marketing department or outsourced. Kristi Hamrick, about the best in the business says, "To get on air, somebody has to bird dog the bookers." You, the small business owner, better be too busy, and are far too important to be your own flack. Not unlike a representing your self in court. A lawyer with a fool for a client.

Have your secretary or marketing pro's make the calls -- they are not busy anyway.

7) Keep your day job.

And finally, be sure to alert your company and friends when your big show biz break breaks.

And let me know how it goes. I'll be cheering for you.

Thank you (foot)notes: Your Business Blogger once served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council.

Management Training Tip: Don't let the urgent push out the important, increase your network of contacts and friends. Do lunch and do business: exchange business cards with someone today. Then tell me.

And be sure to visit the Carnival of the Vanities.http://www.silflayhraka.com/archives/2006/11/carnival_of_the_vanities_216.html

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When you tangle with print, radio, or visual media your name and identifiers are sometimes going to be mangled. It is not always deliberate. Donald Rumsfeld, Our Secretary of Defense, says to never confuse a conspiracy with incompetence.

But how does one tell the difference?

Charmaine, Right (as usual) on MSNBC

The wife of Your Business Blogger, Charmaine, appeared on Joe Scarborough's show the other night. She prepped using the 10 Tips for Your Big Show Biz Break. She was debating a some liberals over a New York Times article.

It said that cheating on a spouse can be good.

Your Business Blogger advises against cheating on a spouse. Bad for the job. And business is a jealous mistress.

Who?

Anyway, Charmaine does her homework. And provides name, rank and serial number to the producer. Including her Ph.D. suffix. Those three letters cost me a million dollars and ten years. I insist on the lettering. She doesn't care -- I do. I'm the shallow one; she's not.

Anyway, MSNBC would be considered -- by some -- to be a world-class organization committed to attention to detail.

But an MSNBC producer slipped up on the names and by-lines. Mistakes will happen. Guaranteed. Like leaving off suffixes.

And when the goofs go live, the professional doesn't say die.

Whenever there is any kind of error in any form, in any forum, continue with your act.

Keep talking; keep singing; keep dancing, keep moving.

The show must go on.

At Last, The Correct By-line

Most of the time, your audience will never see the goof-up. The audience will see and remember the passion in your play.

It doesn't matter if there is a conspiracy. Or if merely incompetence.

Deliver your sound bite. Make the sale. And you will please your audience.

Thank you (foot)notes: See the adultery clip on Scarborough Country, MSNBC, here. Courtesy Peter Shinn.

Management Training Tip: If you will cheat on your wife, you will cheat on your business partners. Even if the New York Times approves.

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Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D. (?) What is a good way to learn if your accountant is getting all those numbers to add up right?

He spells your name right.

When Your Business Blogger was in the army way back in the days of the horse cavalry, I had a boss, Captain Akroyd, who once gave me a memorable 'corrective interview.' The West Pointer said I needed to concentrate on my Attention to Detail.

And, in lacking that quality (back then!), I am, of course, very quick to criticize the same lack in others (today).

I often see this lack in the spelling of our names: Charmaine has an unusual first name that is often misspelled, or misidentified. Yoest, a Flemish name, is often misspelled.

The cliche goes: There is no bad PR, as long as they spell your name right.

So it was memorable that my name would be misspelled and insulted in the same article. Very bad.

A two-fer.

Dennis Howlett on innovation for professional accountants who blogs at AccMan gets my name wrong and uses bad language.

Sounding like, well, a blogger:

I come up with Jack Youest, ...an A&&hole.

My new best friend, Dennis Howlett might be right half the time. But these would not be the odds one would take.

From an accountant.

New tag line:

Dennis Howlett on innovation for professional accountants -- We're Right Half the Time! We're British!

We May Have Lost the Empire, But We Won't Lose Your Money!

Thank you (foot)notes: I do hope Dennis Howlett is not disqualified for the AcountancyAge Awards 2006 coming up on 15 November. His ciphering is no doubt more accurate than his spelling. More at the jump.

Management Training Tip: Get the name right; both sight and sound, for the eye and ear, spelling and pronunciation.

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